I'll take your comments here my dear and respected friend. Sidenote, as I'm sure I need not mention, this little debate is purely for entertainment value, a reprieve if you will, from the lofty and distinguished mission of offering a voice to the bio-network of harmless animals that are tattered and abused, dare I say,
dog-eared, by those who would
assault them for their self gratification.
Yes - I will. Tyre woes and chatter simply weren't in the equation this weekend.
Just like that?
Simply not an issue this weekend...period. May I make the assertion then, this previous "chatter" and "tire issues" claimed and echoed in print media and voiced by some commentators was
simply overestimated, shrewdly promulgated by unhappy HRC riders, while in reality no significant loss of pace to challenge for the title occurred; relevant to this discussion, having the affect of influencing many observers into mistakenly assessing the RCV is inferior to the M1. Not only have I argued this is the case during this season, but this reality is evidenced on the track particularly these last two events (one by virtue of contrast in the absence of Lorenzo, and the other by a stark gap by both HRC riders whose confidence and pace tells the story I have been trying to tell.)
As has been ventured in previous posts given that they had no option other than the harder rubber - in view of the lack of the associated problems which has previously emerged from such a tyre choice suggests that HRC have probably found a solution.
No options? I may be mistaken, but I think I heard one of the RCVs was on the soft option at the German GP. Ok, I'll concede, as Dani said, look at the lap times. Anyway, which new tire
options are we talking about here, the new 2012 tire introduced prior to the season or the new tire first used by Hondas at Silverstone? If they have 'solved the problem', this being the central dearth, then I'm not sure what would now keep you from declaring the superior overall Japanese factory machine is now the factory RCV. Notwithstanding, the RCV continues its assault on the podium with little to no divergence in terms of overwhelming representation from Qatar until now, minus one last lap crash this weekend, it would have been again a 2:1 Honda box.
Traditionally Sachsenring has tended to be regarded as a Yamaha track but it's also for a multitude of reasons Dani's strongest. I think we saw what happens when the Honda handicap is removed and both riders are 100% on their game.
That handicap either exists or it doesn't; it seems a bit gobbledygook (admittedly based on my limited understanding of the issue) for it to magically appear and disappear while one cites the tires as the central figure having them remained the common denominator (to my knowledge). So what has changed? In my estimation (since we are going to venture on speculations as to why the chatter and tire issues did not appear at this traditionally M1 track); I propose (as you have above) simply the mindset of the two HRC riders. Bautista's torpedo may have had more than just the immediate effect of grenading a Yamaha engine and sending Lorenzo into the gravel, I contend it has reboot the mind and will of both HRC riders. After the incident, both HRC riders making quick work of the championship math, realized they had been given a 2nd chance at the title, and with it a renewed sense of focus. Plausible? Tangible? I suppose as plausible as saying the chatter and tire issues simply disappeared at a dry Sachsenring GP. However, I’ll shelve this until I read the post race round-up. Maybe HRC brought out a new chassis, or replaced a $2 part?
Also Cal and Jorge are not fully fit. Regarding the machinery - all things being equal....they probably are exactly that this season between Honda and Yamaha, as they are between the top three riders, which is why as Barry said it may well go to the wire.
As I have said before discussing the relative merits of either the Honda or the Yamaha is very difficult due to the multifarious variables which prevail at any given race weekend.
As a very general statement - with the chatter eliminated the Honda may well have the edge but with such differences negligible at best, comparatively in my opionion, the play off between Honda and Yamaha remains in constant flux.
Its true, making the case for either RCV vs M1 is a case study on making very fine distinctions and giving them theoretical abstract weight based on the perspective of a diehard fan of the sport. It seems you have so far dismissed my video observations to the contrary, but allow me to direct you again to the footage of this recent GP. The factory RCVs look fairly out of shape on multiple occasions (I can direct you to the 0:00sec times, if you like). I ponder, how might we have interpreted the appearance of instability had the Hondas not gapped the fastest M1 on track? Also, not sure much is in it in terms of rider comfort, Casey had just come off, in his words, the most painful crash in memory, only to win last week at Assen (admittedly, not
hounded chased by Lorenzo).
I originally took up this debate on the heels of having too much time on my hands, so you can say I have no
dog in this fight (steady Barry). I suppose its a good way of mentally verbalizing our thoughts and observations regarding the brands, something that is turning out to be a very tight championship battle between the two Japanese marquees. The factory M1 and the RCV are both very close in terms of competiveness, despite having a small part of their DNA unique to each machine, but I still contend HRC bikes still have a slight advantage. Speaking of DNA, I once read that apes and .... sapiens share a large percentage of their DNA, I’m not sure, perhaps Barry read the same article, though I would submit, he may have misunderstood what they meant by ‘sharing DNA’; perhaps its why he is attempting to increase that ratio by pumping in at bit more human genetic material of his own.
