MotoGP

[mx_tifoso]

There's an active thread about Yamaha with some general MotoGP news thrown in, but I figure we should have a dedicated thread to anything MotoGP related; news, technical, drivers, teams, etc.

First up is the news that Honda will field a three bike team for 2011, with the continuation of Dani Pedrosa, Andrea Dovizioso, and the incoming Casey Stoner.

There's a test this week where the Stoner and Rossi will be riding for their new teams (among others of course), Honda and Ducati respectively. I'm really looking forward to seeing them in their new leathers, especially as to what Rossi's will look like - red and bright green?!

[jddh1]

I have some concerns with Moto GP. The field is too small. Look at Moto2. They have like 40 or so bikes. Moto GP needs some more customer bikes.

[Arunas]

This year they had 4 drivers (nothing really different to 2009), do they need more guys on some almost serious machinery, going some 5s off the pace to work out mobile chicanes?

[Carbon]

I share your concerns with respect to the low grid numbers, but the action this year (and many of the past years) has been nothing short of phenomenal! The battles between Lorenzo and Rossi have been very entertaining.

Shame about the grid size, but what it lacks in sheer numbers, MotoGP more then makes up for in action. Hopefully, this will continue with the move of Rossi to Ducati in 2011.

[tok-tokkie]

I don't agree at all. The races have been processional at the front except for the one occasion when Rossi & Lorenzo had a scrap. MotoGP races this year were as boring as F1 was a few years ago. No battles for the lead.

[mx_tifoso]

There have been some good fights at the top IMO, and there are more than 2-3 leaders per race at times. But it's true that it's usually Lorenzo. The problem was that Rossi and Pedrosa were injured and thus weren't at 100% after that. And Dovizioso, Stoner, Hayden, and Spies just couldn't be challenging at the top often enough.

Valencia testing;

Rossi on a carbon black Ducati




http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2010/Va ... ith+Ducati

Stoner on a Honda

[ak07]

I'm curious as to what the exact purpose of those winglets,diverters are on the sides of the Ducati.

This might seem like a stupid question, but would there be any benefit to creating downforce with something similar to what is on that Ducati? Obviously the lean angle would greatly change the way they worked, or even possibly reduce grip by "pushing" the bike further away from the corner.....

Could they create downforce for braking/straighline stability without a big impact on drag?

I know, downforce on bikes, absurd, but it sure is interesting to think about....

[Mysticf1]

At the time Ducati stated it was to help keep the nose down on corner exits. Stoner suffered alot of front end grip issues as he applied power out of corners...true or not thats how they explained it at the time.

[CMSMJ1]

They are surely going to be vortex generators to assist in drawing the hot air out the fairing vents?

Same as the whale nose Honda and the viking horns. Not for downforce but to manage the airflow.

I race bikes, you can drag the rear brake or pull yourself up the bike to lessen the wheelie effect. I also don't think front grip is an issue on corner exit as you are turning the bike with the rear of the bike.

[ak07]

Valencia - Test - Ducati - Valentino Rossi

Sachsenring - 2010 - Ducati - Casey Stoner

Ducati grows wings at Sachsenring!
The fairings of factory Ducati riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden appeared with these small wings during Saturday at the German Grand Prix.
According to the team, the wings - located just below the white stripe on the fairing - are "designed to help prevent wheelies around the dramatic undulations of this circuit."

link: http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/161663 ... nring.html

Very interesting. Does anyone know off-hand what the limitations are for bodywork and aerodynamic pieces as far as the regulations go?