MotoGP

[Spitfire]

A question for the biker petrol heads....

I noticed in this weekends race that The Doctor has taken to dangling his leg off the foot peg out in the slipstream more and more - and that some others are starting to do it too

Is this an inconsequential habit or is he getting some weird benefit from it i.e. is it balance - braking effect - or what?

[Ducati Boy]

Noticed it some time ago, can't see what advantage it might give to Rossi's already God like ability. Taking a foot off the peg you are leaning on into a turn seems decidedly dodgy to me. Might be a slight weight transfer to steady the bike mid turn! Noticed Stoner does it too on rare occasions into turns. Maybe the Doctor is thinking of taking up Supermoto or Speedway and needs the practicein getting his foot out to slide on!

[Saracenman]

I've been wondering too - but then so much of motorcycling seems to defy the laws of physics, it could be anything!

or is it just to release the contents of his trousers after some of those corners?

sm

[Spitfire]

Did you see the last lap of the GP at Catalunya

Exciting or what - Formula 1 eat your heart out

The Doctor is King - what skill - what bravery - what genius

Lorenzo was good - and at 22 excellent for his years - but Rossi showed hin who's boss

Gobsmacked

[Spitfire]

Qatar MOTOGP - opening race of the 2010 season .....

Now why can't F1 be like that .... Lorenzo comes up from 4th to 2nd in the last 3 laps with some stunning overtaking

Rossi brilliant as ever

[Nickolas]

Qatar MOTOGP - opening race of the 2010 season .....

Now why can't F1 be like that .... Lorenzo comes up from 4th to 2nd in the last 3 laps with some stunning overtaking

Rossi brilliant as ever

that was the bollocks of a final 5 laps.......real knicker gripping stuff

[Ducati Boy]

Its great to see it become a real race instead of a one man ride out. Hayden was so unlucky to get pipped for 3rd, what a ride he could be a serious contender this year if he keeps that up. Honda though had just too much power to be true. Makes you wonder where that all came from so suddenly?? When Ducati did that a year or to back, Honda insisted on a scrutineers strip down alleging cheating. Its going to be the best MotoGP racing for years, lots of new blood, but old blood coming back on bikes that suit them too.

[Thumper]

I will try my best to answer the question about the Rossi limp foot.

The Moto GP bikes can reach speeds of 220mph which is kinda fast. When they are coming into a corner they brake very late and very hard. Due to the weight transfer when braking this means that putting your foot back onto the footpeg when braking is like trying to turn your head when at full sleep on the Waltzer at a fairground, therefore, it is easier to let the foot dangle down and reposition it when you are done with your braking.

The second part is all about weight transfer. With the foot on the footpeg you have an even balance of weight. With the foot off the footpeg you are transfering more weight to that side of the bike, hence he does it on both sides of the bike and to whatever corner he is tipping into. More weight on the inside will turn the bike in quicker to a corner.

Rossi has only started doing this since about 2006, before that he never dangled his foot off and since he started doing it a lot of other riders have copied this "style" too. If you really want to see a smooth rider with no foot dangle, watch Colin Edwards, he's been my hero since 2001

LOVED Qatar, awesome race and the bikes look SO GOOD under those lights. I found it interesting that Ben Spies did exactly the same as James Toseland, he came out into the opening race of the season on FIRE. I wait with anticipation to see if he can make it stick as unfortunately Toseland couldn't. Apart from my hero Colin Edwards my other hot favourite is Nicky Hayden. I was gutted for him that the Dovizioso slip streamed him and pipped him to the post, that damned Honda has got some phenomenal straight line speed

As cruel as it sounds... ha ha ha dee hah Casey Stoner. I am bored of the "Casey Stoner Show" and with him crashing out it made for a really interesting race with some great passes and battles for the rostrum. Roll on Motegi!

[Spitfire]

Parish was saying yesterday that the braking from top speed on a straight puts as much pressure into your hands on the bars as doing a handstand with 1½ times your body weight - so imagine that every few corners lap after lap
So those racing with hand, arm and shoulder injuries are taking some punishment Didn't realise

At least the F1 guys are taking the braking G through a full seat belt harness

I also liked the look of the new Silverstone when Parish 'took a turn' on a road bike

I love MOTO GP - its so much more like 'racing' than F1 can ever be - and the riders have so much more input skill wise ... Lorenzo V Rossi was brilliant

[Hihonyr8811]

I had my eyes shut for most of the race, it looks terrifying

I thought about going to Cadwell yesterday, but changed my mind, If I can't stomach it on TV I'll be a nervous wreck at a track
I'll stick to F1 lol

[Thumper]

Don't watch the racing then, just hang out in the pitlane watching all the hottie racers peel off their leathers

[Checkflaps]

Not strictly MotoGP - ok, so not then.

Did anyone watch the NorthWest 200 last weekend? The riders either have seriously big balls, or are totally off their heads. 20+ bikes racing shoulder to shoulder at 200mph on undulating public roads. Only in Ireland I suppose. At least the TT is spaced out, not a mass start.

For those who missed it http://www.bbc.co.uk/nw200 Bonkers. There was a good clip about slipstreaming, and when it goes wrong. Last year Alistair Seeley 'fell off' his superbike having clipped another rider whose engine had blown up. Aparently it was at about 150-160mph, off the road onto the verge and into the bushes. No injuries of note either. Lucky so and so.

Garry

[Xplumberlives]

I have seen the clip of Seeley coming off and it isn't pretty!

[Spitfire]

Blimey I've never seen NW200 before - its amazing - I've been glued to that site for ages watching the insane racing - god there's some skill and bravery there .

IOM TT with attitude

[Hihonyr8811]

Valentino Rossi had a pretty horrific crash in free practice today and broke his shin bone (I think).
Not really a fan, but get well soon .

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsp ... 723843.stm

[Xplumberlives]

Respect and good wishes to the "Doctor"!

[Mayfly]

not good in racing world - Steve Plater had surgery to repair his broken neck the other day!!

[Thumper]

Rossi's crash is horrible to watch, especially when he is crying in pain in the gravel

I read about Plater, quite scary really to "miss" 2 breaks in someones neck

[Hihonyr8811]

I actually watched the entire race today
Didn't hid behind my fingers once honest

[Thumper]

Ooooo yay, shame hottie Nicky Hayden crashed though I thought it was lovely all the tributes today for Rossi, very touching

[Hihonyr8811]

Yeah, I think I jinxed him
I love his accent
And he has the same birthday as me , not that I've looked or anything



I thought it was a nice touch Lorenzo had a 46 t-shirt on

Apparently he was sat up in is hospital bed watching the race, so I'm glad he's doing ok.
Bet it's very frustrating for him though, not being able to race.

[Thumper]

Oh did you not hear Rossi do his speech via telephone to the circuit? That was so sweet. Yup, he was indeed watching the race from his hozzie bed, poor lad is gonna be out for the rest of the season I reckon, horrible fracture that will take a long time to heal and be able to cope with the amount of strain he would put on it

Nicky Hayden
Nicky Haydens accent

[Hihonyr8811]

No I don't recall the Beeb showing/listening to it
It showed the crowd reacting, but don't think it was played

I feel so sorry for him. One of the comentators made the point that even if you're not a MotoGP fan, chances are you've heard of Rossi, so it's a big loss to the sport to loose him for the rest of the season .


I have a tenuous link to Ducati, in that Adrian Sutil had a ride on the two seater racer
No idea who took him though.

[Thumper]

The rider is racing champ Randy Mamola

Oh I didn't realise they hadn't played Rossi's phonecall on the BBC, I was watching it online

[Hihonyr8811]

That's the chap, I knew his name had an M in it somewhere


I'm off to search YouTube for the phone call, someone will have put it up there (or not lol).