What's the quickest way down a straight?
Discussion
I've been watching MotoGP for a few years and this has always bugged me. Why don't the riders go down the pit straight in a straight line - surely shortest route = quickest. When they come off the last corner they tend to arc towards the pit wall and then back across the track in time for the first corner. And they do it whether there is a bike behind or they're on their own so it's nothing to do with trying to break the slipstream for the guy behind.
My reading of this would be a few things.. when entering the straight..the rider may not be sure if someone is right behind them or not...
..turning the bike effectively scrubs speed so, if the bike is slightly heading back towards the middle of the circuit after nailing the throttle on the outside..they would as gentle as possible put it back into position so the bike can continue to `run`...
And lastly.. perhaps the main reason for the tomfoolery on Sunday.....The Catalunyan GP last week was subject to some game playing down the straight...Rossi was trying to discourage Stoner from slipstreaming him & diving down the inside of him in the 1st corner...It would be even more difficult to complete the move if the inside was right next to the wall or grass..He would effectively lose a good position for the first corner & subsequently drift wide...Passing on the outside could have been defended against since the rider who was passed still had the inside line...
Rossi seemed to favour a suprise attack round the outside then came back in in front of him ...slightly rude but effective.
..turning the bike effectively scrubs speed so, if the bike is slightly heading back towards the middle of the circuit after nailing the throttle on the outside..they would as gentle as possible put it back into position so the bike can continue to `run`...
And lastly.. perhaps the main reason for the tomfoolery on Sunday.....The Catalunyan GP last week was subject to some game playing down the straight...Rossi was trying to discourage Stoner from slipstreaming him & diving down the inside of him in the 1st corner...It would be even more difficult to complete the move if the inside was right next to the wall or grass..He would effectively lose a good position for the first corner & subsequently drift wide...Passing on the outside could have been defended against since the rider who was passed still had the inside line...
Rossi seemed to favour a suprise attack round the outside then came back in in front of him ...slightly rude but effective.
A mix of the two above, although I think the aero works with cars/bikes on their own as well as in a tow. Good examples with cars are Brands and Snetterton - at Brands you will see that most driver's hug the wall(rhs) and then switch across the track late to avoid the steeper gradient on the lhs, at Snett the track is pretty flat but the top driver's will hug the pit wall (literally inches) right to the end and then switch sides for the first corner, where the 'natural' line would be to go straight from exit of chicane to braking area of Riches, only skirting the wall for a short distance.
Not being an aerodynamicist I would guess it is something to do with only having to push against the air on one side, almost making the car like a right angle triangle against the wall?
Not being an aerodynamicist I would guess it is something to do with only having to push against the air on one side, almost making the car like a right angle triangle against the wall?
Edited by SimonY on Thursday 14th June 12:43
I think it’s a very unscientific reason. It’s not vital to the lap time.
In my experience, essentials for the straight are:
getting the exit out of the last corner at it’s absolute maximum
not giving tows
getting into the braking area so that all tyres have maximum purchase from the right spot on the circuit.
So the straight is somewhere where you can check progress up or down against competitors, think about strategy, check instruments, relax certain muscles, make adjustments or whatever the priority. Pit signal visibility?
So in fact on the straight or the central part of it, it really doesn’t matter where you are. So long as the throttle is open wide longer than anyone else.
Occasionally and dependant upon wind direction, as you say above, you can get aerodynamicist ‘relief’ from pit wall protection + slower riders etc. I’ve often thought about tyre temperatures, cambers/bumps, visual effect.
Interesting though isn’t it, because you definitely think about it?
In my experience, essentials for the straight are:
getting the exit out of the last corner at it’s absolute maximum
not giving tows
getting into the braking area so that all tyres have maximum purchase from the right spot on the circuit.
So the straight is somewhere where you can check progress up or down against competitors, think about strategy, check instruments, relax certain muscles, make adjustments or whatever the priority. Pit signal visibility?
So in fact on the straight or the central part of it, it really doesn’t matter where you are. So long as the throttle is open wide longer than anyone else.
Occasionally and dependant upon wind direction, as you say above, you can get aerodynamicist ‘relief’ from pit wall protection + slower riders etc. I’ve often thought about tyre temperatures, cambers/bumps, visual effect.
Interesting though isn’t it, because you definitely think about it?
i asked a biker! it is to compensate for the unbalancing of the bike and the forward momentum generated from the last corner. it is impossible to ride and apply full power whilst exiting a corner from a lean position to a tuck position and stay riding straight due to balance and grip.
it is easier, and will allow the use of full power, if you let the bike swing from the outside to the inside and back again. as you come upright, the bike will gravitate(?) to the other side of the track as forward momentum cannot be contained, thus let the bike veer to the inside before rising from the lean in a more fluid manner. otherwise you would end up fish tailing or high siding.
apparently it has nothing to do with pit boards or relaxation, it is simply that the law of physics will not allow a bike at those speeds to exit the corner and go straight as the weight of the rider shifts and the direction changes. its why most bikers prefer twisty circuits with no straights because its easier to go from exaggerated lean to lean positions.
it is easier, and will allow the use of full power, if you let the bike swing from the outside to the inside and back again. as you come upright, the bike will gravitate(?) to the other side of the track as forward momentum cannot be contained, thus let the bike veer to the inside before rising from the lean in a more fluid manner. otherwise you would end up fish tailing or high siding.
apparently it has nothing to do with pit boards or relaxation, it is simply that the law of physics will not allow a bike at those speeds to exit the corner and go straight as the weight of the rider shifts and the direction changes. its why most bikers prefer twisty circuits with no straights because its easier to go from exaggerated lean to lean positions.
Edited by anonymous-user on Friday 15th June 08:57
ph123 said:
All to do with 'lean'. Great.
And 'tuck'. I can see that now. Watching them out of the hairpin at Donington, of course, they are leaning forward but not 'tucked'.
no not "all" to do with lean, but a combination of rider weight, balance, equaliteral forces working against each other and maintaining forward momentum. i was working on the principle of exiting a fast last corner before a straight ala barcelona. naturally it will be different for some circuits.And 'tuck'. I can see that now. Watching them out of the hairpin at Donington, of course, they are leaning forward but not 'tucked'.
Edited by ph123 on Friday 15th June 09:33
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