Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128026
Why did you change from a big bang to screamer engine for '99? I think for me there's no big difference between the two - only that the screamer is easier on the tire because of the way it delivers the power. They each produce the same amount of horsepower - but if you look at the rear tire after a race with a screamer. it looks like new, where the same tire on a big bang is finished. So the main advantage is not so much the different performance, but the tire endurance. Does that mean you can run a softer tire, giving more grip, with the Screamer? No. not really - only maybe a little bit different, sometimes. But the difference is that the same tire gives constant good performance all through the race 0 one. where at the end on the other it goes off and the bike starts to move around a lot, which slows your lap times and means you run the risk of crashing. Do you have to change your riding style between the two? No, not fundamentally, only in minor ways. But the screamer has less engine braking, so it's more like riding a 250 or 125, where it pays to keep up corner speed, within the limits of the tire. As a former 125 World Champion who spent a couple of years in 250 before moving up to 500, did you have to alter your riding style a lot to come to terms with tha NSR500 when you started riding it. just as Valentino Rossi will presumably have to do this coming season? Yes, you have to learn to pick up the bike early out of a turn, to use the tire properly, lind to be careful with throttle application - but I've been riding a 500 for a long time, now, so I don't think much remains of my little-bike riding style. But it did take some transition. In the beginning, my problem was the extra power, wh ich took a lot of getting used to - I expect Rossi will say the same. It just seemed so much more powerful, and the difference in top speed was also really noticeable - more than 50 kph (31 mph) between 250 and sao, which . . . . . . .b _ takes some getting used to in terms of judgment. ow, I think what remllins of that riding style suits a Screamer engine better on the 500 Honda. because I like to keep up turn speed rather than stop, tum and fire it out, like some other riders do and as the Big Bang engine allows you to do. In that case, why didn't you move to an EvoScreamer engine sooner, if it suits your style? Doohan used this first in '97, so surely you had the chance to swap if you wanted? Riding tips from eriville: So what if it's a bit wet out? Just twist the throttle, Alan. Yes, but back then, Honda believed big bang was better, and since I'd ridden with this ever since moving to the 500 class in '92, I couldn't disagree. Of course, I did test the screamer at Eastern Creek in October '96, when Mick [Doohan] tried it out and decided to swap, but Honda engineers didn't like the engine much. so I took their advice and stayed with big bang. I had the same lap times on each, so why change? Also. remember that in those days we used race fuel, so the screamer was more of a handful and more tiring to ride. Unleaded gas gives less power, and the bike changed a lot in character when we started using it. First time I rode it that way, still in big bang form, I really didn't like it - it seemed there was no power, and it had lost its crisp response. But in fact, together with electronic management which is more sophisticated than back in 1991. this made the screamer a much better choice, so that's why I decided to use it in '99. I'm glad I did. This meant that for the first tima in recent years, you had the exact same bike as Mick Doohan. which seemed to allow you to move to another leval as a true contender for the title. But how did the Honda stack up against the Suzuki and Yamaha you had to beat to win it? Right now, I can't honestly say that I think we have the best bike. That's not false modesty, but an honest assessment. Of course, we won the championship, so it's number one over the whole season - but in the last few races. both the Yamaha and Suzuki improved so much on acceleration, top speed, suspension balance, chassis and handling, that I honestly think they've overtaken us. Our bike is the same chassis-wise since J 992, and the engine is very little different in terms of power - only the delivery has changed. From racing with them, I'd say the Yamaha is now more powerful than the Honda, but doesn't have such a good chassis, while the Suzuki handles really well, turns very tight, but isn't so fast. The Honda works well everywhere, so we have the best compromise, without being number one in any area - the others are catching up fast. If they resolve the problems that each of them has. then we're in trouble - so we have to work hard on improving the bike over the winter. Acceleration and top speed are what we really lack now, compared to before - even the Suzuki accelerates as well as our bike. And Kenny's [Roberts] doing a really good job of riding it. You can see he feels comfortable on it, and looks good. He's my main rival next season, I think, together with Max [Biaggi] - but if Honda can fmd some extra performance from the bike for 2000, I'm sure I can win the title again. For sure it's going to be a close-fought season, though, with all three manufacturers now potential racewinners. The races will be even tighter than in 125. cue ... n e vv s FEBRUARY 2,2000 23