Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Little Wally, you still don't get the benefits to running multiple spec machines. You get additional rider feedback in real world operating conditions.
Little Wally, you still don't get the benefits to running multiple spec machines. You get additional rider feedback in real world operating conditions.
I would have thought you would get more valuable or at least different feedback from the likes of Zarco or Petrucci than the test riders, and it seems like a way of getting more testing done by actual race riders which is much restricted now compared to a decade ago.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
That's my exact point.
Not sure why Wally has such a problem understanding this.
I'd rather my feedback come from satellite riders on current spec machines than a test rider who becomes a backmarker during a wild card appearance. Though in fairness Michele Pirro has always acquitted himself rather well during his Wild Card appearances. But Nakasuga was abysmal on the Yamaha when he would Wild Card.
It’s Yamaha’s boneheaded decision to have a heavily Japan centric development program. Even HRC wised up and hired Bradl. Yamaha needs to test more in Europe with Euro riders who know the circuits, Unless 2/3rds of the races are moved to Japan.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
Solution is to make JLo the Yamaha test rider and give him some wildcard rides in Europe.....he can then take a year out and still be associated to the factory for the future....
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Or he can get booted back to Moto 2 so he can relearn how to ride since I don't know what he would do on the Yamaha after being so ...... up by the Ducati.
While I would actually love to see J.Lo on the Triumphs, recent history has not been kind to riders moving down to Moto2.
Joined Nov 2015
872 Posts | 420+
Stratosphere
Bloatus, you have yet to answer the question I posed. Can anyone in fact say with authority that the satellite teams share their data with the factory teams? And for that matter, are teams also somehow compelled to share rider feedback with competing teams? I've been following the sport for three decades and that question never came up. To feed helpful info to one's competitors seems counter intuitive.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Little Methhead, do you actually believe the factories don't know what is going on with their own bikes?
Joined Nov 2015
872 Posts | 420+
Stratosphere
Well Bloatus, the factory supplies parts to satellite teams but the teams use their own crews to service the bikes. When Tech 2 go to KTM they bring their own people. They don't all of a sudden dump their mechanics and software people and use the factory people. I have never heard of sharing data with a competitor. Seems like you are assuming this. I've never in all my years heard of this being done. In the past there have been well known spats in garages (like with Rossi and Lorenzo) where a wall was put up to stop sharing info between two teammates. If crews from the same team can stop the sharing of info, why not competitors? If you have a link that proves you're right, by all means share it.
Jesus, Walt. The importance of more than 2 current spec bikes (or even year old) bikes has been discussed in several articles by several learned people over the years. Why do you think KTM rushed head first into a satellite program after just two seasons?
More data points = more comprehensive development.
If there are more than 2 riders on the same spec bike, they can evaluate the characteristics of each component objectively. If one rider complains that an engine is too aggressive, that’s a personal preference. If two do it, that’s worth investigating. If three or four do it, that’s a pattern. And so on. Plus, more riders mean that the factory riders can concentrate on being fast and focusing on the championship while the grunt work of testing new parts can be done by the other riders. This is what Petrucci had been doing over the past 2 years which is why he rightfully thinks he earned a factory ride.
Even a year old bike provides valuable data to compare how the bikes have changed. As in the case with Yamaha now (U fortunately for them, the part in question is the engine, which is sealed for the season).
Then there are 2 and 3 year old bikes that are leased out to fill the grid like what Avintia and Aspar get. They get no support from the factory and the factory couldn’t care less about their data.
More data points = more comprehensive development.
If there are more than 2 riders on the same spec bike, they can evaluate the characteristics of each component objectively. If one rider complains that an engine is too aggressive, that’s a personal preference. If two do it, that’s worth investigating. If three or four do it, that’s a pattern. And so on. Plus, more riders mean that the factory riders can concentrate on being fast and focusing on the championship while the grunt work of testing new parts can be done by the other riders. This is what Petrucci had been doing over the past 2 years which is why he rightfully thinks he earned a factory ride.
Even a year old bike provides valuable data to compare how the bikes have changed. As in the case with Yamaha now (U fortunately for them, the part in question is the engine, which is sealed for the season).
Then there are 2 and 3 year old bikes that are leased out to fill the grid like what Avintia and Aspar get. They get no support from the factory and the factory couldn’t care less about their data.
Joined Nov 2015
872 Posts | 420+
Stratosphere
Well Holy ....! A reasonable reply to a reasonable question! Who knew? As to other discussions of this, I missed those. I would think there has to be some data that would only be shared with competing teams at the discretion of the team manager.
Regarding their going to KTM, as there was no chance of going with Honda, or Suzuki, KTM would seem in any event to be the painfully obvious choice for myriad reasons.
And not to be pedantic, but the impression one gets from various interviews with riders is the difference in the specs between two different iterations is considerable. Forks and brakes and swingarms etc change during the course of the season and a year later, you're looking at a very different set of variables and equations.
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See how nice that was, can’t everyone just get along and the forum would flourish. Time for all you fellas to bro out! 
BRO DOWN - Video Clip | South Park Studios
BRO DOWN - Video Clip | South Park Studios
Joined Apr 2018
58 Posts | 18+
UK
That phrase "mouthbreather" always make me laugh. Where else would you breathe from? Your aris?
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
It’s a one way street with factory and satellite teams. If the satellite team stumbles on something that makes the bike better, the factory can demand to see their data. Not so the other way around.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
