GP Riders height & weight

[Spidey]

I realize you're probably half-kidding, but personally, I'd love to see some female GP riders.  As a father of 2 little girls who are constantly being told that motorcycles aren't for girls, they should keep their hands clean, etc., I would love to see a woman dragging knee through some GP corners.  

I'm completely kidding.  I'd love to see women in GP.  I saw Elena Myers on Sunday at the local club races, and it was awesome how many girls/women/dude/old leches she attracted.  It was . . .  

I was also kinda cryptically referencing a hysterical statement made by Simoncelli last year:  http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=38039.0

[zarn02]

There was a woman who raced in WSS last year (don't know if she was in every race). Seemed to be plagued by breakdowns, and other DNFs. Was a shame, really, especially since I don't remember hearing anything about her this season.

[dgm]

Ahh...I missed that from Simoncelli last year.  He seems quite brilliant eh?   

[Triple J]

If GP was more of a run what you brung type series I'd agree to leave it alone. However, it isn't. As soon as Dorna dictated a min. bike weight (not to mention fuel volume, tire choice, etc), then an advantage was given to a team with a lighter rider. This encourages lighter riders...as evidence by most of these "normal sized" guys weighing less than 150 lbs. Seriously...5'-11" and 147 lbs (Rossi)...that's a bean pole.

The numbers say it all. Given the min. bike weight of 330 lbs (150 kg)...the lightest package Simo's team can field is 488 lbs, while the lightest package Dani's team can field is 442 lbs. That's a 46 lb, or 10.3% difference. In a sport where tenths (or even hundredths) of a second count that is significant. This may not translate directly to race wins since there are too many other factors, but it no doubt effects the results in some fashion. Hayden admitted in the article to having to run a leaner fuel setting than Dani due to his weight.

Why not just eliminate the bike weight altogether, or maybe not limit the fuel volume. There are ways to equalize things, but a combined weight would be the most straight forward given the other restrictions in place.

[Spidey]

Why not just eliminate the bike weight altogether

Cost. 

[zooom]

I realize you're probably half-kidding, but personally, I'd love to see some female GP riders.  As a father of 2 little girls who are constantly being told that motorcycles aren't for girls, they should keep their hands clean, etc., I would love to see a woman dragging knee through some GP corners.  

that is exactly why some of us are a lil bent at Denning and Suzuki for not letting a certain female AMA racer take a ride on the GSV-R at the end of last season as was suggested was going to happen.

[derby]

that is exactly why some of us are a lil bent at Denning and Suzuki for not letting a certain female AMA racer take a ride on the GSV-R at the end of last season as was suggested was going to happen.

fwiw, denning wasn't authorized to make the offer in the first place.

[Jester]

Rider + bike weight just gives incentive for people to get tiny riders and strategically-placed ballast.  I mean, imagine if it were moveable -- you could take 20 lbs and have it shift around a bit so that it was either perfectly centered or off to a side or the front or back to minimize load or to provide traction.  Jebus, can ya imagine?  And while intuitively I like the idea of bike + rider min weight, it's not like Douchey McSmurfjizz is winning every race.  Just leave it be.  And while we at it, ditch the 21 liters.  Ditch the electronics.  Let 'em race.   

Just as long as they don't let girls race GP.  Then we'll have to start making some rules.   

Maybe I'm not remembering right, but I'm pretty sure Pedrosa used ballast in 125's and located it where they wanted it.  For some reason that is in my head.

[thought]

i dont see the big issue here... every single high level sport in the world has limits to how far you can go with what your genetics gave you.  and in the end, it's more about the skill level of athlete that then lets them overcome their handicaps to become the best.

and i think it gets a lot messier with motorcycles... because there is also a advantage in leverage with being tall.  because if you had to handicap the smaller lighter riders with extra weight, then you would also need to handicap the taller riders with some kind of brace so they couldnt hang off as easily wouldnt you?  with most other racing, the weight/height of the driver doesnt drastically affect the handling of their car/horse, they are pretty much a static weight in the vehicle.

there are going to be advantages/disadvantages in every aspect of any kind of racing.  and the best of the best are the ones that are just going to have to do better with what they are given whether it be their genetics or their vehicle.  which in the end, is the reason they are the best.

[DoubleEagle]

I wouldn't be surprised to see Elena Myers end up in MOTOGP some day.

Dolph

[DukeDenver]

Women riders would be sweet, everyone likes a chick on a bike!  Could be MotoGPs new slogan "MotoGP, no fat chicks allowed"