WSB: Ducati lose 250 RPM, Kawasaki gain 250 RPM

[westers151]

Due to Ducati's dominance, the FIM and Dorna have done the above.

I'm no engine expert, so just how much impact does losing/gaining 250 RPM actually make?

https://bikesportnews.com/world-superbi ... -rev-rise/

[Mr. Dazzle]

just how much impact does losing/gaining 250 RPM actually make?

Enough that it's a worthwhile handicap/benefit, you have to assume right?

Do they have fixed gear ratios for the whole season like in F1? So shaving 250rpm off would have a pretty immediate and un-changeable effect on shift points and potentially top speed.

You can see for yourself what sorta change it makes...this obviously for road bikes, but you can still get an idea. Each gridline is 1000rpm, so you can see how much of the power peak you'd clip off with 250rpm. You're up on teh flat peak of the curve anyway, but you can see losing 250rpm would give you slightly less time spent up on that peak.

I'm also guessing they can't change anything else about the engine? So it's not like you can rejig anything about the torque curve to compensate. Essentially you're forced to do a tiny short-shift every time.

[Yorick]

This makes sense

https://www.crash.net/wsbk/news/1024684 ... -valentino

[wull]

just how much impact does losing/gaining 250 RPM actually make?

Enough that it's a worthwhile handicap/benefit, you have to assume right?

Do they have fixed gear ratios for the whole season like in F1? So shaving 250rpm off would have a pretty immediate and un-changeable effect on shift points and potentially top speed.

You can see for yourself what sorta change it makes...this obviously for road bikes, but you can still get an idea. Each gridline is 1000rpm, so you can see how much of the power peak you'd clip off with 250rpm. You're up on teh flat peak of the curve anyway, but you can see losing 250rpm would give you slightly less time spent up on that peak.

I'm also guessing they can't change anything else about the engine? So it's not like you can rejig anything about the torque curve to compensate. Essentially you're forced to do a tiny short-shift every time.

As far as I’m aware they have fixed ratios which they decide before the start of the season.

[Skub]

The problem is not Ducati,the problem is Alvaro + Ducati.

If they wanted to be more fair,they should make Bautista weigh another 50 kilos.

[wull]

The problem is not Ducati,the problem is Alvaro + Ducati.

If they wanted to be more fair,they should make Bautista weigh another 50 kilos.

They’re talking about how it should be either team by team or even just rider as the 250rpm reduction is all Ducati’s which isn’t really fair when some of the other teams are supplied with engines that are slightly down on power compared to what Alvaro and Michael are supplied with.

But yes the problem is Alvaro and the Ducati, match made in heaven, the perfect combination.

[Yorick]

The problem is not Ducati,the problem is Alvaro + Ducati.

If they wanted to be more fair,they should make Bautista weigh another 50 kilos.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi is the same weight.

[wull]

The problem is not Ducati,the problem is Alvaro + Ducati.

If they wanted to be more fair,they should make Bautista weigh another 50 kilos.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi is the same weight.

He’s just not as good as Alvaro especially when it comes to managing the rear tyre, Alvaro’s riding style is perfectly matched to the V4R.

[KungFooBob]

Surely its fairer to have a combined rider/bike minimum weight.

Having a low weight rider is still an advantage, because you can choose where to ballast the bike, but must be fairer than stifling engine revs?

[Skub]

The problem is not Ducati,the problem is Alvaro + Ducati.

If they wanted to be more fair,they should make Bautista weigh another 50 kilos.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi is the same weight.

Is he? I didn't know that. If he is,Alvaro must have another secret ingredient for the perfect recipe.

[Yorick]

The problem is not Ducati,the problem is Alvaro + Ducati.

If they wanted to be more fair,they should make Bautista weigh another 50 kilos.

Michael Ruben Rinaldi is the same weight.

Is he? I didn't know that. If he is,Alvaro must have another secret ingredient for the perfect recipe.

Ability. Lots of it.

[Skub]

Michael Ruben Rinaldi is the same weight.

Is he? I didn't know that. If he is,Alvaro must have another secret ingredient for the perfect recipe.

Ability. Lots of it.

The ability didn't shine on the Homda.

[westers151]

Surely its fairer to have a combined rider/bike minimum weight.

Having a low weight rider is still an advantage, because you can choose where to ballast the bike, but must be fairer than stifling engine revs?

Yes, and no. In the smaller classes, absolutely. In something chucking out 230 BHP+, I think not. Acceleration/tucking in might be a little better/easier, but as soon as you need to muscle the bike around, the light weight is a disadvantage. Pedrosa has often stated that he had to work a lot harder to control the bike than a bigger rider.

Sure, Bautista is cleaning up, but the article that Yorick linked to has an interesting perspective on it. Also, look at Bautista's seasons on Honda; ok, the Honda was being developed, but if his weight made such a difference, the Honda and him would have been competitive, but they weren't.

I'm not a fan of minimum bike and rider weight. A little rider will have to use a lot of energy to muscle around a much heavier bike than a big rider. Teams with a big rider can do a lot to reduce the weight of the bike which will mean less energy to chuck it around.

[wull]

Is he? I didn't know that. If he is,Alvaro must have another secret ingredient for the perfect recipe.

Ability. Lots of it.

The ability didn't shine on the Homda.

As I’ve said repeatedly it’s purely a perfect combination of his ability and the V4R, his riding style is ideal for that bike and his ability to manage the rear tyre and come on even stronger towards the latter stages of a race especially when the fuel level drops.

[westers151]

Is he? I didn't know that. If he is,Alvaro must have another secret ingredient for the perfect recipe.

Ability. Lots of it.

The ability didn't shine on the Homda.

His ability (riding style), didn't suit the Honda. The Ducati is more MotoGP, hence his natural style suits it.

[wull]

Surely its fairer to have a combined rider/bike minimum weight.

Having a low weight rider is still an advantage, because you can choose where to ballast the bike, but must be fairer than stifling engine revs?

It’s in the works, they’ve been discussing it. It was mentioned at the time that it might come into to effect from 2024 but it’s kind of went quiet on that front so maybe further down the line.

Chances are if Alvaro continues as he is then it’ll be hot discussion again at the end of the season that’s for sure.