Petrucci and Moto America

[GuzziMoto]

While I was very glad to hear Petrucci was going to race in Moto America, and early results for him were great, things have taken a bad turn. After having two non-great races at VIR, he wrecked right after the checkered flag flew in the second race at VIR. But that wasn't were it went south. Afterwards he started saying bad things about Moto America on social media, which was picked up by others and became a story about the incident that was based only on what he posted on social media. But some of what he posted about the incident was incorrect (not true). So people were slamming Moto America without even had seen the incident or the aftermath of it.

There is an excellent article in Roadracing World that pretty well covers the story. They actually talked to people who knew what happened. And there is even video evidence that what Petrucci said was incorrect.

I like Petrucci, and hope he calms down and stays to race here. The season is looking good, Petrucci will likely get some strong competition from others like Gagne and Scholtz, especially Gagne, he took a couple races to find his grove but he is now on it. The early results from Petrucci may have came easier, I don't think it will be that easy for the rest of the season. But I do hope he calms down and decides to stay. It seems the honeymoon is over.

[LowRyter]

2 hours ago, GuzziMoto said:

While I was very glad to hear Petrucci was going to race in Moto America, and early results for him were great, things have taken a bad turn. After having two non-great races at VIR, he wrecked right after the checkered flag flew in the second race at VIR. But that wasn't were it went south. Afterwards he started saying bad things about Moto America on social media, which was picked up by others and became a story about the incident that was based only on what he posted on social media. But some of what he posted about the incident was incorrect (not true). So people were slamming Moto America without even had seen the incident or the aftermath of it.

There is an excellent article in Roadracing World that pretty well covers the story. They actually talked to people who knew what happened. And there is even video evidence that what Petrucci said was incorrect.

I like Petrucci, and hope he calms down and stays to race here. The season is looking good, Petrucci will likely get some strong competition from others like Gagne and Scholtz, especially Gagne, he took a couple races to find his grove but he is now on it. The early results from Petrucci may have came easier, I don't think it will be that easy for the rest of the season. But I do hope he calms down and decides to stay. It seems the honeymoon is over.

Rainy's take

https://www.motoamerica.com/motoamericas-statement-on-petrucci-incident-from-vir/

 

Although Petrucci’s crash occurred in a fast section of the racetrack, it’s also an area with the most run-off of any track at which MotoAmerica rounds are held. A sliding Petrucci also struck a single lightweight sponsor sign that consequently gave way as it is designed to do. Petrucci was up and continued walking and stood trackside until he deemed it was safe to walk across the track. He was then met by MotoAmerica staff and escorted in a vehicle to the trackside Medical Center, which was some 200 yards from the site of the incident. At that point, roughly three minutes had passed, and Petrucci was treated for his injuries.

[GuzziMoto]

16 minutes ago, LowRyter said:

Rainy's take

https://www.motoamerica.com/motoamericas-statement-on-petrucci-incident-from-vir/

 

Although Petrucci’s crash occurred in a fast section of the racetrack, it’s also an area with the most run-off of any track at which MotoAmerica rounds are held. A sliding Petrucci also struck a single lightweight sponsor sign that consequently gave way as it is designed to do. Petrucci was up and continued walking and stood trackside until he deemed it was safe to walk across the track. He was then met by MotoAmerica staff and escorted in a vehicle to the trackside Medical Center, which was some 200 yards from the site of the incident. At that point, roughly three minutes had passed, and Petrucci was treated for his injuries.

Yeah, Petrucci's version doesn't seem to agree with other versions and with the video. And while people can be mistaken, the video doesn't lie.

Again, I like Petrucci and hope he gets over this. But his accident was an odd one.

[p6x]

I noticed that Petrucci hangs the leg out more often than any of the other riders do.

I don't see Gagné doing it much. He rides pretty much "old style". Is this because of the bikes?

[GuzziMoto]

On 5/27/2022 at 9:38 AM, p6x said:

I noticed that Petrucci hangs the leg out more often than any of the other riders do.

I don't see Gagné doing it much. He rides pretty much "old style". Is this because of the bikes?

I am not sure why anyone hangs their leg out like that. In the end it probably comes down to feel, but for me that feels wrong. I kinda think that Rossi first started doing it to see if he could get others to do it too.

There are plenty of riders who don't do it. But those that do tend to be European. I have not noticed many here in the states doing it.

[p6x]

53 minutes ago, GuzziMoto said:

I am not sure why anyone hangs their leg out like that. In the end it probably comes down to feel, but for me that feels wrong. I kinda think that Rossi first started doing it to see if he could get others to do it too.

There are plenty of riders who don't do it. But those that do tend to be European. I have not noticed many here in the states doing it.

You are correct in stating that Rossi started it. It has to do with moving the barycenter, something well defined in Astronomy. Nasa explains it better here: https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/barycenter/en/

Remember back in the 70's, riders did not really lean out of their bikes. At most, they would extend their knee. The principle remains the same.

The world Superbike' pilots don't do it either.

 

[GuzziMoto]

Most WSBK guys don't seem to do it. But I seem to recall Toprak likes to do that.

I am not the guy to ask, as I never understood the move. For me, if I am hard on the brakes it was always taking all my strength to keep the bike in line and not let the rear swap places with the front under hard braking. Once you are braking hard enough to unload the rear tire fully the bike becomes a poorly designed unicycle and the rear tire tries to pass the front tire. I use my arms and legs to keep the bike mostly straight. So I am not the best guy to ask about the dangling leg.

In supermoto I would sometimes hang the inside leg off on the brakes into a turn, but that is different. And honestly, most of the time I would still keep both feet on the pegs even when I am backing it in.

[Pressureangle]

The Barycenter is involved, but not a clear illumination. More a more appropriate, if still difficult, concept is Moment of Inertia; the calculation of effort to revolve the masses *around* the barycenter. Specific to the leg-hanging-out, the rider can make minute adjustments to the moment of inertia between his major mass (bike/body) and his minor mass (leg) to move the barycenter to the tire centerline if it moves away. Anyone who's raced a post-1985 racebike knows the 'poor unicycle' feeling when the rear wheel unloads. When I was racing the fast guys were just learning to 'back it in' to the corners by braking hard enough and precisely enough to keep just enough rear wheel friction to control the rotation of the bike into the corner. Sketchy business and only for those of superhuman reflex. Hanging the leg gives another precise control upon braking, as having the back end weaving at all destroys your entry dynamic. I'm sure that's as clear as mud... 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia

Think of a bowling ball and a barbell that have the same weight, and how much harder the 'bell is to swing in the plane of the bar. Moving the mass outward from center slows rotation, and for these guys they can put to use microscopic changes that we mortals can't even experience distinctly.

[p6x]

57 minutes ago, Pressureangle said:

The Barycenter is involved, but not a clear illumination. More a more appropriate, if still difficult, concept is Moment of Inertia; the calculation of effort to revolve the masses *around* the barycenter. Specific to the leg-hanging-out, the rider can make minute adjustments to the moment of inertia between his major mass (bike/body) and his minor mass (leg) to move the barycenter to the tire centerline if it moves away. Anyone who's raced a post-1985 racebike knows the 'poor unicycle' feeling when the rear wheel unloads. When I was racing the fast guys were just learning to 'back it in' to the corners by braking hard enough and precisely enough to keep just enough rear wheel friction to control the rotation of the bike into the corner. Sketchy business and only for those of superhuman reflex. Hanging the leg gives another precise control upon braking, as having the back end weaving at all destroys your entry dynamic. I'm sure that's as clear as mud... 
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moment_of_inertia

Think of a bowling ball and a barbell that have the same weight, and how much harder the 'bell is to swing in the plane of the bar. Moving the mass outward from center slows rotation, and for these guys they can put to use microscopic changes that we mortals can't even experience distinctly.

We should try to find a graph illustrating the principle on a motorcycle. I am sure someone has done it.

I am not convinced the pilots doing it understand the math behind the principle, but they can feel the difference. If you think of someone walking on a rope, using one leg to correct the moment of inertia.

[p6x]

I found this;

 

[p6x]

Anyone else watched the first race of Moto America?

Nice and fair battle between Petrucci and Scholtz...

It seems that Danilo Petrucci found a good fit. The Moto America races are so far pleasant to watch compared to some of the MotoGP ones.

[p6x]

I watched the MotoGP, and then Moto America Superbikes. I vote Moto America without a doubt.

 

[GuzziMoto]

On 6/5/2022 at 5:46 PM, p6x said:

I watched the MotoGP, and then Moto America Superbikes. I vote Moto America without a doubt.

 

The races at MotoAmerica were fun to watch. But the results were mixed up in part due to the weather, with some rising to the top in the mixed conditions and others falling back in the same mixed conditions.

Either way, good racing. I will continue to watch the season unfold. Curious to see if Petrucci can pull of the championship. He is not dominating as the first races at COTA suggested. But that was expected. He knew COTA well, and now he is racing at tracks ne has never seen. But I do like Petrucci, and am glad to see him doing well and having fun. Word is if he wins the MotoAmerica superbike title Ducati will give him a world superbike ride. And that may happen. But I feel like Petrucci won't enjoy world superbike as much as he is enjoying MotoAmerica. He seems to really be enjoying the low key nature of MotoAmerica along with the competition.

[p6x]

@GuzziMoto

I heard the same thing; honestly, I think he should maybe carry it at least one more year in Moto America, even if wins the title. I think Ducati can use the publicity here, although I read their most sold motorbike in the USA is the Multistrada V4.

I have noticed that Moto America has so far not asked Petrucci to do the opening on YouTube as the other riders do:

-" Hi, I am Jake Gagné, thank you for watching Moto America on YouTube; like and subscribe!"

 

[LowRyter]

Since Petrucci enjoys other forms of bike racing, like Dakar, perhaps he'd really like a go in the dirt during his time in the US and give Springfield or Peoria a shot?