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Five Different Champions, Five Different Machines

By Kropotkin | Tue, 14/10/2008 - 20:39

Over the past few weeks, it seems as if almost the entire world has been wallowing in doom and gloom. The world's financial system is being shaken to its core, jobs are disappearing all around the world, and Conquest, War, Famine and Death stalk the face of the planet.

Even in the cosy corner of the world occupied by reckless young men and improbably fast motorcycles, things have not been well. The motorcycling press, including this website, has been filled with stories of the end of motorcycle racing as we know it. MotoGP has gone to a single tire, the 250 class is set to disappear and World Superbikes is likely to start banning technology already available on the street bikes the class is based on. Even the two-wheeled world seems to have boarded the handbasket and set course for Hades.

So it behoves us to stand still for a moment to mark a significant fact. Of the five global road race championships which are contested at the behest of the FIM, all have been (or will be) won aboard a different brand of motorcycle. Valentino Rossi wrapped up the MotoGP title aboard his Yamaha M1, while Mike di Meglio clinched the 125cc title on a Derbi. In the World Superbike series, Troy Bayliss took his third World Superbike title on his third different Ducati, and in the World Supersport series, Andrew Pitt prolonged Ten Kate's dominance snatching the title on a Honda. The only title still left open, in the 250cc world championship, will go to either Marco Simoncelli on a Gilera, or if Simoncelli makes a serious mistake, Alvaro Bautista on an Aprilia.

Though cynics and pedants might argue that the Derbi, Gilera and Aprilia are all produced in the same workshop at Aprilia's HQ in Noale, Italy, that detracts little from the fact that a different manufacturer has won each title. Indeed, it is a testament to the breadth of engagement in motorcycle racing that so many manufacturers have managed to win titles. For so many different marques to win, even more must take part.

And this is a reflection on the underlying strength of motorcycle racing. With the four major Japanese factories plus Ducati active in MotoGP, Aprilia, Gilera, Derbi and KTM fielding factory bikes in the smaller classes, BMW and Aprilia about to enter World Superbikes alongside the big five, and Triumph taking their first tentative steps - albeit at a remove - in World Supersport, that means that ten motorcycle manufacturers are actively engaged in racing at world championship level.

The world might be crumbling around us, but fortunately for us, the world's motorcycle manufacturers are not prepared to go down without a fight. There's still plenty of racing left to come.

 

Aprilia
Ducati
Honda
Yamaha
Gilera
Derbi
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Comments

Profile picture for user Jim Race

Jim Race

14 years 3 months ago

Permalink

How DARE you insult us with

How DARE you insult us with optimism.

-jim

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Kropotkin

14 years 3 months ago

Permalink

In reply to How DARE you insult us with by Jim Race

It won't happen again...

Sorry Jim! It's straight back to the Slough of Despond from here on in! 

 

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Profile picture for user marvoging

marvoging

14 years 3 months ago

Permalink

..and Conquest, War, Famine

..and Conquest, War, Famine and Death stalk the face of the planet. ..but fortunately for us..

That's cheered me right up Krop!

 

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sTTevie

14 years 3 months ago

Permalink

don't forget Suzuki!

Kropotkin,

you forgot that other 'major' FIM backed World Championship, the World Endurance Championship!

Yet again won by Suzuki, last month during the Bol d'Or, under management of the great Frenchman Dominique Meliand.

That makes it 6 different winners in 2008.

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Kropotkin

14 years 3 months ago

Permalink

In reply to don't forget Suzuki! by sTTevie

Thanks for pointing that out!

Good point. I had considered the World Endurance Championship, but decided to limit myself to just the sprint championships. But the point still stands, and congratulations to Suzuki for winning possibly the toughest series in motorcycle racing.

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