As part of a discussion on another forum about how a "weight penalty" might actual help a rider, MotoLiam (who used to work for a Duc Satellite team) offered up this tidbit about weighting down MotoGP bikes for rain riding. It was news to me and I found it pretty interesting.
You know, back with Pedrosa was racing in 125GP, he was assessed a weight penalty and had to add material to his bike. He loved it. His team loved it. Imagine, you get to place the weight wherever you want it . . . load up a couple pounds in the nose, or how about filling the bellypan with tire weights to help the CG of the machine with a full tank? Ironically, Dani managed to learn how to go even quicker once he had the benefit of selective weight placement. More weight on the rear tire? Stuff the tail section full of lead weights! In the big bike class, it would be really something if people could see just how much weight is added to the rain set-up, i.e. the wheels are completely taped up with lead all over. A MotoGP bike racing in the rain is running heavier wheels and tires than a stock streetbike!
