Rossi was actually more likely to be on a screamer than a big bang 500.
As everyone got engines that were more usable, those that could use them properly, went looking for more power.
Big Bang firing order was good for conserving tyre life as it gave the tyre a chance to recover between power pulses.
But then the likes of Garry McCoy, cappirossi and Rossi discovered that if you got the bike moving and tyre sliding, then the tyre performance was more consistant over the duration of the race, rather than gripping, then dropping off suddenly at 3/4 race distance and becoming “Unridable”
Once they had got the hang of slidiing from the start, and got the lines adjusted etc, then they started to move towards the old screamer style motors that were more suited to breaking traction and gave more power too 😀
2strokes are ace, I miss the 500`s, proper “Big BAlls” bikes……
500cc and 200BHP, and about 130KG 😀
I still kick myself over not buying a Krauser 500cc motor from an Outfit when I was offered it complete a few years ago…
Just rebuilt, ready to run with Pipes, Carbs, Gearbox everything…..
It had no class to race in anymore so it was obsolete and effectively worthless……
£1200 would have brought it……and it was 185hp !!