Fastest

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8sl0mclf4E[/media]

Faster was my gateway to MotoGP. Looking forward to this.

Gecko Hunter said:

Ahhh but McCoy was a legend with how he was riding that bike!



He revolutionised the use of the 16.5, no one was really using it until he did and he got dudded on tyres when everyone started to use it.



He was great to watch.



Cheers



Gecko

Click to expand...

Excellent post.



When was this? 2000 I think. As I recollect McCoy requested a one off spec tyre from Michelin to match the rim and started to push for poduims on the WCM Yam. Everyone followed suit because they assumed that simply reverting to the narrower rear was the key to his recent success. McCoy's special rubber got sidelined in the process and he was forced to opt for the more amenable choices of compound demanded by the rest of the paddock which negated much of the beneficial attributes of the 16.5 for the lab rat. Valentino being Valentino very quickly learnt how to exploit these tyres through superior set up riding skill and development - (plus by 2001 the Saturday night specials), whilst still maximising the advantages that the 16.5 had to offer.



IMO McCoy was one of the most naturally talented 500cc riders of his era and a true pioneer. It's a tragedy that his era came to an end in 2002.

DOUBLE