The Racing Thread - THIS THREAD CONTAINS RESULT INFO

But Mugello uses a very small % of full gas on a lap Steve so that is no real test. There is plenty they can test and still run a 990 motor. The 800 motor will be getting the nuts screwed off it on a test bench. All the bits you mention would have relevance next season. The physical size and weight of the smaller cc engine aint that much.

Different sound? Well air intake changes, fuel mapping and exhaust routing could quite easilly provide that. It does not need a different engine to do it. Come on you popped a different end can on your Blade didn't you? Got a different sound? Didn't hear you telling you switched the donk also.

[TimTucker]

This from www.castrol.com:

During the interval between Marco Melandri's victory in the Turkish Grand Prix and this weekend's Chinese Grand Prix, the first of the 2007 800cc MotoGP weapons broke cover. Ducati tested its version of the smaller displacement engine that will do battle in the next year's MotoGP World Championship during a three-day test session in Mugello, Italy. Honda Racing Corporation team manager Tsutomu Ishii said that testing on Honda's 800 will begin first in Japan, with Japanese test riders, then move to Europe where Honda's current MotoGP riders are expected to first throw a leg over the all-new prototype some time mid-summer.

It will take a couple of years before the 800s are doing the same lap times as the current bikes, I believe. It's not like F1, where you lop two cylinders off a 3-litre V10 to get a 2.4-litre V8 (though that's a gross simplification). These new engines are going to have to be developed from scratch.

The point of the regulation change was to slow the bikes down, so it does seem rather counter-productive for Honda to put their acknowledged #1 challenger to Valentino on what should be a slower bike.

Honda are concentrating a considerable portion of their resources on the new machine, I reckon, hence why there's only one proper 2006 prototype out there -- Hayden's bike. The Gresini bikes are essentially the same as last year, as is Pedrosa's. This is a learning year for him.

The 800s are going to require a lot more electronic trickery to keep them rideable, so I think a lot of this is riding on Hayden's machine.

Watching on TV doesn't allow you to really notice the difference in engine note, which is the thing that intrigues me. Surely this year's donk can't be that much different from the other RC211Vs out there?

I'll just have to wait until the Donington weekend and have a listen myself.

That's an interesting find Tim, so maybe he is running a full sized motor.

Originally Posted by TimTucker

Watching on TV doesn't allow you to really notice the difference in engine note.......

I know that, I was making a comment from personal experience:

Originally Posted by Jelster

In Le Mans it certainly sounded different to the other Hondas.

(I was there.....)

.

Rossi's "new chassis" is last years folks. More flex in the frame means less chatter from the stickier Michelins.

Regarding Hayden, if he was running an 800cc machine it would be all over the press. Something like that doesn't stay a secret. From the photos of Ducati's 800 you can see that it is more like a 250 in size and has a completely different exhaust system, before the motor even turns over.

If Hayden was running an 800, it would most definitely have a totally unique exhaust configuration. Do you all remember the hassles he has been having with launching the bike (ie- it trying to flip him?). There have been changes made to the clutch and software to alleviate that problem so it wouldn't surprise me if that has flowed onto the note of the bike.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Rossi's "new chassis" is last years folks. More flex in the frame means less chatter from the stickier Michelins.

I dont think thats quite correct. Last years 2005 chassis wont take this years 2006 motor. What they have done is made a b*stardisation of the two chassis to give more flex and feel IIRC.

Also if using the 800cc engine, it is good straight from the crate. That very rarely happens.

Also Honda will test any new bits before it even sees a MotoGP bike. Hayden's new bits will work and that is why they are on his bike.

This is Honda we are talking about here....you don't become that good by being slapdash.

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

I dont think thats quite correct. Last years 2005 chassis wont take this years 2006 motor. What they have done is made a b*stardisation of the two chassis to give more flex and feel IIRC.

No, They've had to make some modifications to the airbox and minor alterations but to all intents & purposes it is the 05 frame. Swingarm is '06 I believe.

We've had some detailed side by side piccies in some of the Australian bike mags for comparison.

Valentino reckons he needs to be on the podium at every round from now until the end of the season if he is to retain his title, perhaps not rocket science but can he do it after a less than spectacular start to the season?

Both he and the M1 look a lot happier of late and he goes in to this weekend riding at Catalunya, a track that he not only loves being at...but has had excellent success there before.

Will the spanish boys gang up on him? Is Sete finally to step from the shadows this season? Can their be another epic Loris/Valentino battle in store for us?

p.s..Let's not forget Catalunya offers the chance for Ducati to show it's true power a lot more than the on/off 30% usage of throttle that Mugello did.

( I am sure Supervox will have some anti Ducati jibe to add here! :P )

[Biker Biggles]

I still think Rossi's trump card is that there are three or four riders all vying for the crown.The works Hondas may use team orders,and even the customer Hondas may fall foul of that,but Ducati won't be letting letting anyone win to stop Rossi.Of course Rossi is also quite handy on a GP bike and that will help him along

You know Valentino did dissapoint me with his decision to throw the towel in at shanghai a few weeks ago. No bottle these top boys today y'know?




















:P