MotoGP 2012

[DidJit]

Watching Dani approach his grid spot before the race start, just before he got there he gave a short sharp jab on the front brake. I've seen him do this before. Does he have a lock-down mechanism to lower the front end of his bike as part of his launch control?

Just testing his brakes. It's a pre-race ritual for him methinks. Much like Rossi’s prostration before he swings a leg over, or Stoner’s drift to the back on the warm-up lap.

After the race, when he did his victory wheelie, his bike was bouncing along the track on the back wheel. It looked like massive chatter. Anyone notice or know why it was doing that?

Pedrosa’s so light, I'm surprised he doesn't take off when he lifts the front wheel.

[t595]

Watching Dani approach his grid spot before the race start, just before he got there he gave a short sharp jab on the front brake. I've seen him do this before. Does he have a lock-down mechanism to lower the front end of his bike as part of his launch control?

After the race, when he did his victory wheelie, his bike was bouncing along the track on the back wheel. It looked like massive chatter. Anyone notice or know why it was doing that?

b.

I think hes just getting a bit rusty on the use of the controls..... once the race starts the electronics take over and smooth everything out for him
Rememeber when he forgot to turn his launch control on and fired the bike upside down down the track?

[gonzo_akl]

I'm already going. Wouldn't miss it for the world! Oh...and the supercross on Sat night will be fugging awesome too! Ain't no way Stoner would listen to the orders even if they were given.

Crasher,

Can you fill me in on the details on the supercross - I can't seem to find info on it.

cheers

[RobGassit]

That last MotoGP was a bloody bore. I hope Stoner rips their heads off and shits down their necks at the Island. I apologise for thinking Moto 3 was going to be boring. It is fanbloodytastic!!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Crasher,

Can you fill me in on the details on the supercross - I can't seem to find info on it.

cheers

Yeah Boi! Go to the Island...you will see it! But seriously...give me your contact number, and I'll call you tomorrow and let you now what's going on.

Pete

[tail_end_charlie]

Watching Dani approach his grid spot before the race start, just before he got there he gave a short sharp jab on the front brake. I've seen him do this before. Does he have a lock-down mechanism to lower the front end of his bike as part of his launch control?

No. Honda did try a fork lockdown on one of their WSBK bikes at some point, but I'm fairly sure they don't have it on their MotoGP bikes right now. There is some info in that MotoGP Technology book that I lent you, either in the Honda section, or in the back section covering suspension.

[tail_end_charlie]

And he did so before control tyres. Spies?

Yeah, Spies had two podiums his rookie year on a sat bike.

[BMWST?]

Mr Lorenzo did not look happy at all....

[tail_end_charlie]

True enough, but the really smart guy really would have ridden for the team and the rider who could have won the championship and try for a win at the next races.
I know he had every right and all that and the pass was clean, but I still reckon it was a wee bit dumb. He could have gotten second and stuffed up Tonnucci and then legitimately demanded team orders for the next races.
I just think it was dumb.
But as for the team boycotting the podium, that blows and Danny has every right to tell them to get fucked for that, after he gets told to get fucked for messing up Sandro.
I guess at the end of the day it shows that teams are not really teams in motorbike racing. I wonder why they bother setting them up?

"Yeah but............." (the start of many a person agreeing but disagreeing.)
The most interesting thing that I have found in watching Moto3 (and Moto2 for that matter) this year is just the closeness of the racing. One mistake, or one moments hesitation often results in a loss of multiple positions. The fact that Tonnucci made the same move as Danny just proves that he was going to go for that move even if Danny had stuck behind Cortese. The fact that both of them were able to outbrake him into the 90* seems to indicate that Cortese may have been thinking more about how he was going to celebrate his winning the championship rather than where his braking marker was. So if Danny hadn't made the move, its very possible he would have ended up third, and maybe even fourth (I can't remember how close Vinalese was at that turn).

Seems to me that Danny did what he had to do, when he had to do it, and in a very smart way. Cortese screwed himself because he panicked when he saw two riders go by him into one of the last turns.

[steveyb]

Cortese screwed himself because he panicked when he saw two riders go by him into one of the last turns.

Have to agree with that part.

But I think Danny opened the door for Tonucci and if he had closed off the line then there would have been no way through.

But we will never know.

Good stuff.

Sandro for the championship in Malaysia.

[tbs]

No. Honda did try a fork lockdown on one of their WSBK bikes at some point, but I'm fairly sure they don't have it on their MotoGP bikes right now. There is some info in that MotoGP Technology book that I lent you, either in the Honda section, or in the back section covering suspension.

Yeah I was reading that bit last night. The Superbike fork had a mechanical push-button release, and the author had been looking for evidence of a fork shortening mechanism on the GP bikes. But, the book is now a couple of seasons out of date and I don't see why any lock-down (and even rear lock-out) couldn't be electronically controlled by the ECU launch control program. All Dani would need to do would be to press his launch control button while still rolling and then grab the front brake hard enough to compress the fork slightly. Hitting the front brake for the first corner could be the switch that turns it off.

Just speculating....

[Robert Taylor]

That last MotoGP was a bloody bore. I hope Stoner rips their heads off and shits down their necks at the Island. I apologise for thinking Moto 3 was going to be boring. It is fanbloodytastic!!

No, the best thing that can happen will be for Moaner to get done like a dogs dinner on his home turf by two Spaniards, Jorge leading the way. That will be Gods work.

[RobGassit]

No, the best thing that can happen will be for Moaner to get done like a dogs dinner on his home turf by two Spaniards, Jorge leading the way. That will be Gods work.

Margaret Thatcher was a lesbian..

[Drew]

Margaret Thatcher was a lesbian..

Who hated Jews!

[steveyb]

And was having a secret affair with Arthur Scargill.......