MotoGP changes...here they come...

[Drift]

MotoGP riders suggest five ways to cut cornering speeds.

According to Spanish sports website as.com five suggestions were put forward by the MotoGP riders to help reduce cornering speeds, during their meeting with Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta and Riders' Safety Representative Franco Uncini on Saturday evening at Brno.

As predicted, the options include the introduction of a control tire and new limitations on electronics - albeit in the form of a ban on 'fly-by-wire' technology, which has removed a direct mechanical link (cable) between the throttle and engine, rather than the use of a standard ECU.

The full list of ideas, which includes a return to 990cc racing, will be presented to the Grand Prix Commission. The five suggestions put forward by the riders are:

1. Introduce a single control tire.
2. Increase control of the throttle by the rider (by removing fly-by-wire technology).
3. Use narrower tire rims.
4. A possible return to 990cc engines, but with a limit on top speed.
5. Stay with 800cc, but increase motorcycle minimum weight.

AS reports that the Michelin riders, who have struggled badly at the last two rounds, were unanimously in favour of a control tyre rule, with 'a majority' of the Bridgestone riders in favor.

The switch from 990cc to 800cc was made for the 2007 season in order to reduce top speeds, but the more nimble 800cc prototypes are able to corner faster - forcing circuits to increase the amount of run-off available, something that cannot continue indefinitely.

[Tipys]

Why are the also trying to slow down the fast guys

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Did DMG take over the FIM when we weren't looking?

Spec tire rule sucks. WSB lost over 2sec/lap.

Leave tire sizes alone, and increase the number of different tires available so they don't have to "save" their good tire.

Bring back the 990's AND the old fuel tank size (and the tire-smokin' corner exits!).

Allow lighter weight. Easier to steer, brake, accelerate.

Ban any electronic aids (TC, anti-lock, etc.). The only throttle control that should be allowed if anything is using the throttle as an engine SPEED control rheostat, instead of a throttle butterfly position control. This would prevent any radical acceleration of a rear tire in mid-corner if it loses grip (by controlling engine rpm not throttle), but would not allow the ham-fisted to just whack the throttle open and let the TC save them like t does now. I'd imagine we'd see Casey do a lot more crashing......like he used to.

[pilot]

We all know that there is only one solution to this argument...


















Live Female Mud Wrestling!

I'll volunteer to coach a team of umbrella girls for the win.

[Devaclis]

^^ Time to leave the sandpit and enter the mudpit.

[irdave]

Why do they keep slowing down the fast guys? Because they keep going faster than the race tracks are safe for... The faster you go, the more run-off you need- think of the extremes to simplify... If you bin it in a corner at 20 mph, you might slide to the edge of the track. Tuck the front at 150 mph, you're going to go for a while...

I'm for the 990 solution.

[jsears1864]

990 racing was WAY better.

technology has to be capped at some point, or else we would just end up with robots racing motorcycles. aka Casey Stoner

[Cars-R-Coffins]

I'd imagine we'd see Casey do a lot more crashing......like he used to.

+1

[Tipys]

What are you guys talking about that last few races I watched Stoner ended up crashing. Are you saying he used to crash more then he already does?

[jimwallace]

i think they should get rid of rider assist controls and let the riders do the riding. I mean for gods sake, what is throttle control if you have traction control?

[pilot]

Spooling up the rear (drifting) may not be the best way to execute faster lap times. Sure, it looks cool as hell, but smoothing out the torque curve is a better way to reduce lap times. Motors that have to constantly modulate their throttle on exit, either through super-rapid throttle adjustments by the rider or some form of traction control, tend to make the bikes harder to handle.

Minor variances in torque, to the final drive, translates themselves to changes in suspension, handling and overall ride ability. These highs and lows in the curve must be dealt with in every gear. With five gears and two to three peaks and valleys in the torque band a rider may have to deal with 10-15 variations rolling on through the corners.

In a one lap race this may not be a problem for the very experienced--champion, to deal with. But as laps add on the human brain can be overloaded by all these translations. Yes, several riders like a bike to be loose--really moving around underneath them. In general, having a smooth power supply allows a rider to roll on the throttle without the feeling of the back end coming loose at the wrong time, such as going from full-lean to full-upright. It is generally in the turns that a race is won or lost--minus the few bad starts off the grid or the neck and neck to the finish.

Here is an example of several torques. Notice the sharp drop, in several places of the Ducati. Imagine rolling on through that out of turn seven at Pueblo--and then add in a few bumps just for fun

[dirkterrell]

Here is an example of several torques. Notice the sharp drop, in several places of the Ducati. Imagine rolling on through that out of turn seven at Pueblo--and then add in a few bumps just for fun

Now here's a nice torque curve:



This is why I'm always raving about the V-4...

Dirk

[pilot]

Torque image not showing.

[dirkterrell]

Shows up here on multiple machines. Here is the UR:

http://www.angelfire.com/hi/VF1000R/images/vfpower.jpg

Dirk

[pilot]

This is all I'm getting from the link:

[dirkterrell]

This is all I'm getting from the link:

Looks right to me. Here's a screenshot of what I'm seeing:

[Jayock]

Traction control, Fly by wire, and other electronics are not the (to quote Mat) magic pill everyone thinks they are. If you are heavily using your traction control, you are definitely not winning, because it is slowing you down. There is still mad throttle control (and other various skills) to take a TC equipped bike to the podium at that level. It helps with tire management, especially late in a race, and occasionally prevents a high-side.

Personally, I am for them, and don't want to see them gone.

[Lel]

I agree w/ justin.. Traction control is NOT all it is cut out to be. It is pretty cool for the mid-mid upper level rider, but not for the top 5 guys.

If anything TC is making racing more interesting (other than to the morbid people that want to see the massive highsides... which we still see when youngin's aka lorenzo, get on the gas to quick)... more interesting by allowing riders to still ride 100% at the end of the race being able to try that one last late pass without taking everyone out.

Electronics are cool, they definately help people go faster, are a little safer, but they dont make the top guy the top guy.

Rossi did it without TC, and he is doing it with TC... its not the electronics that make the rider

[Filo]

I know the way to slow down the riders going into the turn:

NAKED UMBRELLA GIRLS!!!!!

I am sure it would help.

[jsears1864]

didnt they used to call him "crashy stoner?"

so did he just magically learn how to ride better?

if so then why is melandri on the same bike as him and caparossi used to be, and marco cant even crack the top ten?

im not making statements, cause i dont know anything about this kind of stuff, im just looking for answers. thanks!

[Lel]

didnt they used to call him "crashy stoner?"

so did he just magically learn how to ride better?

if so then why is melandri on the same bike as him and caparossi used to be, and marco cant even crack the top ten?

im not making statements, cause i dont know anything about this kind of stuff, im just looking for answers. thanks!

because great riders like wayne rainey said to team ducati - quote - "its easier to teach a fast rider not to crash than make a slow rider go fast"

Stoner had it in him, he just was making poor decisions and crashing... some good coaching got him to slow down. Look at this year; now under pressure he is going back to his old self.

The ducati was that much better of a bike.... look at the top speeds at any track through the first half of 07... the desmo destroyed all others.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

What are you guys talking about that last few races I watched Stoner ended up crashing. Are you saying he used to crash more then he already does?

Yes, and they were more spectactular too!