2009 World Superbike Round 1 - Phillip Island (RACE 1+2 SPOILERS)

[Spidey]

The other weird thing is that despite what everyone is saying about how much fast the gixxers are in a straight line, the fastest gixxer for the weekend was 316 mph (edit:  I'm pretty sure I meant kph  ) while both factory Ducs went 315 kph.

[desmoquattro]

The other weird thing is that despite what everyone is saying about how much fast the gixxers are in a straight line, the fastest gixxer for the weekend was 316 mph (edit:  I'm pretty sure I meant kph  ) while both factory Ducs went 315 kph.

That probably depends on the length of the straight and the type of drive you get out of the last corner before that straight, huh? PI is known as a fast track, but I'm not sure whether it lets bikes stretch their legs as compared to other tracks.

Also, keep in mind that the straight at PI is downhill.

[mitt]

The other weird thing is that despite what everyone is saying about how much fast the gixxers are in a straight line, the fastest gixxer for the weekend was 316 mph (edit:  I'm pretty sure I meant kph  ) while both factory Ducs went 315 kph.

Max speed doesn't matter - a more important measure is average straight speed, or straight elapsed time.  Just like drag racing, 2 cars can have identical max velocity, but if one got to that velocity faster, than it will have a lower time and win.

mitt

[Spidey]

I know.  But you'd think there'd still be a larger difference in max velocity considering how much the zuke walked away on the straights.

[desmoquattro]

I know.  But you'd think there'd still be a larger difference in max velocity considering how much the zuke walked away on the straights.

Dunno. On the Eurosport coverage the camera angles on the straights were mostly from ground level, and we caught the Haga and Neukirchner at an angle as they approached turn 1. It looked like Haga was braking super-late, but I was thinking that the camera angle may have contributed to that. It may have also made it seem like the Zuke was building a larger gap in the straights.

[derby]

Dunno. On the Eurosport coverage the camera angles on the straights were mostly from ground level, and we caught the Haga and Neukirchner at an angle as they approached turn 1. It looked like Haga was braking super-late, but I was thinking that the camera angle may have contributed to that. It may have also made it seem like the Zuke was building a larger gap in the straights.

i think most of that is just the "slinky" effect.

[Speeddog]

The Zuke may have been getting off of the corner better, getting to 'top' speed earlier.

[gm2]

i guess you're all sorta talking about the last corner, but... it depends on the corner.  generally the duc gets off the corner best.  sure as hell looked like the new R1 does as well, too, in all but the last couple corners.

[desmoquattro]

i guess you're all sorta talking about the last corner, but... it depends on the corner.  generally the duc gets off the corner best.  sure as hell looked like the new R1 does as well, too, in all but the last couple corners.

It may well have been. From what I've seen, the last turn is a long, left-hand sweeper that they build up speed through.

[zooom]

looked like Max with the Priller was getting off the corners really good...but he was wide on alot of them and I think that was due to the rear end chatter he said he was experiencing and therefore pushed him wider generally and knowing that, he took swoopier lines to compensate....but it still looked like he got that thing singing off the corners....if they get that chassis straightened out...he'll be pushing in the front group every race.

[gm2]

max wide in or out of a corner is just max.  he constantly does that.

[zooom]

max wide in or out of a corner is just max.  he constantly does that.

he was swoopier than normal....you could see it moreso especially in the laps before he got overtaken by Fabrizio when you were watching apex's and positioning in comparo to Ben and Nori...which I was watching the differences between those 2 as a matter of interest and caught the Max thing by happenstance...

[derby]

i guess you're all sorta talking about the last corner, but... it depends on the corner.  generally the duc gets off the corner best.  sure as hell looked like the new R1 does as well, too, in all but the last couple corners.

you just watched the race again, didn't you? 

[Desmostro]

I know.  But you'd think there'd still be a larger difference in max velocity considering how much the zuke walked away on the straights.

We make a lot of assumptions here. Where it looked like the Susuki was getting away on the straight is exactly where Haga passed him 2 laps to go. ( I think it was 2 laps, maybe even last lap)
We don't know how strategy, humor, etc played a part here. It was clear in the end the Susuki had killed it's tires and Haga was there on his ass to nab the lead when it counted. Haga having chilled back saving his tires with no to little gap.

This may be the consequence of a delicate control rather than maximums at play.
Just a thought.

[Grampa]

I still wanna see an IROC formated race.

at the end of the season... they race on whichever bike brand wins the points championship