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McElrath uses said line, on camera just twenty seconds before Hill does. Also you will see Savatgy, Nicoletti & (one other?) use it, on camera. If those three are seen using it, do you think the rest of the field are oblivious to it?
Furthermore, if, IF, IF you were correct in Hill having not used that line until the very last lap, you do realise he was just 0.2 seconds off of the leader WITHOUT using that line?
It aint the bike!
F'kin internet experts... I sometimes wonder if some of you have eyes..
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...also this isn't new for Hill. Like his brother, training isn't a big priority for them. He won the title last year but if it wasn't for Shane's pumpkin blowing up...the title wouldn't be his. Shane was faster last year.
Pit Row
If it's the latter, it would explain why he's good on one weekend (when the bike setup fits the track), and really bad on the other (when it doesn't). 2nd place off the start shows that the bike isn't lacking in horsepower. JGR wouldn't put an underpowered bike out there.
One thing to put down one fast lap on a fresh track, compared to 20 laps completely broken down track. Armpump and poor suspension settings generally dont show itself until main event.
To put it into perspective, I don't remember Stewart having any issues with his KX125 when he was smashing riders on 250f's left right and center, and you can almost guarantee that bike had less HP than the competition.
I don't understand why the set up is that far off. Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm pretty sure Hill is using the same suspension as many before him have used (just with different coatings). Anderson, Wharton, Cunningham etc have all done well on the RMZ250 in previous years using a Showa A Kit set up. There's bound to be a solid base SX setting for that bike, so either Hill is asking for something drastically different or the RG3 boys have got it quite wrong.
I agree its probably not the fastest or lightest bike but its top 5 capable. So to put the blame solely on the bike is unfair.
I think JGR could take any OEM and make it as fast as anyone's. However I think PC has experience that JGR can't match in building a better bike.
If Hill was on a PC Kawi I think he would still be about where he is. Perhaps a little better but not ahead of Savatgy or AC.
It is not all bike, but Suzuki has had a lot of problems with their 250 program for a while.
2011- This was the year where Hewitt's team became the official 250 effort for Suzuki and the team struggled all year. There was a Matthes Podcast race review when Ping was on the show still and they were discussing why the team was struggling so much and Ping was saying that their bikes lacked a little bit of motor compared to the other teams.
2012- Apparently Suzuki is not supporting Hewitt's team anymore. They make improvement's and Wharton is able to win a race in Indy, but they still have issues throughout the year. Davalos DNF'd first 2 races because of electrical problems.
2013- Team goes completely in house and bikes are finally on par with competition but Hewitt's team switches to KTM at end of the year and Anderson wins the 250 West title the following year.
2014- No team
2015- No team
2016- Motorcycle Superstore team gets support but seems to struggle. Dirtcandy/MAD racing gets full Yosh support and have sweet looking bikes. Dirtcandy team is a total shit show. Baker gets booted two races into the season, Bisceglia struggles as the bike again seems underpowered compared to the competition and eventually moves to the 450 during outdoors. Luke Clout gets a 2 year contract and replaces Baker, but struggles in the outdoors. Dirtcandy team folds.
2017- JGR is now given the reigns for the 250 program and have Bisceglia and Phil. Both have injuries. Cunningham fills in and has decent results here and there. Did anyone ride the 250 outdoors for JGR?
If there any factual errors above, I apologize. This is going off my memory and the research I have found so far.
Again, it's not all the bike. For the consumer, it's just fine. It may not be as exciting as the other brands though. I rode the 2011 RMZ250 and I thought it was a great bike. Good motor at the time compared to its peers and handled well. They haven't really changed a whole lot except now the chassis and forks have changed and it doesn't seem like it was for the better unfortunately. In pro racing, Suzuki seems to be a tad behind the competition for their 250 program. I think the 450 is just fine and it has had a lot of success, especially outdoors.
JGR has done a lot of work to get the bikes power needed and I don't think that is the issue right now for them. I hope they are able to get it figured out and they find some success. I have a feeling Decotis is going to do well on the East for them.
In other eras of this sport a bike that is 5-7 or even 9 years old would be laughed at. Show up in 1985 on a 1979 platform bike. Or in 1989 on a 1985. Or in 1995 on a 1989. You would be smoked and there would be no question about why.
Justin signed the deal looking forward to the 450 class in year 2.
Stewart was miles ahead in the skill department against his competitors compared to Hill and his competitors.
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