2012/2013 MotoGP Off-Season News, Rumors and other Info Thread

[Max Deutch]

Originally Posted by uncalcetindelana

About the fuel, 5 engine allocation, how Ducati "sucks", and other things, I want you to try read this interview with Ramón Forcada:

Ramón Forcada: “Los mejores años en Yamaha fueron cuando estaban Valentino y Lorenzo� | Solomoto | MotoGP

It's one of the best pieces of interview I've read this year. Definitely a wise man in my eyes.

(in spanish; so if google translate doesn't do a good job, let me know and I'll translate it later)

Thank you, my friend. Google did a good enough job on it for me.


Quick Google Translate

ETA: Thank you even more for your translation. Sorry I missed that the first time.

[aLive]

Thanks a lot for that link and translation - great read indeed!

[GUTTERbOY]

Originally Posted by uncalcetindelana

I speak to you as a technician, because the person running the championship must look beyond this. As a technician I believe things are going backwards. Look, there's something very clear: the motorcycle, as a concept, is one of the most limited vehicles in the world. I mean, a complete disaster, as a vehicle. It has a really good engine that delivers a brutal amount of power, an extremely good weight to power ratio, so it's capable of doing, I don't know, 340 km/h, but that the first corner it can only achieve about 70 km/h. Please picture the mess. A machine that's worth five or six million euros that can only go 70 km/h in a corner, considering a closed circuit and perfect conditions.

If instead of spending five million euros on this bike, you spend 20, keeping the same tires and vehicle structure, you might get to 72 km/h in that corner, and I'm not even sure, because at the end the limit is at the tire, and a bike is just a bike. It involves a mass supported on the ground by a piece of rubber with a certain amount of grip. Even if you want to stick 20 million euros in there, using any and all systems, putting platinum valves and whatever electronics you choose, you'll make that corner going 70 km/h, and anything more and you'll crash, because then it's just the tire that counts.

This clear limitation, use it. If you look at the past, the best championship was in the first years of 4 stroke machines with satellite teams. Why? Because all motorcycles had the same limit, you could see satellite bikes making poles, winning races, and costing much less than now, because the rider would keep making the difference. What was different? The freedom.

For example, when they did the first 4 strokes, the first 1000, the rulebook was very clear: motorcycle displacement should be less than a 1000cc, they must weigh at least 145kg, have 24 liters of fuel, must have 6 gears, and rims can be 16.5 or 17" on the front, with a maximum width of 4", and the rear a maximum width of 6.25" and 17". That's it.

In that context, what happened? There were people who made an inline 4 engine, because that's what they were experienced in, what they had been doing their whole life; there were others, like Honda, who thought that with how the distribution of weights was playing, the ideal engine would be 5 cylinders in V; Suzuki and Kawasaki made 4 cylinders in V; Aprilia used a 3 cylinder engine. And bikes rode around everywhere. For the guy that knows how to make an inline 4 engine, it is much cheaper to make that, than a V shaped engine. But then you start with limitations...you tell him "piston diameter should be this much"; if his technology was to make them with a larger diameter, you are forcing him to study a way to achieve performance inside that limit. The more limitations imposed, the more you need to invest to work inside the limits.

Here's a very simple thing. You say, engines should be 1000cc, so everyone's equal; make it the way you see fit, the tire is this one, and you have 18 liters of fuel. Just as simple as that. Each factory will apply their own technology, make what they can.

It's amazing to me that this concept seems to escape the rulemakers. More rules = more work to abide by the rules = more money spent = higher costs to be competitive. How can Ezpeleta et al not see that every time they change the rules, the factories are forced to reinvest yet again to work within the new rules?

[pickpocket293]

This isn't explicitly for MotoGP, but it's awesome nonetheless.


Biaggi and Rossi to go head to head - Motorcycle news : Racing news - Visordown

[Max Deutch]

Argentina MotoGP Round Set To Be Canceled? | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

motogp.com · FIM releases updated 2013 MotoGP™ calendar

Casey Stoner’s crew chief gets new senior role at HRC - | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP News | MotoGP Results | MCN

Stefan Bradl flattered by Honda faith - | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP News | MotoGP Results | MCN

Moto3

motogp.com · Ana Carrasco steps up to become first female in Moto3™

[Max Deutch]

I couldn't agree more.

I think the fans also watch the races to see the technological progress, and not just the battles between riders.

Honda: we don't abuse our authority

[uncalcetindelana]

So, as expected, no GP near me in 2013

The argentinian government is going nuts, and given that nothing has changed regarding the relationship between them and Repsol/spanish gov, things are going to stay this way .

A few months ago F1 declined the argentinian round, saying they'd wait for "a more serious government" or something. Could not agree more, sadly

[Max Deutch]

Is there anywhere else in the region it could be held?

[Max Deutch]

The Politics of Racing: Dorna Talks Argentina’s Cancellation

Michael Laverty considering PBM CRT option for 2013 | Bikesport News | News

Colin Edwards approaches Yamaha about 2014 engine deal - | Motorcycle Sport | MotoGP News | MotoGP Results | MCN

[uncalcetindelana]

Originally Posted by Max Deutch

Is there anywhere else in the region it could be held?

I hear something's being built this side of the mountains, but it will be due in 2014, at the least. I haven't heard much detail, though, but it'd be the first time we host something like this.

If there's a circuit, things will move lightly, as political problems like Argentina's topic are pretty much inexistant here.

[uncalcetindelana]

I feel sorry for James Ellison. The whole "underperforming" argument is kind of moot in his case, in my opinion, and then Shane Byrne deflects from his chance (wisely, I think), and now Michael Laverty is considering... crappy point of view, I imagine.

[Max Deutch]

Originally Posted by uncalcetindelana

I hear something's being built this side of the mountains, but it will be due in 2014, at the least. I haven't heard much detail, though, but it'd be the first time we host something like this.

If there's a circuit, things will move lightly, as political problems like Argentina's topic are pretty much inexistant here.

I hope something shakes loose in the area soon for you. MotoGP is something to behold in person.

One of my lifetime goals is to go to some of the European races some day. Philip Island would be nice too.

[GUTTERbOY]

Originally Posted by Max Deutch

I hope something shakes loose in the area soon for you. MotoGP is something to behold in person.

One of my lifetime goals is to go to some of the European races some day. Philip Island would be nice too.

After watching the PI race this year, I went and checked out how much airfare to Australia would be, if, say, J and I were to take a MotoGP vacation there one day. Then I cursed mightily, closed the tab, and returned to reality.

[Max Deutch]

I know the feeling. I am hoping beyond hope for some day. Sadly, the Mrs. isn't nearly as enamored of MotoGP as I am. She does want to see most of Europe, particularly Italy, So if I time it right...

[Shamrock627]

Originally Posted by Max Deutch

I hope something shakes loose in the area soon for you. MotoGP is something to behold in person.

^^ Troof!