Do you think by shrinking the motogp now to 800cc favors smaller riders?

Question

casey stoner is 1.71meters

dani pedrosa is 1.73 meters

valentino rossi is 1.83 meters

nicky hayden is 1.73 meters

marco melandri is 1.68 meters

Answer 1

Hey Dave B

I'm with Ducatti 749 on this one - it does seem to have been a dull(ish) season on these bikes, when I think many people expected the opposite.

As to size - a lot of the really fast guys are quite small and I suppose weight is more of an issue than height - either way you aint gonna see to many hunks of beef on the gp circuit! Though quite a few small but beautifully formed men ;o{) (is that the correct smiley for a lascivious wink?)

Edwards seems quite tall - but gangly - and no one would deny he can get those macjhines moving!

Answer 2

I think you're wrong...

pedrosa isn't 1.73 but 1.58

in my opinion, new 800 bikes don't favor small riders, but they have reduced the necessary skills to ride fast.

in this season we have seen many new riders going fast, I mean: elias, stoner, giuntoli (!)...

in 2006 they appeared not very effective, but with these new bikes they become fast..

I hate these 800cc

Answer 3

DINGO HONEY, STOP FLIRTING !!!!

The 800cc were the best thing to happen to the Motogp blue ribbon class.

But the size SHOULD off helped, but with all the other problems the teams have had, they did not.

The smart money said, at the end of 2006, watch Dani just walk the championship. Nice neat small 800, that rides like his old NSR 250. WRONG.

What ever size you make it, a bike with over 200 brake is going to be a handfull.

If the 800 were so much like 250's then surley, Caparex, Marco, Dani, Rossi should have killed the field this year. But look who has just won his first world tile [ all but ] . The only one NOT to have won the 250cc championship ! Casey.

Just think how great it will be when the 250's turn into 440 - 480cc four stroke singles ! Now that will be racing.

Answer 4

When talking about machines that produce approx 250bhp, the differences in power to weight ratio's are insignificant. And where there is a gain in one area, they lose in another. For instance the lighter riders will have a little less grip as there's slightly less weight being being pushed down, hence less friction between tyre and track.

But as I said, its all fairly insignificant. Rider skill is the most important part of an entire package. And everyone in that paddock has got plenty of that (otherwise they wouldn't be there).

Answer 5

definitely.  less weight on the bike is always going to mean more speed generally speaking. of course the talent and skill of the indivdual rider is extremely important, but not taking a particular rider into consideration, the new engine size favors smaller riders.

Answer 6

yes and no, most professional riders are fairly small, it enables them to get lower to the ground. personally it would be pretty hard being on a bike of that weight and being so small, i think alot of it comes form knowing your machine and its capabilities