Michelin® Australian Motorcycle GP 2016 Nicky Hayden extravaganza with spoilers
- Thread starter MdubSTYLIE
- Start date
No he's on a satellite Honda that's this years model. He only got the new chassis because MM and DO rejected it. It's not the same as being on a factory bike, he has essentially no input into the direction of the bike or a massive team of engineers and mechanics to overcome problems he is having either.
He might have got the chassis anyway, I think that is the sort of thing the factory spec satellite bikes get, if not at the same time as the actual factory bikes; I do suspect Cal will get just about everything straight away in current circumstances more than he usually would, and props to him for going with the chassis the factory guys rejected since it is certainly working for him. I agree with you that "factory" satellite bikes tend not to have everything the real ones do, particularly in the electronics era for the reasons you mention which the control ECU is an attempt to address.
I only saw the end of the race, but if he rode at a rapid sustainable pace and another rider who is quite likely already an all time great rode a little faster at a pace which didn't prove sustainable that hardly detracts from the quality of the win.
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
Just curious, does Miller have the same bike as Cal? Is it the 2016 bike with the seamless gearbox?
I didn't see that part of the race, but from the results/timing Cal had the fastest lap of the race just before MM crashed. This doesn't mean MM wouldn't have won had he followed a PI 2015 strategy but he crashed, Cal didn't, credit to Cal, particularly since he was at least as fast as MM at the time MM crashed.
Last edited:
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
Thanks, I thought it was the 15 bike but wasn't too sure about the seamless box.
I read an interview with Miller after he got to test the Repsol factory bike at one of the test sessions towards the end of last season. He said the main differences where the seamless box and electronics making the bike smoother and easier to ride fast off corners.
It wasn't too much faster overall but he found it a lot easier to ride fast and the biggest improvement he noticed was his consistency compared to his 15 bike.
I find it a really interesting topic but there isn't huge amounts of information to be found especially on bikes used in the current season.
Joined Jan 2016
801 Posts | 401+
Uk
He got it as a "hand down" because the Repsol boys rejected it and he's third in the pecking order at Honda. If Jack or Tito were faster than Cal, then one of them would have been offered the frame instead, it's how satellite bikes get their upgrades, in bits and bobs.
Cal won't get in sports personality because
1.He only won two races, whilst it's a very good achievement it's not a world title.
2. His personality is ....
3. He probably thinks he should win it, therefore for that reason alone should be excluded
Joined Nov 2015
2K Posts | 582+
A caravan on an island
You're on your own here, everyone else seems to know that fact, update needed Richie lad.
Update to what. Satellite bikes dont get the latest stuff out of the factory all the time.
They might start the season with a very similar bike, but tend to get left behind during the year as the factories develop. Therefore they get rejected or hand me down bits as the year progresses.
Surely even you don't believe cals bike is the same as Marquez's come on vale boy
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
I know they are not massively different, factory teams seem to have all the fruit on their bikes though. They also have the resources and budgets to better develop the bikes and fabricate upgraded parts to better complement the rider.
In terms of factories making the bikes suit the rider and their style, I think of it a bit like wearing an 'off the shelf Hugo Boss suit' vs a 'custom tailored Hugo Boss suit'.
To argue if a bike is the same is crazy, no two bike in the paddock are truly the same not even the two Repsol bikes. Pedrosa will have parts on his bike to suit his size and style and those parts may not be on Marc's bike because they don't work well with his style and size. If Pedrosa then wins a race would you argue that Pedrosa won because he was on a 'better bike'? His bike was different, it was better for him but not necessarily better for Marc. If Marc used those parts they may even have a negative effect and slow him down.
I always wondered what would happen if at the start of a round Marc and Jack swapped bikes and placed a standard base tune on each bike and then used them all weekend with their own respective teams to tune and dial them in as best they could. Would Jack be qualifying on pole and would Marc be finishing in 10th ... I really don't know but it would be really interesting to see especially at a round like Aragon where Marc was over a second faster than anybody else.
In terms of factories making the bikes suit the rider and their style, I think of it a bit like wearing an 'off the shelf Hugo Boss suit' vs a 'custom tailored Hugo Boss suit'.
To argue if a bike is the same is crazy, no two bike in the paddock are truly the same not even the two Repsol bikes. Pedrosa will have parts on his bike to suit his size and style and those parts may not be on Marc's bike because they don't work well with his style and size. If Pedrosa then wins a race would you argue that Pedrosa won because he was on a 'better bike'? His bike was different, it was better for him but not necessarily better for Marc. If Marc used those parts they may even have a negative effect and slow him down.
I always wondered what would happen if at the start of a round Marc and Jack swapped bikes and placed a standard base tune on each bike and then used them all weekend with their own respective teams to tune and dial them in as best they could. Would Jack be qualifying on pole and would Marc be finishing in 10th ... I really don't know but it would be really interesting to see especially at a round like Aragon where Marc was over a second faster than anybody else.
Last edited:
Joined Mar 2016
2K Posts | 2K+
FNQ
I'll just add it's well known that lesser teams get assistance later in the season. Firstly to aid pre season testing, but also to close out the lesser titles.
Joined Mar 2016
2K Posts | 2K+
FNQ
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
Thats what I would have thought, maybe slowed him down by a few tenths per lap.
I agree but Lewis Hamilton has won it and he's a monumental cuntwomble of the highest order.
Defo if I had a choice would rather have a pint with cal than Lewis. Plus I bet Lewis don't drink beer.
