QUESTIONS ARE NOW CLOSED
One of the best things about running MotoMatters.com (apart from the opportunity to get so close and learn so much about racing motorcycles and the people who are involved with them) is the interaction I have had with readers. I am regularly complimented by people in the paddock on the intelligence and thoughtful tone of the comments on the website. Indeed, I am sometimes put to shame by them, the comments being far more interesting and insightful than the story which appears above them.
It is not just on the website itself. There is also social media, and interacting with race fans via Twitter or Facebook gives me a real sense of what fans think and what they want to know. From time to time, I will also try to arrange a meet up with fans at a racetrack itself, and talk to people directly, although that is too often very hard to fit in to the hectic schedule of a race weekend.
That proves to be the hardest thing for me. So many of the comments and questions come during a race weekend that I never have time to answer them with the attention they deserve. Questions that come in via Twitter are often interesting, but with only 140 characters to play with, giving a full and clear response is often very difficult.
So today, I will be hosting an Ask Me Anything session. If you have a question, about MotoGP, World Superbikes, about which circuit or race is the best, about a particular rider, about the website, about me and my background in bikes, or anything else, I will answer it for you. Send me your questions, either by posting them in the comments section below, sending them by email to askmeanything@motomatters.com, or by using the contact form on this page, checking that Ask Me Anything is selected in the dropdown list. I shall answer them below, either in the comments section, or for email questions, in this section here. Check back throughout the day to see the comments and questions, and the answers they receive, as they are added.
One final word: though this is an Ask Me Anything session, and I will endeavor to answer any question you pose, the usual MotoMatters.com rules of decorum still apply. We need to keep this place as great a forum for debate and discussion as always, which means that we need to make sure that we need to ensure that the level of debate is kept as high as possible. Feel free to disagree with me, or other posters, but make sure you do so respectfully, and with solid arguments. If you want to tell me I suck, that's fine, as long as you tell me exactly why.
Fire away!
Questions sent by email:
From Jim:
Why was Forward Racing in such a hurry to sack Edwards this season? His replacement seemed to get about the same results. Was it an issue of money?
Answer:
Without wanting to get involved in a series of claims which I have not checked as I should, it does appear to have been a question of money. The rumor around the paddock – a very unreliable source, often completely wrong, and therefore not to be trusted – is that there was a financial dispute between Edwards and Forward racing, and Edwards pulled the plug. There were allegations that money was owed, though I have no proof of that, nor can I substantiate it, so I have no idea if there is any truth to it.
From Jim:
Will Honda put forth a serious effort for the Open class bikes next season, or will it still be filler for the back half of the grid?
Answer:
The new Honda RC213V-RS Open class bike is a much more competitive machine than the RCV1000R ever was. It is basically the bike which Stefan Bradl and Alvaro Bautista were racing in 2014, but without the seamless gearbox (though this, too, is available for teams which are very, very rich), and it has to use the championship software (ie. the spec software from Magneti Marelli). At the Valencia test, it turned out that the RC213V-RS is much more different to the RCV1000R than the teams expected, and they had a lot of work to do getting the bike set up. It was clearly more powerful, and accelerated harder, but it was still down on top speed compared to the satellite bikes.
The RC213V-RS will give the Open class Honda riders a much better chance of competing. They should be much closer to the satellite bikes than they were last year, but they will still have a lot of trouble actually beating them. Top 10 finishes should be achievable, but the top 5 will remain out of sight, especially as the factory bikes will be much more competitive next year, with Ducati likely to be a good deal quicker, and the Suzuki already looking impressive. So they won't be grid filler, but they won't be winning races any time soon.
From Jim:
Does there seem to be any concern at Dorna about the loss of American riders and the impact that could have on the popularity of the two US rounds? Edwards has retired, Spies is gone, and former champion Hayden is spending his last years on totally inferior equipment and surely will leave the series soon under these circumstances.
Answer:
There is a huge concern at Dorna about the lack of US riders (and Australian riders for that matter, as well as other key markets). This is one of the main reasons Dorna is so tightly involved in MotoAmerica, the organization which will be taking over the running of the AMA Superbike series from 2015. This is absolutely key to the future of US racing, and a US presence in world championship racing.
The problem is that this is a long term strategy, and won't fix the lack of US riders in the next year or so. The aim of MotoAmerica is to provide a top-flight domestic racing series which provides a natural stepping stone onto the world stage. The idea is to bring young talent on to a point where they are ready to step up to either World Superbikes or MotoGP. Having Americans racing at the world championship level should then raise the popularity of the sport, and bring more young racers into the sport, and provide them with more support.
It is an ambitious plan, and has a very solid foundation. The people involved are some of the best people you could wish to have running a racing series. They have the support of Dorna to help make it work. If this doesn't succeed, then I don't know what would.
From Albert Cheng
1. What do you see as the future for Moto2? Could the series become a cheaper alternative for exposure compared to MotoGP if they open it up to other factory engines? Would Honda be open to such a move?
I always believed it could be a great exposure platform for factories (come on Kawasaki!) to come back in some form to GP without the crazy investment that MotoGP requires. I really believe Dorna has something going here with different factories participating from Moto3 to GP. If Mahindra can do it in Moto3 then they should try to open up Moto2.
2. Do you believe Dorna is making the right moves to grow the sport fiscally? The product has definitely improved and the Asia scene is growing but I feel as if Dorna has not been able to capitalize on the growth on their bottom line.
They seem to only try to earn more money from their current revenue streams (online price increases, TV coverage, race events, asking for more factory support) instead of looking for NEW avenues of income (such developing better sponsorship programs). What are your overall thoughts on this and what do you think they should try?
Answer:
Question 1, Moto2:
This is a something which we are constantly debating in the paddock. The Grand Prix purists regard Moto2 as entirely illegitimate, and unworthy of Grand Prix racing. They have a point, though as always, there are counter arguments.
There is certainly no reason why Moto2 couldn't be set up along the lines of Moto3, with cost caps in place to control expenses. The problem is that at the moment, Moto3 is more expensive than Moto2. Despite the fact that the class has a cost cap on almost everything, the two factories have still found a way to make the class incredibly expensive. A competitive Moto3 bike costs in the region of €400,000, whilst a Moto2 bike is €200,000 or less.
This means that the teams love Moto2 as it is now. It's a cheap class for them to race in, yet important enough for them to be able to find the sponsorship to cover their costs. Any opposition to change comes from them, and each time the manufacturers or Dorna suggest a change, the teams throw up their hands in horror. This is the biggest obstacle to change at the moment.
There is certainly interest in a different form of Moto2 racing. KTM have said they'd like to get involved, and there is an argument to be made for 500cc twins using the same 81mm bore as Moto3 and MotoGP. With the first signs of a supercharging revival, perhaps supercharged 500cc twins, rev limited to 14,000 rpm, would be a viable class.
Question 2, Money:
As I wrote recently, money is the biggest problem in MotoGP at the moment, and the place where Dorna is underperforming. As a promoter, it is their job to find the money to fund the racing, and it is precisely in this area where they are falling short. There is a general lack of professionalism in the search for sponsorship, among both teams and Dorna, and this is the area which needs the most urgent attention.
For a fuller answer, read this piece on sponsorship which I wrote before Valencia.
One question I always wanted to know.... which riders in MotoGP are actually paying for their rides?
We see certain names that continue getting rides year after year, and one can only conclude that must be paying or at least riding for free ?
Answer:
This isn't as easy to answer as it might appear. In MotoGP, there aren't very many riders which actually have to pay for their rides – my best guess is that of the current field, none have to pay – but there are a few who ride for free, or for a very low salary. There are others who have the backing of Dorna, because they are important for either TV rights or the sanctioning fee from a particular circuit. There are also a few who have a decent salary, but who are also expected to bring sponsorship to the team, which begs the question of whether that makes them a paying rider or not.
Of the 2015 field, I believe that Loris Baz has strong backing from Dorna, though he will probably be receiving a salary from Forward as well. Hector Barbera always manages to bring a lot of sponsorship, and I believe he too is paid. Mike Di Meglio will not be pulling in much of a salary at Avintia Ducati. Eugene Laverty's salary will not be particularly overwhelming either. Danilo Petrucci is also likely to be on a fairly low salary. All of these riders will also have some income from personal sponsorship, which often pays surprisingly well.
Then there's Karel Abraham. He is surely paid, but he rides in a team set up by his father, and financed in part by his father's company, and the circuit owned by his father. As a Moto2 race winner, there is no doubt Abraham has the talent to be in MotoGP. And as a big star in the Czech Republic, Abraham helps to sell the Brno race to the locals, making him very valuable to Dorna. So it is not as simple as it looks.
The riders who have to actively pay for their seats are to be found in Moto2 and Moto3. In Moto2, about half of the field probably pays, and a little more in Moto3.
Of course, all of these riders will be on a bonus scheme for good results, so even a paying rider could end up earning back some of the money they gave to the team if they secure a few podiums or wins.
From Pete Williams:
If you could call the shots for next season's Moto GP schedule, what would it be?
How many races - & why?
No limitations - doesn't matter how many rounds in a single country.
Unlimited funds available to bring ANY circuit up to current safety standards.
Go!
Answer:
Good question! And like all good questions, almost impossible to answer...
I think 18 races is about the right length for a calendar. With the risk of injury at each race, 18 races offers the right compromise between having enough races and not exhausting the riders by the end of the season.
I would start the season Australia at Phillip Island (impossible, as the Australian GP organization which runs both MotoGP and F1 want F1 to happen in Melbourne at the start of the year).
I would drop Qatar – there is no reason to go there, no reason to race at night, and the region is too heavily dependent on oil for its wealth to be sustainable.
I would add a race in Brazil, and one in Indonesia, but both of those would require heavy investment.
I would move the race in France to Paul Ricard, and I would bring back Spa Francorchamps (arguably the greatest race track on earth). I would rebuild Assen to reinstate the North Loop, the section which was demolished in 2006. I would add another kilometer to the Sachsenring.
I would lose Misano, and two of the Spanish races (even though I love all of the tracks, and all of the places), probably Valencia and Aragon. They are the least interesting race tracks.
I would leave MotoGP at Silverstone, but try to improve viewing options for the fans. Donington is great too, but the Melbourne Loop is terrible. The Circuit of Wales looks very interesting.
I would keep Indianapolis, but build a completely new circuit. The Indy GP is a fantastic weekend, it's just a shame that it's spoiled by the track. I would probably move the Austin GP, maybe to Barber, but only after significantly lengthening it. Would I bring Laguna Seca back? The west coast deserves its own race, and Laguna has a lot of charm, but it needs to be much, much longer and much, much faster. Add on another mile and a couple of sweepers. Turn 1 at Laguna Seca is one of the greatest corners in the world, the rest of the track is less interesting.
I would keep Sepang, but move MotoGP from Motegi to Suzuka. And I would end the season at Jerez, it has the right kind of party atmosphere.
From Agus Santoso:
How much tire pressure for Front and Rear Tire of MotoGP ?
And how they affected the race and tire ?
Did riders play with tire pressure to affect the lap times ?
Answer:
I don't know the exact tire pressures for MotoGP, as Bridgestone says this information is confidential. All they will say is that tire pressures are 'considerably lower than you'd use on a road motorcycle. There is a small operating range that the teams can work with during a race weekend, and of course Bridgestone monitor this to make sure teams don't go crazy high or low with their pressures. 'I believe they start somewhere around 1.4 Bar, and work from there.
Tire pressure is one factor of bike set up, like suspension preload and damping, which is used to help bike performance. The teams raise and lower tire pressures to provide damping, to reduce chatter, to increase grip or decrease tire wear. The reason you always see a Bridgestone shirt in each garage is because they have staff on hand to assist with every rider, to advise them on tire choice and on tire pressure.
In my opinion, tires are the second most important part of a motorcycle, after the rider.
From Ammar Sakarwala:
1. How do electronics affect chassis feel ?
From what I understand, electronics help improve traction control by sensing the grip. But some riders in the past have mentioned that by sorting out the electronics, the feeling with the bike improved. So can electronics actually improve something like say front end feel ?
Or bluntly, what all parameters do electronics control or affect ?
2. Yamaha updates during the second half
Yamaha was a lot stronger in the second half of the season. Vale mentioned something about Silvano and Ramon sorting out the telemetries. What exactly did they sort out ? From what I read, other than the exhaust which was a partial improvement, no other parts were actually positive. Most received mixed feelings. So is this again just electronics ?
3. Honda - Difficult or easy to ride ?
From what I have observed, Marquez manages to push the bike to the very limit coming into the corner. Say if he brakes too late, he just misses the apex but can still make the corner. Crutchlow mentioned that this bike is more forgiving and allows a few mistakes.
But then there is Alvaro and Stefan who havent had any great results. Pedrosa too has only managed to fight for the top 3 when everything is perfect for him. So what exactly do you make out of it all ? Is it that the Honda has a higher potential than the Yamaha but it needs to be ridden like Marc to actually use that potential ? If yes, then why has'nt Dani tried to change his style ?
4. Honda - tyre wear
If you compare the Honda and the Yamaha, we both know which one requires a smoother style. This year, I have noticed Vale being a lot more Jorge like in many corners. No jumping of the rear wheel, nice and smooth while braking. So shouldnt their tire wear less than the Honda ? If Marc pushes the front so much into corners, why didnt his tires wear more than Vale's at Sepang ?
5. Lorenzo Fridays vs Rossi Sundays
How is it that Lorenzo is so fast out of the box on fridays while Rossi is always struggling ? And come sundays, Rossi finds something which puts him on par or sometimes better than Lorenzo ? Is it because Rossi has a new crew chief,so Lorenzo has a better base referring last year's data ? If yes, why cant Silvano refer Rossi's last year's data ? And does this mean Rossi too could be fast on Fridays next year with one year exp. for Silvano ? Or is there some other reason for this speed difference ?
6. Factory riders - long hours
Crutchlow mentioned sometime this year that at Tech 3, they used to pack up at 5pm or so. At Ducati, everyone works till late at night. So what is the reason for this ? From what I know, the factory data is available to satellite teams. So why dont the satellite teams try to sort their issues too and aim for say a top 5 position every time ?
7. Yamaha - Seamless Downshits
Yamaha plan to bring a new gearbox at Sepang next year I guess. Is this part itself the solution to their braking / corner entry problems ? Or will they require more effort on their chassis as well ? Basically what all parameters could seamless downshifts affect ?
Answers:
1. Electronics and chassis feel:
The electronics of a modern motorcycle are incredibly powerful. They affect every aspect of bike performance. And perhaps the most important and overlooked aspect of the electronics is engine braking, which plays a huge factor. By changing engine braking strategies, teams can change how weight is transferred under braking, and therefore how the front is loaded. This, in turn, can have a massive effect on corner entry, which then has an effect on how much feel a rider has going into the corner.
Basically, electronics can have a big impact on how power is transmitted to the tarmac, and that in turn has a massive effect on how the chassis is stressed and how the bike feels.
2. Yamaha second half of season
Firstly, you say that new parts received a mixed response. This is true, but this is true of almost every new part brought to the race track. MotoGP bikes are already highly refined, and so each improvement is always incremental, and small. Sometimes it's hard to find a real difference, and usually, each change brings yet more compromise, sacrificing in one area to gain in another. If, for example, a new swingarm provides better grip mid corner, but slightly less grip on corner exit, the factory has to assess whether what they gain mid corner outweighs what they lose on exit. So a new part may still be used, despite having received mixed reviews from the riders.
Secondly, the biggest improvements from Yamaha came in rideability. It took Yamaha about half the season to sort out a better fuel saving strategy to deal with a liter less fuel. The bike was much easier to ride at the end of the year than it was at the beginning. That came a lot from electronics, but there may have been some improvements in the inlet tract (e.g. airbox and throttle bodies) which we could not see. Add in small changes to bike set up, chassis and swingarm to help calm the bike down, and you see a big step forward. As always, it was a lot of small changes adding up to a much faster lap.
3. Honda – difficult or easy to ride
The Honda is certainly more forgiving, but that is not the same as being easy to ride. It is certainly the bike I would choose to ride if I was given the choice. But given the fact that my lap times are probably 2 minutes down on those of a top MotoGP rider, that is meaningless.
Extracting the final part of the performance is the hardest thing to do. I suspect that the Yamaha is the easiest bike to find the limit with, but the Honda is the bike which is easiest to correct your mistakes on. That makes it inherently more unstable, making it easier to make a mistake in the first place. If you look at Marquez (or Stoner before him), he is constantly threading the line between staying on and crashing. His reflexes and balance are what make the difference, and the bike is maneuverable enough that it allows him to keep skating along the edge of disaster without coming off.
One common misconception, however: these bikes may be easier to ride than the 500s, but that merely means that the riders can get the bikes to the limit more easily, and can keep them there for longer. The risk profile has changed, but it is just as difficult to maintain as it was for the old 500 riders.
4. Tire wear
There are a lot of factors involved in tire wear. I believe that although the Honda appears to jump around a lot on corner entry, the engine braking system is much more sophisticated, and that stresses the tire much less. Tire wear is governed to a large degree by temperature, and so if you can create less stress through friction, you can keep tires cooler. This, to me, is where Honda gains most.
5. Lorenzo Friday vs Rossi Sunday
Yes, in part, this is down to experience with the bike, though it is more about the fact that Rossi is missing two years of experience with the Yamaha while he was at Ducati. Lorenzo and his crew have much more data from previous years which is more directly applicable. The difference between the 2013 and the 2010 machines is much bigger, meaning that Rossi only had data from this year.
However, I believe a big part of the equation is also down to the way the sport has changed. Rossi spent his career gradually working towards a set up on Sunday, with less of a sense of urgency. Through the years, practice has been reduced, and now a different qualifying system is in use, and this affects how quickly riders have to get up to speed. Young riders are blindingly fast right from the outset, where Rossi is used to having a little more time to find his feet. The end result is the same, as the race results show. But the paths to the race are different. It will be interesting to see the difference next year, with the bikes virtually the same and a year of experience under the belts of Galbusera and Rossi.
6. Factory riders – long hours
It would be a mistake to think that the satellite teams don't work long hours as well. They are not done by 5pm (despite what Cal Crutchlow says), but they keep working till about 8 or 9pm. In my experience, the factory mechanics leave the paddock an hour or so later than the satellite mechanics, on average, but that is purely anecdotal, I have never timed it.
The difference is mainly down to the amount of control which the teams have over the bikes. The satellite teams have fewer parts they can use, and less control over the engines (each satellite bike comes with an engineer from HRC, Yamaha or Ducati, who manages the engine). So they have less choice of swingarms, shock linkages, triple clamps and other bits of hardware, and less data on those parts to look over. They also have far fewer options in terms of electronics, which the factory teams do have. The factory teams have direct access to functionality, and so more options to consider.
Both satellite and factory teams work as hard as they possibly can to be successful. But the satellite teams run out of options earlier than the factory teams do, and so have less to do.
7. Yamaha – seamless downshifts
A seamless downshift will allow for smoother corner entry and more control over engine braking. If successful, it should allow them to brake later and still get into the corner with enough speed, and in good shape, without the bike flapping around wildly. It will make them better able to compete with Honda.
Like all changes, it will immediately have a knock-on effect. Smoother corner entry means the parameters of bike geometry can be altered, to make for either a faster or a slower turn in, depending on rider preference. It will require a slightly different chassis stiffness, and alter the feel through the swingarm. A seamless downshift will be an immediate small improvement, but offer a much bigger improvement once the rest of the bike has been refined to extract the maximum performance which the gearbox offers.
Like all new parts, each improvement merely uncovers a new set of problems to solve...
In a bit of a grid shakeup, which 6 riders would you remove from the MotoGP grid and who would you replace them with?
Answer:
Another tough one! And hard to answer without getting a hard time from a lot of riders when I return to the paddock...
Firstly, let me say I believe that everyone on the grid deserves their slot. There is nobody who lucked into their position, they have all proved their worth in the support classes. Secondly, there seem to me to be three groups of riders in MotoGP: the top 4 (Marquez, Pedrosa, Rossi, Lorenzo); the group battling for 5th (Dovizioso, Crutchlow, the Espargaro brothers, Smith, Redding, Iannone), and the rest. The latter group is a little more interchangeable than the first two.
Riders I would replace would be Hector Barbera, Karel Abraham, Alex De Angelis, Mike Di Meglio, Marco Melandri, Danilo Petrucci. There are several riders there it would break my heart to replace, though. Barbera is clearly still very fast, Petrucci deserves the chance to prove himself, Melandri, on his day, is utterly brilliant. The rest are all very fast.
Who I would bring in? Jonathan Rea deserves a proper shot on a competitive bike. I want to see the Alexes (Rins and Marquez) in MotoGP as soon as possible. It would be interesting to see what Sylvain Guintoli could do on the MotoGP Aprilia. I feel Leon Camier deserves another shot, after an impressive period subbing for Hayden. I'd like to see Sam Lowes move up. And I think Jonas Folger has the talent to impress.
From Andrei:
If you were TAGOR - The Almighty God Of Racing, what specific qualities from which motogp riders would you use to create The One?
Answer:
Another good one!
Using only current (or recent) MotoGP riders:
The raw talent of Marquez. The racecraft, charisma and ambition of Rossi. The fierce inner determination of Stoner. The precision of Lorenzo. The intelligence of Dovizioso. The wit and attitude of Crutchlow. The work ethic of Tito Rabat. The hunger of Scott Redding.
From Adam Kress:
If you could only pick one?
1. perl
2. php
3. C
4. Corona
Thanks!
Answer:
Perl. Obviously.
From Paul Wood:
Do you think Rossi has a chance of winning a 10th world title in his remaining 2 years?
Answer:
If you would have asked me this at the end of last year, I would have said no. But Rossi has been so impressive in 2014, has learned so much, and adapted so much that I have changed my mind. Yes, he has a chance. Unfortunately, he has to beat Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa to actually win a championship, and that is going to be very hard. Right now, I would put the odds of Rossi winning a tenth world title at about 40%. Last year, I would have said 4%. I misjudged Valentino Rossi, just as so many others did.
From Paul Wood:
If Stoner was to come back racing next year how do you think he'd fair against the current top 4?
Answer:
A tough question. I believe that he would need a few races to get back up to speed, to hone his skills to a razor's edge again. But by the second half of the championship, he would be up among the top 4 again. It would not be easy for him, it would be the toughest group he faced, but he would be capable of regular podiums and wins. The championship? He'd have to beat Marc Marquez first, and that's not easy.
However, I also believe that the question is moot, as Casey Stoner will never return to world championship racing. He missed out on a childhood, on growing up, and he is only now starting to live a normal life. The impression I get from people who know him is that he values that more than he values the thrill of racing, and what he would have to give up to compete at MotoGP level, he is just not willing to sacrifice. He hated everything but the actual riding and racing.
From Ben Shreeves:
One criticism that is often leveled at Moto 2 is that the lack of variety in technology (especially the single engine supplier) detracts from the interest levels for some fans. I am interested to know whether the technology in Moto 2 has evolved and improved much since the introduction of the class? Are the bikes getting any quicker? How do lap times compare now versus the first year of Moto 2?
Answer:
The chassis of the Moto2 bikes have certainly made major steps forward in the time they have been racing them. Lap times have dropped by between one and two seconds since 2010: at Brno, Tito Rabat's fastest race lap this year was 2 seconds quicker than Toni Elias in the first year of Moto2. To compare, Dani Pedrosa's record lap in 2014 was just 0.6 faster than Jorge Lorenzo's record from 2009.
A big chunk of the improvement has come from the tires, but a lot of work has also been done on aerodynamics, and on optimizing airflow into and through the airbox. The impression I get is that there is little genuine innovation, but quite a lot of refinement going on. The Moto2 bikes are being perfected, rather than brand new solutions being created.
But then again, the teams themselves are incredibly resistant to change and innovation. What they really want is a slightly better version of what they have, rather than something radically different which they have no experience with, and which may or may not give a big gain.
From Eliot:
Who invented the skip?
Answer:
Someone with a rope and a lighthearted nature.
From Joe:
The riders in the open class bikes, Baz, Laverty, Bradl, etc. are they bringing money and if not, are they earning a wage or just expenses?
Answer:
See the answer to Kevin above. Of the three names you mention, I believe Bradl is the highest earner, with Baz and Laverty earning less. But they will make money from their personal sponsorship deals.
1 Motor racing is changed from people who are just having fun to race each other to the multi million business it is today.
What do you think is the most important thing for manufactures? It is selling bike`s? (obvious) (like SBK: racing Sunday, selling Monday) or is it more research and development?( like MotoGP: prototypes)
2 Why do they al keep spending millions to gain seconds? The public just love racing. I don`t care if they will do a 1.50,067 or a 1.49,985 on qualifying. I just want to see close racing.
I remember a tweet from Chaz Davies that he rode a street legal BMW HP4 ( € 25000) only 4 or 5 seconds a lap slower than his BMW superbike that year.
And even in MotoGP the small Moto3 ( € 50000?) machines just lap 10 seconds slower than a MotoGP prototype worth millions.
3 What do you think about sportbikes getting more expensive every year? The numbers sold are dropping every year but still they adding money.
Why do they make bikes like the Superleggera, HP4, H2 while the people want a affordable good looking sportsbike for less then € 15000.
Naked bikes are getting popular al over the world not only because they look good but also because they are cheap in comparison with sportbikes.
Sorry for my English but I think you will understand my questions.
Answer:
First of all, like most Dutch people, your English is excellent. Not quite perfect, but more than clear enough to ask some excellent questions.
1. What is more important to factories?
This is a question I have been trying to get an official answer to for a very long time. So far, without much luck, the factories telling me they can't give any figures on their returns.
Clearly, it's a mixture. There is an obvious R&D benefit. For example, the engine limits of 5 engines a year have created real direct benefits for road consumers. The factories have found ways to make high performance engines run much more reliably. The low fuel limit is also very good for R&D, as it means factories explore strategies for making an engine run lean, but still offer very good throttle response. These things transfer directly to road bikes, as does knowledge about how to build a neutral bike which handles well straight out of the box.
The marketing exposure is, in my opinion, just as important. Being seen is really important, especially in major markets in Southeast Asia, where Honda and Yamaha sell millions of small bikes on the strength of their brand. Taking part in either MotoGP or World Superbikes gives a brand an aura of success, of high performance, which they can sell to their customers. The prestige rubs off, and that prestige transfers to high prices.
For the Japanese factories, one of the most important reasons to go racing is because it is a great place to train engineers, to force them to think quickly and solve problems methodically, and to a tight deadline. It is a great way to prevent engineers from becoming complacent, they have to solve problems by the next race, they can't be too cautious, but they can't go crazy either and risk the bike blowing up or failing in a spectacular way. Motorcycle racing is an excellent training ground for engineers.
2. Why do they all keep spending millions to gain seconds?
They keep spending millions to gain seconds because they have to beat their competitors. That is the nature of competition. The public don't care as much about exact lap times (the number of people who know lap records off the top of their heads is very limited indeed), but lap records serve as the target to beat. If Jorge Lorenzo's lap record at Misano is 1'33.906, then that is the target which Honda knows it must beat if they are to win there. Yamaha and Ducati know that Honda are trying to beat that target, and so they too must try to beat it.
Ultimately, factories will spend as much money as they can raise to go racing. Performance in racing is determined almost entirely by the amount of money available to the teams.
3. What do you think about sportbikes getting more expensive every year?
Sports bikes are becoming a niche product. The proliferation of speed cameras, the alterations of roads to add roundabouts and speed bumps, increased traffic on the roads, all these have made sports bikes increasingly impractical. The general public have turned to naked bikes, and adventure bikes. The average age of motorcyclists has also gone up, and 45-year-olds find it much harder to hold a racing crouch than a 25-year-old. They are also much less willing to accept discomfort.
Sports bikes still have a very loyal following, but they have become a smaller, more focused audience. They have become a niche, and therefore, their fans are willing to pay more for them. There is usually much more profit to be made on a prestige or luxury vehicle than on a mid-level vehicle. So factories would rather make €10,000 profit on a €75,000 machine, than €1,000 on a €13,000 machine. They won't sell ten times fewer bikes, and the prestige of the bikes rubs off onto their other bikes. The Superleggera makes Ducati a more desirable brand, and helps them sell Ducati Monsters...
From Evan Kaplan:
If you could reorganize all of the riders/teams, but not add any additional bikes to the grid or change a bike's make or model, how would you reorganize the teams? Are there any factory riders that you think are currently on the wrong bike/? Are there any riders in WSBK or Moto2 that you would prefer to see line up on the grid over any current riders?
Answer:
I answered this in part above, so I won't go over who I would like to move in from WSBK or Moto2.
As for who would I like to reshuffle, there are a few. I would love to see Marc Marquez on a Ducati, I'd love to see what he could do with the bike, how he could adapt his style to ride it. I have a sneaking feeling Dani Pedrosa would be pretty good on the Ducati as well, though it may be too physically demanding for him. I think he'd do better than most people would expect, though.
I would love to see Pol Espargaro and Andrea Iannone on Honda RC213Vs, as I think they would suit their styles much better than their current bikes. I think Pol on a Honda would be a very formidable sight indeed. I'd like to see Stefan Bradl on a satellite Yamaha, as I think he would suit that bike a bit better than the Forward machine. I'd love to see both Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales on the satellite or factory Yamahas as well.
I think Jorge Lorenzo has to stay with Yamaha. The bike suits his style, and his attitude. He wants a bike to be as smooth as possible, and neither the Honda nor the Ducati can do that. Those bikes move around too much. I'd leave Rossi where he is, simply because that's where he is happiest, and he's ridden the rest of the bikes...
Although I think the line up of Aleix Espargaro and Maverick Viñales at Suzuki is a brilliant one, I would be interested to see what either Andrea Dovizioso or Bradley Smith could bring. Both are extremely intelligent, thoughtful riders, who give great feedback, and could help develop a bike. That, I feel, is the only thing which is missing from the current Suzuki line up.
1. In my country, Indonesia. There are many fans who want MotoGP comeback there (including me) which i believe you may already know that. but some complex political condition make it hard to be happen, they just keep planning to make a new circuit but it never actually being made and big circuit we already have, sentul, had a very bad condition and the track surface is really bad. So can you give me (and million other fans here) any ideas about how to make MotoGP come here very soon? Because i believe it'll make provit for both side.
2. Can you give us your prediction about 2015 season? Who can probably beat Marc?
Answer:
1. Indonesia
Everyone in Dorna says they really want to go to Indonesia as soon as possible. They know (and everyone in MotoGP knows) that Indonesia is completely crazy about MotoGP. It's also a very important country for the manufacturers, as it is a very big market for scooters and motorcycles. As soon as it is possible, there will be a MotoGP race.
What is needed for MotoGP to go to Indonesia is a circuit. Either Sentul needs to have major upgrades, for safety and for the standard of the facilities such as the garages etc, or a new circuit needs to be built. I have heard rumors of a few new projects, but has yet come to fruition. Once Indonesia has a new circuit, near a major population center, and as long as the political situation is stable and corruption can be kept to a minimum (the bikes and equipment has to get into and out of the country as easily as possible), then MotoGP will go there.
2. Prediction for 2015.
In my book, Marquez is still favorite, but it will be much, much harder for him than in 2014. Rossi is much stronger now than he was a year ago, and Lorenzo wants to make amends for a bad 2014. The Yamaha is much better than it was at the start of the season, so it should be more competitive. Then there's Dani Pedrosa, who has two more seasons to win a championship, but he needs everything to go his way.
My prediction is that it will be 1. Marquez, 2. Rossi, 3. Lorenzo, 4. Pedrosa, but I expect to be wrong.
1. What is it that draws you to motorcycle racing? You seem to be the sort of guy who eschews pageantry and silliness everywhere else, and yet you indulge in what amounts to (to the outsider) a bunch of brightly colored machines circulating a closed road. What causes the exception?
2. Is there still a point to a prototype championship? It seems as if the riddle of fast, four-stroke racing motorcycles has been solved about as thoroughly as it ever will be. Aside from the show, and the enormous amounts of money changing hands, is there still a technological point to MotoGP?
3. Why let fast riders wane? As an example, after his championship in 2006, it seems like Nicky Hayden was never given truly competitive equipment again. Given his demonstrated talent and work ethic, why do you think he never got another shot after Ducati? And more, do you think, if he was given a factory Honda or Yamaha tomorrow, he could find the pointy end of the field again in short time?
Answer:
1. What is it that draws you to motorcycle racing?
Two things: first and foremost, motorcycles. I love motorcycles, and have done since I was a small child. So much do I love motorcycles that I do not even own a car. Riding a motorcycle is the most natural form of motion a human can experience, like flying, only better.
Secondly, watching someone able to push a motorcycle to the limit of its capability is a fantastic spectacle. Watching two people try to figure out how to go faster than the other guy is what makes it thrilling, it is close quarters combat.
It is true that I am no great fan of the pageantry, but it is that pageantry which pays for the sport I love. I have a great deal of sympathy for the viewpoint of Casey Stoner, who only wanted to ride fast and race, and had no interest in any of the rest of it. One of the great joys of racing for me is a very selfish one, standing at Turn 10 at Jerez for the test, and watching the riders come by. There, you are close enough to see almost everything they do, and gain an understanding of just what it takes to ride a racing motorcycle at full speed. A magical experience, and one for which I am deeply grateful to my readers, the people who make it possible by paying for me.
2. Is there still a point to a prototype championship?
Of course. Yes, a lot has been learned about motorcycle designs, but we keep a relatively open set of rules because someone might come up with a radical new idea which changes the way bikes work. And of course, progress is not just made through one giant leap, but mostly through a whole lot of small steps. Each season sees a host of small improvements, which teach engineers valuable lessons about motorcycle design and integrating particular concepts or materials.
3. Why let fast riders wane?
The explanation for that is found in the comparison between Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden. Hayden is clearly still a fast rider (hopefully, once his wrist heals fully and he gets some movement into it), but he is top 10 fast, not top 3 fast. Once upon a time, he was top 3 fast, but the game moves on, new riders come into the sport, and the sport changes. You have to adapt quickly, and perhaps Hayden hasn't adapted as quickly as he should have (of course, it doesn't help that he spent so long at Ducati, when the Italian factory was on a downward spiral).
Fast young riders take the place of fast old riders because fast and young has more potential to get faster than fast and old. Fast and young generates more excitement, and fast and young represents hope. If the choice is between fast and young and fast and old, the young rider always gets the call. The only way to survive is to be very, very fast and old.
From Jeroen Stas:
1. Is there a gap between the 'new generation' riders and the 'older generation' concerning electronics. I mean is it an advantage for the new generation that they grew up with all the electronics while with the older generation all those electronic stuff was/is new(er)?
2. Which way should the motogp take in the future concerning all those electronics? Should they cut some of them or should they go with the technology and keep going further? What will that effects the racing costs?
Answer:
1. You have to remember that a lot of the young riders coming into MotoGP came in through Moto2, where they have almost no electronics. All the teams can do is optimize fuel maps, there is no TC, no launch control, no wheelie control. Of the riders who raced in 2006, the era before electronics truly took off, only Valentino Rossi, Nicky Hayden, and now Marco Melandri remain. The rest are all 800 era riders, who have known nothing else. So perhaps your comparison should be that the older riders are the ones like Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa, who have always raced with electronics, while the younger generation, riders like Marc Marquez and Pol Espargaro, come from Moto2, were there is no electronics...
2. What Dorna wants is to restrict the role of electronics. Reduce the performance side, while retaining the safety side. A lot of electronics now goes to controlling the rear wheel on corner entry, and on reducing the stress on the tires, the aim being to be just as fast at the end of the race as at the beginning. That would be good for the riders, as it will come down more to the ability of the rider to control the bike, rather than the electronics.
What we lose when that happens is the opportunity to explore the capabilities of electronic control systems. The more the factories are allowed to explore what the electronics can do, the more they can advance their use in road bikes. The trouble with electronics is that they are a money pit, with marginal gains always available the more you spend.
From Dylan Tilbury:
1. If you had to choose between Ben Spies, Colin Edwards, and Nicky Hayden, which was the best rider? I was a person who thought Ben Spies would be the next great American rider, and he lived up to that through his win at Assen before the wheels came off.
2. Realistically, is there any hope for Aprilia and Suzuki? I would love to see both teams become competitive, and I'm not crazy enough to expect wins next year, but as the regulations evolve I would hope those two teams enter the ranks of the competitive manufacturers, because it would be nice to have more than four winning riders. Ducati looked lost until the middle of this season, but now they look like they'll one day win.
3, Last thought, speaking of Ducati. How big of error did Cruchlow make in leaving? I mean the results were dreadful in the first half of the season, but by the end he was as good as anyone on that bike despite less upgrades than his teammates. Seems a shame to throw that away for a satellite ride, Honda or not.
Answer:
1. Spies, Edwards, Hayden
I agree with you, I believe Ben Spies is the best rider the US has produced since the Golden Era. That's not to knock Hayden and Edwards, both amazing riders and world champions in their own right, but I think Spies has the edge, in mentality, and above all, in intelligence. His second year at the Factory Yamaha team was total disaster, and he never recovered from that. The crash at Sepang was the final straw.
2. Realistically, is there any hope for Aprilia and Suzuki?
That depends on what you mean by "any hope"... For Suzuki, there is real hope that they can be competitive with Ducati, and fight for top 6 positions. They will need a lot more horsepower, but that should be possible. For Aprilia, 2015 is a development year, nothing more. They will be aiming for top 10s, but above all, to be a lot faster at Valencia than they will be at Qatar.
Can Suzuki or Aprilia win a race? That's a whole different kettle of fish. Right now, their only hope is to sign a rider of the caliber of Marquez, Rossi, Pedrosa or Lorenzo. Maybe Maverick Viñales is that rider. But the series is dominated by four riders who are head and shoulders better than the rest of the field. That is the biggest problem for any manufacturer other than Honda and Yamaha.
3. Crutchlow leaving Ducati
Motorcycle racing is all about confidence. I think Crutchlow lost confidence both with the bike and with the factory. From that perspective, his move makes sense. His performance at the end of 2014 was all about Crutchlow, not about the Ducati. He proved his point to himself. I think he believes he can get better results with the satellite Honda than he would be able to with the GP15. And remember, we won't see that bike until Sepang 2, so that's a lot of faith he would need to have.
From Jacko Rijzenga:
1. Are Dorna or the FIM worried about the fact that some European countries with a proud racing history (such as Austria, the Scandinavian countries or Holland) have lost contact with MotoGP?
2. Will Russia play a greater role in the future?
Answer:
1. Yes, Dorna and the FIM are concerned about the smaller countries who have lost contact with GP racing. Dorna's collaboration with the national bodies in the US and Australia is a start, and the fact that Dorna subsidize riders from specific countries (such as Holland), shows that they are doing what they can. But the real answer is that the national federations need to work to grow the sport in those countries. It's not easy, and it may well be that Dorna get involved more deeply there. It will be interesting to see if the Spanish CEV championship expands to be even more international, to include more rounds outside of Spain. What is really needed is the return of the European championship.
2. About Russia, I think that is hard to say. The problem with Russia at the moment is a lack of political stability, and the fact that races are dependent on the good will of a particular individual politician. If that politician is removed (which happens in Russia), then the event collapses. I think that Russia will only play a bigger role once there is greater stability.
From Harkamal Singh:
1. I am familiar with the fact that MotoGP bikes are more about function than form and aesthetics might be the last thing they work upon while they design new bikes or bring new parts for next year but i would still like to know that why do not we see major changes in aesthetics of a bike over the years. Their basic design remains pretty much same if we look at Yamaha M1 or Ducati Desmosedici ( while knowing that from the inside they are totally different bikes each year).
2. In which direction Ducati is moving? If we talk about World Superbike racing then they are representing their Street Superbike Panigale with a Monocoque Chassis but still using a Twin spar frame in MotoGP. Ain't they walking on a path where they are contradicting themselves( As Frame less design was not a success in GP) . Would not it be better for them if they go into one direction ?
Answer:
1. MotoGP bike design:
The aesthetics may not change, but there are subtle differences between the bikes all the time, often rendered hard to see because of the sponsorship liveries. The shapes change slightly, optimizing air flow both into the airbox, and around the rider. But the main factor is that aerodynamics is still a relatively unexplored part of motorcycle racing, but also an area where this is not that much to be gained. The rider makes a bike completely unaerodynamic braking into, turning through and accelerating out of the corner. That's most of the lap, and so the gains are small.
2. Ducati
Ducati is moving in the direction of winning. The GP bike is there to try to be successful, rather than explore chassis technologies. The MotoGP bike may provide useful lessons in chassis dynamics, but it does not need to be a monocoque like the Panigale. Ducati's lack of success has limited their options for exploring new technology, right now, they need to win, and to be successful.
From Faliq Mohd Latif:
1. Is there any slightly chance that factory arrange their riders the result of the race due to market their bikes?
2. Why Bridgestone brings compound during the season and not been introduced in beginning of the season?
3. Honda have mega bucks for their R&D.Why there were no limit for money spend on R&D?
4. In Argentina if im not mistaken,there several attempts to bring gp.Repsol Honda if im not mistaken have strong words against it.it sound like Repsol make a decision for Dorna.Why Repsol seems can do the decision for gp?
Answer:
1. Absolutely not. Firstly, the riders would never accept it (see the World Superbike final at Qatar, where people were completely ignoring team orders). Secondly, the factories believe that a win is a win, no matter who gets it. And thirdly, if they try to arrange for one rider to win a race, they risk allowing one of their rivals taking the win instead.
2. Bridgestone compounds: Firstly, Bridgestone are in racing to develop technology as much as Honda and Yamaha are. They bring new compounds and construction because they believe they have a better solution. Sometimes, it's also because the plan they put together works out differently, if Europe has an exceptionally hot or an exceptionally cold summer, for example, where their tires don't work as expected. Circumstances can change, and Bridgestone need to adapt.
3. A limit on spending: this is a great question, and for many, the holy grail of racing. The problem is it is much more difficult to police than technical regulations. To check whether a MotoGP bike is legal, you can weight it and strip it down, check for example that the cylinder bore is only 81mm, as defined by the rules. Budgets are much easier to manipulate, shifting costs around between departments to hide investment.
A simple example: If Honda fly a new chassis from Japan to Europe for a race, then that cost should come out of the race budget. However, if they put the chassis in with a shipment of other materials being flown to Europe for the marketing department, then have the race truck pick it up there, the cost is very small. The marketing department just has to invent a reason why they should cover the costs (e.g. to show to dealer meeting as a demonstration of Honda's fantastic technology). Actually ensuring the teams and factories don't cheat would be very, very hard if there were a budget cap.
4. Repsol and MotoGP
Repsol has a major say in MotoGP, because they back the most powerful team, and back the most important riders. Repsol put a lot of money into the sport, and they expect to get something back. Sometimes what they want back is political influence, the ability to make decisions about where to race, etc. They do not use that influence very often, and Dorna is still free to ignore what Repsol say, but they are always sympathetic to their concerns.
From Tony Pagliaroli:
1. Is Marquez the best you've ever seen?
2. Why not keep all factory bikes and just pass down last years models to lesser riders? It can't be cost right?
3. What do you want for Christmas?
Answer:
1. Hard to say. Right now, probably. He has moved the game on in the same way that Rossi did, that Stoner did, that Doohan did, that Lawson, Rainey and Freddie Spencer did. But it's so hard to make valid comparisons. Is Marquez better than the 21-year-old Rossi? We don't know, because he is racing the 35-year-old Rossi...
2. Correct. To an extent, that's what happens, it's certainly what Yamaha does. It is also the aim of Dorna for the period beyond 2016, once we are back on a single set of rules.
I think the biggest problem is the fact that those old bikes need support and spares. If a chassis is cracked, a new chassis has to be built, and that requires support back in the factory. The factories have their engineers working on their current bikes, and can't spare the capacity to also work on the old bikes as well.
3. Some time off, and more money!
Q1 – How did you get into motorcycle journalism? What is your background in bikes? Did you make a leap of faith to start mottomatters? You get the gist! ;-)
Q2 – Can you see Marquez getting bored of winning championships for Honda (let’s say he wins the next 2 seasons) and making a move to another factory ala Rossi post 2003?
Answer:
1: I got into motorcycle journalism by accident. I started a blog, intending it to be about politics, my life, and more general concerns, didn't write anything for a year, then wrote a preview for the 2006 MotoGP season. 2006 was a good year to be writing about MotoGP, it turned into one of the best seasons ever. The site grew more popular, and just before the financial crisis in 2008, I thought I could make it financially viable. It's much harder than I thought, but I manage.
I have no training in journalism, so I try to be as thorough as possible. This is why I always include links to stories on other sites, if some of my information comes from there, to demonstrate that I am not just making things up. I do have a background as a translator and a technical editor, so I always had the language skills.
And yes, I did take a leap of faith. I'll let you know how it works out!
2. Yes, I can see Marquez getting bored. However, first he has to face the switch to Michelins and the new rules for 2016. That is going to have a much greater impact than many of us suspect, and so he will have a new challenge anyway. I think that Marquez will be more inclined to move once HRC boss Shuhei Nakamoto is forced to either retire, or move to another position inside Honda. That could come quickly.
Marquez seems like a racer who thrives on a challenge, and if winning on a Honda becomes too easy, he will seek his challenge elsewhere. Then again, maybe he will have his hands full trying to beat his brother Alex, and Jack Miller, and Alex Rins, and Fabio Quartararo, and Maverick Viñales, so maybe he won't need to move.
From Suzy Fans:
1. If you are a rider who developing a bike on factory team? which one you would choose?
a. fast, full of your characteristic but not able for everyone (teammate, satellite)
b. average, but able for everyone (teammate, satellite)
and tell me why?
2. Suzuki expectation is high on next season and they are ready to make seamless gearbox, but you know, until this December, Suzuki yet got a title sponsor, is that a big problem for factory team?
and your prediction for this team, can them beat satellite team or they just playing with open class team?
Answer:
1. That's easy: you always want fast. The faster a bike, the better. Faster will win you races. A slower bike which suits everyone will get you a lot of top 10 places, but a faster bike, more difficult to ride, can win you championships if you can find the right rider.
2. I don't think a lack of title sponsor will be a problem for Suzuki. Suzuki have made a commitment to come back to MotoGP, and it is a long term project. The first year, they will have to race without a sponsor, but if they can show promise, and generate some excitement, and get some good results, it will be easier to find sponsors.
I think Suzuki will be regular top 10 finishers, and maybe top 6 by the end of the year. They have a lot of work to do, though. First they need more horsepower.
From Mathys te Wierik:
When checking out the triple clamps of the MotoGP machines, I saw that the ones of Yamaha and Ducati have slots milled in the top plate. My theory is that this is done with the idea of reducing the lateral stiffness of the chassis. I was wondering what your opinion is regarding this subject?
Answer:
You are correct, they are used to moderate flex, provide feedback and feel, and reduce chatter. They are often different between riders on the same team: Marquez has a thinner top plate, Pedrosa has a solid top plate.
From Duncan Laidlaw:
My question concerns the damage sustained by a MotoGP bike following a "typical" highside crash and the subsequent damage repair. Is the machine stripped to the frame, checked and rebuilt or is it a case of the bodywork, footrests, etc. (aka crash parts) are replaced and the machine made rideable as quickly as possible?
Answer:
It depends when the crash happens. The first priority is to put the rider back on and get him back out again. That means a fast and basic check to see that everything is aligned, and then replace everything that is needed for riding. If the bike is visibly more damaged, they will strip the bike down as far as needed, then replace the parts.
Every evening, the bikes are stripped down completely, and fully checked over. So frames will be given a more thorough check during the evening, after practice, to ensure there is no hidden damage.
From Carryl Haynes:
1) Marc said in an interview that tito is doing something special at corner entry. I've noticed him taking the foot opposite to the corner direction off the peg when he tips the bike in? Is that what marc was alluding too? and if so how does it help?
2) Talent wise is Maverick really on par with Marc? Similarly is Alex as talented and skilled as Marc suggests?
3) What is your prediction for next years championships top 3 in each class?
Answer:
1. I don't know what Marquez was alluding to, but perhaps you are right. In theory, taking your foot off the outside peg would allow you to move your body further off the bike, and to put more pressure on the inside peg. You do lose some stability, though, as you are having to grip the bike with your thigh, not rely on your foot for contact. And you have to find the footpeg again with your foot. I think I need to watch Tito more carefully!
2. Maverick Viñales is exceptionally talented, that's for sure. As good as Marc Marquez? Too early to say. Maybe in talent, but I am not sure about his ability to keep his cool and stay focused. We shall see. About Alex Marquez, who am I to doubt the word of Marc? ;-) Yes, Alex is extremely talented, but I think Alex Rins might be even better. Rins is hampered by not having the support structure and solid management which Marquez does, though.
3. Very hard one. A completely wild, and probably completely wrong guess:
MotoGP: Marquez, Rossi, Lorenzo
Moto2: Rabat, Folger, Zarco
Moto3: Bastianini, Binder, Oliveira
From Mika Kamei:
Q1. If you choose the best 3 of exciting corners to watch the race,
Which corners would you choose?
Q2. Which rider will you recommend your daughter to marry ? (If you have ;) )
Q3. Do you race by your self?
Answer:
Q1: A really great question. The trouble is, the best corners aren't necessarily the best places to watch the race. The best corners are the really fast corners, where overtaking other riders is really, really hard.
My three favorite corners?
Turn 3 at Phillip Island (Stoner Corner)
The Ramshoek at Assen
Turn 13 at Valencia, but you have to watch from the inside of the track, which is closed to the public.
Or possibly, Casanova Savelli at Mugello.
Best corners to watch the race?
Ramshoek / GT chicane at Assen
Lukey Heights at Phillip Island
Turn 12 at the Sachsenring
Q2: Luckily, I don't have a daughter!
More seriously, riders are very focused, closed, selfish people during their careers. They are only focused on one thing, which is trying to compete and win as much as possible. That doesn't make them great husbands (or wives, with young women coming through to race). It is only after they race they have time to look at the world, and spend time with their families.
Q3: I do not race, and I have never raced. I never had the money. My uncle raced grass track in his youth, and was British champion. That's as close as I ever got.
From Eduard Shannon:
1. How much do Factory MotoGP Bikes cost, not just the lease price often provided for Satellite Teams but the real cost of a bike from factory teams like Repsol Honda and Movistar Yamaha?
2. Two Race Tracks are often praised by MotoGP riders, Mugello and Phillip Island Circuit. Which among the two is really considered as the best if riders are to choose among them?
3. Is the Serpentine Exhaust System of the RC213V really made by Termignoni? Or it is still Akrapovic made with Termignoni Branding for sponsorship purposes?
4. If given the opportunity that Marc Marquez will ride Rossi's '01 NSR500 against Jorge Lorenzo using Biaggi's '01 YZR500, who do you think will prevail in a season using those 2-stroke GP Bikes?
Answers:
1. How much do Factory MotoGP bikes cost?
It's hard to answer this question. Do you have to include all of the money spent on development? Is it just the parts? The real cost in a factory bike is the knowledge of the people involved in designing and building it. Making that possible is very expensive indeed.
What we can say is that when bikes are auctioned off (e.g. such as what Ducati does), then they sell for around €1 million a piece. But that's just the bike, with a sealed engine, and a contract forbidding you from riding it. When you look at an active factory MotoGP bike, it comes in a package of two bikes, plus lots of spares, lots of staff to support it, and lots of upgrades during the year. Hard to put a price on that.
I think ultimately, you have to look at a Repsol Honda RC213V like you would look at a Picasso. What does it cost? However much it costs to persuade the seller to part with it.
2. Which is best, Mugello and Phillip Island?
It really depends on which rider you ask. I think Phillip Island would just win a vote of all riders.
3. Is the Serpentine Exhaust System of the RC213V really made by Termignoni?
I believe that the exhaust is not made by Termignoni, but they sponsor the team. But I'm not sure.
4. Marquez vs Lorenzo on two-strokes
What a great question! Really hard to say. I think the most interesting part of that equation is that despite nearly 15 years of development, the Honda and Yamaha have retained very similar characteristics. The Honda is still wild, the Yamaha still smooth. I suspect that Marquez would still win, but it would be close.
From Everest Grant:
Let's say all the current premier class riders get an absolutely stock Kawasaki 1000 (I chose this bike because no factory affiliations) straight off the showroom floor and taken to a track NONE of them have ever seen or ridden. No modifications allowed. No team engineers allowed. Put gas in and go. Who wins and why?
Answer:
Good question. I think the rider who wins is the rider who learns tracks fastest. That favors the young, as they adapt more quickly, and are less set in their ways. So I think Marquez wins, as he has shown that he learns extremely quickly.
My guide here is his race at Le Mans in 2013. He had never ridden a MotoGP bike in the full wet before. He took 6 laps to figure it out, and then still managed to end up on the podium. Laguna Seca, he'd never ridden the track, and still ended up winning. I'd put my money on Marquez.
From Eikka Karjalainen:
Are you a journalist by education or previous experience? Have you worked for newspaper or news channel or what so ever? You seem quite professional!
If you don't mind me asking, how did you choose this career? I mean in very basic level, how did you find your passion to motorcycle racing and have you ever raced yourself and things like that.
Answer:
For part of the answers to these questions, see my answer to Adam West. I never worked as a journalist previously, but had experience writing as a translator and as a technical editor. I try to be extra professional because I know I am not a professional by training.
How did I choose this career? Again, see some of my answers above, especially to Pete Hitzeman. I love motorcycles, I love racing, and I started writing. I saw an opportunity to try to make a living from it, and I've been doing it ever since then.
From Michael:
So here’s my question. Perhaps less of a question and more of a rally call. Currently, I race and SV650 in America’s CCS series. I’m very pleased to see the formation of MotoAmerica and I was REALLY excited to see the KTM 390 Cup race come into formation. Sadly, you have to be on the young side to participate. How can we get a senior cup 390 series going? I’m a 39-year old. I have a lot of friends that race and most all of us operate under the belief that corner speed is sex, not much more matters. the 390 seems to be a lightweight bike with a true, trellis chassis. We’d love to rip on those in a spec series. Best way forward? Do we need to march?
Answer:
Best way forward is to organize it yourself, with help from an organization like WERA or CCS, depending on where you live. If you can provide them with a framework straight off the bat, and a set of technical regulations, then I'm sure they can help you organize the practical side of it. First port of call is contact your regional racing body.
From Matty:
1. Who do you think will be the best Satellite rider next year and what can we, the fans. expect from next season??
2. Do you think Scott Redding can get to podium al least once next season or at least top 5 result??
3. What was the best memory you have from MotoGP??
Answer:
1. Who will be the best satellite rider? I expect a great battle between Cal Crutchlow and Pol Espargaro. Espargaro will have a year of experience under his belt, and has already shown flashes of brilliance. Crutchlow proved in the last races on the Ducati that he still has the hunger, and the willingness to push. He signed for LCR with the intention of aiming for podiums. I think that's going to be a great duel.
What the fans can expect from 2015 is a season of great racing. It's going to be much closer than this year, and the latter part of this year was already great. The Yamahas will be much closer to the Hondas, Ducati will (hopefully) have caught up, Suzuki are on the right path, and there are some great riders on Open class bikes and satellite bikes. It's going to be a good year.
2. He has to aim for the top 5, and he will be disappointed if he doesn't get a podium. I think he has a good chance of at least one podium, but so far, he has found adapting to the Honda RC213V tougher than expected. It's not just an RCV1000R, but then faster.
3. Really good question. My best memories are the 2006 season, which had so many great races. Laguna Seca at 2008, that was such a great race. And on a personal note, my first meeting with Dennis Noyes, who has been a friend and mentor to me since I arrived in MotoGP.
From MrEngland07:
1. How did motomatters even get started? Did you have a journalism degree, or did the idea of starting a world class motorcycle website just pop into your head one day?
2. Do you participate in track days or race motorcycles yourself?
3. Can you name your favorite thing about MotoGP and WSBK and name one thing you absolutely hate about them both?
4. How many millimeters wide are the Bridgestone front and rear tires?
5. Every rider in the MotoGP paddock works very hard and I believe they all want to win. They all have experience so what exactly in your opinion makes Marc Marquez so good? I sincerely do not believe he his training harder than anyone else so what is it?
Answer:
Questions 1 and 2: I've answered those questions above,
3. My favorite thing about both MotoGP and WSBK is the people involved, especially the technical staff and the team managers. I learn so much every time I talk to people like Cristian Gabarrini, Tom Jojic, Guy Coulon, Mike Webb, and that is a pleasure.
What I hate about them? The fact that they start so early in the morning. I hate mornings!
4. Bridgestone tire sizes:
Front tyre size: 125/600R16.5
Rear tyre size: 190/650R16.5
5. Very good question. It is part talent, part ambition, part mental strength. He is clearly an exceptional talent, and has exceptional finesse on the bike. You can see it in the way he manhandles the Honda around, he is pushing with his feet to help get the rear to slide, helping to control it. That requires exceptional feel. That, in turn, comes from having exceptionally good motor skills at the most fine grained level. He'd make a great surgeon.
Most of all, though, it is his ability to focus, and to remain calm. He shares this with Valentino Rossi, I believe. If he makes a mistake, he learns from it, but he has forgotten all about the mistake by the time he reaches the next corner. He approaches each corner with optimism, doesn't get dragged into a negative circle, which a lot of riders can do. You watch some riders, and you can see them trying to compensate for one mistake for the next half a lap. That just makes them more likely to make another mistake. They are riding with anger and frustration. Marquez, like Rossi, seems to discard the negative feelings which everyone has when they make a mistake, and approach the next corner as if nothing has ever happened. His ability to ignore stress, to compartmentalize and just focus on what he is doing is his greatest strength.
From Stephen:
Aside from now being a job. What is it about motorcycle racing that makes you watch?
Answer:
See my answer to Pete Hitzeman above for that answer. Above all, motorcycles, and the men and women who ride them. I love motorcycles, and I love watching athletes extract the very last gram of performance from those motorcycles. I enjoy the combat aspect, watching racers use the tools at their disposal to achieve a goal, and attempting to invent different ways of doing so. It is a compelling spectacle.
From Ghostrider11:
Question 1: Production Liter Bikes for the street and the track... what direction do you see them going in, design-wise?
Question 2: What do you make of the Honda CBR1000rr-SP, the 1-off prototype rcv213s and the new Yamaha R1-M?
Question 3: What is taking Honda so long to produce the v-4 production street bike? Will Honda replace the CBR inline-4 engines with something else for the 600cc and the 1000cc machines? Are the WSB rules playing a factor or is Honda just being conservative as usual?
Question 4: the non-Japanese (Aprilia/Ducati/BMW/KTM) bike makers seem to be pushing the envelope of the (200hp capped) Horsepower Wars for liter production street bikes, why is it taking a long time for the Japanese bike makers to catch up?
Answer:
1: Production liter bikes for the street and track
See my answer to Rob for part of that answer. I see factories producing more exclusive, very high cost specialist bikes for the track. Some of these will be road-homologated, others track only. They will be things of beauty, but they will be so-called halo bikes, machines meant to give the manufacturer an aura of exclusivity. For the road, there will be fewer dedicated race replicas, as that segment is declining in sales.
2. See my answer above. Halo bikes, meant to exude luxury and quality, and help sell cheaper bikes. Very crudely put, it's a bit like Ferrari t-shirts: it may only be a t-shirt, but the aura of the brand rubs off on a modest product.
3. Cost. V4s are more expensive to produce, and the returns on a modestly-priced road-going V4 are limited. Honda will not replace the CBR1000RR with a V4, and will continue to race in WSBK with an inline 4.
4. The Japanese manufacturers are more conservative, as a rule. Also, it is slightly easier for European manufacturers to judge the mood of the legislature in Europe, to see how national governments and the EU might react to high horsepower figures, making it slightly easier for them to break through crucial limits. However, given the Kawasaki H2R, I suspect that the Japanese manufacturers are quickly catching up.
One word of caution. Although I keep an eye on trends in road bikes, I am a long way from being a subject matter specialist. Better to follow my friend and collaborator Jensen Beeler over at Asphalt & Rubber. He has his finger on the pulse of the industry far more than I do. I just steal my ideas from him...
From Steve Hutt:
What would be your best all time motogp grid? Anyone from any period and 24 grid slots to fill, kind of like a motogp grid made in heaven! Oh and they would all be riding the same machines of the now era.
Answer:
Another great question. In no particular order:
Geoff Duke, John Surtees, Jarno Saarinen
Phil Read, Mike Hailwood, Giacomo Agostini
Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kevin Schwantz
Mick Doohan, Kenny Roberts Sr., Freddie Spencer,
Valentino Rossi, Casey Stoner, Jorge Lorenzo,
Marc Marquez, Angel Nieto, Max Biaggi
Daijiro Kato, Jim Redman, Kork Ballington
I'm sure that if you asked me in a month's time, you'd see a few different names in there...
From Joe:
You refer to multiple sources for news, some Italian, German, etc sources…
How many languages do you speak ?
Answer:
I speak a few. English is my first language, but having spent over thirty years in Holland, I am also fluent in Dutch. I speak passable German, can manage in French, Spanish and Italian. Reading is much easier, and I read Spanish and Italian reasonably well, missing only the subtleties. Reading those languages on subjects other than motorcycle racing is much more difficult, however. I can read a bit of Catalan as well, but not enough. I have a passing interest in various Scandinavian languages, and can read a little bit of Swedish, Norwegian and Danish, but not very much at all.
There are many people in the paddock who put me to shame, however, speaking more languages than me, and fluently.
From Joshua Melanson:
With Honda having moved to a full factory moto3 effort in 2014 and developed a new 81mm bore engine to win the championship with the NSF250RW, have you head if they are going back to the smaller 78mm bore with the new rev limit cap of 13,500rpm for 2015? I am curious if the old NSF250R engine might see a comeback or if there was talk of any teams going back to that engine for 2015.
Answer:
I don't know about Honda, but KTM will be building a new engine with a narrower bore. It certainly makes sense to do so. We will find out soon enough, however, as the factories have to publish a list of approved parts, which will appear on the FIM website at some point.
From Tom Taggart:
My question: Why aren't there more manufacturers in Moto 3? Aprilia, Ducati, Bmw for example. It would seem to be ideal for a competitive factory and just imagine how exciting it would be!
Answer:
A good question, and one which is hard to answer. Firstly, the only manufacturers who would be interested are those who build and sell small capacity bikes. That rules out BMW and Ducati, they have nothing to gain by racing in Moto3. Certainly, Aprilia, Suzuki, Yamaha and Kawasaki could benefit from competing.
I suspect that the problem is simply one of cost. Designing and building a Moto3 bike is not cheap, and supporting them would require a serious investment. Possibly, the other factories have seen what has happened to KTM and Honda, both factories spending a lot of money in the class, and decided it's not worth it.
For Aprilia, there is also the question of pride. They are still angry at the scrapping of the 125s and 250s, and so are not particularly inclined to support the classes which replaced them.
From Ken:
Question 1: Rossi v Gibernau Jerez 2005. Who was at fault or racing incident?
Question 2: You previously wrote about Toni Elias being extremely unlucky in his career with rides etc (paraphrasing an old article of yours). Hypothetically, what could he have been capable of? He is brilliant to watch!
Question 3: Marco Melandri's power slide at PI in 2006 - is that one of the greatest race celebrations?
Question 4: Thoughts on flag to flag races - is their a better solution you can think of?
Answer
1. Rossi vs Gibernau 2005
Racing incident. There was a gap, Rossi took it, Gibernau tried to close the door, and paid the price. It wasn't a particularly clean pass by Rossi, but it was just within the boundaries of the acceptable.
2. Toni Elias
It's really hard to say. Elias' very peculiar riding style worked for him, but it needed a special kind of tire. His career was doomed once spec tires arrived, I believe. He is having more success in World Superbikes, where the tires are much softer, and provide him with the feedback he needs. I think he will do better as he adapts to the category.
3. Marco Melandri, PI 2006: Totally agree! Just spectacular!
4. Flag-to-Flag races
Honestly, within the constraints of a television slot, flag-to-flag is the least worst solution. If we accept that a MotoGP race must be completed within the one hour designated, to fit TV schedules, then there is no other arrangement which allows the races to continue. There are points for improvement – much stricter policing of the pit lane, for starters, perhaps placing responsibility on team members to ensure a safe ingress and egress from bike swap slots, and punishing dangerous exits very harshly – but as a whole, there isn't a better solution. Flag-to-flag racing is not ideal, but it's not as bad as any of the alternatives.
Of course, if we let go of the TV slot, then there are much better solutions, including restarting races once conditions improve. But without TV, there is a lot less money in the sport, and less money in the sport means less safe racing all round: fewer marshals, fewer medical staff, less medical support, fewer cameras around the track to keep track of crashes, etc.
I'd be fascinated to hear alternative solutions. I don't think that enforcing a set time in the pits, or holding riders at pit exit will improve matters, as you will still have a lot of riders in the pits at the same time, which is the main source of danger. Very severe penalties for dangerous behavior in pit lane – either exclusion, or a big time penalty, 30 seconds or more – is the only improvement I can think of, and that is already allowed inside the rules.
Comments
Regarding Qatar
The money and sustainability aspects aside, don't you think Qatar is kind of the Singapore equivalent of F1? All about the glitz and glamor. The night race definitely has a very different look and feel to anything else on the calendar. Also helps reaching out to the Asian audience, who only have the Malaysian GP otherwise (Japan is rather inaccessible for a variety of reasons).
Edit : I have another question.
If you had to speculate, how do you think the future Honda Factory team would pan out? Pedrosa, M Marquez, A Marquez , Redding, Miller. That's 5 riders, all mega fast, all with a direct HRC backing and only 2 seats to go between them.
In reply to Regarding Qatar by Ayush Sharma
Re: Honda factory team
A good question. I believe that this will be Pedrosa's last contract with the Repsol Honda team directly. I also believe he won't mind too much, and could well retire at the end of 2016.
Who takes his place will be down to who is fastest. If Lorenzo wanted to make the jump (which I think would be a bad idea, his style doesn't suit the Honda), then HRC would sign him, though as he wil be nearly 30 at the start of the 2016 season, they may have changed their mind by then.
Without Lorenzo, they will go with who is the fastest young Honda rider. Redding does not have the HRC backing that Miller has (Redding's contract is with Marc VDS, Miller's is with HRC). Alex Marquez will be a rookie in 2017, so it's unlikely he'll go straight to the factory team. I think Miller will get there first, though I suspect that if Maverick Vinales were available, they'd take him too.
Love the answer on Pete
Love the answer on Pete Williams' questions, can totally relate to it regarding Assen, Spa & timing of PI!
Rossi / Burgess
Hello David,
I've thought since it happened that actually the Rossi/Burgess split was not acrimonious unlike the way in which it was portrayed int eh press. I can imagine that given Burgess's personal life (wife ill, not getting any younger) he was quite OK to go. Is there any insight you can give to say whether was a "sacking" or more of an agreed split. Sacking in the UK (as you'll be awre I'm sure but I'm thinking of your global audience) measn you are not up to the job so I take your job away from you.
Thanks, Pascal
In reply to Rossi / Burgess by french_connection
Re: Rossi / Burgess
The split between Rossi and Burgess was a sacking, Rossi made the decision to try a new crew chief. The decision surprised Burgess, and perhaps saddened him a little at first, but he understood it completely. As you say, he had been wanting to spend more time with his family anyway, and had been thinking about retirement for a few years. If he had stayed, think he might have retired either at the end of this (Rossi's old contract) or in 2 years' time (Rossi's new contract).
They are certainly on good terms now. The two were seen together at Indianapolis, and at Phillip Island. Burgess has made his peace with the situation, and is happy to see Rossi being successful. As he said at the time, his goal is to help Rossi win, if he can do that by getting out of the way and letting someone else take his job, then that also serves his goal.
2006
I can't see a satellite bike winning a race anytime soon, which I think is a shame. Do you think a satellite bike will win again soon?
In reply to 2006 by MrPotatoHead
Re: Satellite bikes
I think the biggest difference between now and 2006 is that the level of the four factory riders is so much higher. I think that the gap will be a bit closer next season, but winning will be very difficult.
The first real chance of winning will be in 2016, when the new rules, and more importantly, the new tires, come into effect. I think Michelin will shake up the field sufficiently that factory riders will struggle, and the gap will be closed. From 2017, we may see the natural order restored again.
Technology vs entertainment in the long term
It seems that some of the challenges facing the sport (MotoGP and superbikes, WSB and national level) relate to balancing the ability of manufacturers to innovate in some ways to keep them involved, whilst in other ways containing technology to produce an entertaining, close and safe race series. It could also be argued that machine performance going up significantly in the long run makes circuits obsolete as they become less safe over time due to the evolution of the machines racing on them. We have been at a point for a few years where every discussion about the quality of racing says 'ban traction control', something that is widespread on road bikes nowadays, and the middleweight GP class has already had to be saved by production-based parts being brought in and upsetting the 'purists' as mentioned above.
Over in the car world, in Formula One they are already into engine development freezes.
Where do you see motorbike racing in 20 years? Will it still be technology-driven or will we be in a spec series of historic kit?
In reply to Technology vs entertainment in the long term by patnicholls
Re: Technology vs entertainment in the long term
You have a very good point, but I think those issues are only valid for the medium term (5 - 10 years). Vehicles in 20 years will look very different indeed.
In the medium term, I think the next great advance in safety will come from equipment. We have seen the start of it in the airbag systems from Alpinestars and Dainese, and there is a lot to be gained from going down that path. As riders are better protected in a crash, hitting walls becomes less of a concern, somewhat similar to the evolution of the tub in an F1 car. There is still a lot to do there, but a start has been made.
In the long term, over 20 years, I believe we will be racing electric motorcycles. Battery technology is approaching the point where energy storage is sufficient to make racing with batteries a viable option. In addition, charging times are dropping quickly as well, with new technologies to radically reduce charging times just a couple of years away. We are also seeing more and more cities clamping down on emissions, and prohibiting various forms of combustion engines (two strokes and diesels first, four strokes to follow). At the same time, we are seeing a huge rise in the use of electrically assisted bicycles.
These technologies mean that the manufacturers will soon turn their attention to electric motorcycles. I believe that in 15 to 20 years, both main racing series will be electric bikes. We will miss the roar of combustion engines, but there will be little we can do about it.
In reply to Re: Technology vs entertainment in the long term by David Emmett
My biggest worry is
Lack of sound from Engines in coming decades. If something needs to be done then it is creation of another fuel(formula) which should have same characteristics of our existing fuel. I hope Scientists and Chemical engineers can conjure up something because Sound is an engine's soul and without sound, riding or racing bikes might be a bit depressing for me at least.
In reply to Re: Technology vs entertainment in the long term by David Emmett
I think it wouldn't be crazy at all to hear some roar of combust
I think it wouldn't be crazy at all to hear some roar of combustion engine in electric motors in 15-20 years time developed in a package of real muffler simulator with the help of lets say harman kardon, Bose, JBL etc. :D unless ofcoure the roar we hear inthe race is also part of the pollution.
Moto2 evolution
What happens to all the old Moto2 frames/bikes after the season they raced in?
There doesn't seem to be a huge amount of national Moto2 championships so far, and there were a lot of chassis tried out in 2010 alone.
Sub-question: Suter have been great in the second half of this season, yet only one will be on the grid next year. Do you think we are likely to see a couple of teams realising they were a bit hasty and switching back before 2015 gets underway (particularly when there is a Swiss team on the grid)?
In reply to Moto2 evolution by patnicholls
Re: Moto2
A lot of Moto2 frames are trickling down to the CEV and CIV championships. A few get picked up by wealthy private individuals (not even that wealthy, you can pick up an old Moto2 bike for €20,000 to €30,000 euros) to use as track day machines, or room ornaments.
At the moment, there are not a lot of places you can race a Moto2 bike, but as time goes on, more and more chassis come onto the market, and it becomes a viable option for privateers at national level. In a few years, I think we will see Moto2 being races at more levels, and more riders coming through. The problem with Moto2, of course, is that it is impossible to get backing from a dealer or importer, as they don't want to sell Kalexes, they want to sell Hondas or Triumphs.
As for the Suters, I think we may see a team or two deciding to switch. The problem is, they will probably be teams further down the grid with nothing to lose. Having riders finish 17th won't help convince teams that the Suter is a good option, even though the same riders were finishing in 17th when they had a Kalex.
pre race rituals
id like to know from moto3 to motogp the guys who do those rituals like Rossi and Iannone. we do not get to see some of them.
In reply to pre race rituals by TimGP20
Re: Pre-race rituals
Racers are a superstitious lot, so yes, lots of them do have pre-race rituals. Unfortunately, I haven't really made much of a note who does what, so I can't answer your question in more detail.
Blue flag question...
Hey Mr. Emmet, extraordinary job, as allways
I sent this question before, and here it goes again.
Since no prohibition on alcohol sponsorship in MotoGP - Estrella is there and Martini is in Formula One - why Mr. Van den Stratten don't use his famous Stella Artois brand in his winning Moto2 and newcomer MotoGP teams?
I'm drinking it with priority since i knew it, haha.
Regards from Rio, Brazil.
Braaaap!
In reply to Blue flag question... by macieira
Marc van der Straten
As I understand it, Marc van der Straten views racing as his own personal hobby. To avoid any conflicts, or arguments within the company, he keeps racing and business separate. His race teams would be less secure if they were sponsored by his beer companies. That would be the first project the unions and workers would point to if the company was forced to start sacking people. They would say "first, cut sponsorship from racing."
Marc van der Straten uses his business connections to raise money for his teams, and doesn't spend very much of his own money. It is a very clever way of going racing.
Moto2 & Moto2
What's your view on the current situation in Moto2 (and Moto3) that most teams are switching to the same manufacturers in 2015?
I understand that all of them want to win and the most logical choice is a proven winner, but being the laptime differences are so small in these categories... Is it just psychological now?
Moto2 will be mostly the "Kalex-cup" in 2015 and with the loss of the Kalex-KTM there are now just 3 manufacturers in Moto3 of which roughly 2/3 are on a KTM (or Husqvarna).
Jasper Iwema for instance did a great job on the FTR-KTM (and Mahindra) in my opinion. Is there a small chance we can see him back on the grid in 2015 you think?
In reply to Moto2 & Moto2 by Klukklauckluk
Moto2 and Moto3
I have written repeatedly about the conservatism of the teams, and I think that is the main reason behind everyone switching to Kalex. They would rather play it safe and let the rider try to make the difference than take a gamble on different equipment. Motorcycle racing is about controlling the variables, and by going with the same chassis manufacturer as the rest, that eliminates one variable. Not sure it is the right choice, but it is an understandable one.
Iwema did himself a lot of favors in his final races in Moto3 in 2014. There is definitely a chance we will see him in 2015, but it will be a matter of money, I think.
Autopolis
Given the importance of the Japanese manufacturers (and riders) in the sport, Suzuka's absence after Daijiro's accident and the blandness of Motegi, and the standard of the facilities and track, why has the Autopolis circuit never even been mentioned as a possibility to host MotoGP or WSB?
In reply to Autopolis by patnicholls
Autopolis
I think that Autopolis is not really near anywhere. That would make it more difficult to get to. But I'm not sure.
In reply to Autopolis by David Emmett
It is definitely not near anywhere
It's on top of a mountain
Brough Superior
Have they canned that project or do they intend to go back after some proper testing?
In reply to Brough Superior by JC Racing 96
Re: Brough Superior
As I understand it, it is an ongoing project, but it is being done on a shoestring budget. Little by little.
David, what cars & bikes do you own.
I remember on one of the news at the time of GP this season u mentioned about a second Bugatti Veyron. :D :D
In reply to David, what cars & bikes do you own. by Grease Mokie46
No cars, one bike
I don't own any cars, because I don't like cars. They make me unhappy. I am a motorcyclist to my very core.
I can only afford to own one motorcycle, which has to be practical and do everything, include transport my wife and I around Europe. I own a BMW R1200GS, with a lot of luggage.
In reply to No cars, one bike by David Emmett
Do you need elbow sliders
Do you need elbow sliders with GS? :)
In reply to Do you need elbow sliders by eikka99
No Elbow Sliders
--- I need helmet sliders!
Thanks for a great site
I've supported in the past and will do again this season. That is all.
Stefan Bradl
Hey David. Love the website brother. It has helped get me trough college when I get to the boring valley's of studying. Anyway, I was wondering if you could comment on Stefan Bradl. I like Stefan, he seems like a genuine guy who loves racing. However, I still can't understand why he was not competitive. He had 3 seasons on a factory Honda but the best we saw from him was a pole and a second place at Laguna Seca. Why not more? He won a Moto2 championship so why the lack or results. Also, why does he look so sad all the time! Its like he has a permanent look of depression on his face. Is he going to be ok?
Finally if you had time, I was going to ask if you knew how British Superbike compared to World Superbike. Are they similar in speed or would a top WSBK dominate a top BSB. Thank you. You're an awesome guy David.
In reply to Stefan Bradl by King Marcellus
Bradl
Bradl is a strange one. He is clearly talented, but I fear his biggest problem is he lost confidence. He had a lot of pressure on him at LCR, especially in his second and third years, and I'm not sure he handled that the right way.
His biggest problem is that he moved up against Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez and in his first year, Stoner. To go from winning all the time to battling just to get close to the podium is mentally very hard. It can take a while to recover from that. I suspect that losing his LCR ride may have a positive effect, give him some extra motivation.
Re: WSBK vs BSB, the level of riders is similar. The best of BSB tend to go to World Superbikes, and they tend to be competitive straight away. In terms of machinery, the WSBK bikes are a couple of seconds quicker.
Aleix Espargaro
Q. We've seen Aleix grow as a rider these past 3 seasons, regularly challenging for top 10s and roughing it up with satellites on the CRT ART, and now this last year on the FWD Yamaha finishing nearly best of all satellite bikes with a podium and pole. What is your assessment of him as a rider, his success on sub-standard machinary and his future with a factory squad? Do you think he has dry podiums in his future and race wins?
In reply to Aleix Espargaro by johnjaundice
Re: Aleix Espargaro
I think you only need to look at his results on the Forward Yamaha, and compare them to his teammate, to see that he is a great rider. He was beating satellite bikes all year, and often matching pace with the Tech 3 Yamahas and factory Ducatis. He has a lot of talent.
The question mark is over his mental resilience. When under a lot of pressure, he can crack, rather than keeping his nerve. Qualifying at Qatar at the start of the year was a good example. That experience helped toughen him up, though, so it's something he has improved.
Suzuki can be a good opportunity for him, if he can be patient, and work towards 2016. If he tries to hurry for results on a bike which is still too underpowered, he will have problems. Right now, the bike simply isn't capable of a podium, but there is no reason Espargaro can't get on the podium in 2016. He's been impressive.
Having said that, I would still choose his brother every time. Pol has the stillness, the calmness which is the difference, which helps give him that little bit extra. But both Espargaros are clearly very fast, and very talented.
motogpmatters
What was your psychological/emotional condition upon learning that Dorna was going to strip the "gp" in motogpmatters.com? Do you have any desire to return to the name? or do you have ambitions to continue growing the blog beyond the world of MotoGP?
In reply to motogpmatters by phoenix1
Re: MotoGPMatters
I was prepared when Dorna asked me to change the name, as Murph, a rider manager, had already warned me they would about a year prior. When Dorna asked me to change the name, they were very polite about it, and I was happy to oblige. Quite honestly, MotoMatters gives me a little more flexibility on subject matter.
Do I have ambitions to grow the blog beyond MotoGP? Only under very strict conditions. I am happy to have found Jared Earle to do World Superbikes for me, and provide some insight into that series. I would like to add maybe BSB, AMA and CEV, but that would require finding people I trust, and whose insight I trust, to write about the series. I am very picky about who I work with. Most of all, though, it would require me to triple or quadruple the site revenue, to do it properly. I am not sure how I could make that happen. Then again, my commercial skills are nonexistent, the weakest part of my business plan.
Hayden on a factory Honda again...
David, what's your opinion on Nicky Hayden's riding ability besides the wrist problem? How would he do riding on the factory Repsol team next to Marquez on a factory RCV? Is it time for him to give WSB a try for Honda?
In reply to Hayden on a factory Honda again... by ghostrider11
Nicky Hayden's wrist
I think it's still a little early to tell. His wrist is never going to be as good as it was before the crash at Valencia, but it may get a little better by next year.
How would he do riding on the Repsol Honda team? He wouldn't do any better than Dani Pedrosa, and he would probably do worse. The years on the Ducati were bad for him.
Is it time for him to give WSBK a try? Yes, but not for Honda until they bring a competitive machine to the series. I think he would do much better in World Superbikes, also just because of the riding style, it's less extreme, and so he wouldn't have to lean off the bike so much, which is one of the problems he has with his wrist (not enough motion to get a long way off the bike in left handers, and still have enough motion).
Austin?
Why drop Austin?
Completely biased here, as the event is 20 miles from me.
Don't care for the track layout?
The facility seems top-shelf...
In reply to Austin? by breeno (not verified)
Re: Austin
I am also a little biased, as my best friend lives in Houston, and it's a great opportunity for me to go visit him. The facilities at the track are second to none, and the track has a few great sections, but the layout is mostly disappointing. A little too Tilke to be a great track. It wouldn't be at the top of my list to drop, but it wouldn't be the first track I saved either.
Yamaha WSBK?
I have not heard anything about a Yamaha factory team for WSBK 2015. They appear to have produced a good platform. But...
In reply to Yamaha WSBK? by ed h gray
Re: Yamaha WSBK
My understanding is that the Yamaha R1 will be raced in Superstock 1000 in 2015, and then in WSBK the following year. Take a year in a lower profile series to see how the bike works out, and then move up once they've ironed out the worst problems. It's a smart approach. The R1 will also be campaigned in BSB and MotoAmerica, so Yamaha will have lots of data from there as well.
In reply to Re: Yamaha WSBK by David Emmett
Makes sense.
That approach seemed to work quite well for Ducati. I will keep my eye on Superstock again. The only other time I did that was watching the progress of the Panigale.
Movistar Yamaha Motogp
Hello sir david, hats off to you for your great work.I want to know from you the following.
1. According to you when will yamaha bring their seamless downshift, will it be Sepang 1 or 2. Can they match rc213v's braking with it ?
2. The new engine from yamaha is focused on providing better top speed but both rossi and lorenzo has said they need more acceleration out of the corners. Can they get that with this new engine or will it just be a slightly better top speed with a very aggressive engine character ?
3. Last year many riders struggled with new tyres. Many said that it is better suited to the honda, i agree but still i saw dp26 struggled with that tyre. Now next year are there any chances of a new tyre with more edge grip or will it be the same bullshit 2014 tyres ? I didn't saw any reason for bridgestone to change the tyre spec from 2013.
4. Lastly sir, who's your fav rider from the current motogp grid ? (My guess is you belong to jorge's camp)#99
In reply to Movistar Yamaha Motogp by 99bunny
Movistar Yamaha
1. I really don't know when Yamaha will bring their seamless downshift. It may not be at the start of the season. The things Rossi was saying were similar to what he was saying in 2013 about the seamless gearbox. Even then, it took them six months to actually bring it to the track. The Yamaha riders will get the gearbox when Yamaha is sure it will work.
2. There is nothing wrong with the acceleration of the Yamaha now. They fixed most of their problems. If you watch Motegi, or Sepang, you can see that the Honda is not getting away from the Yamaha like it was last year, and at the beginning of this year. The new engine should bring them a little bit of both, better and smoother acceleration, and a bit more top speed.
3. Bridgestone changed the 2013 tires because they were afraid that in hot conditions, they could suffer problems similar to 2012 at Assen, when the rubber let go. They found a solution for use at some tracks in 2013, but they have kept adding edge feel, and that meant that the tires were more likely to lose rubber again in hot conditions. So they added the heat-resistant layer to ensure that didn't happen. That meant that the tires weren't quite as good as before, but they were softer. As I understand it, the basic design of the tires won't change for 2015, but there will be an evolution. If anything, they will be changed to provide more edge grip once again.
4. I can't afford to have a favorite rider. I can't afford to be a fan, I have to be a journalist, a writer, I have to be objective, so I can't let myself prefer one rider over another. I try to be as fair to everyone as I can. That means that I get criticism from fans of every rider, saying I am biased against their rider, and in favor of another rider. When all the fans accuse you of that, then it means you are more or less right.
I do love to stand at track side and watch riders riding, though. I love watching Lorenzo ride so smoothly, I love seeing Marquez climb all over the machine, I love seeing Rossi dominate the Yamaha, I love seeing Pedrosa get things out of the bike you didn't imagine he could. At Valencia, I went and watched Crutchlow on Friday, then again on Monday at the test. I love watching, seeing him learn, trying to figure out the new bike, seeing his style change a little, his braking points and corner entry change. I am very privileged to be able to see this from up close, and I enjoy all of them.
In reply to Movistar Yamaha by David Emmett
Thanks sir
I am really glad to get your so genuine answers to my questions. I think dat as i am a fan of yamaha riders i am a fan of yours too.
Front running vs back of the field
How big is the difference between front running and back of the field bikes, teams and riders talent? How can a talented rider on a bad bike make his way back to the front?
In reply to Front running vs back of the field by etienne
Talent difference
The talent difference is small as far as riders are concerned. Team organization seems a big factor as well, a good team with competent staff makes a big difference. How can a talented backmarker improve his lot? Impress the right people, and seize any opportunity given. Beat the other people on the same bike, first and foremost, and beat them by a lot.
A large part of it is also down to poor management. There are a lot of riders who are managed very badly, and who end up making a lot of wrong choices. Seeing a good opportunity, and seizing that opportunity, those are skills which are almost as important as actually being able to ride.
Passport rides
Is there any truth from your point of view to the rumor that some riders get a ride because of their passports?
In reply to Passport rides by etienne
Passport rides
It is absolutely true that some riders get grid slots and financial assistance because of their passports. If Dorna needs a rider from a particular country to help sell TV rights, that rider will be given preference over another rider.
Of course, when a lot of fans talk about passport riders, what they mean are Spanish riders. Yet having a Spanish passport is a guarantee of no assistance from Dorna, unless you are exceptionally talented. The current favorite nations are Australia and the US, France, some Asian countries. It depends on the size of the market and its importance to Dorna.
That does not mean that poor riders get given preferential treatment. As a rule, it just means that from the pool of riders who are roughly equivalent in talent, the rider with the right passport will get some help, while the others - at the moment, Spanish and British passport holders need expect no assistance - are left to fend for themselves, raise their own cash.
Supplementary on patnicholls question
Hi David,
Pat asked about technology, and it prompted me to think about how many question on this thread have been about technology, rather than the actual race day action.
It strikes me that all the secrecy practised by the team actually conspires against engaging further with the audience.
If team showed more detail on their bikes, and were involved in describing the technology (Pedrosa's top triple clamp vs Marquez, for example), I think more people would watch and be engaged and absorbed. I think the desire to protect their 'settings' has team missing vital opportunities to engage with the audience. Do you think DORNA, and the teams, understand that for many people it's not just about the race itself?
Do you think more vision of a technical nature in broadcasts would help to grow the audience?
In reply to Supplementary on patnicholls question by Rabid_Canine
More technical detail
I absolutely agree that more tech background would make for a much better sport, add more value to broadcasts and to publications. It helps stimulate debate and interest in the sport, adds another angle for viewers to take, adds more intrigue. But the factories do their best to hide their secrets away, which is a shame.
Love it!
Hi David! Thanks for connecting with us. I appreciate the heck out of you, your continued efforts, the site, and this community. You have a REALLY good thing going and it has deepened my relationship with our beloved motorbike racing. T H A N K Y O U ! ! !
Q: What have you heard from insiders that sheds light on Yamaha's adherence to Honda's push for rules like fuel limits - what has that been like for Yamaha staff? Are they ok with it? How can sense be made of it? Further yet how have people in the paddock been thinking and feeling about these retrictive rules Honda has pushed? About fuel and engine alotment particularly, and of Honda/Yamaha/Dorna roles in their coming to be? What are your thoughts and feelings about them and the manner of their arising?
Q: Re 2016 rules changes, new (old) electronics and Michelins - which manu's/teams/riders do you think will "be the winners/losers" in the deal? And how specifically? Re electronics what specifically do you anticipate becoming "off the table" in terms of function and tech on the bikes, and what will racing/bike behavior/riding style have in store for us as a result?
Q: I was really surprised by the lack of power of the Forward bike and struggle to understand why the Open Yamaha is not a really powerful bike. I expected (and hoped) it would be a looser more unbridled bike with more horsepower. All I know is that Yamaha only gave them a small engine alotment that necessitated a milder state of tune to make it through the season, and that the electronics package is primitive making them unable to tap potential. Am I missing something else? What do you think? Were you surprised too?
Same in reverse for the Factory Yamaha - I expected the anemic fuel limit would leave them WAY down on power and languishing relative to the Honda. Did you expect that too? Were you surprised? Does it seem like Yamaha pulled off an engineering miracle to you? Who did that and how? Did anyone step forward and take a bow for that one?
Q: Over the 4 stroke era which MotoGP riders did you get most excited about as a promising contender as our next Rossi/Marquez that did not actualize? Why do you think they fizzled out specifically? Me? Spies! And still quite a mystery.
Q: Which of the riders, crew, and notable folks in the paddock/circus are your personal friends? Anyone no longer there you particularly miss? Any particular garage or hospitality that frequently offers to feed you and treat you with kindness?
In reply to Love it! by Motoshrink
Re: Motoshrink
A lot of hard and long questions....
1. Yamaha's following Honda
The people I talk to in the paddock don't really understand it, except in the context of Japanese culture. There is a particular hierarchy which is to be respected, and even though the two companies are fierce rivals, they observe a particular form of respectful behavior towards each other. Honda is allowed to lead, but is expected to have some consideration for its rivals. For an example, see how Honda approached the Moto3 class originally, before deciding it needed to beat KTM. Another example: as the largest factory, Honda gets first choice of the graduates from Japanese engineering faculties. The relationship between Honda and the other Japanese factories requires a deeper understanding of Japanese culture than I have, so I cannot explain it.
2. 2016 winners and losers
Honestly, that question is almost impossible to answer. Under normal circumstances, you expect Honda to come out on top, as they have the resources to adapt to rule changes most quickly. They got it badly wrong in 2007, but had recovered by mid-season, the Honda was as quick as the Ducati by Barcelona, the Yamaha having caught up by Portugal.
However, I have a sneaking feeling that Yamaha may benefit from the change to Michelins. The French tire maker is renowned for the feel from its tires, and that may play into the hands of Jorge Lorenzo and the Yamahas, as they can exploit the feedback from edge grip. It will be interesting to see how stiff the front is, as this may have a major impact as well, on braking. And also, I suspect that the change will favor younger riders, as they tend to find it easier to adapt.
Of one thing I am sure: the rule changes will throw up at least one big surprise. We just don't know what it will be yet. But then again, that's why they call it a surprise.
3. Open Yamaha horsepower
The Forward Yamaha was down a little on horsepower, but the biggest difference was in acceleration. That is a function of the Open class software being slightly less sophisticated, and not providing quite as much drive out of corners.
The lack of horsepower was not so much down to a lack of engines, it was more down to the fact that the Yamaha engineer who managed the engine put in very conservative limits on performance. They may have been applied in the name of saving engines, but there is good reason to doubt that was the full and complete explanation.
As for the factory Yamahas, I was incredibly impressed by the work the Yamaha engineers did. I had not expected them to be down on horsepower, but when Jorge Lorenzo complained at Sepang that the bike was too nervous, and the throttle response too rough, it confirmed what I feared the effect would be on Yamaha. How they responded to that, found the horsepower, and improved the throttle response is an incredible achievement. There was a lot in the electronics, but I believe the new exhaust helped a lot too.
4. Promise that fizzled
A tough one. Certainly, Ben Spies is a candidate for that. He was clearly talented, but I get the feeling that something caused him to lose confidence in the team, and from there, it all went downhill fast. If a rider doesn't trust the team, and the bike, he doesn't really stand a chance.
I was a little disappointed with Hiroshi Aoyama in MotoGP, who I expected to do much better. His problem was that he wanted the bike to behave like a 250cc two-stroke, which it wouldn't.
Apart from that, there has been a very long list of riders who showed promise, but never quite broke through. Marco Melandri, Stefan Bradl, Alvaro Bautista, John Hopkins, to name but a few.
5. Paddock friends
Making friends in the paddock is a risky business. There are clearly people I would call my friends, but they are only a few. It is not realistic to be friends with riders or team members, as at some point, our interests will clash, and that will place a strain on the relationship. To put it crudely, if a rider sucks, or a team makes a stupid decision, I have to feel able to write about it without fear of spoiling a friendship.
There are riders I have a good relationship with, there are mechanics, crew chiefs, PR staff that I have a good relationshp with, and there are riders and mechanics I have a very bad relationship with. Whatever the relationship, I attempt to keep it as professional as possible.
Even with other journalists, or with photographers, relationships can be tricky. After all, you can't afford to share everything you know with everyone, and so sometimes you have to be a little cagey. But it is still possible, there are a few people, perhaps five or six, that I would call real friends.
The more interesting story is who I despise. Right now, the list stands at just two names. I won't be divulging them, though.
In reply to Re: Motoshrink by David Emmett
Oooh, now that piqued the interest
The more interesting story is who I despise. Right now, the list stands at just two names. I won't be divulging them, though.
Just whisper it, David. We won't tell a soul........
In reply to Re: Motoshrink by David Emmett
Oooh, now that piqued the interest
The more interesting story is who I despise. Right now, the list stands at just two names. I won't be divulging them, though.
Just whisper it, David. We won't tell a soul........
Riders managing teams
A few riders are managing teams in smaller classes or other series (Valentino, Aleix...). Who do you think are doing the best job and should we expect to see them have the success of Aspar for example?
In reply to Riders managing teams by etienne
RE: Riders managing teams
I think Rossi is doing the best team managing the team, because he has almost no involvement with it. At the race track, he lets the team get on with it, and only turns up at Parc Fermé to celebrate. While you are still racing, you can't do both, which I fear will be Aleix Espargaro's problem.
I am most impressed with Gino Rea, though. His organizational talent is prodigious, and he has proven successful at raising sponsorship, generating money, creating a budget and working within it, and then racing. I fear his racing suffers as a result, though. Although he would be sad to hear me say it, and it is unfair of me to suggest it, I wish he would retire from racing and just manage a team. He's going to be a great team manager when he does, a lot like Lucio Cecchinello. So if you want someone to cheer for in Moto2, cheer for Gino Rea, just for the hard work he puts in on a very tight budget.
In reply to RE: Riders managing teams by David Emmett
Gino Rea
I never really thought of Gino Rea as a team manager, but I guess you're right, he is one. I absolutely cheer for him especially since I one day witnessed him getting insulted on Twitter by some idiots, it increased my sympathy towards the guy. It can't be easy to do what he does. The problem though is that we barely ever see him on screen. And that's unfortunately true for most riders and sadly those are the riders who are probably most in need of sponsor therefore in need of coverage. I understand that when the leaders are battling it out at the front we won't be shown the back of the field, but on many days the front is just a boring procession. Why can't we then see the many battles going on throughout the rest of the field ?
Suzuki
You've spoken here in the past about Suzuki's lack of serious investment in its MotoGP effort. How does it look like so far and what results to you predict for Aleix and Maverick next year(s)?
In reply to Suzuki by etienne
Re: Suzuki
I still fear that Suzuki will not spend the money that they need to, but I have to say I have been pleasantly surprised at the pace of the bike so far. It is a better bike than I expected, and is already pretty good. The question is whether Suzuki are willing to spend what it takes to close the gap completely.
This is the biggest problem in all forms of racing. The cost of getting from 90-95% is tiny in comparison to the cost of getting from 99-100%. Finding the last few hundredths can cost more than getting to within a second of the fastest bikes.
Honestly, though, I am optimistic. It looks more like Suzuki will get the bike to a point where the talent of a rider like Viñales or Aleix Espargaro can actually make the difference. But it will be tough to beat the current top four on a bike which isn't as good as the Honda or Yamaha.
One last one before midnight
Will the SBK Honda be competitive next year? Does Sylvain stand a chance? Was Johny Rea right to bail? (OK that was 3 :))
In reply to One last one before midnight by etienne
Re: Honda WSBK
No, no, and yes. The Pata Honda team are stuck with an uncompetitive CBR1000RR for at least another year. With the coming of the SP, the bike isn't as handicapped as it was in the past, but it's still slow.
Battles .....
Just a thought that if Valentino and Jorge, both of them are given exactly what they believe will help them the most in their riding. Excellent braking for rossi and maximum edge grip a tyre can provide for lorenzo. Who will win against the other and will also be able to beat Marc (he is not required to get anything coz he is on the best bike plus he never said that he requires this or that to go fast) ??.
I personally believe that if #46 or #99 had their desired things on their bikes they can beat marc coz since he debuted he never faced any kind of lacking in his bike as he always had the best but the other two had to make up for what they lost. So in an even playing field and on a track like mugello on which all three have won, who would prevail over the other two and why ??
In reply to Battles ..... by 99bunny
Re: Battles
I think you are badly underestimating the talent of Marc Marquez.
I think if both Yamaha riders had the bike they believe they need to be competitive, they would still have difficulty beating Marquez. But then again, Marquez would have more difficulty beating them. In other words, it would be a fantastic contest.
Fuel limits in wet races
Measuring the fuel tank capacity is straightforward, but how do they tell how much fuel they have used in a wet race, when the rider can come in and change bikes any time after it's declared wet?
In reply to Fuel limits in wet races by v2rider
Re: fuel limits in wet races
There is a common misconception about the fuel limits in wet races. Contrary to popular belief, there is no limit on the amount of fuel that may be used in the race. What is limited is the size of the fuel tank. The rules read:
In case of a wet race, or a flag-to-flag race, riders have a theoretical fuel allowance of 40 liters (2 bikes, each with a fuel tank of 20 liters). However, the extra fuel is not relevant, as the pace is dictated by conditions, rather than the amount of fuel available. The set up for a wet bike includes a much softer fuel map, which uses a lot less fuel. It is also much harder to use full acceleration in the wet, which is what uses the fuel.
So the short answer is, it is not policed, because it does not apply. And it does not apply, because it is not really relevant.
An interesting hypothetical question is what would happen if bike swaps were allowed in dry races. Would it be possible to build a fire-breathing bike which used far more fuel to go fast enough to benefit from a bike swap? Given that a pit stop and bike swap costs between 30 and 50 seconds, the bike would have to be well over a second a lap faster. I don't believe those kind of gains are possible just from having more fuel to burn.
In reply to Re: fuel limits in wet races by David Emmett
Thanks
Thanks for the clarification David. The wording of the rules really matters, as ever.
Another interesting scenario would be a dry-wet-dry race. We've come close a couple of times to this but haven't had it yet. If a sudden shower hit 5 or 6 laps into the race, the riders swap bikes, then 8 laps later it stops and the track dries quickly, how would the lap times compare in the second dry spell, when they can use all the fuel they want? It'd certainly be an interesting race, albeit more than a bit chaotic. A lot would depend on whether the teams had time to play with the dry bike's settings while the rider is out on the wet bike.
A wet-dry race would have some elements of the scenario above, but the times would not be so easily comparable; you'd have to be looking at FP, WUP or QP times instead of race times.
Who has the best hospitality
Who has the best hospitality for a journalist? ;) (Might want to ping Jared on this)
-jim
In reply to Who has the best hospitality by Jim Race
Re: Best hospitality
That's easy. The Philip Morris hospitality unit, where Ducati hold their press debriefs, has the best food. But the Marc VDS hospitality has the best coffee!
Rider talent vs style
Who are the most talented riders you've seen in MotoGP? And what are your thoughts on rider styles - as in do you think riding style is important when it comes to riding certain bikes or is it really just a matter of talent and determination when it comes to riding any MotoGP bike?
In reply to Rider talent vs style by Machine
Re: Rider talent
The most talented riders I've personally seen in MotoGP are the current top 4, plus Casey Stoner. All of them, Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa, Marc Marquez, Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, have earned their places in the history books. A truly talented generation.
Good question about riding style. Clearly, riding style matters. Your style may happen to suit a particular bike, or configuration, or technology. One of the most remarkable things about Valentino Rossi is how he has adapted his style through many changes of technology, from 500cc two strokes, to 990cc four strokes, the reduction to 800cc and now the increase to 1000cc, as well as the switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tires.
In the end, though, it comes down to finding a way to extract maximum performance out of a particular bike. Sometimes, that happens naturally, as a result of someone's riding style, but in the really special cases, a rider will find a non-obvious way to get the best out of a bike. That is always the most spectacular to watch.
seamless tranny
I think it's crazy that the development and maintenance costs for seamless transmissions has been allowed to continue this long. Aren't we now pushing for better parity and closer racing to increase the spectacle of the show? Smaller teams will never be capable of affording the technology and associated engineers to service them. Why is there no push for reversing the rule against a dual clutch transmission? Something that has already shown up in road-going motorcycles and is comparatively cheap.
Looks like I missed this one
I have been a bit busy with some end of the semester work and the fact that there is a timing difference made me miss the Q and A. But Sir Emmett let me congratulate you on this great new initiative, reading the questions and the answers to those has been quite illuminating. You say you do not have business acumen, but let me tell you that your passion for motorcycle racing allows you to come up with some really good ideas (like the Q and A) and that is what will keep your endeavour going. Passion cannot make up for money but it does make it possible to find some money at least. Congratulations on this wonderful website that you run and my sincere prayer is that you should prosper and expand the gamut of coverage of different categories of motorcycle racing. All the best to you and thank you for what you bring to an old motorcycle and motorcycle racing fan like me.
I do not have a question, I'm
I do not have a question, I'm just here to express my pleasure at reading your answers David. Excellent reading as usual!
Thank You!!
Thank you David for the interesting, in depth answers and for everybody's excellent questions. The subscribers of this site are indeed a step beyond the average fan...Well Done!
What's the most impressive tech you've seen?
Hi David,
Not sure if this is still running, but if so what's the most impressive piece of technology you've seen? Some of the components in these bikes are pure art. What's given you the biggest kick to see and/or hold? What would you like to have held or seen more closely, but were not allowed?
Thanks David
Your insight in to motorcycle racing, the psyche of the pilot and the business side of the sport we all love so much is unmatched. Please do one of these "ask Me Anything" pieces again soon.
Best,
American Highside.