miller3339
25-07-2006, 03:11 PM
Good morning all,
I've been away from the GP bikes since 1993 when Kevin Schwantz won the title.
WOW!!! alot has changed!
some questions...when did they go away from 2 stroke 500's??
some on the video's that I've seen it seems that they are using traction control to stop the rear from sliding. when did they do that?
I just ordered the video "faster" so I hope that I can get some good footage and get caught up on whats happened in the last 13 years.
can anyone recommend some other videos?
any input will be appriciated.
Miller
Welcome to the boards miller. :) Yep a whole lot has changed since '93! The four strokes were first introduced in 2002 and already the technology has moved on so fast that there will be a reduction (from 990) to 800cc engines next season. Valentino Rossi's won every four stroke championship so far.
Traction control has probably been around almost as long as the four strokes have (it was never 'formally' introduced, just a sneaky bit of development over the years ;)) although it seems as though the systems have really improved in the past one or two years as well as becoming more widely used. The technology involved these days is pretty amazing. If you're ever watching qualifying or a practice session on TV and see the riders doing practice starts afterwards, look for their clutch hands. Full revs > drop the clutch > barely a wheelie. And with a 250bhp bike!
Faster is a great film and you'll definitely enjoy it. A new film based on last year's race at Laguna was released recently by the same guys, see DTKMovie.com (http://www.dtkmovie.com/) for info on that. You could also pick up some of the season review DVDs if you really want to catch up.
miller3339
25-07-2006, 04:52 PM
Thanks for the information.
do the riders slide in the corners more now or back when they first started in 2002? or is it about the same? I spent the last few years spectating and competing in Pro rally so the sideways stuff is dear to my heart. Just trying to find the best Motogp compilation DVD's to buy.
The riders are definitely sliding less now than they were at first. Mostly down to improved electronic trickery I'd have thought.
only in 2002 were they sliding like mad. in 2003, everyone got wise with traction control etc.
it never really happens much now, technology has moved on a lot....