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none of them ride at a high level save ML. i dont care that darkside circulates the dirtbike track at 3 palms or wherever. Ping is irrelevant. Matthes doesn't press people, but could have that conversation if he was so inclined. i'll take the other poster's word about Lewis, but i can only take so much of his voice (but im glad he does ask if he does!).
the ducati conversation is a different context that what is the topic of this thread. in that context the riders are entitled (your current favorite word btw) to share or not share as much about ducati development as they want (cairoli politely declined to do so). the context im referring to is when a rider claims the bike as a bottleneck to their progression. "okay cool, what are you looking for the bike to do better for you?" e.g. Formula 1 world you hear stuff like "we're struggling with the mid-speed corners here" or, "I'm lacking rear-end feel on corner entry which keeps me from attacking them like i am accustomed to". I'm sure the same applies in MotoGP which is also a more open (in some ways) and technically-fluent sport than what we have here.
And he had one of the weirdest bike setups ever. Rear shock that had large amounts of rebound damping and ride so low it was practically a chopper. He just rode the fuck out of it.
Sounds like you'd love Lewis/Barcia interviews.
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I think the word 'comfortable' is used incorrectly a lot of the time when it comes to bike set up.
It isnt about making the bike plush, and easy to ride, its about moving the window of operation where it doesnt try to throw you off.
When you you know what a bike will do in a given situation, with either bumps, or big hits, it gives you the confidence to push harder, it it soaks up that punishment.
Its being mentally comfortable with pushing the limit of what you feel is possible, without the bike trying to throw you into the cheap seats.
So its about be comfortable to take risk, knowing that when you give the extra 1% , it isnt going to bite you.
You get to a point where the bike will either work at that level, or it gives you a real big warning that it is going to spit you off, and that is the point that riders get antsy, because they know its only a matter of time.
And when the material at your disposal isnt giving you what you feel you need, it goes pear shaped very quickly.
I have ridden bikes that i know are going to hurt me at some point, and have been smart enough to hand them back before they did. Most of the issue are with people trying to make bikes fast, not rideable.
There's a science devoted to this topic, sport psychology.
Barcia is a ducati guy and on the backside of his career. He's playing with house money and he can make excuses all he wants (if he is) I don't care. Was never a barcia fan but I admire how he (and mookie too) rebuilt his career from the brink. Lewis is growing on me intellectually, but the voice and intonation is second only to RC in abrasiveness and lack of listenability.
As an aside, personally for whatever reason, I don't care that much about ducati bike development. I think they're a shit company ethically, but I think they'll figure it out eventually. Though Im big fans of cairoli and ferrandis to be fair. Sorry for the verbal vomit had to get that out.
In 1993 McGrath said the only thing holding him back was arm-pump.
Rarely would you hear a rider saying the bike was holding them back. Do we think that ‘92 WR500 held Bradshaw back against those HRC CRs??
Charmichael has also said he needed to switch brands to be able to beat the Hondas back in the day.
It was same then, same now.
Just there wasn't even close to the amount of media and information available at that time as it is today. You where lucky if you got a comment in a magazine 4-6 weeks after the race and from time to time on TV back then.
I like Ferrandis, don't care a bit about Ducati, and LewLew makes my ears bleed, so although I've had more than enough of Cairoli, I guess it's an upvote.
😄
No excuses, he just goes into detail on everything you asked for. What changes they're making to fix what problems, what new problems get created from fixing the old problem, who runs what fork height, etc.
RC also said he had to get off the Honda to beat the Yamaha (2st SX).
^^^and then you had Stewart beating 250 riders on a 125, and then 450s on a (“flawed chassis” according to MXA) 250. 🤔
Most of the rear suspension looks real hyper kicky on current bikes. As soon as they hit what little chop there is the back end goes hyper kicking. 89 cr125,s looked way better on the rear end & forks looked perfect. The current Honda,s look the best , no where as bad as the other bikes.
I dont know the answer but I think it says something with the #1 and #2 riders in the world, Jett and Hunter, openly talk about their bike setups and continue to refine their setups on the bike. The game is elevated beyond most of our comprehension.
Because they are trying to run too stiff (aka SX) in the outdoors.
The Euro guys know better...
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