OT: Racing 2011 (Spoiler Alert)

[toonarmy]

Something that struck me while watching this video is how very few square inches of tire are actually making contact with the track. There is not a whole lot between the pavement and the rider going well over 150 mph. It makes you appreciate even more the importance of good tires, as well as the skill of the athletes. There are very few things in sport that take as much balls as competing in Motogp.

The contact patch of a tire on a MotoGP bike is roughly equal to the dimensions of a credit card. Fact!

I'd believe it after seeing the video. The amount of power vs contact surface in Motogp has to be unparalleled. Pretty much blows my mind the skill involved in racing these machines in a highly competitive situation in such close quarters.

[pk500]

I'm always blown away by the amount of time that only one or no tires are in contact with the surface, a phenomenon shown to precise effect in these slow-motion films.

MotoGP riders make these machines look so smooth, so precise. In reality, they're mechanical bulls with 800cc engines.

[Gurantsu]

When talking about the "brass ones" of MotoGP and WRC drivers, it's hard to find who has the biggest!

[Rodster]

When talking about the "brass ones" of MotoGP and WRC drivers, it's hard to find who has the biggest!

Tough call when you're racing thru forest on the edge with trees on both sides. And the other is like driving a two wheel formula 1 car on similar tracks. After seeing what a mistake can do to the driver/rider i'd go with MotoGP. It's you and the pavement when a mistake happens. I still can't get over the Marco Simoncelli crash and death. Robert Kubica's near fate with the grim reaper was not much better but I think a Rally car offers more protection than a MotoGP riders suit.

[pk500]

I'll give the slight nod to MotoGP over WRC. No roll cage, no HANS Device, no seat belts while racing side-by-side at 210 mph.

But both Grand Prix motorcycle racers and rally drivers and co-drivers command my ultimate respect in racing.

[Gurantsu]

Absolutely. I love my endurance road racing, but standing next to the front straight at NJMP and seeing these bikes go flashing by you, only to dive to the side and take turn one; I just shake my head. How the hell do you even get up the nerve to do that? By the same token, driving like a madman through the woods, on dirt no less? I'm completely in awe.

[F308GTB]

With no F1 this time of year, it's time for Speed to catch up on the other racing around the world. Decent coverage in particular of British touring car, FIA GT1, and the Australian V8s. The DTM and Porsche coverage lacks in comparison. The GT1 racing has been very entertaining. Watching some of these has me wishing for a dedicated BTCC or V8 series on the current round of consoles.

[pk500]

With no F1 this time of year, it's time for Speed to catch up on the other racing around the world. Decent coverage in particular of British touring car, FIA GT1, and the Australian V8s. The DTM and Porsche coverage lacks in comparison. The GT1 racing has been very entertaining. Watching some of these has me wishing for a dedicated BTCC or V8 series on the current round of consoles.

The original TOCA on the PSX featured only the BTCC. A fantastic game, especially for its time. I put triple-digit hours into that game.

You would LOVE the V8 Supercars and Aussie tracks in iRacing, James. Just a suggestion.

[GB_Simo]

With no F1 this time of year, it's time for Speed to catch up on the other racing around the world. Decent coverage in particular of British touring car, FIA GT1, and the Australian V8s. The DTM and Porsche coverage lacks in comparison. The GT1 racing has been very entertaining. Watching some of these has me wishing for a dedicated BTCC or V8 series on the current round of consoles.

The BTCC and, I believe I'm right in saying, the FIA GT1 may suffer a little next year. Ben Edwards has been on lead commentary duty for both series, but is replacing Martin Brundle on the BBC F1 coverage for next year. I can't tell you how pleased that makes me, though PK probably can. Ben's been excellent in both roles this year, particularly the BTCC gig, but it's hard to imagine that he'll be able to maintain those jobs next season and I'm struggling to think of a replacement of equal quality.

That, of course, won't make much difference to the racing, which has been great across both series in 2011. I wouldn't mind seeing a slightly more even playing field in BTCC next year, though, because - as much as I hate to admit it - Jason Plato's probably been justified in his complaints about the equivalence formula and the advantage of the turbo-powered cars.

A little drinking game to play next time you're watching V8 Supercars. Have one of the sponsor's products to hand - Jim Beam Red Stag is my preference. Rules are as follows:

1) Fill a shot glass
2) Down the contents in one when you hear Neil Crompton use the phrase "Watts link"
3) Return to step 1

I'll be asking for pictorial evidence if anyone tells me they were still conscious beyond the end of lap 15.

The original TOCA on the PSX featured only the BTCC. A fantastic game, especially for its time. I put triple-digit hours into that game.

Also one of the only games I can think of - ToCA, ToCA 2 and DiRT are the only ones springing to mind - to feature my local circuit, Croft. Not everyone's cup of tea, that place, but the run from Tower to Sunny In is as fine a high-speed challenge as you'll find anywhere.