The Laguna Seca 08 ‘Brake Check’
What is the ‘Brake Check’-
Quote from Australian Bike Mag AMCN article on racings top dirty deeds;
The Brake Check
“What is it?
Most riders use braking markers at the side of the track to pinpoint exactly when to apply their brakes. But what if someone is right behind you? The shadowing rider has been up your chuff for a few laps, they anticipate when you will brake. Time to throw a spanner in the works. By braking just a few meters earlier than they are expecting, you throw their concentration, causing them to panic and, hopefully, run wide or even off the track.”
“Case Study
During the Laguna Seca MotoGP in 2008, Casey Stoner was attached to Valentino Rossi’s backside like a haemorrhoid! Stoner had the speed, but he simply couldn’t find a way past the wily Italian. Then, with eight laps to go, entering into the first corner, Stoner suddenly had to take evasive action, braking harder than normal. In the sudden moment of panic, he ran off the track, surrendering any chance of winning”
“The Result
Casey Stoner was incensed and refused to shake Valentino Rossi’s hand in Parc Ferme after the race. He delivered a rather frosty ‘I don’t want to talk to you, mate’ in front of the BBC cameras. In typical fashion the Italian simply laughed if off and appeared baffled that there was even a problem. When asked about his take on events Rossi simply replied, ‘About what?’ – with a wry smile on his face.”
Maybe it’s just me but I thought this was a complete bunch of ........, and I’m hoping someone here can find me some evidence or something to prove or disprove this; it’s probably lying on a network hard drive at Fiat Yamahas head office.
If Rossi did break a ‘few’ meters earlier (at that speed), could it have not been down to a number of other reasons?
Maybe
-trying to get the best line for corner exit to prevent CS from powering past at the end of the straight again,
- Adjusting braking points for Tyre preservation 8 laps out could be another
Do Riders really hit their braking markers within a meter every lap, for 28 odd laps, in a battle royal on race day? (I don’t actually know, so enlighten me here if I’m wrong)
Has CS ever been quoted as saying it was VR’s Brake Check that made him run off-track? If so can someone tell me where to find the interview?
I would imagine CS was much more upset about firstly-Losing…. or maybe the dirt tracking near miss at the Corkscrew! Or the two near misses at turn 1, or the round the outside move he made himself on the way up the hill, which didn’t quite pay off.
Or maybe VR was hoping to put Casey off just enough to have him suddenly take evasive action, brake harder than normal and then in the sudden moment of panic make him run off the track, and make it look like it was all his fault! Wow I think Rossi is incredible but to pull this off is more like Science- sour grapes - Fiction…..
Discuss
What is the ‘Brake Check’-
Quote from Australian Bike Mag AMCN article on racings top dirty deeds;
The Brake Check
“What is it?
Most riders use braking markers at the side of the track to pinpoint exactly when to apply their brakes. But what if someone is right behind you? The shadowing rider has been up your chuff for a few laps, they anticipate when you will brake. Time to throw a spanner in the works. By braking just a few meters earlier than they are expecting, you throw their concentration, causing them to panic and, hopefully, run wide or even off the track.”
“Case Study
During the Laguna Seca MotoGP in 2008, Casey Stoner was attached to Valentino Rossi’s backside like a haemorrhoid! Stoner had the speed, but he simply couldn’t find a way past the wily Italian. Then, with eight laps to go, entering into the first corner, Stoner suddenly had to take evasive action, braking harder than normal. In the sudden moment of panic, he ran off the track, surrendering any chance of winning”
“The Result
Casey Stoner was incensed and refused to shake Valentino Rossi’s hand in Parc Ferme after the race. He delivered a rather frosty ‘I don’t want to talk to you, mate’ in front of the BBC cameras. In typical fashion the Italian simply laughed if off and appeared baffled that there was even a problem. When asked about his take on events Rossi simply replied, ‘About what?’ – with a wry smile on his face.”
Maybe it’s just me but I thought this was a complete bunch of ........, and I’m hoping someone here can find me some evidence or something to prove or disprove this; it’s probably lying on a network hard drive at Fiat Yamahas head office.
If Rossi did break a ‘few’ meters earlier (at that speed), could it have not been down to a number of other reasons?
Maybe
-trying to get the best line for corner exit to prevent CS from powering past at the end of the straight again,
- Adjusting braking points for Tyre preservation 8 laps out could be another
Do Riders really hit their braking markers within a meter every lap, for 28 odd laps, in a battle royal on race day? (I don’t actually know, so enlighten me here if I’m wrong)
Has CS ever been quoted as saying it was VR’s Brake Check that made him run off-track? If so can someone tell me where to find the interview?
I would imagine CS was much more upset about firstly-Losing…. or maybe the dirt tracking near miss at the Corkscrew! Or the two near misses at turn 1, or the round the outside move he made himself on the way up the hill, which didn’t quite pay off.
Or maybe VR was hoping to put Casey off just enough to have him suddenly take evasive action, brake harder than normal and then in the sudden moment of panic make him run off the track, and make it look like it was all his fault! Wow I think Rossi is incredible but to pull this off is more like Science- sour grapes - Fiction…..
Discuss
