MotoGP Technology
by Neil Spalding
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Book Summary Information
Author: Neil SpaldingEdition: Hardcover
Audio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language); English (Published)
Published: 2006-11-01
ISBN: 189361879X
Number of pages: 192
Publisher: David Bull Publishing
Book Reviews of MotoGP Technology
Book Review: A MotoGP fan's dream come true
Summary: 5 Stars
As soon as I read about this book on WebBikeWorld, I knew I had to have it. I ordered from Amazon UK, and had it in about a week. Anyway, if you've ever wondered what goes into the hand-built bikes of MotoGP racing, this book will quench your thirst. It had far more information than I expected- far more, in fact, than I had figured manufacturers were willing to let out. It basically starts at the inception of MotoGP (when the change to 990cc 4-stroke engines was made) and ends with the 2006 season (which is also the end of the 990cc era). Not much on the 2-strokers is covered, if you're wondering. The book can be divided into two basic parts: teams, and bike components. The first half of the book gives an in-depth look at each team's bikes over the years, and the second half covers specific parts of the bike, like valve technologies, suspension, etc.
There is just such an insane amount of information in here. Minute technical aspects, like the changes each team did year-to-year are covered, as well as some theorizing about how those changes may have been responsible for the bikes blowing up during races. You get a feeling for how far ahead Honda was at the inception of the 4-strokes, to how much teams like Kawasaki have had to catch up over the years. The technical section on components does a good job of outlining basic operation and highlighting MotoGP technology without being long-winded and overly verbose. Both sections have lots of pictures and diagrams to accompany the text, although the bulk of the content is in the words, not the pictures.
At times though, the material can be a little dry and difficult to parse, but I attribute this to the already high level of refinement in racing rather than the author. Some of the diagrams take a while to understand as well. I'm still not sure the crank diagrams highlighting the difference between "Big Bang" firing pattern and others is correct either, which is frustrating seeing as the Big Bang firing pattern is one of the major themes throughout the book.
Anyway, I liked the book so much that I still read it cover-to-cover. I don't know of any other source, print or on-line, that has this amount of information for these hand-built racing monsters.
Summary of MotoGP Technology
MotoGP is the premier class in motorcycle racing and it is there that the most sophisticated and alluring technology is found. For years Grand Prix motorcycle racing had featured prototype 500cc two-strokes, but the need for manufacturers to develop four-stroke technology led to the creation of the new championship formula in 2002, based on fire-breathing, 260bhp 990cc four-strokes. Competition is keen and factory teams guard their mechanical secrets and working practices very carefully. For these reasons it has been nearly impossible to closely examine bikes without bodywork or understand exactly how they are engineered and developed. Until this book. Author Neil Spalding's ability to spot subtle detail changes and incremental developments from the restricted confines of pit lane, and then to correctly determine how these modifictions affect performance earned him the grudging respect of top teams. Eventually, Neil was admintted into the inner sanctum of the elite racing departments and give unparalleled access to explore and photograph race bikes to prepare this book. The only restriction: he couldn't make public his information until the end of the 2006 season, the last year of the 990cc formula. This is the exciting story, told from the inside, of the most electrifying form of two-wheeled compeition and of the highly motivated designers, engineers, and mechanics who create these remarkable motorcycles.Racing Books
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