TT riders Vs BSB

[Maddog]

I've been watching the TT build up and massively respect the riders, But why are they not so great on BSB circuits? Or vice versa? Would Shakey (before his Snetterton off) be any good on the TT? Why does Michael Dunlop not do too well on short circuits?

By the way....we need an MCN ninjas trip to the TT!!!

[Alzo]

There is obviously a fundamental difference between Road Racing and Track Racing...quite what that is would be best explained by those that take part in both.
Desire must play a huge part...you can put a talented rider on a capable bike...but without the desire to launch themselves at every corner and straight for the entire TT circuit that they would be average at best.

[MOzZereLLa]

Ask Peter Hickman.

If you consider the BSB riders who do "well" at the TT is there any read-across?

Josh Brookes (latecomer to the island but get faster every year and a BSB champ and WSB winner?)
Steve Plater - not bad on short circuits and TT winner.
Davo Johnson - started in short circuits but now more successful road racer.
Michael Rutter - has won both BSB rounds and TTs (and Macau etc)

If you rode you favourite stretch of road thousands of times you'd probably be quicker around it than someone who'd ridden it tens / hundreds of times. TT success comes from experience. Generally capacity specialists in the past (when 125s and 250s were still ridden) dominated classes and the blue riband events generally won by a few riders. J Dunlop, Dave Jeffries, J McGuiness, Hutchy and now M Dunlop.

[Dom1]

I think there is also the knowledge of the course, every bump, every corner are logged in the TT racers mind.

They dedicate themselves to gaining that knowledge which the short circuit riders can't hope to gain in the time they can give to it.

[Lord Danoir the first]

Did I read in Hizzy's autobiography that he road the TT at say 85% to allow for a margin of error?....... I could be imagining things.

That said, logic would suggest that two riders racing on a track at 100% of their capacity.... the faster rider would win.

If the same riders raced on a road circuit and the faster rider road at only 85% and the slower at 100%, then in all likelihood, the slower rider would/could win.

I'm probably not making much sense, but I think it's safe to assume that the likes of McGuiness, Dunlop, Hutchinson et al probably don't leave much in the way of a margin of error on the road circuit.

[Dom1]

I forget who it was but some famous racer went to the Isle of Man expecting to do OK was passed by one of the TT riders during practice went back to the pits packed up and went home cos he realised how committed he would have to be to win and he was just not prepared for that much risk.

[MOzZereLLa]

Did I read in Hizzy's autobiography that he road the TT at say 85% to allow for a margin of error?....... I could be imagining things.

That said, logic would suggest that two riders racing on a track at 100% of their capacity.... the faster rider would win.

If the same riders raced on a road circuit and the faster rider road at only 85% and the slower at 100%, then in all likelihood, the slower rider would/could win.

I'm probably not making much sense, but I think it's safe to assume that the likes of McGuiness, Dunlop, Hutchinson et al probably don't leave much in the way of a margin of error on the road circuit.

This sums it up exactly (I know what you mean Dan x)

What it doesn't explain is if good road racers go 100% on hazardous roads why can't they be the quickest on short circuits on the whole. I think the answer is they are not as technically gifted as short circuit racers especially in the fine bike setup art. Their trade is roads - not circuits. Plasterers and painters innit.

[David W]

TT (and Irish roads) racers aren't as outright fast as short circuit riders, or they'd be winning things on short circuits and being paid to do that instead.

Edit:  Moz got in there while I was posting.

[Gilby104]

Did I read in Hizzy's autobiography that he road the TT at say 85% to allow for a margin of error?....... I could be imagining things.

That said, logic would suggest that two riders racing on a track at 100% of their capacity.... the faster rider would win.

If the same riders raced on a road circuit and the faster rider road at only 85% and the slower at 100%, then in all likelihood, the slower rider would/could win.

I'm probably not making much sense, but I think it's safe to assume that the likes of McGuiness, Dunlop, Hutchinson et al probably don't leave much in the way of a margin of error on the road circuit.

This sums it up exactly (I know what you mean Dan x)

What it doesn't explain is if good road racers go 100% on hazardous roads why can't they be the quickest on short circuits on the whole. I think the answer is they are not as technically gifted as short circuit racers especially in the fine bike setup art. Their trade is roads - not circuits. Plasterers and painters innit.

+1

My housemate asked me about it on Monday and my answer was that its the difference between the Hakka and the Ballet....

[ash]

Peter Hickman went to the IOM, hired a car and drove the circuit 70 times to learn it

[MOzZereLLa]

Peter Hickman went to the IOM, hired a car and drove the circuit 70 times to learn it

And bugger me did that pay off today!

The boy's a genius. A rare man who can do both roads and circuits.

[Dom1]

That Superstock win of his was a bit special, after his mistake on Lap 1 he was just a different rider.

But today's ride was something else. Can't wait to watch the highlights.

[Maddog]

The boy did well.