Comments on: FIM Announces 9 MotoGP Claiming Rule Teams for 2012 Utilizing Modified Superbike Motors from Honda, BMW, Aprilia and Kawasaki; Big Rule Changes Expected for 2013 (News)

By: brad walter

brad walter — Sat, 11 Feb 2012 17:27:38 +0000

Lots of people complain about rule changes in Moto GP and the CRT bikes. STOP !!!! Has no one noticed that only three brands are left in the series with grids less than 15 bikes. In a year or two this sreies would be gone if something radical isn’t done. If private teams cannot compete or afford to race any series of racing is doomed and that is fact not opinion. So welcome to the real world.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:45:48 +0000

PS: there is also some of this in BSB, ‘cept they do it with points.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:41:53 +0000

sorry MD is not very editing or captcha error friendly. this comment is for team222.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 01:29:05 +0000

though what you described is basically “the chase for the NASCAR sprint cup”, it’s actually not the worst idea i’ve ever heard. in some ways it’s like aggregate timing or a wet race restart (only deliberate). i’ve mentioned in the past there are maybe things we can learn from nascar fans (specifically their valuing nature). here might be something we can learn from nascar itself…? be prepared for backlash, it’s going to take a lot for some to get their heads around something like this, even me. btw, perhaps race 1 should be 16 laps and race 3 be 8…? ya know so each leg is reduced by the same interval. this interval can change between 2, 3, or 4 depending on the circuit…? or even something like keeping it secret till after qualifying…? or fan vote as a way to engage viewers…?

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:34:37 +0000

re: “Carmelo needs to go.”

actually carmelo’s just reacting to market conditions. market conditions however that WE spent the last 10 years bringing to fruition. i mean did ezpelata ever hold a gun to anyone’s head and tell them to “cheap out” the second they walk into their local suzuki dealer…? no of course not. clueless to the unintended consequences of our behavior, we collectively (and repeatedly) did these things all on our own. CRT is the “blowback”.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 00:17:14 +0000

re: “The days of 500GP’s came to an end as will the days of MotoGP.”

as will the days of claiming rules. if the height of 500′s lasted say 20 years…? and consumers “devalued” motogp in just 10…? then CRT will be lucky (damn lucky) to see 5. welcome to the motorcycle equivalent of “half-lifes” and “radioactive decay”. this message brought to you by the non-valuing consumer.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 01:49:48 +0000

re: “There is no excuse for driving a vehicle into another object on the track that you knew beforehand would be there.”

and YET history still records it happening. on start lines, practices, etc. you’re forgetting the core competency (or lack thereof) regarding the rookie pilots that will be on 3 of these slower moving CRT bikes. Petrucci, Pirro and Hernandez. the case with ulm and foggy is a good example. they were on basically the SAME bike, both professionals and still there was contact. how about scott russel at daytona (who i just saw this afternoon btw)…? or the melandri/roberts incident in qualifying at laguna…? another career ended and a prototype wadded.

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By: team222

team222 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 19:03:54 +0000

Another possible fix for more interesting races would be multiple shorter races races using an innovative format…… vs one long race

Example: Say prior years race was 30 laps

New Race Format:

Race 1 = 12 laps based on qualifying

Race 2 = 12 laps. Starting grid for top 10 finishers reversed from Race 1

Race 3 = 6 Laps. Top ten finishers based on combined points of race 1 and 2 which also determines the starting grid.

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By: Dave

Dave — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 16:10:05 +0000

Hoping that Moto GP will yield a Moto GP replica for the street is a wildly unrealistic expectation.

Of course the bikes that the factories build for the public will be very different from the bikes they race but that does not take away the influences that go into the production bikes from the race bikes. Racing is responsible for all of the knowledge that advanced street motorcycles since the inception of the sport bike. A short list in no particular order:
1. Longer swingarm (99+ Yamaha R1)
2. Upside down fork configuration (who knows when..)
3. Cross plane firing crank (Yamaha, inspired by benefits of V configuration)
4. Tires.
5. HORSEPOWER. 600cc making 105+ hp while idling like a piece of lawn equipment?
6. alloy frames and flex tuned frame concepts.
7. light weight!
8. Brakes.
9. slipper clutches
10. electronic engine management and traction controls.

Every factory that is participating in GP is using what they learn to advance their consumer offerings. WSBK bikes also benefit from the knowledge gained (they begin life as production street bikes, no?) All is done at a declining price scale adjusted for inflation. Without racing we’d all be riding mid-70′s CB750′s (not that there’s anything wrong with that).

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By: Dave Joy

Dave Joy — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 23:16:01 +0000

I just dream of the “good old days” when those 500cc two strokes screamed around the tracks in the hands of Sheene, Roberts, Hennen, Baker, Mamola, Spencer, Hartog and the rest. That smell of Castrol R wafting through the air. No electronic wizardry helping out, just the riders skill and ability to handle those wailing RG’s, TZ’s and the like.
The days of 500GP’s came to an end as will the days of MotoGP. So what next…..who knows….who cares!

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