Discussion
There are varying rules, the crux being no one in any class can test on anything prototype that is on or near the cc they race outside of official testing.
As above there are also further restrictions in the lower class around the CC that bikes can be that you are testing on, even if they are production machines.
In the upper classes no such limit, hence we use the production equivalent (V4R, R1, Fireblade etc) for laps with riders outside of official testing.
There are also restrictions on team. So for example you could see Tony with his data engineer and perhaps one or two others, but it wouldn’t normally be the whole team in an official set up as that would then risk being outside the regulations.
As always there is various exemptions that can apply for various reasons, but you have to apply to IRTA for this beforehand or risk falling foul of the rules.
In other news, where was it I was reading on here a while back where someone was saying Pedro isn’t pretty special?
As above there are also further restrictions in the lower class around the CC that bikes can be that you are testing on, even if they are production machines.
In the upper classes no such limit, hence we use the production equivalent (V4R, R1, Fireblade etc) for laps with riders outside of official testing.
There are also restrictions on team. So for example you could see Tony with his data engineer and perhaps one or two others, but it wouldn’t normally be the whole team in an official set up as that would then risk being outside the regulations.
As always there is various exemptions that can apply for various reasons, but you have to apply to IRTA for this beforehand or risk falling foul of the rules.
In other news, where was it I was reading on here a while back where someone was saying Pedro isn’t pretty special?
Marquezs Stabilisers said:
Ref Arbolino on a 1,000cc. There is some rule that now prevents them practicing on MotoGP tracks on bikes too similar to those they ride, especially in the smaller classes. Sergio Garcia IIRC fell foul of this in Moto3 - as did Fabio Quatararo when he did a feature for a French magazine on a very fancy R1.
Don't VDS runs Ducatis in WSBK?
Yeah, all the Moto2 riders have 1000's as practice bikes, most of them were on R1's Don't VDS runs Ducatis in WSBK?
Edited by Marquezs Stabilisers on Friday 2nd February 22:11
The moto3 riders that were there were all mostly on 600's too and a couple also on R1's
Deniz Onchu was on a Ducati V4R, and Vinales and Fernandez were on RSV4's and Martin on a V4
What stood out was the size of the factory effort there Supporting Arbolino compared to the other riders, who were largely either on their own with a bike in a van with maybe one helper, or the Redbull riders that had a few bikes in a truck
Carasco came in a van with her girlfriend with a ZX6R in the back, and a Kawasaki Technician turned up a bit later to help her out
Was a nice chilled day with maybe only 25 riders on track in total, and my lad was a bit blown away by the chance to be on track with so many superstars, although it was nice for him to see that they're all only human
We spoke with a few riders, and they were just using it as a sharpener before heading into the Official GP tests coming up
It's a shame Marquez wasn't there as we would've gone into Fanboy mode
Edited by graeme4130 on Saturday 3rd February 08:02
I do hope Dorna try and do something about this garbage in the new rules, I doubt it, they are so scared in many ways of the manufacturers power. But the bikes do need to clean up, the sports bike market is not what it was and the link between this stuff and any road bikes is starting to look sketchy!
flatlandsman said:
I do hope Dorna try and do something about this garbage in the new rules, I doubt it, they are so scared in many ways of the manufacturers power. But the bikes do need to clean up, the sports bike market is not what it was and the link between this stuff and any road bikes is starting to look sketchy!
Yes Luke, spoked wheels and 364’s apparently are being discussed as we speak. This won't be popular but aero will have a bigger role to play going forward. With electric bikes, road bikes will need to have more aerodynamic profiles to make the best use of the range. Or, as in MotoGP, to harness the massive torque.
MotoGP is supposed to be new technology, and prototype racing, so it will only increase.
MotoGP is supposed to be new technology, and prototype racing, so it will only increase.
Isn't the aero there to increase the weight downwards, thus increasing wind resistance? Which is the opposite to what you want in an electric bike. Also, regarding the torque of an electric bike, if the electric bikes have one gear like most electric vehicles, maxiumum torque as at zero revs where aerodynamics have the least effect..... So electric bike designers would look at MotoGP bikes as a study of what not to do 
rodericb said:
Isn't the aero there to increase the weight downwards, thus increasing wind resistance? Which is the opposite to what you want in an electric bike. Also, regarding the torque of an electric bike, if the electric bikes have one gear like most electric vehicles, maxiumum torque as at zero revs where aerodynamics have the least effect..... So electric bike designers would look at MotoGP bikes as a study of what not to do
Yes, in the case of MotoGp, but the same fundamental principles can easily be applied to channel air through and around the bike for efficiency it's different, but still the same process and still very much the same technology
Hilarious
Wings on GP bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with making them faster overall in a clean aero straight line way they are a hindrance to that. , it is simply to keep the wheel on the ground, and to impriove the weight distribution in a fake way really. Aero is free weight in a way
It has very little relevance to any road bikes, which is why it ought to be policed a little better, it is cost that really does not benefit anyone, but hey look at f1 to see how far it can go. it just took another 40 years for it to get to bikes properly.
if you put modern engines into say a 2003 Duke they I am sure would be well into the 230-40mph area at Mugello or some of the faster places if they are not already.
Wings on GP bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with making them faster overall in a clean aero straight line way they are a hindrance to that. , it is simply to keep the wheel on the ground, and to impriove the weight distribution in a fake way really. Aero is free weight in a way
It has very little relevance to any road bikes, which is why it ought to be policed a little better, it is cost that really does not benefit anyone, but hey look at f1 to see how far it can go. it just took another 40 years for it to get to bikes properly.
if you put modern engines into say a 2003 Duke they I am sure would be well into the 230-40mph area at Mugello or some of the faster places if they are not already.
flatlandsman said:
Hilarious
Wings on GP bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with making them faster overall in a clean aero straight line way they are a hindrance to that. , it is simply to keep the wheel on the ground, and to impriove the weight distribution in a fake way really. Aero is free weight in a way
It has very little relevance to any road bikes, which is why it ought to be policed a little better, it is cost that really does not benefit anyone, but hey look at f1 to see how far it can go. it just took another 40 years for it to get to bikes properly.
if you put modern engines into say a 2003 Duke they I am sure would be well into the 230-40mph area at Mugello or some of the faster places if they are not already.
You tell them Luke, have you thought of applying for a role in the paddock?Wings on GP bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with making them faster overall in a clean aero straight line way they are a hindrance to that. , it is simply to keep the wheel on the ground, and to impriove the weight distribution in a fake way really. Aero is free weight in a way
It has very little relevance to any road bikes, which is why it ought to be policed a little better, it is cost that really does not benefit anyone, but hey look at f1 to see how far it can go. it just took another 40 years for it to get to bikes properly.
if you put modern engines into say a 2003 Duke they I am sure would be well into the 230-40mph area at Mugello or some of the faster places if they are not already.
flatlandsman said:
Hilarious
Wings on GP bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with making them faster overall in a clean aero straight line way they are a hindrance to that. , it is simply to keep the wheel on the ground, and to impriove the weight distribution in a fake way really. Aero is free weight in a way
It has very little relevance to any road bikes, which is why it ought to be policed a little better, it is cost that really does not benefit anyone, but hey look at f1 to see how far it can go. it just took another 40 years for it to get to bikes properly.
if you put modern engines into say a 2003 Duke they I am sure would be well into the 230-40mph area at Mugello or some of the faster places if they are not already.
Prototype racing has always had very little to do with road relevance, often road technology is banned from racing.Wings on GP bikes have nothing whatsoever to do with making them faster overall in a clean aero straight line way they are a hindrance to that. , it is simply to keep the wheel on the ground, and to impriove the weight distribution in a fake way really. Aero is free weight in a way
It has very little relevance to any road bikes, which is why it ought to be policed a little better, it is cost that really does not benefit anyone, but hey look at f1 to see how far it can go. it just took another 40 years for it to get to bikes properly.
if you put modern engines into say a 2003 Duke they I am sure would be well into the 230-40mph area at Mugello or some of the faster places if they are not already.
The aero platform is simply a compromise of drag/grip to achieve the quicket lap time. The efficiency of that compromise determines who has the best ability to exploit that area of the equipment.
Even without any downforce generating aero aids, the efficiency of the aero has determined how competitive you can be, if you can reduce the size of a cooler because the aero works more efficiently that is a gain in drag, weight and weight distribution.
It's a never ending cycle, ultimately limited by the people who write the regulations.
epom said:
Tyres can’t keep up, that’s the biggest issue.
IMO they look awful with all that aero, absolutely terrible, but that’s only my opinion.
It also kills close racing, as soon as they mandated tyre cooling devices, launch, active suspension and aero the racing became sterile, and plays to the few for me. IMO they look awful with all that aero, absolutely terrible, but that’s only my opinion.
520TORQUES said:
FourWheelDrift said:
They had to add all that onto Dani's bike to get it all up the minimum bike/rider weight.
MotoGP do not use a weight measurement for rider and bike, it's purely bike weight that is specified. Anyway.., think it was Flatlands Luke talking about the aero, there obviously potential straight line advantage to aero, you have to consider how the bike gets up to speed in the first place, if the rider can access WOT sooner on exit and less anti-wheelie electronics are required which essentially just clip power output, then there's a good chance the bike will get to the next corner with a higher top speed, even carrying that drag penalty.
Who knows how any of this will translate to electric bikes but they are so infinitely mappable in their output it's hard to guess. I suppose though, the more grip and less wheelie on exit the more power you can deploy, and it doesn't matter whether that's leccy power or ICE.
None of it really relates to road stuff but I don't want MotoGP to look like road bikes. It's the pinnacle of 2 wheeled Motorsport where we should see innovation. I do think it needs to be controlled a bit more though, maybe a maximum number of aero add-ons per section of the bike or something like that. Allow the big brains to do their thing but present some limitations.
Hopefully the tyres get the improvements they need sooner rather than later as that's the biggest issue.
Edited by Yazza54 on Sunday 4th February 22:25
Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff