Comments on: Spies Leaving Yamaha MotoGP Team Next Year (News)

By: Dave

Dave — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:51:01 +0000

“Related to de-leveraging, Honda started the latest/greatest trend with their class-leading (by epic margin) new fuel injected/liquid cooled 250cc motor (2012 CBR250R, 2013 CRF250L). Compared to the CRF250L at about $4500, Yamaha’s bike in that class costs $5100. Generally, +12% higher cost spells failure. In this class it’s death, especially because Yamaha’s technology is from the stone age and in every feature and specification it is an anachronism. ”

Good point but Yamaha’s and Honda’s 250cc dual sport bikes are not the same class of motorcycle. Yamaha’s is a true off road bike with lights, Honda’s is a budget oriented runabout with offroad styling. Honda will sell many times more units of it but it probably won’t have a large effect on Yamaha’s WR sales if that bike is selling to the correct customer for it already.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 13:25:17 +0000

i think the next announcement will be rossi leaves ducati. where he goes is really neither here nor there. at this moment, rossi and “ducaudi” have diverging objectives. audi has a business to run (cars/bikes to sell) and vale has the records books and his legacy to tend to. while it would be nice, one doesn’t necessarily compliment the other.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:36:03 +0000

PS: or at least they don’t know from crutchlow… YET…? unlike rossi, it’s gonna take time before they’re up to speed on who all the players are and what they can contribute (if any) to any strategies going forward.

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By: Norm G.

Norm G. — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 17:27:15 +0000

re: “Since they previously announced they weren’t going to renew his contract for 2013″

what they said was, a decision on nicky wouldn’t come until the buyout was a completed. and as i said, cal’s offer from ducati (if not on paper) wasn’t going to be good for anything but wiping his ass. AUDI’s the one signing the checks now and relative to nicky they don’t know crutch from a hole in the wall. tie goes to the runner… or in this case hayden.

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By: Dave

Dave — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 09:42:50 +0000

Spies has won races and finished top-10 in the series every season he’s raced it. He Q’d 4th at Laguna Seca. He is absoutley not an “also-ran”. If he is “uncomfortable” or incapable of racing at this level then they need to stop racing these bikes all together because there are too few people capable of it to make an interesting field. Actually, that’s probably true anyway.

Though not mentioned in these comments I thought there were lots of bikes being wadded despite the opinion that the electronics have made it “too easy”.

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By: HotDog

HotDog — Sun, 29 Jul 2012 23:50:10 +0000

If Yamaha had the balls, they’d give Spies another tatto on the other leg with the thumbs pointed downward. Hocus pocus alakazm, here’s to witchcraft…!

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By: mickey

mickey — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 17:42:47 +0000

Just announced Nicky re signs with Duc. Since they previously announced they weren’t going to renew his contract for 2013, does that indicate Rossi is going with Honda or Yamaha?

Btw Spies was 4th behind the aliens in free practice 1 at Laguna

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By: Scotty

Scotty — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:59:57 +0000

Not really – I respect and admire any rider that gets a world title – no matter what class of GP racing. Its the pinnacle. I don’t consider Rossi a lesser rider for not winning the TT either. Of for winning far less 500cc titles than Mick Doohan.

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By: Provalogna

Provalogna — Fri, 27 Jul 2012 16:58:03 +0000

It’s really too bad the way the entire planet earth and all its inhabitants personally prevented Ben from achieving the stardom he richly deserves. (sarc/off)

Two days ago Ben Tweeted his intention to fashion model soon, where the world won’t stand in his way as in MotoGP. Very sexy, no?