Stoner - Rossi Showdown

[nixoid]

Thought you guys would like to see this: Rossi-Stoner Laguna Seca 2008 battle | The Official MotoGP Website

One hell of a scrappy battle between these two. Too bad Nicky never got into the race. He was out by the third turn. Real shame there were no Americans "in the race"

[Pittenger5]

Seriously, what happened to Edwards?

[Pittenger5]

And while we're on the subject, how does Rossi go so long without his left foot on the peg? Is it just slowed down enough that it seems a lot longer, or is 1st gear REAL long on MotoGP bikes? It almost looks like he's shifting, so maybe the shots reversed or something?

[nixoid]

You know I was surprised while watching the race. There was a camera on Stoner's bike near the clutch lever and he appeared to be using it. For some reason I thought those guys used air or electric shifters on those things. Maybe it is a weight thing or the rider preference.

[BMFR6]

The clutches work on GP bikes, they do use electric shifters but that just provides clutchless upshifts. Most (unless something is wrong) still use the clutch for downshifts. Sick to watch them drop 3-4 gears clutching each one in the span of time it takes most humans to drop one gear. God bless slipper clutches.

as far as the rossi foot thing, i notice more riders doing that lately. from what i've heard, and don't quote me on this as i am not positive its accurate, but the riders take their foot off to aid in getting locked into position on the bike. as in, with their inside foot off the peg, they can be sure they have the outside leg locked on to the bike supporting their weight. like i said, dont quote me on that.

[Pittenger5]

as far as the rossi foot thing, i notice more riders doing that lately.

I was refering more to the start, watch Rossi on the start on that video. The rest of the ones ni the shot start with their left foot on the peg, but Rossi does both feet down, and it takes him what seems like a long time to get his left foot onto the peg.

[BMFR6]

Just found this on Soup doing a Stoner interview:

Q I ask because I noticed last year when you were running it in really hard on left-handers, your left foot would go light on the peg once in a while.


A Yeah, but Valentino does the same thing, and so does Dani, and they've got almost no dirt-track background or experience.


Q Is it a comfort thing?


A No, all it is is leverage, really. As you go on the brakes, before - you go back your gears, and then just before you put your foot back on the footpeg, it's sort of a leverage, to sort of help it tip in, I suppose. But there's nothing you can really explain of why we do it. It's just it's a natural thing, the way we ride. But it's not any particular reason. It's definitely not coming from dirt- track.

[nixoid]

It must be an incredible feeling to just know what to do. A half squid like me has to really think every move out as I do them....

[KillBill]

One hell of a battle and great footage of the race

[OreoGaborio]

And while we're on the subject, how does Rossi go so long without his left foot on the peg? Is it just slowed down enough that it seems a lot longer, or is 1st gear REAL long on MotoGP bikes? It almost looks like he's shifting, so maybe the shots reversed or something?

Well the shot isn't reversed since all the numbers are facing the right way... if you watch the other riders, they aren't shifting in that first shot and you can also see Rossi's fingers on the clutch still slipping it out until just before they switch camera angles.... They do gear the transmissions so that 1st gear is usable in some corners & with over 200hp I can't imagine 1st gear needs to be all that short and I know on many liter bikes, first gear can & will take you up to or even over triple digits when you rev it all the way out.

[Paul_E_D]

First gear is incredibly tall on real racebikes... Try launching a 125GP bike and you'll have the idea. This way they can have close ratios, and still acheive 200 mph.

[beet]

AFAIK all the new liter bikes do a buck in first. Stock TLs even.. need to gear them so the loopy is not just a flick flick away.

Well the shot isn't reversed since all the numbers are facing the right way... if you watch the other riders, they aren't shifting in that first shot and you can also see Rossi's fingers on the clutch still slipping it out until just before they switch camera angles.... They do gear the transmissions so that 1st gear is usable in some corners & with over 200hp I can't imagine 1st gear needs to be all that short and I know on many liter bikes, first gear can & will take you up to or even over triple digits when you rev it all the way out.