Author Topic: MotoGP Fans: Dutch TT @ Assen (Van Drenthe Circuit) (Read 586 times)

rami · « **Reply #15 on:** June 29, 2006, 06:40:09 PM »

Are Moto GP bikes 1000cc 4 strokes now?

I was a big fan back in the days of King Kenny Roberts, Fast Freddie Spencer, Steady Eddie Lawson, and Randy Mamola. Those guys really kicked butt on 500cc 2 strokes. You could really see and smell those bikes coming a mile away!

Those were the days,

Rami

bigredbass · « **Reply #16 on:** June 29, 2006, 09:27:25 PM »

Yes, Rami, the old Motorcycle Formula One is now MotoGP. The two-strokes are history as of several years ago. The mighty Honda NSRs, the OW Yamahas, the RGV Suzukis are history.

MotoGP recognized that there were no more street two-strokes, as the high-performance market of GSXRs, R- Yamahas, etc., were all four-strokes.
And, across the Western World, emissions regulations that chased out two-stroke street rides are now chasing out two-stroke dirt/enduros: In a few more years, all dirt bikes will be four-stroke.

So now, current MotoGP grids consist of V5 Hondas, L-4 Yamahas, V4 Suzukis, L-4 Kawis, and V4 (yes four-cylinder, vee-engined) Ducatis. And these rockets are routinely in the 250-270bhp/400 lb. performance envelope, with some of the tricks (traction/launch control, dialable engine maps, etc.) from F1 to keep from roasting their Michelins and launching their riders into Low Earth Orbit.

A web search for 'MotoGP', 'Honda Racing Corporation', 'HRC', or Yamaha's terrific European Motorcycle website will fill in the details.

J o e y

bigredbass · « **Reply #17 on:** June 29, 2006, 09:36:46 PM »

Oh, and King Kenny now fields his own MotoGP team with his son, Kenny Jr., riding Kenny's own chassis with Honda motors, and Randy Mamola works for Dorna, the MotoGP parent company, and gives celebrity rides ( ALMOST knee dragging two up!) aboard a Ducati. Fast Freddie and Kevin Schwantz have their own schools. Mick Doohan is now the president of HRC. Eddie lays low and occasionally shows up for various events, where he's mobbed.

I'll never forget when Eddie was Kenny's teammate towards the end of Kenny's Yamaha tenure, and they raced Moto F1 at Daytona. Everyone else was racing for third. As they came across the finish line, KR wheelied across the line just ahead of Eddie and waved at the crowd AT SPEED. That's when I realized KR, unlike yours truly, had parts of his anatomy that were titanium . . . .

J o e y

kmh364 · « **Reply #18 on:** June 30, 2006, 05:32:06 AM »

Some minutiae:

In '07, the MotoGP formula (old 500GP or GP1 class) will be reduced from 990cc to 800cc 4-strokes. The 125GP and 250GP classes are still one (80kg=176# min. weight) and two-cylinder (100kg=220# min. weight) two-strokes, respectively.

The old 500cc 2-strokes (200+ bhp) were originally allowed to weigh a minimum of around 225-230#, but that was later raised to 120kg=263#. Unleaded fuel was instituted around the turn of the millenium, which further reduced engine power.

Minimum Weight - MotoGP Class Cylinders 2004 Min. (2007 Min., Change)
2Cylinder 135Kg (137Kg, +2Kg)
3Cylinder 135Kg (140.5Kg, +5.5Kg)
4Cylinder 145Kg (148Kg +3Kg)
5Cylinder 145Kg (155.5Kg, +10.5Kg)
6Cylinder 155Kg (163Kg, +8Kg)

That means Nicky's V-5 HRC bike must weigh at least 319#, while Rossi's I-4 Yami must weigh 297# minimally. The '07 mandated weight increase/engine capacity decrease is designed to curb the top speed of MotoGP bikes as they are close to F1 speeds, despite the huge aerodynamic disadvantage of a bike vs. a formula car.

kmh364 · « **Reply #19 on:** June 30, 2006, 05:41:07 AM »

FWIW, King Kenny's independent team (TEAM KR) is actually 10yrs. old. He first started with a clean-slate 2-stroke 500cc twin of his own design and manufacture (first called Modenas, later Proton). This continued until around 2003 when he adopted a new KR bike with a V-5 engine of his own design (with help from Ferrari Scuderia). This was replaced with a KTM-designed/built V-4 for the 2004-2005 season. Now, Kenny uses a customer V-5 engine from his arch-enemy HRC, but the bike is quickly becoming competetive (something that has eluded Kenny since '96) under the capable hands of his son, 2000 World 500cc Champion Kenny Roberts Junior. Both Kenny JR and younger son Kurtis have raced for Team KR in the past.

kmh364 · « **Reply #20 on:** June 30, 2006, 05:46:40 AM »

One more tidbit: Edwards is AGAIN racing the Suzuka 8hr with former winning teamate Noriyuki Haga. They last won the 8hr together as Yamaha teamates 10yrs ago. This race replaced Daytona long ago as the most prestigious M/C road race in the world. It has since become a Honda benefit (i.e, which Honda will win?), so I guess Yami want some come-uppance against their (uisually) bitter rival.

terryc · « **Reply #21 on:** July 08, 2006, 01:02:52 AM »

Bass players & motorcycles..the best combination
Colin Edwards visited a small town in the UK called Northallerton, he has been guesting at the North Yorkshire Motorcycle Racing Supporters Club for the past 6-7 years when he was in WSB and now MotoGP..he loves Newcastle Brown Ale and the the nightclub where the venue was was packed, Casey Stoner(who looks about 15 years old) was there too!
A great guy who signed all the helmets, books posters etc that were put in front of him and his explanation for his crash was:-
(Texan accent) 'well it is turn, gas, turn, gas but this time it was turn, grass, gas, pain in the ass!' A huge applause.

Donnington...another nail biter..what happened to Nicky?? I think they should give back last years bike to him..seems to work for Danny

MotoGP..beats soccer hands down

bigredbass · « **Reply #22 on:** July 08, 2006, 06:26:05 PM »

KMH

Gotta question . . . . there's all these 'GO FAST' schools, track days, etc. ARE THERE similar schools for Harley or GoldWing type guys who just want to street ride/survive better? It's certainly just as demanding in a DIFFERENT way herding 800 lbs of ElectraGlide or K1200 as it is hanging off your Gixxer and knee dragging!

J o e y

terryc · « **Reply #23 on:** July 09, 2006, 02:08:51 AM »

Here in the UK they do rider safety days with the local police and there is an advanced course too, in the states I don't know..best check out your local police force to see if they know.
Mind you once followed a guy on a Pan European and he certainly could get it over!!!!

bigredbass · « **Reply #24 on:** July 09, 2006, 05:57:53 PM »

Terry, in the UK don't you have to ride a 125 for a year or something like that before you can move up to a full license and a larger bike?

At least we get the PanEuropean on this side of the pond as the ST1300; if we could only get Deauvilles and TransAlps. Oh, and Yamaha did see a way to get us the mighty FJR1300 over here as well.

adriaan · « **Reply #25 on:** July 10, 2006, 02:13:02 AM »

Yesterday, I spent about 10 minutes driving our family car behind a newby biker, who was perhaps a bit too well-behaved (and yes, I kept my distance). Once outside the 50 km/h zone, he still didn't want to hit the 80 limit and kept a steady 70.

Mind you, I've had my license for just under a year now, so I have some idea of what it feels like. Then again, only a newby would be driving his bike on the motorway in shorts and short sleeves ...

kmh364 · « **Reply #26 on:** July 10, 2006, 05:37:26 AM »

Joey:

A racetrack school for non-sportbikes in the US? I'm not aware of one. I've seen parade/demo laps of regular streetbikes at races, but am not aware of track days for cruisers/tourers. Having said that, I imagine if the headlight was taped, and other safety requirements were attended to, it should be possible to go to an open track day with just about anything. We have several guys at Rider Ed Of NJ that race and/or do track days...all on dedicated track bikes. I'll ask if there is such a thing of those guys at our monthly RiderCoach meeting this Tues. night.

Right now, the MSF ERC Course is your best bet. Bear in mind that the MSF is putting the finishing touches on the SERC (Skills Experienced Rider Course) will will involve much more advanced bike skills, including some racing-style cornering/late-apex exercise(s). With all the Beta testing, plus range re-demarcation/re-certification, and RC Trainer and RiderCoach re-certification (nevermind the insurance regs.) involved, it'll be a year or two before it's widely implemented at the provider level...if you have a full-size range and the proper run-off area (they may require a dedicated SERC range as well...TBD). As I enjoy teaching the current ERC, I'm really looking forward to the new curricula...even though it requires another RC Prep. Class to be certified by the MSF to teach it.

Terry:

Yeah, first-gen Aussie-American Edwards is extremely popular in the UK. I've met him before and he's just a good 'ole boy from Lake Conroe in Texas that likes bikes, cars/trucks, beer and watersports. He's never suffered from the celebrity ego that can happen when Yanks get sent to the big-time circus spotlight over in Europe.

Colin and Nicky's performances were both disappointing in Derby, Kent. They were both touted as favorites to win, and an epic battle between them was predicted. Sadly, it was not to be. What makes it bad for both is the stellar performances by their respective teamates on similar, if not identical, equipment. While Dani's performance, despite his former 3-X World Championship status (all on tiddlers), has been suprisingly astonishing during his rookie MGP season, anyone that teams with Dr. Rossi is bound to look bad no matter how accomplished of a rider they are.

As the World Championship points leader, Nicky needs to do better than that each week if he is to be World Champion (never mind if he just wants to keep his coveted works ride). Colin needs to win to keep his morale up and to keep his ride as well. I'd like to see him get some wins (nevermind the title) before he retires. Nicky has plenty time left in his career, so I'd rather see Colin get a title before his time is up.

Cheers,

Kevin

(Message edited by kmh364 on July 10, 2006)

adriaan · « **Reply #27 on:** July 10, 2006, 05:52:20 AM »

I know you can take your everyday car or bike to the Nuremburg Ring in Germany, you pay a handful of euros and you drive around. In Spa, Belgium, much of the track is public road - except for one very steep bit, where normal traffic cannot go.

kmh364 · « **Reply #28 on:** July 10, 2006, 06:07:55 AM »

Ah, the Ring! Pay at the toll both and take your street car or bike around the infamous Nordschleiffe (the green hell!). They have some seriously fast bikers that hot-shoe around that track!

Alas, in the US, the land of liability and lawsuits, there is no such thing.

bigredbass · « **Reply #29 on:** July 10, 2006, 11:25:57 AM »

Ah yes, the Germans have this silly idea that if you tear up your vehicle and yourself while circulating the 'Ring, it's YOUR OWN FAULT, a concept utterly lost in American jurisprudence. What a concept: It's not the fault of the track, the vehicle, the tires, the moon phases, or your distressed childhood. Positively mind-blowing that 60 years after sending the Third Reich to Reagan's 'Dustbin of History' that WE'VE become Safety Nazis, and attorneys are the new SS.

Geez, just imagine if Daimler-Benz (I just can't bring myself to say Daimler-Chrysler, Dr. Z) would let you buy laps around the 'Wall of Death' at Unterturkheim ! !

J o e y