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Just watched The Lawrence episode and have to say, the starts they hit are always on point. Listening to the bikes, pure tractor mode in 2nd gear that doesn't rev out too far. Bikes today have enough power to retard the timing and make it pull without loosing traction. Right at the beginning of the episode.
Just my .02 I know it won't change the outcome "much" but I believe it is time to get rid of the starting aides these boys have. Starting device, grate, starting blocks, lights on the fender for rpm management. Kind of like baseball from the college level to the pros and metal bats back to wood.
I was thinking about starts and began to wonder if it would be possible to utilize some type of AI that would recognize the gate drop and begin the engagement process much faster than the human eye? Surly it is possible
I’m absolutely for getting rid of start gate helpers…like start mapping, holeshot devices, ect…..but I still think the majority is rider based. If a start/rev map/light makes it brainless on throttle control then that’s lame. Skill should dictate performance….not more technology. All jmho. As for HRC vs the rest? Maybe…idk….Jorge had almost half the hole shots in MXGP last year on the GasGas. …but watching the races this year makes me think HRC has a clear advantage that helps consistency.
IMO, HRC have absolutely dissected starts to the science and addressed each element. They now have a repeatable process that will get Jett at or near the front in most motos. Anyone who thinks they can just rev to what they think sounds right, dump the clutch and go and beat HRC with any consistency is kidding themselves.
Results support this^^^ fact. …and kudos to them…but it is making the races less exciting.
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5:22 wow
The topic of removing start grates, start devices, start blocks, RPM lights, etc comes up every week here. This is professional racing, so why are we allowing this shit that takes some of the skill out of the starts? Having to pack your gate and feather the RPM's on your own instead of having all this tech doing it for them is where we should be in professional racing.
Ban it all and let's see some adversity on the starts like larry-loop-outs on the start straight again.
And with everyone talking about safety, there will be less consistency among all the guys getting into the first corner together and less speed. It's a win-win to get rid of all this shit and make the riders do it all on their own.
The same argument is taking place in MotoGP. Front AND rear start devices to go with start maps. Reaction time is the only rider element left.
This could easily be done by putting sensors up front to time the gate drop and an actuator that dumps the clutch at the earliest possible moment to avoid hitting it with the front tire. Maybe this will be next with the way things are headed.
Yea…and how long until someone invents an electronic eye focused on gate movement to automatically release the brake? They will develop timing to allow….yes….allow the gate to be low enough not to hit it. ….ugh
Why would anybody downvote this?
One of the following:
1. Die-hard HRC Lawrence fans who don't want the advantage to be taken away
2. BDB haters
3. Manufacturers of starting devices, blocks, maps, etc. who don't want to lose business.
Who is HRC's tech/data guy/team? Has anyone interviewed them? (Would Honda allow them to be interviewed, or would NDA's prevent them from saying anything...?)
Here is the funny part. Last year it was factory hrc doing the mapping and ECU. This year it is GET systems. #dialed
The gate doesn't need to be low to not hit it...
Yeah I've never really understood everyone's problem with all the aides.. I mean I wouldn't hate it if they were all gone but if everyone has them then the separator is back to individual riders but I get there used to be way more factors to separate them.. I just think good starters will be good starters! I can't see the 'more dangerous' argument either it's not like we're having more first turn crashes than usual..
When Jett has the start form and reaction time he has he's getting good starts no matter what
Well said my friend. Well said....
Excellent photo, Jett demonstrating how to pass 39 riders!
Pit Row
I think if Jett raced the DBP it would be the same result. This is what the comp woukd c.
The 2 dudes with the best riding technique are just benefitting from their bikes ecu/tech off the start? Yeah man that’s why Deano was also ripping hollies and the Lawrences always fade to the back after the first la- oh wait….🤡
Shout out to Filmguytom....those weekly Lawrence film updates are 👌
Inseam to seat height formula for starting blocks. So say a 6 foot dude doesn't have one, a 5 10 rider has a super low one and the Martins, sorry smaller riders have much bigger ones.
Start hooks, but no grates (maybe in supie), no lights. Ideally no start maps, but I don't really see much of a way to police that, it'd be easy enough to hide that shit in ecu code
Why have starting blocks, short dudes didn't use them in the past...
While we’re at it, we should take away tires, fenders, seats, handlebars, electric start, etc. Just take away everything that provides any help to the rider.
FWIW, I think KTM has starts pretty dialed as well. The rest, not so much. Not well enough to be consistent anyway.
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