[chassis]

It's good to see this sport active and apparently doing well. It has always amazed me how dynamic this man+machine sport can be. I am not a motorcycle rider or owner, but I do appreciate machinery and the human interaction with them.

Some good footage of 2020 races on YouTube.

[ppointer]

MotoGP and World SuperBike offer some of the best motorsports racing on the planet IMHO. We have a few Americans in these series, including Garrett Gerloff in Superbike and Joe Roberts in Moto2.

If there is a negative, it is tough to find these races via local broadcast. So, I subscribe to the video feeds from each series. MotoGP has an Apple TV app. With World SBK, I AirPlay my laptop to the television. Either way, it is video on demand since the bulk of races are many hours off our USA time zones.

[racerbruce]

Great post - MotoGP is the F1 of 2 wheel racing machines....

Back in the day, I attended the 1991 and 1993 FIM 500 cc two-stroke Grand Prix bikes at Laguna Seca (now known as Mazda Raceway) just east of Monterey, CA; will never forget seeing Wayne Rainey (US) on the Marlboro Roberts Yamaha, Kevin Schwantz (US) on the Lucky Strike Suzuki, Mick Doohan (AUS) on the Rothmans Honda....these were world-class factory assault GP bikes capable of over 200 mph....it is nearly indescribable to convey just how freaking fast they were going.

i'll never forget - we just got off the public transit from downtown Monterey and were standing in line to get into the track, and the guys in front of us were saying that it was so tragic to see Rainey not racing at his home country track....this was 1991 and the world wide web was just getting started....we did not know that Rainey had a massive shunt at the last GP in Italy....and was now paralyzed....this is surreal - standing there and hearing this, you could look up the hills from the race track and you could see Rainey's house overlooking Laguna Seca Raceway....gives me chills to this day.

[HFW003]

I am an avid fan of both series and have been following them since way back when. I am also, and have been for many many years, the owner of a Superbike. These races are usually quite close and far more exciting than their F1 counterparts.

Our man Jack has joined the factory Ducati team for this year so I am looking forward to him doing well. We also have Remy Gardner, son of former world champ Wayne, in Moto 2.

Also looking forward to the Ducati’s (which I own) doing well in the WSBK.

I’ve been to many Australian Moto GP’s at both Eastern Creek and Phillip Island and have seen the WSBK at the Island a few times, have also seen the British GP at Donnington back in the late 80’s.

Be safe

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by HFW003

I am an avid fan of both series and have been following them since way back when. I am also, and have been for many many years, the owner of a Superbike. These races are usually quite close and far more exciting than their F1 counterparts.

Our man Jack has joined the factory Ducati team for this year so I am looking forward to him doing well. We also have Remy Gardner, son of former world champ Wayne, in Moto 2.

Also looking forward to the Ducati’s (which I own) doing well in the WSBK.

I’ve been to many Australian Moto GP’s at both Eastern Creek and Phillip Island and have seen the WSBK at the Island a few times, have also seen the British GP at Donnington back in the late 80’s.

Be safe

Awesome HWF!
SO great....tell us about your race bike - stats, weight, horsepower (kW), CC's, class, etc! Would love to see a pic - perhaps post it here or PM me a pic. I used to race 250 motocross back in the day.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Awesome HWF!
SO great....tell us about your race bike - stats, weight, horsepower (kW), CC's, class, etc! Would love to see a pic - perhaps post it here or PM me a pic. I used to race 250 motocross back in the day.

First off, it’s HFW

I don’t own a race bike mate, I own a high performance Superbike though, a Ducati Panagile V4S which is the “Base” of the Ducati WSBK bikes.

I’ve owned many bikes over the years, RGV’s, GSXR’s a TLR a couple of R1’s and a few Ducati’s.

I have put a picture of it here before many times but one more time won’t hurt

0-60 3.2 secs
0-100 5.6 secs
1/4 mile 10.09 secs
Top speed 191.3 MPH

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by HFW003

First off, it’s HFW

I don’t own a race bike mate, I own a high performance Superbike though, a Ducati Panagile V4S which is the “Base” of the Ducati WSBK bikes.

I’ve owned many bikes over the years, RGV’s, GSXR’s a TLR a couple of R1’s and a few Ducati’s.

I have put a picture of it here before many times but one more time won’t hurt

0-60 3.2 secs
0-100 5.6 secs
1/4 mile 10.09 secs
Top speed 191.3 MPH

Well, my age and dyslexia has prevailed! Sorry HFW
Thank you for the clarity; your Ducati's stats are simply over the top; is it the 1198cc variant?? Cannot even imagine the acceleration, braking and handling. What year is the Beast?? How is the "S" different from the "R"??

I know someone that had a 2014'ish Ducati 1098R....he said it was simply insane; he said you never hold the front brake level with all fingers....just your index finger, as the Brembo brakes will toss you over the bars and into next week.

In the early 2000's I was destined for a Ducati 748S and then changed my mind and got a 2002 Honda S2000 roadster....I wish I could have had both.

Your pic is simply incredible - can't imagine 191 mph x 1.475 feet per second....282 feet per second

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Well, my age and dyslexia has prevailed! Sorry HFW
Thank you for the clarity; your Ducati's stats are simply over the top; is it the 1198cc variant?? Cannot even imagine the acceleration, braking and handling. What year is the Beast?? How is the "S" different from the "R"??

I know someone that had a 2014'ish Ducati 1098R....he said it was simply insane; he said you never hold the front brake level with all fingers....just your index finger, as the Brembo brakes will toss you over the bars and into next week.

In the early 2000's I was destined for a Ducati 748S and then changed my mind and got a 2002 Honda S2000 roadster....I wish I could have had both.

Your pic is simply incredible - can't imagine 191 mph x 1.475 feet per second....282 feet per second

The 1098 you mention is one of the older series, the bike in my avatar is the 1199S I had. Both of these and the 1299 after were the old two cylinder motors.

The V4 is a totally different model line with obviously a four cylinder motor with a capacity of 1100 CC’s.

It is a 2019 model and the acceleration, braking and all round performance is staggering. I generally use only two fingers for braking, index and middle and that is plenty.

The difference between the S and R is pretty much the entire motor and a few other bits and bobs.

The motor of the R is a 998CC from memory and is built for the track with different, stronger and lighter internals (pistons, rods, etc). They can be ridden on the road but, owing to the tolerances of the motor, they need to be serviced every few thousand kms or so.

You should have got the bike

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by HFW003

The 1098 you mention is one of the older series, the bike in my avatar is the 1199S I had. Both of these and the 1299 after were the old two cylinder motors.

The V4 is a totally different model line with obviously a four cylinder motor with a capacity of 1100 CC’s.

It is a 2019 model and the acceleration, braking and all round performance is staggering. I generally use only two fingers for braking, index and middle and that is plenty.

The difference between the S and R is pretty much the entire motor and a few other bits and bobs.

The motor of the R is a 998CC from memory and is built for the track with different, stronger and lighter internals (pistons, rods, etc). They can be ridden on the road but, owing to the tolerances of the motor, they need to be serviced every few thousand kms or so.

You should have got the bike

Thank you for the great, detailed responses. It allows the mere mortals to gaze into the window of Ducati madness....there is nothing like the sound of the dry clutch and Desmotronic valve train at idle....it's pure mechanical sex.

How often do you exercise The Beast?? What is redline?? And what is the kph or mph at redline in first gear??

[gatorfast]

I started getting into motoGP this year and like it a lot. The races are really exciting but some of the crashes are absolutely frightening. That one race a few months back where the rider fell off his bike and it kept going and eventually went back onto the track was one of the most terrifying crashes I have ever seen.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Thank you for the great, detailed responses. It allows the mere mortals to gaze into the window of Ducati madness....there is nothing like the sound of the dry clutch and Desmotronic valve train at idle....it's pure mechanical sex.

How often do you exercise The Beast?? What is redline?? And what is the kph or mph at redline in first gear??

All good my man.

Only the R’s have a dry clutch, too much maintenance for me.

You’ll notice I said I owned a bike, unfortunately I don’t get to ride it anywhere near as much as I would like.

Sorry but I can’t help with the top speed in first other than F’n quick. I think it’s a bit over 100 MPH but I’d hate to be quoted on that. It’s not something I’ve really delved into, too busy changing gears.

With saying all that the bike is just so good to ride, it is smooth and handles like a scalpel and is probably the most comfortable bike I’ve owned. I’m 6ft 2 and 92kgs with very bad knees and a bad back and it’s fits my like a finger in a bum.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by HFW003

All good my man.

Only the R’s have a dry clutch, too much maintenance for me.

You’ll notice I said I owned a bike, unfortunately I don’t get to ride it anywhere near as much as I would like.

Sorry but I can’t help with the top speed in first other than F’n quick. I think it’s a bit over 100 MPH but I’d hate to be quoted on that. It’s not something I’ve really delved into, too busy changing gears.

With saying all that the bike is just so good to ride, it is smooth and handles like a scalpel and is probably the most comfortable bike I’ve owned. I’m 6ft 2 and 92kgs with very bad knees and a bad back and it’s fits my like a finger in a bum.

Love the 'handles like a scalpel'....that says is all; you're spot-on....getting to 60 mph in 3 sec is f'ing insane on two wheels....pulling gears to keep The Beast under control would be the utmost, immediate need

[zx10guy]

Avid fan of MotoGP and WSBK.

Got to meet Wayne Rainey in person at VIR when I was down there doing the California Superbike School sessions about 3 or 4 years ago. Awesome guy. Took the time to talk to me for about 10 to 15 minutes. Had a picture taken with him.

As to coverage, I limped along watching MotoGP on NBC Sports. I never got around to figuring out when they did provide coverage for WSBK.

[M3_WC]

If Marc can recover in time for the season, he will go back to dominating.

[rlmesq]

Originally Posted by racerbruce

Laguna Seca (now known as Mazda Raceway

WeatherTech bought the naming rights a couple of years ago. Mazda's "Zoom Zoom" branding was a better fit.

Sears Point became Infineon for a few years, but now they're calling it Sonoma Raceway.

[rlmesq]

Originally Posted by HFW003

Sorry but I can’t help with the top speed in first other than F’n quick. I think it’s a bit over 100 MPH but I’d hate to be quoted on that. It’s not something I’ve really delved into, too busy changing gears.

I used to own a trackday company that did events throughout California: Willow Springs, Laguna Seca, Sears Point...

When we were at Thunderhill, the SCCA track north of Sacramento, a couple of CHP motorcycle officers used to come play with their radar, clocking bikes on the front straight. They got me at 150.

[rlmesq]

I've been a Valentino Rossi fan for twenty years, but I reluctantly have to say it's time for him to retire. He was always good at getting into other riders' heads, but Marq beat him at his own game in 2015, when Rossi kicked his bike and had to start the last race of the season from the back of the grid, losing the title to Lorenzo.

I would love to see an exhibition race with Rossi, Marquez and Casey Stoner all on 500cc two strokes. Stoner was a master at using traction control to its full advantage, but I don't know how he'd do without it.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

They got me at 150.

Not in first gear though?

The fastest I’ve seen is an indicated 298km/hr on a worked 2000 R1M at Eastern Creek in Sydney. The km long straight goes by very quickly at those speeds!

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

WeatherTech bought the naming rights a couple of years ago. Mazda's "Zoom Zoom" branding was a better fit.

Sears Point became Infineon for a few years, but now they're calling it Sonoma Raceway.

Don’t know about anyone else but it will always be Laguna Seca for me.

[HFW003]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

Stoner was a master at using traction control to its full advantage, but I don't know how he'd do without it.

I think you devalue his overall ability. He was an outstanding two time world champion rider who, had he stayed, would have won a few more Championships I’m sure.

You only have to look at who, including Dovi, Peanut Lorenzo, Rossi, and so on, who have won jack shit on the Ducati since.

The only other person to do anything on them in “recent” years is Troy Bayliss (another Aussie) so hopefully Jack go do the business this year.

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

WeatherTech bought the naming rights a couple of years ago. Mazda's "Zoom Zoom" branding was a better fit.

Sears Point became Infineon for a few years, but now they're calling it Sonoma Raceway.

Thank you!

[racerbruce]

Originally Posted by rlmesq

I've been a Valentino Rossi fan for twenty years, but I reluctantly have to say it's time for him to retire. He was always good at getting into other riders' heads, but Marq beat him at his own game in 2015, when Rossi kicked his bike and had to start the last race of the season from the back of the grid, losing the title to Lorenzo.

I would love to see an exhibition race with Rossi, Marquez and Casey Stoner all on 500cc two strokes. Stoner was a master at using traction control to its full advantage, but I don't know how he'd do without it.

From memory, I believe the Honda works team in the early 90's altered the spark plug's firing to create individual bursts of power, so the rear tire could achieve better traction....this was during the 500 cc 2-stroke FIM GP bike period....can anyone verify this or add to this conversation?? Presumably, this was an early attempt at traction control??