MotoGP 07 pics.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 28th January 2007, 08:22

Originally Posted by k14

Ooooo, big call. Might be a good one though. I'd put some $$ on suzuki taking a win this year but I'd say it is more likley with that auzzie than the yank on the seat. Imo hopkins is the most over rated rider in motogp. How long has he been there now and hasn't even finished on the podium yet. Whereas vermeulen does it in his first season.

Mate.....Vermeulen is a wizz for sure (it's been said he's as accurate with his feedback about what the bike's doing as Eddie Lawson was)...but Hopkins is also only 23...it just seems like he's been round forever.

Hopkins is a real hard charger....and untill now, hasn't had the bike to take it to the boys.....I doubt you'll find that Revvin Kevin would've put the good word in for him if he thought that...

Hopkins has had to ride the Suzuki round corners like a man possesed to try and stay with the other bikes.....his lean angles and corner speed have been second to none....now that they've gone to the 800's they're all having to ride like that, and Hopkins has been doing it for years......he'll go well I've no doubt!

**Ivan** · 28th January 2007, 09:34

I agree its going to be good,

But I am a fan of Vermeulen and Hayden and I think Vermeulen has a good chance this year considering he did race auzzie 250 gp he knows about the bikes cornering like that.

Hayden well I think he is going to do well again not as well as the 990 for the share fact the way he corners sideways but thats going to catch alot of guys out and then they will get used to it and slide the whole corner

**Crasherfromwayback** · 28th January 2007, 10:10

Yeah the whole knocking them back to 800cc to make them safer thing is such a crock of shit!

I mean f*ck.....if they're going round corners 10-20k's faster than the 990's, they're only gonna fly further when they bin it......it's in the corners that they're gonna hit something solid right?

All it's done is cost the factories a shitload of money they needn't have spent......as per usual....the 'Big 'H'.....used their weight to get what they wanted. It was after all, them that wanted the whole four stroke thing in the first place. F*ck....they've been wanting to race four strokes from way back......NR 500 lost them so much face......they've been wanting to show the world ever since! And it's not as if they weren't ready and waiting to go 800 seeing as it's simply their 990 V5 with a cyl hacked off it......how convenient....hope they get roosted!

If they were serious about slowing them down....they should've simply limited them to four speed boxes or lowered the rev ceiling.

**Finn** · 28th January 2007, 10:46

Originally Posted by The_Dover

I'll bet you ten grand I can kick your arse around the nurburgring

You're on. Bring TT with you when you drop the MV off. I've got a PS2 around here somewhere.

You'll have to work the 10 grand off though.

**Korea** · 28th January 2007, 21:58

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

as it's simply their 990 V5 with a cyl hacked off it......

I heard it's still a V5 - I may be wrong. Anyone confirm this?

**cowpoos** · 28th January 2007, 22:16

Originally Posted by Korea

I heard it's still a V5 - I may be wrong. Anyone confirm this?

its a V four

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th January 2007, 00:14

Originally Posted by Korea

I heard it's still a V5 - I may be wrong. Anyone confirm this?

990 divided by five = 198

990 - 198 = 792.

What do you reckon?

**slowpoke** · 29th January 2007, 02:50

So where does all this "ride 'em like a 250" talk originate?

I mean the things have still got over 200hp even in 800cc form, more than your average superbike, and no-one talks about riding them like a 250. Going by the table below the 800's are heavier than the 990's too (not sure about years 2005/6) so surely the same old strategy applies: get it turned as quick as you can, stand it up and feed it the fat.

I know the lower reciprocating mass is allowing higher corner speeds but I'm buggered if I can see what a 250 has got to with anything. The 800's have 100hp more and are nearly 50kg's heavier, so from someone who has ridden neither I don't understand the connection.

Minimum Weight - MotoGP Class
# of Cylinders 2004 Min 2007 Min Difference
2 Cylinder 135 kg 137 kg 2 kg
3 Cylinder 135 kg 140.5 kg 5.5 kg
4 Cylinder 145 kg 148 kg 3 kg
5 Cylinder 145 kg 155.5 kg 10.5 kg
6 Cylinder 155 kg 163 kg 8 kg

edit: buggered if I know what's happened to the table, how come the layout is all screwy when it looked ok before I saved it...?

**Brian d marge** · 29th January 2007, 03:00

I havent heard any rumours this end and I know one or two from different factorys

Just come back from dinner with an Gp mechanic and we were talking about the same thing ..

I do know that Honda Japan are trying to rationalise its range of products, So it may be a way of cost cutting??

Just a guess there

STephen

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th January 2007, 06:46

Originally Posted by slowpoke

So where does all this "ride 'em like a 250" talk originate?

I mean the things have still got over 200hp even in 800cc form, more than your average superbike, and no-one talks about riding them like a 250. Going by the table below the 800's are heavier than the 990's too (not sure about years 2005/6) so surely the same old strategy applies: get it turned as quick as you can, stand it up and feed it the fat.

I know the lower reciprocating mass is allowing higher corner speeds but I'm buggered if I can see what a 250 has got to with anything. The 800's have 100hp more and are nearly 50kg's heavier, so from someone who has ridden neither I don't understand the connection.

edit: buggered if I know what's happened to the table, how come the layout is all screwy when it looked ok before I saved it...?

Apart from the lighter engine internals (which allows greater cornering speeds like you say), they don't have the huge amount of torque that the 990's had....so they can't point and squirt like they used to......so to do the same lap times (or even quicker as they almost all are now) they're relying on higher cornering speeds and momentum.

**cowpoos** · 29th January 2007, 07:17

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Apart from the lighter engine internals (which allows greater cornering speeds like you say), they don't have the huge amount of torque that the 990's had....so they can't point and squirt like they used to......so to do the same lap times (or even quicker as they almost all are now) they're relying on higher cornering speeds and momentum.

and as they reach the point through the corner that they apply throttle the rear wheel is traveling at a higher speed...and physics dictate that it will take even more HP to break traction

and less reciprocating mass to slow under brakes..

**Crasherfromwayback** · 29th January 2007, 11:13

Originally Posted by cowpoos

and as they reach the point through the corner that they apply throttle the rear wheel is traveling at a higher speed...and physics dictate that it will take even more HP to break traction

and less reciprocating mass to slow under brakes..

True......looks like they stop good!