What makes John McGuinness so fast?

Discussion in 'Racing & Track Days' started by Thumbs, Oct 13, 2015.

  1. Thumbs

    Thumbs Member

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    This is on the UK VFR site

    John McGuinness is a legend in motorcycle racing, with 23 victories at the challenging Isle of Man TT among many wins. Everybody who knows racing knows he is fast. But why? What makes John king of the motorcycle mountain? EMC2 partnered with Alpinestars and Freescale Semiconductor, using big data to find out what makes John so fast.

    Part of the answer is here >http://uk.emc.com/microsites/morecambe-missile/index.htm

    It's already providing some feedback, it'll be interesting to see this in a few months and also after next Junes TT races
     
  2. Thumbs

    Thumbs Member

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    More data about Road Racers

    More data has been published on the heart rates of racers at the 2013 NW200, the race where Guy Martin crashed out big time this year:-

    Results of the heart rate test were taken on each of the rider's first laps of evening racing, when the competitors had to battle difficult conditions after a typical torrential downpour at the North West 200.

    The Champion, Alastair Seeley, had the lowest heart rate, with an average beats per minute (bpm) of 134, which is 71% of his maximum heart rate. There were minimal 'spikes' (moments of sharply increased output) throughout the lap.Dr Roe was impressed by such a low, consistent heart rate.

    "The Champion clearly didn't perceive the situation as stressful. He is an 'ice man'. An average bpm of 134 equates to a brisk walk for most people, and his breathing techniques may well have helped him."

    By contrast, the Novice, Gareth Keys, had an average heart rate of 185bpm.

    "That is the equivalent of Sir Bradley Wiggins (British Olympic Cycling Champ) climbing Alpe d'Huez in the Tour de France. Such is the level of physiological stress… we calculated it as 94% of his maximum heart rate. This indicates a very large physiological stress stemming from his perception of the situation being quite threatening," said Dr Roe.

    The Veteran, Jeremy McWilliams, is somewhere in between the two riders, with an average heart rate of 164 bpm.

    "The Veteran has the experience of having been there and done that, taking away some of the emotional stress. But an average heart rate 164bpm is 96% of his maximum heart rate."

    More info at http://www.bbc.co.uk/science/0/22488580

    The whole article is well worth reading as Seeley gives some very useful advice regarding training for those speeds

    It'll be interesting to see what John McGuiness bpm is whilst racing
     
  3. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    He is fast because SOW installed .4mm Spark plugs in McGuiness's bikes past and present.

    Along with teaching him everything he knows.

    BZ
     
  4. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    I think McGuiness has among other things, including great vision, very large cojones.

    The collected physiological data is interesting. Heart rate is only one component of a larger picture. There will be I am certain further studies since this and other data has been used since the 1930's primarily by the Luftwaffe and further by NASA/NACA dating back to the 1940's

    We might be sure of one thing when some sciencey dude expect a fast guy like McGuinnes to wear a rectal temperature sensor, some data may go MIA.
     
  5. Bubba Zanetti

    Bubba Zanetti Member

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    I didn't expect you to get serious BB, but as usual you know your history.

    The late great Joey Dunlop was similar. Heart rate never got super high and his focus and skill was unreal.

    BZ
     
  6. DaHose

    DaHose New Member

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    I believe the key factor is a complete and reckless disregard for their own safety. It's crazy to think that they just don't worry about crashing at those speeds. They just focus on riding like you or I focus on a daily work process we know like the back of our hand.

    The old Rally Group A racers talk about it in films. I remember one of them saying that you have to learn to see spectators as just another rock, tree or other kind of on track obstacle that you don't want to hit. He also said that if you were to think of them as human beings, there is no way you could race at the speeds they were carrying.

    It's all about your perceptions and practice, practice, practice.

    Jose
     
  7. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    One year when asked about his not so athletic build and what he did for his fitness regime he said something like " well I walk all the way to the pub and back!".

    But my favorite quote was his answer to what he would have done if he was not a racer. " I'd be a porn star but me cocks to small!" . lmao Reporters love him too.
     
  8. Darth Vader

    Darth Vader New Member

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    I used to work with a bloke who worked in a honda dealers and had met Mcguiness on a few occasions
    and he asked him what his preparation for the TT was and he replied " not much really, sometimes mow the lawn"
    Just born without the part of the brain that sees danger as a regular guy sees it.
     
  9. sunofwolf

    sunofwolf New Member

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    the .4mm spark plugs is what makes you fast
     
  10. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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  11. Badbilly

    Badbilly Official VFRWorld Troll Of The Year!

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    The physical stuff affects the mental stuff. The physical stuff can be quantified to a degree. Trying to figure out what these really fast dudes are thinking is another trip.

    One example is Neil Keen (rip) who won a string of mains at Ascot in it's hey day. Neil would attribute it to the bike with made up shit about removing inner workings, cutting new lube channels in the block voodoo valve stuff. At the same time he also was telling the press that he was seeing a shrink. True? Not a clue..

    I would submit that at least in testing, the MOTO-GP fast guys and shit yes they are all fast guys truth be told, there is more than heart rate being measured.
     
  12. Gator

    Gator Insider

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    Joey Dunlop........ Amazing on 2 or 4 wheels.
     
  13. Allyance

    Allyance Insider

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    Got to watch "Road" on Netflix!
     
  14. Gator

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    I don't know how mama Dunlop can handle what has happened in their family. I'll watch Road one of these days.
     
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