Brass ones!

[derby]

Nope- no downpour.  I was at that race in May '02.  It had been raining all morning.  The race was delayed for quite a while as we sat in the bleachers, expecting the race to be called off any minute.  Finally, the rain stopped and the race was given the go ahead, and the track actually started to dry off, but there was still plenty of standing water.  What you see in the '02 video is the spray from the bikes.  I got some great photos from my old 35mm Canon that I need to digitally scan.

i must've rememberd that race wrong... there is significantly more standing water on the track, though.

I wasn't at the Kiyo time trial at Donington, but that video gave me serious deja vu back to the Silverstone race.

I'm sure that Kiyo dude is a great rider, but my point is that traction control must play a huge role in being able to perform like that in the wet.  Not even Bayliss (or Edwards) could ride like that sans electronic TC, based on the race I saw in person.  The riding that Kiyo is doing just doesn't look . . . unassisted.  Just my .02.

kiyo does have traction control, but he also raced BSB prior to this year. he's had a lot of experience racing in the rain. 

[MAXdB]

Bayliss is one of my favorite riders but I dont think that particular crash on the clip was due to the lack of traction control as it looked to be the front that let go.. I dont believe traction control can do anything about losing traction during braking or if the front loses traction...

[He Man]

Bayliss is one of my favorite riders but I dont think that particular crash on the clip was due to the lack of traction control as it looked to be the front that let go.. I dont believe traction control can do anything about losing traction during braking or if the front loses traction...

Then what the hell is  traction control for

[MAXdB]

Then what the hell is  traction control for

Correct me if I'm wrong but i believe traction control only controls the amount of power the bike allows to go to the rear.. so pretty much to prevent the rear from losing traction basically on acceleration.

[derby]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081121a.htm

Q Did you turn the traction control down, or was it set high for the rain?

At this point, Kiyonari stopped giggling, and really focused on getting his point across. He wanted to impart in no uncertain terms that his incredible machine control was entirely down to the rider, NOT the electronics on the bike. He put his thumb and forefinger perhaps a 1/2 inch apart, and replied:

A .....just a little bit.

[bluemoco]

The Kiyo clip conjures up images of Supermoto racing...     

[PizzaMonster]

That would feel just soooo satisfying.......but being a mere mortal.....I guess I will never experience that feeling. 

IMHO he didn't overcook the front brake (like Bayliss did).  Amazing feel and control as far as I can see.

I loved this quote at the end of the news article. 

But in these days of debate over traction control, rider aids and electronics, he got his point across, through all the giggles and language barriers, about that one Superpole lap:

That was all me out there;   not the damned gadgets.

[Smitch]

Not that he's biased or anything. 

[Scottish]

First thing that came to my mind....Only a motocross rider can ride like that. 

+1 dude definitely learned in the dirt. 

[JohnnyDucati]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Nov/081121a.htm

Q Did you turn the traction control down, or was it set high for the rain?

At this point, Kiyonari stopped giggling, and really focused on getting his point across. He wanted to impart in no uncertain terms that his incredible machine control was entirely down to the rider, NOT the electronics on the bike. He put his thumb and forefinger perhaps a 1/2 inch apart, and replied:

A .....just a little bit.

Well, well.  It's been established that the bike does have traction control.  Who woulda thunk it?

What setting was it on at Donnington that day?  None of us will never know (only Kiyo and his pit crew will). 

Human nature (and racer ego?) being what it is, I'm not surprised that Kiyonari said that it was on "just a little bit" or not at all.  I don't buy that.  That's some major eau de BS wafting around.

Of course Kiyo's going to down play the role of TC and say it was all him and his studly super duper riding powers.  IMO, that journalist needs to go back and review his Skepticism 101 class notes from journo school. 

[cgos4r]

First thing that came to my mind....Only a motocross rider can ride like that. 

No, more like a flat-track rider. Flat track is all about control.

[derby]

Well, well.  It's been established that the bike does have traction control.  Who woulda thunk it?

i don't think that was ever in dispute...

kiyo does have traction control, but he also raced BSB prior to this year. he's had a lot of experience racing in the rain.