206 replies to this topic

[Sheepmachine]

The Isle of Man TT 2016 launch party is available to watch live here if anyone is interested http://www.iomtt.com

[Myrvold]

And an official video game coming.

http://www.teamvvv.c...-Edge-announced

[timbo]

I was hoping for more from Anstey in the senior, what happened to him?

Also how to they assign the numbers/road order for the riders?

I've often wondered how the running order is determined also.

The numbering/start order is easy to follow, and you know who is close to who, but who assign's which rider to which number?

Joey Dunlop was always No.3, and you could identify the number with the rider, just like Barry Sheene was No.7, Rossi 46 etc, but that wouldn't work at IOM for Rossi, and especially Marquez and Lorenzo with their high numbers.

I'm sure the riders have their preferred start position, but do they get it?

[milestone 11]

I've often wondered how the running order is determined also.
The numbering/start order is easy to follow, and you know who is close to who, but who assign's which rider to which number?
Joey Dunlop was always No.3, and you could identify the number with the rider, just like Barry Sheene was No.7, Rossi 46 etc, but that wouldn't work at IOM for Rossi, and especially Marquez and Lorenzo with their high numbers.
I'm sure the riders have their preferred start position, but do they get it?

That used to be the case but not now. The most recent system leaves fans confused because the top 20 seeded drivers retain the number throught the event whilst the rest are based on qually times. 2016 TT has already had the seeding done, with some surprises. 1 McGuinness, 2 Anstey, 3 Hillier, 4 Hutchinson, 5 Hickman, 6 Dunlop M, are the top six and will retain these numbers throughout. Please don't ask me to explain the logic because I can't, and neither can the organisers.

[chunder27]

I would imagine ti will be to do with marketing for those riders.

 

Same as it is with just about any motorsport now, you are 35 or 46 or 99.

[scolbourne]

Electric
=========
2009 87.0 mph
2010 96.8 mph
2011 99.6 mph
2012 104.0 mph
2013 109.7 mph
2014 117.366mph
2015 119.279mph
IC engine
===========
1926 70mph
1937 90mph
1953 93.33mph
1957 100mph
1967 108.77mph
1976 112.27mph
1980 115mph
1989 121.34 mph
2013 131.671mph
2014 131.668mph
2015 132.701mph

 

The above shows the laptimes over the years of electric and ic bikes at the TT. IC has basically stagnated but the electric are still improving by a large amount each year.

What do you reckon will be the times for this year for each type ?

 

I predict 133mph will be broken for the ic bikes and 122mph for the electric. I expect the electric bikes to eventually beat the ic record within ten years.

[chunder27]

The ONLY way electric will beat a combustion engine is if they can make them feel like normal bikes. I am not sure if they do yet, then riders will feel they can push right to the limit and beyond as they do on modern Superbikes.

 

The electric record is currently where the petrol record was in the late 80's. Fogarty held it on a 750 Yam at 123, when he and Hizzie went at it in 92 and that record stayed for a long time until the 1000cc bikes really.  And since then reepaving the track and smoothign the bumps has probably added 5 or 6 mph, the rest has come from bikes, riders and tyres.

 

It is an amazingly quick progression for the battery bikes, but they have got to beat 600's before we start getting over excited.

 

But as a shop window for electric power the TT is a shing light, along with Pikes Peak.  Amazing engineering challenges and delivery.