Race bikes and rider aids (electronic)

**merv** · 19th March 2013, 16:48

I'm OK with electronics coz I just like seeing bikes go fast and some of the dicing even in MotoGP was pretty good.

I'm old enough to have seen Geoff Perry race and no electronics in sight he would win races by a country mile. Then through the decades in NZ there were other notable riders like Dave Hiscock and then Robert Holden. Those guys quite often got a break and cleared off into the distance.

Same in 500GP, think of Hailwood, Agostini, Roberts, Spencer, Doohan. The cream always rises to the top and, no matter what, those guys could easily annihilate the opposition on a good day. The racing wasn't always close and it has little to do with electronics. The best riders would win and it is the same now. MM is scraping his elbows for chrissake and that is putting on a show.

The big thing is flow on into design for safer or better street bikes too. That has to be good.

Surely the real issue around cost of MotoGP is to do with just how professional it has got - the riders pay, the cost of motorhomes and hospitality, the skimming off the top by the owners of the rights (Dorna), the cost of track hire, TV and video rights etc, everyone wants their cut now. Look at fricken Ecclestone in F1 he's a billionaire off the back of guys taking a risk at their "sport". This is no different than rugby is now and many sports.

We live in the world of entertainment and not so many people are needed for labouring jobs and sport has become a job and like many service industries is filling a gap in the labour pool and a place for us to spend money.

That's progress folks and I think its pointless trying to fight it but it depends at what level - at prototype level I think you need the development so I'm happy with it in MotoGP. In lesser classes yeah sure go for lower levels of development. Doesn't matter the human race will race anything as long as they are in fair classes e.g. Vespa against Vespa not Vespa against RC213V else it would be like Conner's catamaran vs NZ1.

**scrivy** · 19th March 2013, 18:57

The only trouble with technology is the amount that teams with big money spend on it as opposed to those without. Look at F1, how many teams had wind tunnels years ago?? Now don't they all?? How can a new team ever find their way into the sport if the don't have the coin to buy the latest technology? And by latest technology, I mean electronics - as that's what is winning races now....

**Robert Taylor** · 19th March 2013, 19:46

Originally Posted by scrivy

The only trouble with technology is the amount that teams with big money spend on it as opposed to those without. Look at F1, how many teams had wind tunnels years ago?? Now don't they all?? How can a new team ever find their way into the sport if the don't have the coin to buy the latest technology? And by latest technology, I mean electronics - as that's what is winning races now....

Thats why there are lower cost formulae for those that cannot afford it. F1 looks pretty healthy anyway so why dumb it down? The technology spinoff is useful further down the track.
BTW Team Lotus Renault have purchased suspension units and the contracted services of a suspension engineer from Ohlins for this season. Worked pretty well for Kimi this past weekend....
Ohlins wanted to place a small sticker on the car but the asking price for that real estate was 1 million Euros, they withdrew the request.

**merv** · 19th March 2013, 21:04

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Ohlins wanted to place a small sticker on the car but the asking price for that real estate was 1 million Euros, they withdrew the request.

Yeah well, from the land of Ohlins:

**quickbuck** · 21st March 2013, 11:48

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

Ohlins wanted to place a small sticker on the car but the asking price for that real estate was 1 million Euros, they withdrew the request.

Yup, that is about right.
I remember Aaron Slight mentioning the Budget of the Castrol Honda Super Bike team when he was on the RC45.
At the same time Castrol put their sticker on the cars of one of the top teams at the time, and it cost MORE by about $2 Million!

**codgyoleracer** · 12th September 2013, 20:19

Article is out now in this months Bike Rider Magazine, and they are asking for opinions on the matter. Drop them a line with your thoughts !
www.brm.co.nz

**Robert Taylor** · 13th September 2013, 07:54

Originally Posted by codgyoleracer

Article is out now in this months Bike Rider Magazine, and they are asking for opinions on the matter. Drop them a line with your thoughts !
www.brm.co.nz

It will matter little what the opinions are. More and more electronics are appearing on production bikes and the cavemen that set the rules in many racing formulae around the world will have to accept a transition into the 21st century.

**p.dath** · 13th September 2013, 10:01

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

It will matter little what the opinions are. More and more electronics are appearing on production bikes and the cavemen that set the rules in many racing formulae around the world will have to accept a transition into the 21st century.

Forget about the elctronics.

I must have bee living under a rock. When did Andrew Stroud retire? I was a bit shocked to read that.

**Mental Trousers** · 13th September 2013, 13:00

Originally Posted by Robert Taylor

It will matter little what the opinions are. More and more electronics are appearing on production bikes and the cavemen that set the rules in many racing formulae around the world will have to accept a transition into the 21st century.

Most of the large series in the world are looking to reduce costs and electronics certainly do not reduce anything except lap times.

**quickbuck** · 13th September 2013, 13:17

Originally Posted by p.dath

Forget about the elctronics.

I must have bee living under a rock. When did Andrew Stroud retire? I was a bit shocked to read that.

Yup you have... It was about a month ago...
https://www.facebook.com/aaron.carr....4#!/TeamStroud

**Dave-** · 13th September 2013, 15:16

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

Most of the large series in the world are looking to reduce costs and electronics certainly do not reduce anything except lap times.

Which is interesting considering electronic components are getting cheaper, faster, stronger etc and the number of people who can do something with them is getting larger.

**steveyb** · 13th September 2013, 16:12

Yeah, hah.
While electronic devices, software and technician costs are going down for regular consumers, it seems that for motorsport these same costs keep going up.
Go figure......