WSBK most powerful bike racing format?

[Ant]

Originally Posted by Cakes982

They're allowing traction control in MotoGP now? Interesting, so no more spinning up the rear?

They have for awhile now. Also smaller displacement means meaner bikes since the engineers will try to make as much power with less displacement. Take for instance a 140hp 600 or 140hp 1000. The 600 will have a MUCH more violent power delivery. Generally speaking.

If they really wanted to slow the bikes down I would ban carbon brakes and decrease the amount of fuel they can carry. And you could add a little weight.

[Cakes206]

Originally Posted by Ant

They have for awhile now.

So then how the hell are they spinning up the rear exiting? There also shouldn't be that many high sides(or low sides where the rear steps out) then, no?

[EvilSteve]

Traction control is configurable just like any setting. They have it dialed in to allow a little slip.

[Cakes206]

Originally Posted by EvilSteve

Traction control is configurable just like any setting. They have it dialed in to allow a little slip.

They're layin down some serious rubber all throughout the turns though. So for argument sake if their actual traveling speed in a turn is 80mph, and they're laying down a stripe, the tire isn't going to be spinning at lets say 83mph, has to be spinning a lot faster than that, no? With traction control, they should never lose the rear...ever.

This is a great discussion btw.

[EvilSteve]

I'm not arguing that traction control is meant to prevent this very thing, all I'm saying (without having any idea at what speed that much rubber is laid down) is that the traction control can be set to allow any amount of spin.

[CBRBob]

Joe, traction control does not mean zero slip. If it did the bike would never leave the grid. It's like having anti lock brakes, they HAVE to lock for them to work.

[SPL170db]

Originally Posted by Cakes982

They're allowing traction control in MotoGP now? Interesting, so no more spinning up the rear?

They've had it quite some time now, what's happening in 2007 is that they are allowing T.C. in AMA Superbike (and I think in FX as well, but I could be mistaken).


In regards to the initial post, I've not seen any actual hard numbers on the kind of HP numbers the new 800cc MotoGP bike are capable of. I know the RC211v and the Desmo were putting out in the neighborhood of 250hp.

If you consider that a drop from 990 to 800 is just a little less than a 20% decrease in engine size, does that mean a 20% drop in HP as well (which would put then just above 200hp). Not necessarily I think. As fuel capacity restrictions were imposed in the 990's waining years they had to detune slightly so they wouldn't run out of fuel in a race. Of course the 800's also have a higher rev ceiling than the 990's......many other factors to include into the equation as well.

I think when all is said and done and the 800's are sorted out, they will still be making more HP than their production-based counterparts in WSBK.

[EvilSteve]

There are tighter fuel restrictions for the 800s now too, there was an article mentioning it on crash.net. I'll see if I can find it if anyone's interested?