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I know there are so many variables to a great start, but with a full season run and won, is there a trend ?..... if so why ??
This is not about brand loyalty or brand bashing. Starts matter. great starters getting ordinary starts must be a concern.
Also, what's the data source for a "Simulated Holeshot Test" ? I looked and could not find ...
PS "Twisted cylinder" is a colloquialism, not an insult. Like upside down forks ...
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Oh and by your reasoning, Tiger Woods golfing shitty has nothing to do with him being head case, it's all his clubs fault.
As posed in this topic, he would also look at his troubles . . . He would no doubt find the answer there. The clubs would not be seen as a factor in his poor results.
As for the MX racers, I doubt that "magic fairy dust" is discussed in the team meetings.
I assume they all work hard on starts and some guys will just never get it nailed. I also doubt that OEMs will work towards heavier bikes ... mainly.
Yamaha did.
Great innovation . . .but . . . At what cost ?
The difference can be real or perceived. It doesnt matter. The problem is, Yamas aren't getting starts and its statistically highly unlikely that its solely due to the section of riders piloting them.
450 Class Holeshots
Andrew Short – 10
Brett Metcalfe – 3
Ryan Dungey – 2
Kevin Windham – 2
Mike Alessi – 1
Justin Brayton – 1 Yamaha
Chad Reed – 1
Ryan Sipes – 1 Yamaha
[1] You have to be 100% confident and committed. If you KNOW you'll do well, you might. If you think you might not do well, you definitely won't.
[2] Equipment and confidence are closely related to the ego. If a golfer has a bad game, many (me included) are looking at new drivers, putters, etc. (It can't be me right?)... In MX If someone looses, it's always an outside factor: I had a bad setup, my bike wasn't working, someone took me out...
Mike got a holeshot when he went into the season thinking "I'm best starter out there". Then his mindset shifted to "I'm on a bike that's giving up 100cc". As soon as that happened, his season was over.
To blame Mike's performance 100% on the bike is like contributing Shorty's newfound starting 100% to a bike: bullshit. People are already saying stupid shit for Shorty: his holeshot device is lower, he has traction control, etc. Maybe the setup gave him more confidence, but those holeshots are 85% Andrew Short, just like Mike's holeshots are 85% Mike Alessi.
And before some numbskull responds with "100cc": Villopoto did it twice being 200cc down, so suck it.
JGR puts out an amazing bike. Josh Grant's performance is 100% Josh Grant.
It amazes me that when a rider does good, it's the rider. Was Grant's supercross victory last year due to some magically better Yamaha or Josh Grant? So is it this horrible Yamaha that had Josh falling off second motos all year or was it Josh's cardio?
Is Yamaha the new KTM at Vital?
In conclusion,
Yamaha can't buy a start ? BUSTED
Yamaha can get starts. They have had a really bad year with the best guys on the sick list.
The heavier bike is an issue ? PLAUSIBLE
More weight or top of class weight can't be helpful. Starts are all important, the jump is all important. Many factors come into play. Power output of the bike. Rider abilities including, but not limited to, experience, confidence, gate anticipation, luck . . . Map settings . . . Who's beside the guy . . . Even a blink ??
The ability to have an insult free, non hysterical debate on Vital ? PLAUSIBLE
In regard to some issues raised . . .
Position of hole shot device ... If I noticed that Short's is set lower, then I would be testing that setup the very next testing session. You would take as much time as was needed to sort out the best setup.
CC's. RV MXDN. On paper - not too easy too be down on cc's and holeshot. On dirt . . . Well, it's in the record books.
Brand loyalty. Critiquing a bike or asking a question relating to a brand or model is allowed and it's healthy. Being one-eyed and all defensive is allowed but does not add anything positive to the validity of an opinion or a debate.
This has not been a Yamaha put down / defence session. It's asking a question and promoting discussion. Yamaha is not the new KTM on Vital, all that is extreme, emotional talk that has a place somewhere . . . Just like "Leave Brittany Alone ".... or Double rainbow.
Secondly, would like to see those statistics you say make it more likely the Yamaha bikes fault than their top riders and starters being hurt and out the majority of the year and unable to pilot said bike to a holeshot.
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