FIM Discussing Ban of Traction Control

An article from Dennis Noyes says the FIM are looking at a ban on TC in WSBK. The article quotes Paolo Flammini saying: "Whenever any component becomes so important that it controls the outcome of races we will not hesitate to act as we did in the case of control tires." This change would not be effective sooner than 2009. If they've seen the light, or at least officially discussing it, maybe there's hope Moto GP will follow suit. There have been a number of "polls" and while promoters don't seem to care much what the riders want, at some level, the promoters want to please the fans.

I hate TC in all forms of racing, the riders and drivers of any series shouldnt be getting a helping hand and jail free cards when they make a mistake. I hate it in MotoGP and hate it in F1, but at least the latter is getting rid of it for next season.

I saw an interview today with Rossi where he said he thinks electronics are vital for safety, however, he'd like it controlled.. A controlled ECU for example, he doesn't want it to ever become like F1...

I have said it before and im saying it again, TC is having to much say and is taking to much control of the bike away from the riders, i mean its good for safety but atleast give the rider some sort of feel and let them use there skill.
i dont want to see it totally banned but they need to step it back a notch or two or three.

do i want to see the bikes going sideways - YES
do i want to see the riders smoking the rear tyre - YES! YES! YES!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(jazkat @ Oct 13 2007, 01:33 PM) [snapback]95005[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I have said it before and im saying it again, TC is having to much say and is taking to much control of the bike away from the riders, i mean its good for safety but atleast give the rider some sort of feel and let them use there skill.
i dont want to see it totally banned but they need to step it back a notch or two or three.

do i want to see the bikes going sideways - YES
do i want to see the riders smoking the rear tyre - YES! YES! YES!




Well, the safety side of TC goes both ways. Look at JT last weekend. He was so close to loose it on that Super Pole, and if I'm not misstaken he was down a couple of times earlier in that weekend due to TC failing.

It doesn't make up for all the riders it saves, but failing equipment can be so much more dangerous than small rider misstakes as they tend to happen anywhere and often where it is not predicted to happen. Do we wan't a few beaten up drivers and broken bones or a potential fatal accident waiting to happen?

I wouldn't mind a controlled TC but have a hard time to see how that can work. Would it be the "spin detector" that kicks in later than now? I would guess that the TC nowdays use all sorts of sensors. Lean angle among them. The adjustability on how each sensor finally influence the injectors and/or spraks probably depend on engine construction, mapping, chassi and rider style.
To make one general TC that can work efficiently seems mor like a nice dream to me.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Oct 13 2007, 02:23 PM) [snapback]95010[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
To make one general TC that can work efficiently seems mor like a nice dream to me.


i agree entirely....IMO its an "all or nothing" situation with traction control.

there is no cost effective and uniform way of applying TC to all bikes across the grid so get rid of it entirely.

it will help safety on road-going bikes and off-roaders but on the racetrack, it has no place as this is a controlled environment and the riders are all experts.
if only it could be done away with for 2008!

i LOVE traction control!............. for all us mere mortals who need to have electronics look out for our riding ineptitudes. i think the best racers in the world, in the best series in the world, should'nt need or be aloud to use traction control. i know they think it gives em an edge & if some have it & some don't well it does. but if none can have it then the riders talents will come to the for. this "saftey" excuse is a load of ........ just like going to 800cc machines was for saftey reasons.... please let the racer race without the gizmos!

^+1

The proof will be in the pudding,it`s a hell of a fine line between safety and excitement,lets hope the balance is acheived.

They won't ban it completely, what Rossi said a controlled ECU like F1 is the closest we'll get.

Without traction control i would fear for the life of Randy De Puniet.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(an4rew @ Oct 13 2007, 08:18 PM) [snapback]95070[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
They won't ban it completely, what Rossi said a controlled ECU like F1 is the closest we'll get.

Without traction control i would fear for the life of Randy De Puniet.


My respect for Rossi should be well known, but it doesn't include his "doctorate" in electronics.

If they have a control ECU they should get garry mccoy to do all the testing and set the parameters.

haha they would need to introduce drift points!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(an4rew @ Oct 13 2007, 07:18 PM) [snapback]95070[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
They won't ban it completely, what Rossi said a controlled ECU like F1 is the closest we'll get.

Without traction control i would fear for the life of Randy De Puniet.


how would they differentiate between an inline 4 and a v4? at least in F1, the engines are the same layout... and then next year, honda will bring in the fabled v3....

cant see how it will be equal for all then....

TC should go.

I'm aware it makes riding safer, but at a cost far too high. If we gave so much priority to safety always, we would have ABS so that riders didn't crash while braking and then rider skills would be reduced to slam gas and brakes ... we might aswell put a monkey to ride the bike.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(michaelm @ Oct 14 2007, 03:25 AM) [snapback]95094[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
If they have a control ECU they should get garry mccoy to do all the testing and set the parameters.

to be honest mike, i dont think half the riders these days could ride to mccoys parameters imo tc has made riders like him look ordinary when those of us who have followed the sport for years no he is not.
there seems to be no individual style anymore, sure the lap time are faster but the seat of ya pants riding human element seems to have gone.

"BAN ....... TC"

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roger-m @ Oct 15 2007, 10:17 PM) [snapback]95403[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
to be honest mike, i dont think half the riders these days could ride to mccoys parameters imo tc has made riders like him look ordinary when those of us who have followed the sport for years no he is not.
there seems to be no individual style anymore, sure the lap time are faster but the seat of ya pants riding human element seems to have gone.

"BAN ....... TC"


I am prett confident that almost all of the riders on the grid have the skills pull Mccoy like powerslides at will, but why bother when its so much slower than riding properley.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Oct 15 2007, 02:57 PM) [snapback]95419[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I am prett confident that almost all of the riders on the grid have the skills pull Mccoy like powerslides at will, but why bother when its so much slower than riding properley.


Spoken like a true Nanny Stater. And it's not slower, it's only slower when the Nanny ECU rides the bike for you or when you're riding a little weedwacker with a seat.

I hope TC doesn't go just yet b/c it is important tech, but in a couple more years when the systems are well developed they need to chuck it.

Im sure McCoy would of appreciated TC, he had plenty of nasty high-sides... Was magic to watch in full flight though..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Oct 15 2007, 09:57 PM) [snapback]95419[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I am prett confident that almost all of the riders on the grid have the skills pull Mccoy like powerslides at will, but why bother when its so much slower than riding properley.


I was joking.

However with mccoy it wasn't just that the power-sliding was entertaining to watch. At least in the year when he had his wins, after being off the pace early, he would make up huge rossi-esque amounts of ground late when the tyres went off as they invariably did then. My implication was that he would need tc less than most, although as antfan says he still did crash a fair bit.