Dr No
3520651369222135
Not at all, MA. Seriously.
I'm not just blasting out responses to get a reaction, I'm just trying to get to the crux of the matter. It's an interesting topic and is well worth further discussion. Far better than V(irginal) S(plit) G(usset) discussions at any rate.
Ok.
Lets say that to win a championship you need to win a certain number of races and podium the rest. To win a race you have to complete it within a known time frame (last years race time less say 20sec). You can then break it down to a lap time. If all that is achieved then in this era you will, with a high likelihood win the race.
To achieve a lap time and race time it is a simple case of managing the physics of all the aspects of a motorcycle. The point at which a motorcycle can't go any fast or lean any further in a corner I assume is a known, plus a small variable,for inconsistencies in tyre, temperature, set up etc.
Now to the big variable. The rider. The rider is a big inconsistent variable. They have differing emotion and physical capabilities from one day to the next, they change their body position, race line, brake point, throttle application etc marginally every lap. Most importantly their focus is limited which then has an impact on how many things they can get as close to perfect each lap for 20 odd laps.
So what can a team do to perfect these variables that the rider brings to the table? Emotions and physical fitness can be managed to a degree. Race lines can be monitored and tweaked during debrief sessions as can brake markers and acceleration points. But the bike can't be steered by the crew in the pits nor can the point the brakes are applied or the throttle cracked.
So what can be done by the crew in the pits? The mechanical grip and therefore the physics of maximum speed, the engine braking into the corner and the power delivery out of the corner. Of course these things can be left up to the rider to manage in their entirety or they can be heavily managed by the electronics. The benefit of managing the power delivery by electronics is that the electronics can be programmed to deliver the perfect amount that physics allows for the mechanical set up of the bike and the precision of the rider as they hit lines, brake points and acceleration points.
So, if the amount of power delivered is taken out of the riders hands then the rider no longer has to focus on this and the available brain power can be split up amongst the fewer remaining tasks which can now be delivered even more precisely for longer resulting in greater consistency over more laps.
It is widely accepted that Lorenzo is supremely focused. He hits his marks every lap, his body movement on the bike is smooth and he does this lap after lap after lap. So is he also, every lap achieving perfect braking and perfect acceleration or are these things being heavily managed so as to leave him free to concentrate on those things that only he, the rider, can do? Thus giving him and the team an almost guaranteed lap time, race time, number of race wins and podiums and ultimately the world championship.
This is what I am suggesting. I believe that Yamaha, Lorenzo's crew and Lorenzo have unlocked a system that removes variables and virtually guarantees the World Championship as long as they can get the bike in the window of the limit of physics.
