OJ: 800s are easier

Factory Kawasaki rider Olivier Jacque reckons riding in the MotoGP world championship is a much easier proposition than when he last raced full-time in 2003.
Huge advances in electronics have made the job of taming prototype MotoGP bikes an easier task according to the former world 250 champion.
Jacque, who will partner compatriot Randy de Puniet in Kawasaki’s 2007 factory effort, said: “When I stopped in 2003 the bikes were pretty delicate to ride because we only had one year of experience and it was only the second year of four-strokes. 
“The first year I rode a 500 and I’d never tried anything other than a two-stroke. I was fighting a lot with the bike and the first year in four-strokes was a nightmare. When I came back with Kawasaki in 2005 it was like ‘wow, what an improvement’ and now the bikes are much more easy to ride. 
“There is a lot of assistance like anti-wheelie and launch control. It’s much easier with more electronics and more engineers who can help you understand the bike. You can also see there are much less crashes. 
“It means the bikes are much more safe to ride, the margin to crash is wider and bigger, but the level is harder to be competitive.”