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[TheBoy]

Oh, indeed, doing is far more fun.  I've not the balls on bikes, so karts used to be my vice.


My earlier point being, if I cant take part, and want to watch, racing is more fun for me

[feeutfo]

Oh, indeed, doing is far more fun.  I've not the balls on bikes, so karts used to be my vice.


My earlier point being, if I cant take part, and want to watch, racing is more fun for me

If I can't take part, then I personally need far more than the shite tv coverage we get to replace it. (should I bother ranting about highly detailed and technically advanced close ups of static team members in the pits yet again?  )

Put me/us in the drivers or riders seat, I want live it, feel it, be petrified by the commitment. It's difficult of course, but they could do so much more. Some of the demo laps by the likes Steve Parish or Jammie Witham with running commentary I find fascinating. Taking that forward, they show part of the other battle the driver has, which we hardly ever see, the one with the track itself, man and machine v the track. A less exciting contest from a spectators point of view, maybe. But one the competitor has to win as well.

So much more to it...some of Red bulls close up slow mo footage of Stoner is awesome. Through one corner, a left hander, he has to lift part of his body up to avoid the curb on the inside, knee and elbow so close the floor they're in the way. Rear wheel constantly turning faster than the front through out... A measure of some of the juggling act involved. Love it! (regardless of the rider)

[feeutfo]

Here you go. Not for Albs though. 
[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4snkUUolJ0&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/media]

[albitz]

Impressive. ...........but not as impressive as this. On a 500 2 stroke - which was the ultimate racing motorcycle..........but of course we have "progressed" from those.
Skip the first45 secs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrL4f7-6WI

[feeutfo]

Anyway, it's on in hour. 

[albitz]

I will be watching again - as long as my PM box doesnt keep filling up.

[albitz]

Phillistine.

...and Stoner on his Honda leads Rossi by 100 points on the same bike Stoner won the Championship on.

Its nothing like the same bike and you know it Chris.The onlt thing they have in common is having a Ducati sticker on the tank. Rossi is the best ever, theres no point trying to argue any different.Even if his best years are now behind him (which is by no means certain) Stoner will still never come close to what he has done. If Rossi was on a Honda this season Stoner wouldnt see where he went. And if Stoner was around in the days of 500 2 strokes he would have highsided himself into next week every time he wrenched open the the throttle.No adjustable power curve and clever electronics in those days.The feel through the arse and the finesse of the right hand was what won it - when men were men.

[feeutfo]

Phillistine.

...and Stoner on his Honda leads Rossi by 100 points on the same bike Stoner won the Championship on.

Its nothing like the same bike and you know it Chris.The onlt thing they have in common is having a Ducati sticker on the tank. Rossi is the best ever, theres no point trying to argue any different.Even if his best years are now behind him (which is by no means certain) Stoner will still never come close to what he has done. If Rossi was on a Honda this season Stoner wouldnt see where he went. And if Stoner was around in the days of 500 2 strokes he would have highsided himself into next week every time he wrenched open the the throttle.No adjustable power curve and clever electronics in those days.The feel through the arse and the finesse of the right hand was what won it - when men were men.

Historically yes, no point denying. Same as there's no point denying Stoners Talent either. Completely and utterly pointless. Insert sarcastic smiley here > [      ] 

[feeutfo]

Impressive. ...........but not as impressive as this. On a 500 2 stroke - which was the ultimate racing motorcycle..........but of course we have "progressed" from those.
Skip the first45 secs.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obrL4f7-6WI

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eByrWozqvaY&feature=youtube_gdata_player[/media]

[feeutfo]

Hang on, 500 is the ultimate racing motorcycle...? What utter 'dangle berries'! 

[albitz]

Definitely a Philistine.Read a few books on the history of bike racing from the 70,s to the present. And then watch a few DVD,s.
500 racers used to until recently refer to 4 strokes as diesels.4 strokes - any 4 stroke, is much more forgiving to ride,a tamer beast altogether.They switched to 4 strokes for marketing reasons due to 2 strokes being virtually outlawed by the tree huggers.200bhp with all the power in a power band of less than 2000rpm somewhere above 10,000rpm - mans bikes.
Took real talent and guts to ride those things on the limit, more so than any 4 stroke without a doubt. Ask Rossi, Doohan,Rainey,Schwantz,Gardner, Sheene,Roberts,etc,etc...

[feeutfo]

Definitely a Philistine.Read a few books on the history of bike racing from the 70,s to the present. And then watch a few DVD,s.
500 racers used to until recently refer to 4 strokes as diesels.4 strokes - any 4 stroke, is much more forgiving to ride,a tamer beast altogether.They switched to 4 strokes for marketing reasons due to 2 strokes being virtually outlawed by the tree huggers.200bhp with all the power in a power band of less than 2000rpm somewhere above 10,000rpm - mans bikes.
Took real talent and guts to ride those things on the limit, more so than any 4 stroke without a doubt. Ask Rossi, Doohan,Rainey,Schwantz,Gardner, Sheene,Roberts,etc,etc...

Albs that's just obtuse. The first Fireblade had more power. As your personal racing star friends will tell you. bored now, whatever. 

[albitz]

It didnt.500 2 strokes were putting out 200bhp from the mid 90,s. A fireblade still doesnt put out that much power.
Its not just about the power though. Its about the various characteristics of the bikes which made them very difficult to ride on the limit. Even super smooth Biagga got caught out and highsided a few times.Much more difficult to ride properly and required  more skill to get the best from them.
Rossi says so and hesabout  the only bloke around now who has ridden everything from 500 2 strokes to everyting which came after. He still says the 500,s were the ultimate, pure racing bike.

[albitz]

Anywaaaaay, getting back to the original topic.
A great programme Chris, quite emotional, and a very strong reminder of what a different place the world was back then.
What seems inhumanly crual now was just normal practice then.
Two major things came to my mind watching it.
1.The reason I have always had a lot more respect for those drivers than the current ones is, that they got into those cars knowing that if they had a big shunt there was a very good chance that they wouldnt come out of it. But they still got in them and drovethem on the ragged edge. Incredible imo.
2. David Purley was not only a hero but a really decent human being. I still remember when  he was killed flying his stunt plane.A sad loss.

[feeutfo]

It didnt.500 2 strokes were putting out 200bhp from the mid 90,s. A fireblade still doesnt put out that much power.
Its not just about the power though. Its about the various characteristics of the bikes which made them very difficult to ride on the limit. Even super smooth Biagga got caught out and highsided a few times.Much more difficult to ride properly and required  more skill to get the best from them.
Rossi says so and hesabout  the only bloke around now who has ridden everything from 500 2 strokes to everyting which came after. He still says the 500,s were the ultimate, pure racing bike.

Ah, forgive me. At their end, yes.