Corser: Superbikes easy

Troy Corser has said he thinks modern racers have never had it so easy – and claimed that sophisticated electronic aids are allowing average riders to run at the pace of the very best.

Now we want to know what you think. Is Corser right, and should we mind anyway if it makes racing closer?

The two-time world champion said he thought the level of data acquisition and electronic assistance in WSB is now so high and so sophisticated that poorer riders are able to get up to winning speed in record time.

This is despite having less ability to understand what a machine is doing. Corser is renowned for his ability to analyse machinery and get the best from it, but he claims the situation in WSB mirrors that of MotoGP and F1 where inexperienced riders are on the front-running pace almost from the first time they ride the bike.

The works Yamaha man said: “Before we had all the telemetry and electronics, it was the rider that made the difference – but not now.

“We’re at a level where the telemetry guys know everything and can adjust everything. Now they have information that’s better than what the rider can give, feedback is less important.

“Anyone who can ride a bike can get on it, and between the telemetry and suspension guy they can set the bike up to suit him.

“There are riders in MotoGP now that never would have been able to ride the old GP bikes and still be walking.

“They would have had broken legs and stuff, but they can ride them now because they can be tamed with the electronics. I think Rossi would agree with that.

“He’s the level of rider that makes a big difference, but now that big difference doesn’t translate to the track. The bikes now are so good and the technicians have got them all worked out.”

“Look at F1. There’s kids that have been in F1 for one year and they’re beating Schumacher in tests and stuff.

“You can see how it’s changing the sport, because the times have got a lot closer now; before there used to be one second covering the top few, but now if you’re one second off you’re 16th.”

Do you agree with Corser? We’ll be publishing a cross section of your thoughts in a forthcoming feature for MCN, so if you want to contribute to the debate about rider aids and bike racing, send your thoughts to mcnsport@emap.com