| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
What a wasted huge talent..... I think he wasted his own talent by partying, drinking and having very public arguments with his wife while at Kawasaki MotoGP. The injuries were just a part of the big picture unfortunately. When it got to the point when he missed an entire session and various debriefings with his team it pretty much put the lid on his employment chances at GP level despite his obvious ability on a bike. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Promising start by the "new" moto1 Suter-BMW 1000cc prototype. I wish Redding did not get injured and had a go with it ......... Moto1 is definately the future...... | ||
| Trojan |
A lot of the comments I have seen have concentrated on the difference in lap times between the Suter Moto1 bike and the MotoGP Ducatis testing at the same track this week, but that doesn't tell the whole story. The Suter is fitted with an endurance spec BMW S1000RR engine so is well down on tune compared to the MotoGP or even WSB bikes. With a year to work on the engine tuning we could see this being quite competitive with 'privateer' MotoGP teams at the middle to back of the field, although I don't think we will see the CRT bikes compete with (or be allowed to interfere with) the factory bikes at the front. I think we'll end up with the same situation as F1 now has with the new teams forming a 'second division', which unfortunately won't solve MotoGP's chronic problems. Having more bikes at the back of the grid won't improve racing as we need more competitive bikes/riders at the front. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Suter moto1 , used basic 17'' Michelin tires for the test. If we will ever see moto1 bikes at the front, depends on their riders. But in any case , having more bikes on the grid is a step forward, even if they just fight for the top10. If we want small&privateer teams to run at the front , we need Dorna to use more "loose" rules for the engines , so that small teams can find cheap horsepower......turbos, superchargers, etc.......But I do not see this happenning......there is no way Honda-Yamaha will allow this to happen. For me, there should be just 1 rule for the engine of a motoGP bike ......21 liters of fuel to finish the race, no capacity restriction , no ban for turbos/superchargers, no distinction between 2strokes and 4strokes, etc, etc | ||
| Trojan |
If we want small&privateer teams to run at the front , we need Dorna to use more "loose" rules for the engines , so that small teams can find cheap horsepower......turbos, superchargers, etc.......But I do not see this happenning......there is no way Honda-Yamaha will allow this to happen. If you allow turbochargers etc what is to stop the big factories taking advantage of them? They have the money to spend on engine development and electronics, so the small teams will always be at a disadvantage whatever technical rule syou put in place. The rules for 2012 have made sure that the factory guys will remain at the front of the pack at 90% of the races (there will always be the slight chance of a fluke win by a CRT team in wet conditions I suppose!). There is a good article here on the current state of the MotoGP rules adn what is likely to happen in the next couple of years. http://motomatters.com/analysis/2010/11/29/the_201 2_motogp_revolution_part_1_the_ru.html | ||
| Jaimec |
Interesting quote I just read on the Speed.com site. Valentino Rossi was quoted as saying "Jorge Lorenzo will have HIS Jorge Lorenzo on the team next year in Ben Spies." The 2011 season is looking more and more interesting. And with Crutchlow on the Tech3 team, maybe even Matt will be interested again.  | ||
| Trojan |
The 2011 season is looking more and more interesting. And with Crutchlow on the Tech3 team, maybe even Matt will be interested again. Until they get more bikes on the grid I think we'll just have more of the same for 2011 unfortunately  The top 6 may swap colours and change order slightly but I'll bet they will still be the same top 6-7 guys just the same. Crutchlow will be lucky to break into the top 8 next year with 4 factory Hondas, 2 factory Yamahas and 2 factory Ducatis at the front, although I think he may spring a few surprises later in the year. At the moment I think he will be very lucky to even be fit for the Sepang test in February following his shoulder surgery, and having already missed the rookie test sessions he will be starting from a long way back comapred to everyone else next year. Cal is a quick learner and a great racer, but I think he may struggle to begin with. He should at least win rookie of the year though as the only other GP rookie for 2011 is Karel Abraham (another sad MotoGP fact!) Meanwhile Moto2 is still looking good for 2011 even if some teams are finding it hard to find finance already | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I am much more optimistic for the 2011. Most "key" riders changed bikes or got "upgraded". And not to forget ....Rossi rides a Ducati !!! This alone is mega !!! | ||
| Jaimec |
In order for Moto2 to become interesting, I need a "dog in the hunt." With Bandera's team folding and Kenny Noyes currently out of a ride I don't have any particular interest in the series. If that should change, however... | ||
| Trojan |
In order for Moto2 to become interesting, I need a "dog in the hunt." With Bandera's team folding and Kenny Noyes currently out of a ride I don't have any particular interest in the series. I'm pretty sure that both Noyes and Talmasci will get picked up by another team before the season starts, as there will surely be teams that either change riders or get accepted to replace those with financial problems before the first race. Moto2 is very much like the rest of European racing where riders are expected to bring money to the team (or sponsors) rather than being paid to ride as most US riders have come to expect. Colin Edwards bemoans the 'pay to ride' mentality in his latest interviews, but that is how it has always worked over here unfortunately. Some big teams may be in a position to pay the lead rider but the second string guy usually has to ride for nothing or bring money with him. If young US riders want to get a foothold in Moto2 they should be ready to ride for very little except personal sponsor money or try to get through the Spanish race system with a good Spanish backer/team. From a Brit perspective Moto2 looks even better next year now we have both Scott Redding and Bradley Smith on the grid. I would like to see more young US riders in Moto2 (particularly Josh Herrin and PJ Jacobsen) but I think the Honda Moto2 connection may be the stumbling block for riders contracted to other manufactuers in AMA such as Herrin. | ||
| Jaimec |
I hear Rizla is withdrawing their sponsorship of the Suzuki team in 2011? Maybe Suzuki can convince Paris Hilton to sponsor them too. From baby blue to shocking pink, they'd still be the most recognizable bikes on the grid! | ||
| Jaimec |
So the Yamaha Factory Team, after winning three consecutive "Hat Tricks" (Rider, Team, Constructor Championships) can't find a sponsor to replace FIAT?? What's up with that? Maybe they need Paris Hilton... | ||
| Blake |
>>> What's up with that? Valentino Rossi has left their house. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Why don't Paris Hilton steps up ????  | ||
| Jaimec |
With the factory team in the hands of Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies, I don't think they'll miss "The Doctor" that much. Wonder why some American company won't step up now that Ben is on the scene? Kenny Roberts, Jr. was able to get the Treasure Island Casino to sponsor him (before his father pulled out of the series altogether). | ||
| Blake |
Jaime, Valentino is the moto marketing equivalent of a Michael Jordan. His selling power extends well beyond motorsport and dwarfs that of Lorenzo and Spies, at least for now. | ||
| Jaimec |
I'm just surprised a major Spanish company like Repsol is supporting Honda and Dani Pedrosa when they haven't really produced at ALL since the 800cc era. Now you have a very charismatic Spanish World Champion, you'd think there'd be some Spanish companies falling all over themselves to sponsor him and his team. Ben may not be as charismatic as Nicky Hayden, but he's our best shot at the next MotoGP World Champion so you'd wish some American company would get on his band wagon as well. | ||
| Trojan |
I think it is not only an indication of the scope of financial recession/meltdown that Yamaha can't find a replacement for Fiat as title sponsor, but also a result of thebig teams selling sponsor space very cheaply for the last few years that has comeback to bite them. Repsol, Fiat and Rizla paid surprisingly lttle apparently for their title sposnorship packages over the last few years, and the only MotoGP team to actually break even (and maybe even make profit) from racing sponsors has been Ducati. Yamaha have sponsors willing to have their name on the bikes (AirAsia, Petronas and others have been mentioned) but I would bet that the stumbling block is that Yamaha now want far more money for the rights to advertise on their bikes than they have been receiving recently in order to continue running a very expensive team. Lin Jarvis says that it isn't a worry and that they will run in coprorate blue if necessary....lets see how long that lasts before shock announcements get made, especially if the Yamaha riders aren't running 1-2 in the series by mid year | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt, I was watching my 2005 MotoGP recap DVD over the weekend (Christmas present). Okay, I can see how (compared to that) you can consider the 800cc era "boring." The winner is the person who checks out early and any fighting that takes place is for the final podium spot. The 990s really did battle three or four ways up till the final lap for all three positions. Definitely more exciting. You also saw SATELLITE riders on the top of the box, too... something that has NEVER happened in the 800 era. Whoever the MORON is who decided the 800cc displacement would produce more exciting racing should be hung from the starting lights at Qatar as a warning to any other stupid, ill-thought-out notions in the future. | ||
| Rex |
Google would be a good sponsor. Intel inside, might look cool US Army on the international scene. Maybe some Indian companies, since much of our money goes there to support our US companies. ahaha. REX | ||
| Rex |
and a really wild one, Victory Motorcycles. It would get them international exposure of their brand......REX | ||
| Jaimec |
Considering Yamaha's "Star Motorcycles" line competes directly with Victory, I'd say that'll never happen. | ||
| 46champ |
Whoever the MORON is who decided the 800cc displacement would produce more exciting racing should be hung from the starting lights at Qatar as a warning to any other stupid, ill-thought-out notions in the future.  That would be Honda. Just goes to show how true the old adage is. "Don't fix it if it ain't broke" | ||
| Jaimec |
Honda probably figured a smaller bike with their chosen midget rider would clean up. Shame, because they actually HAD a rider who went toe-to-toe with Rossi and beat him in 2006, but they ignored Nicky in favor of their little pet midget. They got what they deserved. | ||
| Bigblock |
Maybe the cheap-a$$ chinese ought to pony up some $$$ since they seem to make everything, including all the money these days! | ||
| Trojan |
Matt, I was watching my 2005 MotoGP recap DVD over the weekend (Christmas present). Okay, I can see how (compared to that) you can consider the 800cc era "boring." The winner is the person who checks out early and any fighting that takes place is for the final podium spot. Eurosport had a series of classic races shown over the christmas period including lots from the late 80's Lawson/Doohan/Gardner/Schwantz era and the difference to todays sanitised racing was incredible. I watched the 1989 French GP yesterday which was a race long battle between Gardner, Lawson, Sarron and Schwantz for the lead (followed pretty closely by Rainey,McGee, Haslam, DeRidigues etc). I don't think I have seen a closer Gp than this in all of the 4 stroke era! Lawson won after Gardner blew up on the final lap, with Sarron 2nd and Schwantz 3rd  I don't know how the organisers think they can get back to those days of close racing, simply because the 4 strokes are just too expensive for privateers/semi factory teams to run competitively and the big factories have too much influence on the rules. Unless they can come up with some kind of affordable formula for everyone I think we may have sadly seen the last of the great GP eras. | ||
| Blake |
>>> I don't know how the organisers think they can get back to those days of close racing, simply because the 4 strokes are just too expensive for privateers/semi factory teams to run competitively and the big factories have too much influence on the rules. I agree. Maybe they should ask DMG (AMA Superbike) how best to tackle those concerns. ![: ]](http://www.badweatherbikers.com/buell/clipart/proud.gif) | ||
| Jaimec |
Blake, that works for production-based racing. Not so much for prototypes. | ||
| Blake |
I think the same principles apply. Limit the influence of the factories. Institute rules to facilitate more competitive but less expensive machinery. Basically some outside the box thinking. The IDIOTIC rule that all rookies be prohibited from riding for a factory team is one to scrap. Allow the bikes to use as large a fuel tank as they like and as much fuel as they want. Here's a HUGE change that would help skyrocket the popularity of the series: Two races per weekend, one on Saturday, one on Sunday, or two on Sunday as desired. For the second race, grid the competitors in reverse order of the race one finish. Put a couple longer races that make pit stops a factor. Heck, put a true team-based endurance race into the mix where for instance Spies and Lorenzo would take turns during a 400 mile race... | ||
| Vagelis46 |
There have been many great races with the 800cc bikes. The 2012 rules allowing the 1000cc "production" engines look promising. Let's wait..... |
