Anyone else talking RACING?! <--- of the motorcycle type

Isee your point, it has made for some very exciting racing at the first quarter of the race and I have enjoyed it.
I'm catching up on news, just got back from 2 weeks in the North Cascades. Good for Cal getting a Honda ride next year.

 

Dorna? If you have a problem with the rules you should hate Honda then as they dictate most of them. 800's, engine rules, fuel capacity rules, etc.
Gonna be pretty hard for Ducati, Aprilia, damn near every other mfr on the Earth seeing as Honda spends more than any of them. Honda spends almost double what Yamaha does on GP, and 3-4 times what Ducati does. If it wasn't for the European branch of Phillip Morris, Ducati wouldn't even be in Grand Prix.

Sorry, a pet peeve blaming Dorna for everything when it's really Honda. The open rules were a tactical move by Dorna to counter Honda and them dictating everything. Honda wants to always win this sport by bankrupting everyone else and the rules need to flatlined for an even playing level. That will happen in 2016.

 

I don't blame dorna for everything and I know the monopoly that Honda has but they still suck balls. I'm interested in seeing what happens when dorna and Honda square off about ecu's. Do you think the big boys will walk away from GP. How about all those engines in moto2?

 

The kid is fast and mature.

http://www.sportrider.com/sportbike-news/marquez-knows-how-to-win-how-does-he-lose?src=SOC&dom=fb

 

I think Hondas has been working on robots its called MM... theres no way a mortal can ride like that and go out and do it again.

 

If Honda leaves Moto2, all the better. Every other company known to man who makes a 600cc engine (sportbike) will be chomping at the bit. IIRC there are plans to open it up to other mfr's anyway. In the spirit of racing that should have been done already but again, Honda.

Honda has already threatened to leave GP's due to the ECU and keep moaning and groaning about it. HRC states R&D, which is utter nonsense because racetracks are flat and perfect compared to the open road where debris, animals, potholes, etc. Honda also has its own test tracks where they can test 24/7 anything and everything they've ever wanted and they don't have to ship bikes to do it. GP bikes also have little to do with road going bikes. Road going bikes don't have pneumatic valves, carbon discs, gas forks, and they don't weigh what a GP bike does. Actually there is very little in common between a Grand Prix machine and a production offering, mostly due to $$$$$.

So Honda's bickering is pointless. They will argue and argue to keep their competitive advantage. With electronics wide open they can outspend anyone else on the planet twice over, and they know it. At the same time, Dorna, losing Honda would be a massive blow. So irresistible force means immovable object. But you have to keep in mind if Honda split, there would be 2 mfr's that would replace them. KTM, Aprilia, BMW, Suzuki, Kawasaki. Actually we all know Suzuki is headed back. Aprilia are coming back, and KTM is getting their shoes on. Why? Because the electronics will be standardized which significantly reduces the cost to race. Electronics (and most of it isn't even needed, 20% of it is for safety) is the single most costly part of racing a Grand Prix bike. More than the engines, suspensions, wheels, braking components. In terms of cost it took a diagonal line every year to a vertical one. 2007 costs went up, way up and have just escalated since, all to the detriment of the racing. The 990's would smoke tires, come out of turns crossed up, and now it's slot racing.

Dorna has kept this sport afloat amidst a global economic meltdown. they fought back against Honda and the MSMA with CRT's since they were unwilling to field the grid with competitive priced Satellite machinery. They went to open rules to counter Honda. I think Dorna needs to be commended instead of condemned. Honda is at the root of many, many things. Like getting a V5 put in place during the first 4stroke era, with the same weight penalty as a 4 cylinder. 800's? Honda pushed that because they had a midget in the pipe which they thought would pwn all (Dani). The fuel restrictions, Honda. Engine restrictions (currently what 5 for a season in mf'ing grand prix?), Honda. No engine development during the season, Honda. Yamaha has routinely, over the last 10-15 years started off a season down on power to Honda but they work through the season and reduce the gap, significantly, by summer break. Honda put a stop to that. This could change if Yamaha grew some balls and went against Honda but that isn't the Japanese way, and even though they won't admit it, Yamaha is scared of pissing Honda off. Honda has so much money they could decimate Yamaha any time they choose, in racing, and on the production floor. Yamaha knows this, and doesn't want to piss off the sleeping dragon so they play ball and always agree with Honda at the MSMA table.

This ECU/electronics business has been a way to keep Suzuki out, Kawasaki out, BMW, Aprilia, KTM, all out of the picture. The current mfr's like the playground small. ECU standardization levels the playing field so they've fought for as many years as they can but it's gotten so ridiculous that it is inevitable now. 2016 things will change. But Honda will kick and scream like little bitches all the way.

More mfr's is better for the sport. More competition is better for the sport. But Honda doesn't care about that, or the fans. When Nakamotosan was asked about all this he said "We aren't here for this." They don't care about the fans, these track owners or anything else, it's all self interest. I'm fine with that actually. At the end of the day this is a business but when one business is trying to hog it up and get everything to their will instead of the best thing for the sport, no love there. These fuel rules, engine rules, and all the electronics, has in many ways ruined the racing. What is best for the fans is a more competitive sport, sliding (reduced electronics), wheelies and burnouts on the cool down laps, some excitement. The mfr's are so wrapped up in their own self interest that they've forgotten that people, fans, pay the bills. We pay for video memberships, we pay for the cable package, we pay for the gate receipts. Without us, as fans, there would be no sport for them to play. It's high time they get a real dose of that, and if that takes Honda's bitch ass leaving the sport for good I'm all for it.

 

So how in bed is Honda and tire manufactures in your opinion? Yamaha really seemed to suffer on these new tires. Then again remember the Saturday night specials for Rossi?

 

Rather than his opinion, I'd like to see the info on all of the stuff he is stating on Honda, not because I don't believe him, or I'm pro Honda, I'd just like to read the info first hand. Are there "minutes" from Dorna or MSMA meetings? or some other place where this information exist? I had stopped following racing for a while and kind of been in the dark on what's happening behind the scenes, so any info that shines a light on this would be welcomed.

I agree that the more competitors in the sport i.e. More manufacturers, would make things more interesting and better for the sport. I can't remember the last time the grid had all 4 Japanese manufacturers in the line up or for that matter even 3! Then again as I said, I stopped following racing for a while.

 

The Saturday night specials were part myth, part reality. Yes Rossi got overnighted tires during the European rounds but so did all Factory Michelin riders. Hayden admitted this to Julian Ryder in an interview. They all got them. Like a lot of things back then, many were just trying to find an excuse for Rossi winning all those races aboard the Hondas. Funny how with Rossi winning on a Honda there was always an excuse why, "He was brought up on those tracks"....."he has the best crew chief"......."he only wins because of the bike".....and yes "He only wins because of special tires." None of those were truth. Proved when he went to Yamaha for one, then he won the 2008 championship riding on Bridgestones made and developed for the Ducati, then he won again in 2009 when everyone had Bridgestones.

I honestly don't know how in bed HRC is in with Bridgestone. I really don't. I can get a lot of intel but that tire stuff, dude they have it locked down like a Frog's arse. I, like you, questioned the tire situation this year. Bridgestone has all the intel on all these riders and factories. They know, more than anyone what X bike or Y rider prefers to get the lap times. Bridgestone is also Japanese so who knows? My gut says HRC is the most powerful factory (2:1) and they have the pull but I can substantiate that at all, just my gut.

 

Press conferences for GP (Pre-event, qualifying, and post race) tell you an awful lot. The rule changes are crystal, anyone can read those.
I read an awful lot of intel and have some paddock people I communicate with but if you follow GPone, Motomatters, crash, motorcyclenews, Sport Rider, and a few others you can read most of what I do. The information is there, everyone in the paddock knows this. Just get into following the sport closely and you'll be up to speed. 2016 ruleset is going to be an epic battle between the MSMA and Dorna from now until the first round in Qatar in 2016.

Speaking of Qatar, I'll give you some more insider dope. They've been going there I think 10 years now, IIRC 2004 was the first year. They started doing it as a night race in 2008. Qatar is a very interesting circuit for a number of reasons. The first being that nobody goes to that race, I mean you are talking 5,000 in the stands on race day when Brno had over 100k on race day. Those sheiks pay so much money to have the first race of the season that the money Dorna collects from that one round pays for the entire shipping of ALL the MotoGP cameras, bikes, paddock setups, etc, for the entire season of shipping to all the other rounds. Big money. The money spent on lighting up the circuit is so vast that it would light a major interstate from Qatar all the way to downtown London. Big money. Qatar wants to be the visitor spot in the Middle East. I think they just secured the World Cup there as well.

Regarding the other stuff, don't take my word, do your research. I will give you one link, from this week, since it's fresh. Just the tip of the iceberg with Honda. Funny to me was the rule that got written in place (rookie rule) to prevent Ben Spies got removed by Honda so Marquez could enter the class on the factory honda. Remember Spies had to go to Tech3 first, rookie rule.

Now Honda and Repsol are getting their way again.
http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/race/motogp-race/failed-records-and-rule-rewrites/

 

You keep ranting about how Honda is getting their way but Dorna still makes and enforces the rules. Couldn't it be said the buck stops here?> (DORNA) If they allowed their organization to be run by a team, well thats on them.

 

Dorna has jockeyed some control. That link above about Repsol and Honda getting their way once again. That is nothing but Dorna allowing that so Honda will play ball with the 2016 rule changes (ECU). Once the rules are in place for 2016 then Dorna can start playing hard ball. Suzuki and Aprila are on their way back so if Honda leaves because a rev limit is put in place, someone will open the door for them to take their ball and gtfo.

Dorna is only playing ball to get what they want....control over those ECU's. The ECU is most expensive thing in the sport.

 

Lets hear it for old dudes and thinking outside the box. though it will not be competitive its good to see some different approaches. This is way different, Moto 2 should be interesting tomorrow.

http://www.revzilla.com/hub-mcwilli...eam&utm_campaign=mcwillians-moto2-silverstone

 

You need some new contacts in the paddock, either that, or you are straight up trolling.

 

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I wonder if JL will cry foul for a little rubbing and stuffing by MM. They shook hands after while on the track but JL has taken his ball home before. Glad to see Rossi hold off DP.

 

Well if I saw this right the first time and again on replay, JL pushed MM to the outside and touched MM's bike, when MM went through in the inside, MM didn't touch JL but made him sit up, MM's pass looked very clean to me!

 

Jl did brush MM and MM pass was clean and very aggressive,I was just wondering if JL would get all butt hurt and wag his finger at MM again like last year.
Moto 2 was a great race.

 

YAAAAAAAH!

http://www.cyclenews.com/646/24985/Racing-Article/AMA-Road-Racing--Wayne-Rainey-In--DMG-Out.aspx

 

Hope for American racing!

 

This is a GREAT day for Americans and American racers---So Glad I got to witness real Men on those 500's like Rainey , Lawson , Roberts , Spencer ----- DMG was a TOTAL FAILURE-----YEEEEEEEEEEEEEEHAAAAAAAAAAAA
is freekin right.