<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Geonerd @ Apr 20 2010, 10:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ah, OK.
You'd think that both the 990s and 800s would be wheelie and traction limited coming out of slow corners, and that the point and quirt corner lines would work equally well on the slower machines. I guess the lingering speed difference halfway down the straight is too much for the less powerful 800s to overcome.
Does anyone know how the wheel and tire dimensions changed for the 800 class? I remember the riders raving about the grip and lean angles. Do the bikes have more rubber on the road than before?
Also, anyone got HP numbers for the 800 vs. 990 engines? (I'm thinking it's ~225 vs. ~245?) You wouldn't think ~20 HP would have such a profound effect on the required riding style.
Point and shoot is not an option b/c dropping the anchors for "slow in" and then opening the throttle for "fast out" uses too much fuel. The bikes have to be fast in fast out which requires completely new tires, chassis, and electronics.
After just one season of 800cc racing they were already discussing a control tire even though Michelin was still winning races. I think its safe to say that the manufacturers were playing around with some pretty trick technology which freaked Dorna and the FIM out.
Obviously, the tires are regulated now such that the contact patch isn't to large or too aggressive. As a result all of the bikes are set up with a rearward bias so they don't overstress the front during corner entry. Bridgestone is always talking about how they are developing their tires to work in a wider range of conditions instead of developing outright speed. Who knows how long this will capture their fancy.
Imo, the tire war comes back tomorrow if they go back to 24L of fuel.
You'd think that both the 990s and 800s would be wheelie and traction limited coming out of slow corners, and that the point and quirt corner lines would work equally well on the slower machines. I guess the lingering speed difference halfway down the straight is too much for the less powerful 800s to overcome.
Does anyone know how the wheel and tire dimensions changed for the 800 class? I remember the riders raving about the grip and lean angles. Do the bikes have more rubber on the road than before?
Also, anyone got HP numbers for the 800 vs. 990 engines? (I'm thinking it's ~225 vs. ~245?) You wouldn't think ~20 HP would have such a profound effect on the required riding style.
Point and shoot is not an option b/c dropping the anchors for "slow in" and then opening the throttle for "fast out" uses too much fuel. The bikes have to be fast in fast out which requires completely new tires, chassis, and electronics.
After just one season of 800cc racing they were already discussing a control tire even though Michelin was still winning races. I think its safe to say that the manufacturers were playing around with some pretty trick technology which freaked Dorna and the FIM out.
Obviously, the tires are regulated now such that the contact patch isn't to large or too aggressive. As a result all of the bikes are set up with a rearward bias so they don't overstress the front during corner entry. Bridgestone is always talking about how they are developing their tires to work in a wider range of conditions instead of developing outright speed. Who knows how long this will capture their fancy.
Imo, the tire war comes back tomorrow if they go back to 24L of fuel.
