MotoGP 2007 - Catalunya

Another race down, and the top three riders were separated by <0.4seconds, Stoner first and Rossi second, Pedrosa third.

Stoner ran a very mature race, but his performance is obviously aided by the 10kmh speed advantage he was getting during the racing, but still performed extremely well. But with a kilometer long straight, the speed advantage is somewhat magnified.

The riders are into the second 1/3 of the season, Stoner leads by 14points and the majority of the races for the year include a mixture of straight lengths, with Donington Park (564m), Assen (560m), Sachsenring (780m), Laguna Seca (960m), Automotodrom Brno (636m), Misano (565m), Estoril (986m), Motegi (762m), Phillip Island (900m), Sepang Circut (920m) and Circuito de la Comunitat Valenciana with 876m. Some of these figures appear somewhat bizzare, especially Laguna Seca, which I assume they are measuring the entire straight that kinks past the pits and down into Andretti Hairpin (thank you GT3). Im not sure if the MotoGP guys think of that as a complete straight, but they do go through there at a rather high speed.

I suspect that the shorter tracks will favour Rossi, and the longer tracks Stoner, unless Yamaha get more speed from the machine. Eleven races, with six of these having a 'shorter' track. But, as seen in France and Turkey, it doesn't take much to drop Rossi off the pace, even if it is a 'short' track.

I came across this article at speedtv.com, on tyre performance, and why Rossi may have an advantage once wear comes into practice. Much like in the old days when the 500cc 2strokes switched from Screamers to the slightly more benign 'Big bang' power plants. This move enabled more riders to hang with Doohan, due to the bikes being easier to ride. However, once the tyres started to go off, Doohan could maintain pace due to his vast experience at riding a hissing spitting beast of a bike.

I liked this comment by Wayne Rainey,

“With the electronics, good riders can now ride with great riders…until the
tires go off. Then the best rider out there, Valentino, can show his ability.”

Which pretty much covers a lot of the thoughts on traction control, not just in MotoGP but most motorsport. Levels the playing field somewhat, but this doesn't allow for pure talent to destroy all.

Rossi's second place finish today puts him at 96 podium finishes in the premier class, the most ever achieved by a rider in Gran Prix racing. This definitely confirms his place as one of the greatest riders in the history of the sport, perhaps second only to Giacomo Agostini, who has a total of 156 podiums at all levels, 122 wins and 15 world championships (compared to Rossi's 129 podiums at all levels, 85 wins and 7 world championships).