That picture scares me every time I see it and if I remember correctly he didn't even crash. He's pointed towards the infield grass and his front tire is on the curb which is slick paint. How these guys do it I'll never know.
We do the same thing. It just that when you might say "I have to follow the yellow for 2 seconds and start steering" they say " I have to carry my wheel over that bump for a 1/2 second then kiss the outside of that yellow line before I start steering". We are more like sketch artists and they are more like architect!
Reason why you'll have few less skilled American racers in GP; are all the laws to keep you riding like a sissy-poo-sea-of squids.
Yeah I was also thinking the different laws make a huge difference. Ian Hutchinson was a hooligan before he became a TT legend, Hopper did dirt, Hayden dirt as well, Valentino, Stoner, Kenny Robert sr and the list goes on.
Also the culture, it's hard to get anywhere in america without a car. I see my friends in France, they have tons of accessory, Dainese or AlpineStart jackets that never make it here! I guess the fact that the weather is fair most of the time plays a big part also. Motorcycling is a hobby in the states while it is more like a life style in France.... How many guys on this forum have a car? How many guys in Europe have both a car and a bike?
@ Kruz: I was thinking about the newb you mentioned and went on a short ride on some twisty road. I didn't hang off and kept my usual pace and the bike felt fine! My chicken strips got real tight. I'll save hanging off for the turns I'm having a hard time with. Like Hub said, it is better to find how much clearance you got by scraping pegs first. The only problem for me is that with my after market raised rearsets and my Ohlins Shock I have way more distance to cover before I can scrape anything (which is a good thing). I lowered the pegs one slot but there are still higher than stock, I'm moving them higher when they start scraping! Hopefully I won't damage the pipe but if Josh Brooks super GSX-R has scraped pipes......
2006 Ebony Black ZX14, Flies gone, Power Commander V, Brock's CT-Single, Brock's Street/Race Map, Schintz Racing Flash, Brisk Racing Spark Plugs, BST Wheels with World Bearing Ceramic Bearings, Scott Rotary Steering damper, Ohlins KA544 shock, FPK Ohlins kit, Brembo GP4 RX Calipers, Brembo RCS 16, Brembo RCS 19 with no Drag Half Lever, Spielger Front and Rear Brake Lines, Braketech Axis Cobra Front Rotors, Galfer Rear Wave Rotor, Shorai LFX21A6 battery, Sato Racing frame sliders, Zero Gravity Racing Screen/MRA double bubble Racing Screen, Rizoma universal lux billet grip, Rizoma Next Fluid tanks, Rizoma Swing Arm Spools, Pro-Bolt tasty Nuts, Gilles rearsets, Sargeant seat, Geelong small tank protector, Geelong Hugger, Bike master magnetic oil drain plug, vortex gas cap, cox radiator guard, Xenon HI's and Low's.