DCLUCIE
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What's wrong with riders now-a-days?
I know, I know the bikes are much faster now than they were in the 'old days', but surely the modern riders now seem to run a little scared of the rain. It used to be that you ran in anything and that was that. Why not now? Surely the biggest test of a rider should be the ability to ride in any weather. Is it because they are going too fast now? If so slow down for the wet bits or if you know its wet slow down and adjust your speed. You don't have to do 130 mph to win a TT, or you don't if its wet. For me I think todays problem was its not wet all the way around and this is a major problem for riders and I fully understand them not running if its wet in bits and not in others, as coming accross bits that are wet all of a sudden is far too risky because of the fact you can not adjust your speed fast enough. That I do and can understand. But what if its wet all the way around?
I do understand that there is a risk involved, and that risk increases with the rain, but this can surely be negated alot by the speed? Is it the tyres? Well if its the tyre temp then full wets should be used and because of the blocks being closer and more of them this increases the temp. So why not run in them?
It seems to me that there are a few people that say they won't ride in the wet and yet others will, so is it ran for the few and not for the masses?
Just a question to throw out there for discussion, not saying that the current riders are wimps. But ........
When people say one thing and mean another its called politics, when organisers say one thing and mean another its called a mistake, when the ACU say one thing and mean another its called information.
(This post was last modified: 10-06-2009, 12:36 PM by DCLUCIE.)
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10-06-2009, 12:31 PM |
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larryd
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RE: What's wrong with riders now-a-days?
Dave, you really are all over the place on this one, but it's not a matter to be thrashed out on this forum.
Rather, over a pint in the George next May?
Thanks for the best wishes pre-race at Billown - Willy didn't pass them on 'til after the race, but it's the thought that counts!!
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10-06-2009, 03:15 PM |
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larryd
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RE: What's wrong with riders now-a-days?
pykey Wrote:larryd Wrote:Dave, you really are all over the place on this one, but it's not a matter to be thrashed out on this forum.
Rather, over a pint in the George next May?
Thanks for the best wishes pre-race at Billown - Willy didn't pass them on 'til after the race, but it's the thought that counts!!
Larry which Dave are you posting back too?
Sorry Pykey, it was Clucie I was answering!
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10-06-2009, 06:48 PM |
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shaun hogg
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RE: What's wrong with riders now-a-days?
Before i put my tuppence worth in on this debate , i have no idea on tyres technically so only a laymans verdict or opinion , however i think this week so far the COC has made the correct decisions regarding cancellation of races , the races yesterday where absolutely tremendous & John MC on monday was superb , i think we all agree the races are about speed , there can be no real pleasure from a riders point of view in racing around here in the wet aside from the safety angle which of course is paramount , it is no fun for the spectators either , i have watched my fair share of wet races here & will always stay till the death of any race but really i think we all get frustrated at the lack of real speed involved , i appreciate some riders shine in the wet & some hate it , i can vividly remember yer Maun in 87 on the Senior race on the Saturday in atrocious conditions doing 105mph , which i still think is one of the gretaest laps ever around here , but the weather was atrocious & i was truly glad to get home after that one , god knows how the riders must feel .
I am sure some of you guys of a more mature age have witnessed worse weather than that , Surtees in the late 50s i think was one notable race when the paint was removed from the fairing by hailstones & he was lifted off the bike at the end of the race.
Today though i think the threat of being sued or the fear of something happening to a rider has to be foremost in the oragnisers mind , i well remember the production race of i think it was 99 when it was run in appalling conditions DJ won the race & i think Milky was second , the bikes where aquaplaning all over the place & unffortunately we had a fatality at ginger Hall cant rember the guys name offhand Kenny something i think but he lost it in the wet & was killed .
is it worth the risk for riders to force them to take chances , personally i dont think so .
I admire all of these guys & girls from first to last TT or MGP , but i dont think we should put any potential risks on the table for them , only my opinion & as said i am not up technically on tyres etc & i most certainlly do not hink any of them are wimps .
Only my own opinion .
Cheers everyone . Shaun
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10-06-2009, 11:09 PM |
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DCLUCIE
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RE: What's wrong with riders now-a-days?
I think this looks like a marmite moment. Some riders like it some don't, and the same for spectators.
You lot should all know by now not to take some of my comments leterally, so didn't really mean the wimp thing.
As I said before there are problems with differing conditions around the course and the riders not knowing what to expect, but I also believe that if it is raining all around the course they should run the race. Maybe only for the shorter races, and only if the rain isn't torrential. I still remember one of Joey's wins where it was originally cut down to three laps, but Joey looked to the sky and decided unlike all the others to fill the tank to the brim and go through on the first lap. All the others pulled in for the pit stop on the first lap so they could get the flyer in on the third. But Joey had it right and the race was reduced to a two lapper. Of course because Joey went through, he was miles ahead of everyone else. There was total uproar by loads of teams moaning saying that Joey already knew that the race was going to be reduced. But I love to think that it was because he just knew. Track knowlage is not just about the track itself but also the conditions. To me the future of the TT is going to be a lesser place becuse of the lack of little stories like that. I can name others, Mick Grant's call from the mountain to stop Chris Guy winning his first TT.
Can anyone name any others?
When people say one thing and mean another its called politics, when organisers say one thing and mean another its called a mistake, when the ACU say one thing and mean another its called information.
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11-06-2009, 09:22 AM |
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