| Author | Message | ||
     Vagelis46 |
I think the biggest difference at the moment, between WSBK and motoGP are : 1. Tire performance 2. Rider talent In chassis design, they are very close, since top WSBK teams use GP forks and swingarms. Electronics are the same. My last hope for a chassis technology breakthrough was destroyed after the carbon fibre swingarm of the ducati GP9 went to the rubbish bin. They went back to aluminium alloy. Noone seems to try different front ends. So maybe chassis technology have reached the top. I do not care for electronics...... I do not care for engines spinning at 23.000rpm I think organisers should try something different, and not allow the rules what the japanese factories want. Why not turbochargers ??? Cars are using turbos the last years. Better performance from small cc and low gas consumption. Isn't that what we want ?? Maybe turbos will never be applied in production bikes, but it will keep the fan's interest in motoGP ,and the difference between production based and prototype will be more pronounced. Why not release the engine size limit ? Cheap hp comes from big engines. Keeps the costs low. That are some changes that I would like to see in motoGP. But anyway, 1000cc for moroGP is better than 800cc. It will help small teams make cheaper hp. The real question is : What will happen if overnight, GP series disappears and all the top GP riders enter WSBK ?? I do not see a big problem honestly... | ||
| Simond |
On the subject of 250 vs Moto2 speed...... I doubt that the lap times would be very different but the 250 would be making time through the corners on a clear qualifying lap - something which is impossible in a race when there would inevitably be a bunch of Moto2 bikes in the way. McWilliams on the Roberts bike was a perfect example in the early days of MotoGP. Some fantastic qualifying performances followed by the inevitable reverse down the field as the greater power and top speed of the big bikes count. ........much like riding a Buell on a track day in fact!  | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Exactly. | ||
| Trojan |
Noone seems to try different front ends. So maybe chassis technology have reached the top. Yamaha/Honda/Suzuki don't want their MotoGP bikes to look like 2 wheeled F1 cars, so stick to what the buying public are comortable with unfortunately. One of the biggest reasons that factories stick with 'old fashioned' front forks instead of more efficient radical front ends is that eventually the public have to relate to a race bike and aspire to owning something similar (race on Sunday - sell on Monday). If MotoGP went too far the bikes wouldn't look like the bikes we ride everyday and the manufacturers would lose the 'link' they think exists between Valentino Rossi's M1 and our R6. Hub centre steering has improved beyond measure since the days of Fiore and Elf ran their GP bikes, and I'm sure that the Vyrus chassis could produce an excellent Moto2 or MotoGP bike. Having been at the receiving end of a beating by a Vyrus ridden by Phil Read I can tell you that the front end really does work very well now!  | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I could relate to that front end, no problem. I think that if any manufacturer thought that a "different" front end will help them to win the championship, they would try it . It seems that the "hub" front is not there yet with the top ohlins and showa . Ducati tried (and failed) a carbon fibre swingarm, but this experiment might have cost them the championship. I guess they would try a different front end, but it could take them backwards for 1 season and the sponsors will not like that. Moto2 is a different story. I hope Bimota tries something different. I hope.... | ||
| Ratsmc |
Wow! A remarkably well-informed and thoughtful group. That is a rarity in MotoGP discussion. I think that given the limited budgets thrown at the center hub steering design, they have come remarkably far. I would expect that a major manufacturer could get it to MotoGP competitiveness is short order since the basic principles are sound. I hope as well to see one in Moto2. being successful there might catch the attention of competitors on MotoGP. Of course, the first year in Moto2 is basically a wash since no one knows what they are doing and there will be huge disparity between bikes until everyone figures it out. BTW, if anyone is interested, I have a database of MotoGP stats (I hope this isn't against the rules since I am not selling anything): MotoTheory (Message edited by Ratsmc on December 15, 2009) | ||
| Jaimec |
Speaking of looking "too different..." whatever happened to Sidecar racing? Those things evolved to the point that they didn't even resemble motorcycles anymore... | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Hi RatsMc, Do you post at motogpmatters ?? | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Speaking of looking "too different..." whatever happened to Sidecar racing? Those things evolved to the point that they didn't even resemble motorcycles anymore... True, but they do look cool as hell ripping the Isle of Man circuit....I am just stoked that MotoGP is moving back to the 1000cc format in 2012, it cannot come fast enough as far as I am concerned, I just hope we see the type of racing we did in the early to middle 2000's when it seemed that even satelite teams were a major threat. Of course I am a bit biased in this as I think the 800 doesn't suit Nicky's style as well as the 1000 or 990 as it were, and would like to see him return to better form.... | ||
| Backcountryme |
Bring on the 1000s. I love the big bikes. I cannot wait. | ||
| Jaimec |
Hopper's back... and check out what he'll reportedly be riding! http://www.motorcycle-usa.com/749/5362/Motorcycle- Article/Hopkins-Back-in-MotoGP.aspx | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I like this guy. He is crazy, as he proves for one more time. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
John Hopkins is the epitome of talent and potential unrealized. He is a crasher that complains constantly that his bike is not fast enough yet even with two factory rides he could do nothing, Marco Melandri did much better on the Hayate than he did on a factory Kawi. He is my least favorite rider. | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Hopper's back.. My god. Why? What kind of idiot would put Hopper back on a MotoGP ride. There are dozens of better choices. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Melandri is a pu%sy......I cannot see how he was any good in the Hayate. It was just the Italian "lobby" trying to braiwash us with "look how good Melandri is". Remember Melandri's year at Ducati ?? He gave up and never tried. Hayden on the other hand got his respect back this year, by trying and trying and trying. Hopkins was really trying to put the Kawasaki on top and he injured himself. Aoyama......Remember this guy's name. He already made Simoncelli look slow in the rookie test at Sepang. Happy holidays everybody! | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Aoyama is fast, during his title run I will never forget him getting rammed on his honda, bending the exhaust, breaking the subframe and I believe Alvaro Bautista was the culprit for the ramming, Aoyama kept his bike upright and Bautista bit it...he is a talented rider for sure....I still don't like Hopkins, but Hayden is my favorite rider. I like that kid. | ||
| Jaimec |
No one can question Nicky's work ethic, that's for sure. I'm a big fan of Lorenzo and I can't wait to see how Big Ben does next year! | ||
| White79bu |
I am pulling for Ben and Nicky before everybody else. Then it will be Hopper and Edwards. They are all talented. I am not much on any of the foreign riders. I do like Stoner. I think he is a better rider than he is credited for. | ||
| Liquorwhere |
I am hedging this year on bodog, I am gonna plunk a benjamin down on Ben, Lorenzo, Rossi and Stoner all to win the title, the odds on Ben should he win, should net me a nice bundle, if Pedrosa pulls off a title I will only be out $400.00, I don't know the odds yet on the others, but I am sure Ben's odds will be pretty favorable for a longshot bet. I would love to see Nicky really ride like he did on the Honda, consistently finishing in the top 5, that is how he won the title, consistency. I hope he can do it. | ||
| Rocketman |
Consistency might well be the key this next year. What with the new engine rules. Only six engines for a full season is it? I read in MCN Burgess saying it's the greatest challenge he's faced in manipulating his skills into title chasing given he has to plan his engines longevity for the last race from the very first. Something about hoping to have an engine spare at the back end if you can do the rest of the season on four engines. It's something in the region of balancing the life and horsepower to finish and win from what was 750 miles life expectancy to now 1500 miles per engine. Should be an interesting new dimension me thinks. Rocket | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Sean you are correct..I am wondering if that rule gets changed as the season goes on or at least amended, imagine you have no bikes on the grid because they are ALL out of their engines. It will be interesting for sure! | ||
| Jaimec |
No, they can use extra engines BUT they will be penalized for each engine above the allocation they use. I'm thinking this might level the playing field a bit and give the satellite teams as good a chance at a podium as the factory teams. We'll see if this is true or not... | ||
| Jaimec |
Looks like Motorcycle USA jumped the gun on Hopkins: http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?artic le=39028 | ||
| Aeholton |
Hopkins is considering riding in the AMA? Maybe he could ride for EBR? | ||
| Amafan |
http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/racing/ben-bostrom -signs-with-pat-clark-motorsports John Hopkins is rumored to join Pat Clark Motorsports along with Ben Bostrom and Jake Zemke . | ||
| Jaimec |
Just ordered my tickets for the Indianapolis round. Got the early discount, so five tickets in the "B" Penthouse (covered seats with a full view of the front straight, start line and first turn) came to $146.40 per person. That's less than we paid for the Paddock Penthouse the past two years! Screw Daytona, Laconia and Sturgis... this is MY "Annual Biker Event!" GO ELBOWZ!!! GO TEAM TEXAS!! | ||
| Liquorwhere |
I am so jealous!! I may be able to make it, but I don't know about this year, I want to go to the Northwest 200, we shall see!! | ||
| Rocketman |
I've liked the sound of Skerries better. It's one big party the Friday night before Saturday racing. Spectators can be stood within feet of the racers and marshals blow whistles to warn of approaching bikes! http://www.skerrieshomepage.f2s.com/ttraces.htm Rocket | ||
| Liquorwhere |
Rocket, I only have vacation and money for one trip to one race in Europe, so my buddy just got back from Dublin today and we were planning to attend the Northwest 200 because he said that is one of his favorites, I haven't heard of the Skerries, but I will ask him what he thinks. He was at the 200 when Joey's brother died. I have a shirt from it. Alright buddy, catch ya later. D | ||
| Rocketman |
Dale, Skerries is just south of Dublin, and I am told has a party atmosphere like no other. Tradition says get pi$$ed on Friday eve (Guinness no doubt) and rid the hangover Saturday morning at the race. Any road race in Ireland has to be the dogs dangly bits. Those NW boys are breaking 200mph on the straights now. If you do make it across, I should try too and make it my first also. Rocket |
