<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mylexicon @ Dec 21 2007, 05:30 PM) [snapback]105000[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
You need to make a qualitative delineation between technological advancement and rider replacement aids.
Expansion chamber - didn't change the riders job--good
Carbon brakes - didn't change the riders job--good
It's when you start talking about the electro rider aids that things start getting iffy.
Wheelie control - keeps people out of the hospital but now you can hamfist it down the straight--didn't change the riders job much--okay
Brake modulation - keeps new grippy compounds that are super sensitive to heat from being too unpredictable for the rider--changes the rider's job substantially but needed to run carbon--a trade like the move to 4 strokes--I say okay
TC- started off innocent, but now it is the all seeing eye. It watches wheel spin, so it also monitors every bit of electronics on the bike. Feeds info to some systems, and monitors others--ban it.
Fuel Management - Provides unpredictable power so you gotta have TC to run it to it's fullest. This is a second level tech -- bad, imo.
GPS engine mapping - the pinnacle of all things unacceptable in moto racing. second level tech; an upgrade of regular engine mapping based off of fuel management, plus you gotta have TC to run it---really really bad because you could never run this without all the other electro systems that are mainstay in the sport.
Like I've said, the artform is dead. The subtle modulations and seat of the pants feel have been replaced by a web of electronics all set up to monitor and fee one another.
It's like PC's. First was code. Then operating systems based off of code. Then software programs for the operating system that's based off of the code. Then software management programs for the software for the operating system based off of the code.
What was the point of that nasty web? To make computers usable for the average fool. This isn't any different. The unforeseen consequence: It has left a wake of administrative expenses in its wake; productivity is high when the damn thing works.
Like a person sitting at a computer terminal, the rider will be necessary for the simplest of inputs--the "typing" and "clicking" of GP riding. All they will need to do in the future is be fit, fearless, hit their marks, and understand how tech works so they can adjust mid-race.
All of these teams are spending beaucoups to buy an extra half second, because it's a lot easier than scouting, paying, and training the next Rossi. It's a lot easier to find a half dozen decent techs, than to find and pay 1 Burgess. Lame.
great post!
You need to make a qualitative delineation between technological advancement and rider replacement aids.
Expansion chamber - didn't change the riders job--good
Carbon brakes - didn't change the riders job--good
It's when you start talking about the electro rider aids that things start getting iffy.
Wheelie control - keeps people out of the hospital but now you can hamfist it down the straight--didn't change the riders job much--okay
Brake modulation - keeps new grippy compounds that are super sensitive to heat from being too unpredictable for the rider--changes the rider's job substantially but needed to run carbon--a trade like the move to 4 strokes--I say okay
TC- started off innocent, but now it is the all seeing eye. It watches wheel spin, so it also monitors every bit of electronics on the bike. Feeds info to some systems, and monitors others--ban it.
Fuel Management - Provides unpredictable power so you gotta have TC to run it to it's fullest. This is a second level tech -- bad, imo.
GPS engine mapping - the pinnacle of all things unacceptable in moto racing. second level tech; an upgrade of regular engine mapping based off of fuel management, plus you gotta have TC to run it---really really bad because you could never run this without all the other electro systems that are mainstay in the sport.
Like I've said, the artform is dead. The subtle modulations and seat of the pants feel have been replaced by a web of electronics all set up to monitor and fee one another.
It's like PC's. First was code. Then operating systems based off of code. Then software programs for the operating system that's based off of the code. Then software management programs for the software for the operating system based off of the code.
What was the point of that nasty web? To make computers usable for the average fool. This isn't any different. The unforeseen consequence: It has left a wake of administrative expenses in its wake; productivity is high when the damn thing works.
Like a person sitting at a computer terminal, the rider will be necessary for the simplest of inputs--the "typing" and "clicking" of GP riding. All they will need to do in the future is be fit, fearless, hit their marks, and understand how tech works so they can adjust mid-race.
All of these teams are spending beaucoups to buy an extra half second, because it's a lot easier than scouting, paying, and training the next Rossi. It's a lot easier to find a half dozen decent techs, than to find and pay 1 Burgess. Lame.
great post!
