What's happening next year? I think the tyres are swapping to Michelin, but that's all I know (I'm not a biker)

Yes the tyres are one change but they are also having to have a control ECU.  So in theory it will make them much more equal as they will all have the same type of traction control and other characteristics.  Of course it isn't as simple as that as in Moto 2 the engines are all the same (Honda 600) and sealed so they cannot be changed but the different frames make a massive difference to the way they handle with some better than others.

 

In theory with the bikes being much closer matched it should rely more on who is the better rider. Marquez will still shine as he is a very talented rider and quality will always shine.  We will see who else will be able to master the changes but one thing for sure is Rossi has always been able to put in his fastest laps at the end of a race on worn tyres and he is a master tactician and I would expect him to be up there with the rest still and hopefully as the reigning World Champion.  Can you tell I am biased?

title or not this year - he is the GOAT.

(with all due respect to Ago and all the other greats)

Missed the interview and can't find it online, been told it was a cracker.

Excellent, ta much for that

Oh yeah he is the GOAT without question. I don't buy into this what about Ago stuff.  It was a completely different game back then.  Rossi has done the biz with more than one factory (shame about Ducati) and with several changes of format.  He has been doing it for years and still is a force to be reckoned with as Lorenzo and Marquez have found out this year.

He certainly has the 'Senna' sort of aura about him..........  

 

Rossi/Senna, both South Paws.

 

Just saying.

 

At least they do not burn us at the stake any more. 

...more unusually, and due a lot of respect, Rossi has also given up guaranteed race wins and probably titles when he walked away from the dominant bike and team.  There really was nothing to touch the works RC211V, and he gave it up to go in search of a new challenge.

 

How many champions would have done that?

 

He could still have been thrashing all-comers on the Repsol bikes today.

Edited 2 September, 201510 yr by camelspyyder

I am worried that VR has allegedly reduced his weight to compete the tiny jockeys and this points for me to a realistic minimum weight for bike and rider (like Moto3), something like 70 or even 75 kgs rider, 200 Kgs all up, and then the Danny Ps can move their ballast weight to where they want rather than be 15 to 20 kgs ie 5-10% all up weight lighter than more normally mass (weight).  

 

 

"Moto3 class[edit]

The 125 cc class was replaced in 2012 by the Moto3 class. This class is restricted to single-cylinder 250 cc four-stroke engines with a maximum bore of 81 mm (3.2 inches).The minimum total weight for motorcycle and rider is 148 kg (326 lb). Riders in the Moto3 class cannot be older than 28 years, or 25 years for new contracted riders participating for the first time and wild-cards.  "

Pedroza is too small is he not?  Not enough kilos to move around the bike and certainly not enough over the front wheel - leading to braking issues and arm-pump. 

Pedroza is too small is he not?  Not enough kilos to move around the bike and certainly not enough over the front wheel - leading to braking issues and arm-pump. 

 

There are certainly some disadvantages being smaller, as you saying moving weight both fore and aft and shifting in the corners as well as leverage for helping in to and out of corners.  Ballast weight will usually go amidships as low as possible as does some of the fuel so the bike does not feel top heavy at the start of the race and harder to turn in and the pseudo fuel tank is really mostly other lightweight components.  Was not aware arm pump was more prone for vertically challenged.  I am impressed by anyone fit enough to do the equivalent of a hundred or so hand stands plus during a race especially like Lorenzo did with a recently broken clavicle.  

 

   

One thing I noticed in the snaps I grabbed, was the tyre deformation in the corners. the sidewall seems to deform and flatten much more than the centre of the tyre does when accelerating or braking in a straight line ie when the bike is upright and riding on the centre of the tyre's width. Do I take it that the construction of the tyre allows for this extra squidgyness in corners to increase the contact patch in cornering? You can see it reasonably clearly in the images (click on them to make them bigger). I've never noticed it before, but it seems a clever idea must be difficult to make it happen without the tyre feeling like you are riding on jelly

Riders, designers want tyres to deform and use the hysteresis of the deformation to heat the whole thing to the very high temperatures which then makes it sticky.  Must be unsettling but part of the process of keeping type up to temperature.

 

Even the Obi Wan Rossi does not alway get right as in Italy in 2010.  Do not watch this if squimish but it shows what a total hero he is...

 

 

https://youtu.be/vsizLwehunk

Riders, designers want tyres to deform and use the hysteresis of the deformation to heat the whole thing to the very high temperatures which then makes it sticky.  Must be unsettling but part of the process of keeping type up to temperature.

 

Even the Obi Wan Rossi does not alway get right as in Italy in 2010.  Do not watch this if squimish but it shows what a total hero he is...

 

https://youtu.be/vsizLwehunk 

Is that the only reason for the deformation? It does look like there is a much bigger contact patch too?

 

Btw the link just throws up a 404 error on my pooter :(

Is that the only reason for the deformation? It does look like there is a much bigger contact patch too?

 

Btw the link just throws up a 404 error on my pooter :(

 

Try it again as I think I have fixed it now.

 

Oddly contact patch does not affect Mu, coefficient of friction.  You could have a large stamp sized contact patch or a A4 sized and get the same coefficient (and same grip)but then small contact patches will heat up quicker by their nature and then go squirrely as Colin Edwards would say.

 

Like the Cretins who put bigger and bigger wheels on their Corsa etc, actually grips less and not more as heat does not get to the right place. Putting larger width tyres on motorcycle rims also actually reduces tyre effectiveness.  

Try it again as I think I have fixed it now.

 

Oddly contact patch does not affect Mu, coefficient of friction.  You could have a large stamp sized contact patch or a A4 sized and get the same coefficient (and same grip)but then small contact patches will heat up quicker by their nature and then go squirrely as Colin Edwards would say.

 

Like the Cretins who put bigger and bigger wheels on their Corsa etc, actually grips less and not more as heat does not get to the right place. Putting larger width tyres on motorcycle rims also actually reduces tyre effectiveness.  

The link works now thanks. It looks horrific, even in blurry VHS quality.

 

I was thinking of contact patch like this. I imagined I was pushing a sash window up using the glass itself (not wise I know). If I used one finger it might slip and I would need to push even harder to gain proper purchase (even more unwise). If I used say both hands an all 10 fingers, I would have enough friction to move the window. I thought the tenfold increase in surface area was the reason?

The link works now thanks. It looks horrific, even in blurry VHS quality.

 

I was thinking of contact patch like this. I imagined I was pushing a sash window up using the glass itself (not wise I know). If I used one finger it might slip and I would need to push even harder to gain proper purchase (even more unwise). If I used say both hands an all 10 fingers, I would have enough friction to move the window. I thought the tenfold increase in surface area was the reason?

 

Actually one finger's coefficient of friction ie, skin to glass, would be the same as ten and it is just putting that much load through a finger rather then 10 digits is the issue and not that there is better "grip", other factors like that much localised force going through a single point, distortion and stress in the glass and the finger.  If you had a tiny tyre is would overheat quickly but, all other things being equal, the grip from a 110/120 mm wide tyre would be the same as a 180/190 if all other things are equal.  Contact badge does, potential, reduce the risk of a localised poor coefficient of friction, like those tar lines we sometime come across on motorbikes which are heart stopping. 

 

like those tar lines we sometime come across on motorbikes which are heart stopping.

Tell me about that!  Scared the stuff out of me one day and literally stopped me riding for a while.  Learnt later in life when I was instructing that the grip returns as soon as you are off it onto proper tarmac again and if the bike moves now like that on a bit of gravel or white line I just carry on as normal and it doesn't bother me.  All part of understanding what the bike is doing which of course is where the Moto GP riders get their extra 10ths of seconds a lap from.

Wierd race at San Marino.

 

Rossi sacrificing points to stay on the track with Lorenzo?  

Rossi said "After it began drying and we had to change the bike again," Rossi confirmed. "It was a difficult decision. For sure for me and Jorge fighting for the championship it is more tricky, more difficult, to try to take the right decision without risking too much.  "I know that if you pit earlier it is better for the result, but more risky. Two laps before I wanted to stop but it was still raining a little on the back straight and I thought if I stop and it starts to rain more, for me the result would be very bad. Also I check a little bit and Jorge was still behind me, so I decide to continue. I stayed out a little bit too much and I lost time during the next two laps."

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/223017/1/rossi-wanted-to-cry-but-important-result.html

 

Two Brits on the podium, first time since 1979 !

Jorge's crash has pushed the points gap out again

Jorge's crash has pushed the points gap out again

 

I know its bad but I gave a little fist pump and an audible yes as the camera showed him tumbling through the gravel. before saying I hope he's not too badly injured but I was hoping for a fractured Clavicle or something to slow him down because he is a bit metronomic machine like almost. I just want Rossi to get 10 and I don't think he will get another chance.

Strange old race and though it was nice to see tow Brits on the podium I don't think either of them consider it as a proper podium.  Tactics and pit stops are for F1 not bike racing as normally bike racing is exciting on it's own.  OK there have been a few boring races of late but with the battle in full swing between Lorenzoe and Rossi it is edge of the seat time most races.  With that in mind I would have preferred Rossi to beat Lorenzoe in a straight race but the same could happen to any of them and that is what racing at and over the limit is about.

 

Still plenty of chances for any of the top three really to make up points and it is just a matter of luck the other two make a mistake or have a failure in some form. 

 

Danny Kent had a difficult day and I think he was right in keeping out of the way of the Italians at the front to start with as was proved very quickly.  He lost the tow somehow and then having to drop a place left him with nowhere to go.  But he scored points rather than binning it trying and that is what will see him take the Championship this year.

 

As regards Sam Lowes.  Well after hearing his problems at Silverstone were caused by his team not putting the tyre warmers on the wet tyres for the start and then seeing his hugger come loose and explode the sooner the season ends for him and he joins a team who will work with him and not against him the better.

Was quite glad that the MotoGP was mixed weather, made it rather interesting and something different.. Normally the only one I watch for entertainment is Moto3.

Edited 14 September, 201510 yr by Tomia

Not saying it wasn't interesting because it certainly was.  Just that it isn't a true reflection of a 'race'.  If you look back to a few weeks ago when Danny Kent's crew took forever to change his wheels it cost him points and that was nothing to do with his ability or skill as a rider.  I realise it is the same for everybody but I just prefer to see man and machine pitted against each other although I do accept it can be a bit zzzzzzzzzzz at times.

Just watched Hit the apex. Interesting and quite sad because it features Marco Simonchelli quite a bit. Some funny bits in it as well. Worth a look if you fancy a nice ght at the flicks but we bought the DVD instead.