Originally Posted by Odin
Sorry, not the MotoGP bikes, the superbikes. No time fer MotoGP.
The MotoGP bikes are so far removed from the real world it just ain't funny. The Ducati superbikes are just incredible pieces of gear... I've ridden Suzuki and Yamaha Superbikes and I also had a crack at one of the factory Ducati 996 Corsa's - it was down on outright power compared to the jap bikes but what it had could be used so much more and the confidence the frame/suspension gave was incredible.
They're sorta like a chooky with a V8.
I've ridden road 916/996's on the track and it's a similar sort of thing... not fantastic on the straights but when you get to the corners... yeehaaawww!!
A mate of mine used to work in Doohans team as the suspension mechanic. He invited me to Phillip Island for a tyre test session several years back and it was amazing to see Doohan riding laps by himself and having a bit of fun on the 500CC. The coolest of all was when he got the sh*ts with a back tyre and decided to smoke it by coming on to the front straight at 120mph and then just cracking open the throttle. His back wheel just lit up with smoke billowing from it all the way down the straight. The radar showed him actually slowing down with the back wheel spinning so much. I thought he had the front brake on at the time but was very reliably informed that he did not. When he returned to the pits the back tyre was absolutely fragged.
