The three-fitty...
Fri, Mar 05, 2010 - 8:18pm
What do you guys think? Think the KTM will be competitive with all other guys? I'm just working on a story about it and Mike and wanted to get some opinions.
Can he still be the holeshot master?
Sat, Mar 06, 2010 - 2:39pm
#2
Not only final displacement but what about horsepower output, I would be curious to see the final dyno results between the 450 and the 350. If a rider like Stewart (not that he is currently riding outdoors) can ride a 450 to it's max I wouldn't think that it would bode well for Alessi. It seems like he would be under gunned at the races especially racing on any track with long straights or challenging uphills. Initially I would've thought there would be a power to weight ratio advantage with the 350 that would've benefitted the #800, his website puts him at 5'7 and 150lbs and JS7 has his at 5'8", 150lbs so once again looks like the #800 would be at a disadvantage with the current bikes on the track. How are the tracks set up at the nationals these days prep wise, are the corner set up to carry speed or to point and shoot? That was a big issue in Motogp when they switched from the 1000's to the 800's, the riders that were worse at carrying a higher corner speed really suffered in the results when riding the 800's. Is Mike going to be able to adapt the first year out to maybe more of a higher revving 250F riding style. I hope the 350 is a legitimate bike choice and it isn't a distraction from the goal of winning races. It seems like Mike tends to stack the chips against himself, rather than set himself up for the best opportunity to win. I hope he is successful, the guy is super talented and motivated.
Mon, Mar 08, 2010 - 12:02pm
#3
All I care about is how it will be for me since Im gonna be scoring one! 
Tue, Mar 09, 2010 - 2:44pm
#4
I don't believe horsepower means as much as most people think coming off the starting line. On pavement, maybe it does, where traction is easier to obtain. How the bikes hook up, is what makes for a holeshot, in addition to starting technique. The 450's can't get all their power to the ground from a dead start, anyway, but I guess we'll soon see how the 350 compares in a couple months.
HOWEVER, And this might start world war three... But I've long suspected that Alessi's success at starts, involves him hopping the gate, a'la JLaw in the 2nd moto at Hangtown 2009. Has anyone been able to put a camera on Mike and watch him get off the gate in super slow motion? Is he bouncing his front wheel off the top of the gate and leaving 0.05 seconds before the rest of the field? Hats off to him if he is, because obviously he isn't getting penalized, but I suspect he is doing something of the sort, and it is part of the reason for his consistently good starts.
Anyone able to prove me right or wrong?
(I would like to know the truth, as much as anybody.)
Wed, Mar 10, 2010 - 9:46am
#5
Very interesting post. I'm going to be watching those Nationals videos to check it out and see if we can see something.
Steve, there were some interesting comments in this previous thread:
http://forum.pulpmx.com/content/1st-official-win-ktm-350cc
I think that it really depends on the track and what displacement will it really be, a 350cc or a 370, 380, like DV was saying about Nagls and Cairoli's bikes. Are the 450 really detuned for outdoors? Maybe the 350 will not be Alessi's holeshot machine on some tracks like Glen Helen (with a long start, or uphill like at HP) but he will probably be very close to the top guys by the first corner and will have an easier bike to handle for the rest of the wide open 35 mibnutes.
No?