moto gp question
 

Just watched Spanish MotoGP race. Sometimes they take their inside foot off the peg and hang that leg for an instant when entering the turn. Why do they do that?

Any other things to notice when watching Pedrosa, Rossi, Stoner, et al do their stuff?

Um, repositionion their foot. The pegs are often quite grippy so you can't slide your boot very easily. The soles of the boots are not very hard either. I have friends who have worn holes in the bottom of their Sidi boots right under the balls of their feet in a few weekend.

I know I lift my left foot often, I don't really think about the right very much.

Things to watch.

Watch the front suspension and how smoothly they transition from deep trail braking to the throttle without upsetting the bike. How early they are able to pick up the throttle is a telltale of how well the bike is working for them.

Watch the body positon, they may move their head a few inches to adjust the line through the corner. The noggin is a lot of weight way up high and it can really effect the bike's tragectory.

Yep, moving the foot back further on the peg to keep the toe area off the ground. When I was roadracing in the mid-80's, I'd wear a hole thru my boot and even my sock. I'd then duct tape it for the next heat and repeat the process.

Watching these guys today is amazing.

It's also a matter of personal habit. Some guys do it, others don't.

helps with balance and to slow you down if you are coming into a corner a bit too quickly

Those guys are in another world. I don't think many of them ever ride on the street with us mortals.
Jim

MotoGP, and bike racing in general is nothing short of incredible. I have a DVD of 2004 Isle of Man TT...so freakin' awesome. I swear these riders are from another galaxy.

interesting to notice when they come out of the tuck in the braking zone to help slow the bike. The sheer physicality of the corning process is amazing.

Great racing to watch as lead changes are common and passes are abundant. And the skill level is wicked high.

interesting to notice when they come out of the tuck in the braking zone to help slow the bike. The sheer physicality of the corning process is amazing.

Great racing to watch as lead changes are common and passes are abundant. And the skill level is wicked high.

I enjoy watching MotoGP more than F1, actually.

I've raced bikes a little and karts a lot. After 20 minutes racing a bike I could hardly walk. I'm still drained after 20 minutes in a kart, but at least I don't feel like a ragdoll.

Like everything, I'm sure it gets easier with experience, but MC racers have mad skills.

It's my understanding that in the early 90's it got to the point that there were only about 10 guys in the world that could actually ride a 500cc GP bike with any chance in hell of staying in the lead pack. Then the big bang engines and then 4-strokes came along leveling the playing field.

Those guys are amazing!

FWI, at 11yo Nicky Hayden was the most down to earth kid you could ever meet. I bet he still is.

Colin Edwards on the other hand was a little prick and I bet he still is :D

We were walking through the paddock last year at Laguna Seca when Casey Stoner pulled in to park after arriving at the track for Saturday morning prep and practice. My wife and I casually walked up to him and struck up a conversation. He was very friendly, approachable and down to earth. We spoke for a couple minutes before he signed my ticket holder. I asked for a photo and he was more than willing to oblige and even had his wife take the photo so my wife could be in it as well. We're looking forward to attending both rounds this year. Seeing those guys in action is nothing short of amazing.


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213232554.jpg


http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213232569.jpg


Spies tucked in carrying the front wheel while charging up to the corkscrew. Probably my favorite photo of the weekend.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213232585.jpg

A few more....

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213233504.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213233562.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213233596.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213233630.jpg

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213233667.jpg

This is a great photo. You'll notice he's not even sitting on the bike. He has his weight to the right side, as the bike is still not fully upright after the last left hand corner and he is as far forward as he can get, to allow more throttle while keeping the front end from getting too high. He's probably in third gear and those bikes pull hard in that gear. Even a stock one pulls hard enough that it's hard to stay on it. Since the last thing a rider needs is a death grip on the bars, most of the forces he is applying to the bike are through his feet. I can't tell you how hard he's working.

These guys are amazing athletes.

JR

My desktop:

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1213272365.jpg

JR - your points are exactly why I love that photo. I took some of other riders in that spot, but this one is the best for exactly those reasons, plus when you look at it full size his helmet is either touching the windscreen or very, very close, he really is as far forward and low as he can possibly get. I had that shot printed at 24"x36", framed and it's hanging in the living room....

I have few other photos that really show how big Nicky looked on the Honda last year at Laguna compared to Dani and how it just was not set-up for him.

About a month to go before we head west.... I really wanted to go to the WSBK round at Miller this year, but just couldn't swing the UT, CA and IN trip.

check out the dvd "Faster". Very enjoyable. MotoGP is the ballsiest sport on the planet

http://www.amazon.com/Faster-Ewan-McGregor/dp/B0003JAO5Y

Moto GP and World Superbike are both fantastic race series. AMA/Daytona Group have killed and are about to bury roadracing in America. I thought Edmondson would save it but he has obviously sold out to the NASCAR concept which will alienate bike manufactures and drive talented riders overseas. Not feeling good about the future.

Edmonson quit being a good guy years ago, when the France f***heads first got their hooks in him. The minute I heard DMG made a bid for the AMA rights I knew we were screwed.

Someday, somebody needs to kill off two clans in this country, the France family and the Walton family. I don't care which one gets it first.

JR

Just reported on Superbike Planet that Spies is going to replace the injured Capirossi at Donnington!!!