Riders get sat nav!

I think that is a TV mini-camera, the one that shows the view of the rider's back.

Though there is an antenna mounted on the rear wheel (or close to it). I know telemetry data is sent from the bike sensors (dampers, engine speed, temp etc ...) to the teams computers.
I don't think data (mappings) is sent the other way round, probably the rider would be really pissed if the behaviour of the bike was being changed from the pit lane.

The topic of new technology came up during the coverage of today's practice on eurosport. Rossi was shown doing a practice start and it was obvious that the yamahas have launch control. Randy Mamola went on to say that in his opinion that it was a good thing and that the new tech filtering over from F1 was just part of racing and that a certain amount of progress was always inevitable. On the launch control I'd agree with him but on the subject of teams having a remote influence on the bike during a race I would be dead against it. I think the 'man and machine' element of motogp is one of the main things that sets it apart from F1. The thought of watching guys in remote control cars is off-putting enough but for that sort of 'remote piloting' to come in to motogp would be a big mistake. The FIM will be anouncing pit-stops next

That is a magic pic of Marco though. Very like Loris in style, it put a huge grin on my face

Launch control was banned in F1 last year, they just have TC now.

Sorry Teo but I'm not a follower of F1 at all. Launch control on a bike I can live with but nothing else. I agree with you as well in that I can't see how 'remote' technology would work all that well on a bike.

What's launch control? Not familiar with it.
I think it's a bad idea, too. Apart form the fact that it would piss riders off (theyre not in complete control, and they should be), make the sport like F1 (More machine and pit crew, less man at the controls), ect... revloutionary electronics on bikes (Especially one with as much control over the bike as this) Can be accidents waiting to happen. I mean, Yamaha are doing well with the fly by wire system now, but remember what the same technoligy on the RS3 was like? You only need a liite computer fault or somthing and imagine what could happen... stuck throttles, engine failures, maybe even suspension malfunctions. Its a sure way to make the sport more boring and more dangerous (Funny thing is motorsport is usually either one or the other). IMO systems like that should be tried and tested before the FIM allows them, from a safety aspect. Which is the most important part of racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Mar 25 2006, 04:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think that is a TV mini-camera, the one that shows the view of the rider's back.

Look at the sticker, Teo.... you think you can buy that in the HRC catalouge?
But that is a good point. I think those cameras are hillarious. I mean, all you can see is the riders arse.

To my knowledge launch control keeps the revs at a peak performance range without wheelies. I personally like the electronics on today's GP bikes, the traction control and further fuel mapping makes for the grestest possible engine performance.

I like them too, I mean, like Randy DePuniet said, it'd be impossible to ride without them, but there is a stage where you can go too far

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Mar 25 2006, 03:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like them too, I mean, like Randy DePuniet said, it'd be impossible to ride without them, but there is a stage where you can go too far

I still think it's a camera.

Launch control makes starts easy. Instead of the rider controlling clutch and throttle, it's automatic, the rider just keeps full throttle and lets the clutch go when the lights turn off, the computer calculates maximum acceleration without stalling or spinning the tire.

I think it's better not to have it, I like to see riders using their skills in the starts.

Yeah, I agree, it sounds pretty crap. Traction control to delicately put the 200+ hp to the back wheel in a manner that wont shred the tyre (or the rider), I can understand, but I think a start should be under complete rider control. It's a pretty fine art to get the perfect start, right? I think it's cheating and lowering them all to the same stadard to control it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BEN @ Mar 24 2006, 06:42 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Was listening to the guys on eurosport talking about satellite tracking on the bikes now, and in theory, they teams have the ability (but its not permitted) to change the bikes engine mapping etc depending on which section of the track they are on.

Whats everyones thoughts on this?

I've attached two pictures of Marco's bike with the tracking antena from this afternoons FP2

Apprantley, theres a new on screen graphic during races that shows a real time view of the track with the bikes moving round as dots, so you get a visual representation of how far apart they are.

I wondered about that, saw one on someone elses aswell. Forgot who. I thought it was some sort of,....

toy?

maybe it's so Marco can take his boyfreind for a "ride"