Slow GP tracks

mauidex
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mauidex
Edited Date/Time 8/5/2012 4:42pm
lookin at Jefro's Pit Bits at Loket I'd say looks pretty close many of our national track layouts..............

so what did I miss a few weeks ago with the posts that Euro tracks are so much slower and that's why GP guys are having hard time adapting??

Are the majority of GP tracks NOW, more like Lomell or Loket??

Don't want another US vs. Them thread............just really curious as to how that argument could be as it sure looks like from what I've seen of GP tracks lately, pretty close to what we race on here, except for maybe a few more "modified" sections..........
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Alex
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Alex 8/5/2012 2:00pm
8/5/2012 2:00pm Edited Date/Time 8/5/2012 2:00pm
Loket is super fast by modern day GP standards. Kinda oldschool and hasn't really changed layout since it was holding 500cc GPs back in the day, they just stuck a few more takeoffs in. Its funny the GP tracks used to be much faster than the nationals but now they've gone full circle and are generally slower. Not all of them though. I believe the US tracks are still the benchmark for what its worth.
mxgeoff
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mxgeoff 8/5/2012 2:34pm
8/5/2012 2:34pm
mauidex wrote:
lookin at Jefro's Pit Bits at Loket I'd say looks pretty close many of our national track layouts.............. so what did I miss a few weeks...
lookin at Jefro's Pit Bits at Loket I'd say looks pretty close many of our national track layouts..............

so what did I miss a few weeks ago with the posts that Euro tracks are so much slower and that's why GP guys are having hard time adapting??

Are the majority of GP tracks NOW, more like Lomell or Loket??

Don't want another US vs. Them thread............just really curious as to how that argument could be as it sure looks like from what I've seen of GP tracks lately, pretty close to what we race on here, except for maybe a few more "modified" sections..........
I think you can better ask a guy who has raced on both. Or check this interview on MXlarge.

http://www.mxlarge.com/interview/6812-michael-lieb-interview-going-green
mxgeoff
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mxgeoff 8/5/2012 2:45pm
8/5/2012 2:45pm
Alex wrote:
Loket is super fast by modern day GP standards. Kinda oldschool and hasn't really changed layout since it was holding 500cc GPs back in the day...
Loket is super fast by modern day GP standards. Kinda oldschool and hasn't really changed layout since it was holding 500cc GPs back in the day, they just stuck a few more takeoffs in. Its funny the GP tracks used to be much faster than the nationals but now they've gone full circle and are generally slower. Not all of them though. I believe the US tracks are still the benchmark for what its worth.
Youthstream mate a point of slowing the circuits down because the bikes are getting so much faster. They did it to make it safe for the riders. Also the National tracks really have more preperation, long before the event happens, and most circuits are owned by a family so it's their little baby. The GP circuits don't get any preperation throughout the year and most are owned by clubs, so the only time they really good a good service is when Youthstream arrive and clean them up. Of course a circuit like Matterley Basin which is run by Steve Dixon and is considered the best track of the circuit gets the American type of prep. Dixon like the American circuit owners is passionate about having a really good track.

I used to love going to the fast old school GP tracks, it was what I expected to be like, but those fast hard pack circuits would have been really dangerous with the speeds of the bikes now. And Loket is fast, but nothing like some of the other old school circuits of the past.
mauidex
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mauidex 8/5/2012 2:54pm
8/5/2012 2:54pm
thanks Geoff............what I thought as last time I was in Europe for some GP's tracks were nuts!!!!! I remember a 125 GP I went to in San Marino in 2001 or 02................. down the street from pavement track...............and it was f'n crazy how hard and fast it was..............could have used dual sport tires and switched sprockets!!!!!!

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DonM
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DonM 8/5/2012 4:42pm
8/5/2012 4:42pm
To me the biggest difference between the tracks is how much shorter the GP tracks are. US tracks are always over 2:00 lap times usually 2:15-2:20 while the GP tracks are rarely over 1:50. Speed wise they are pretty similar and Geoff is correct about the prep other than Hangtown the tracks are either owned by or run by Individuals.
Another main difference is the starts, GP tracks almost always favor the inside and therefore qualifying becomes very important as your qualifying time is your gate pick for both motos!

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