Posts
371
Joined
12/29/2020
Location
GB
Edited Date/Time
2/5/2021 4:28pm
So, I guess I am a casual fan of supecross/motocross. I've ridden a little and crashed a lot.
I wanted to know where the riders are losing time at Supercross because the gaps between the A and B guys is around 2+ seconds, which from the realm I am in usually is a lot over a 46 second lap. Is it cornering speed (entry, mid, exit)? Approach to the jumps, whoops? Is it in the bike set up? Is it factory vs privateer bikes? I know the B riders are still sh*t hot compared to average riders by the way, I am not wanting to demean their abilities here, I just want a better understanding.
I was also watching a few vlogs on youtube, and there seems to be a relative lack of data analysis or anything like that. I would often coach drivers with video analysis overlaying fast drivers against mine and that was always informative. This all could be being done off camera though.
I am in the UK so we've been in prison for 12 months so I haven't been able to get to any events and ask questions to riders directly. I have had to watch from afar.
I wanted to know where the riders are losing time at Supercross because the gaps between the A and B guys is around 2+ seconds, which from the realm I am in usually is a lot over a 46 second lap. Is it cornering speed (entry, mid, exit)? Approach to the jumps, whoops? Is it in the bike set up? Is it factory vs privateer bikes? I know the B riders are still sh*t hot compared to average riders by the way, I am not wanting to demean their abilities here, I just want a better understanding.
I was also watching a few vlogs on youtube, and there seems to be a relative lack of data analysis or anything like that. I would often coach drivers with video analysis overlaying fast drivers against mine and that was always informative. This all could be being done off camera though.
I am in the UK so we've been in prison for 12 months so I haven't been able to get to any events and ask questions to riders directly. I have had to watch from afar.
You’d think if you were able to do all the jumps you’d be up front but it’s a combination of everything.
Being fit and aggressive every moment of the race, no rolling or coasting into a corner, gotta rail everything, scrub everything, close ya eyes and blitz the whoops EVERY TIME lol.
Perfect laps. It ain’t easy
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Just my 2 cents from a mediocre Vet B rider.
Privateers do everything. They don’t just ride. They’re wearing multiple hats. They don’t have access to a huge resource of parts, mechanics and engineers etc. some will break out yes and get a ride.
Riders able to focus on riding and get better only have a little leg up.
I think something like that in supercross would be hugely educational when assessing how the Roczens of the world generate lap time. I don't like using my own perception as its unreliable.
Even if they are doing the same rhythm combos and both guys are hitting them smooth the Roczens/Tomacs/etc will do them so much faster.
I think the biggest discrepancy rider to rider is the whoops. Even among the factory guys. Compare someone like Stewart vs Webb. Or Craig vs Nichols.
our sport would benefit immensely from this kind of data acquisition. Sometimes i wish we had throttle monitoring rpms going in the whoops etc.
Also with stating everywhere it doesnt give specifics.....
They're losing time in approximately three areas mainly, Entrance/exit of corner.
The timing of the landing and throttle on the downside of jumps and whoops.
Fitness is key over the length of the race, However for 1 lap.. fitness is less of a factor than the timing and cornering aspect.
That is where they lose it
Pit Row
Notice head position on faster guys compared to the slower guys, they’re looking further down the track because they are thinking further ahead.
I’ll never forget back in the mid 00s seeing the top A guys at our track who I thought were so fast get absolutely mopped up by Dennis Jonan when he showed up one day. The corner speed was insanely different and it allowed him to make sections that were supposed to be difficult look easy. Same thing here except at a higher level. If you were used to watching the B and C practice groups in SX (let’s say a guy like Enticknap is the top dude) then one round Ken Roczen showed up, you’d really notice it. We just don’t notice it much because we rarely get to see the top dudes actually race those LCQ bubble guys. The only time we see it, they’re giving way due to a blue flag waving.
Whoops are a place where they lose a lot of time too but you have guys that are normally average at best in them (like Webb) who can still make up time elsewhere on the track
Post a reply to: Where are mid to back grid riders losing time to the top guys?