MotoGP 2012

[gav]

Thats spot on. I read the other day that Bradl can't afford to get into MotoGP because his sponsors will "only" bring $2.5 million euro. So I guess that means another year for him in Moto 2.

Or sign on to ride for LCR instead?

[roogazza]

This same rational has been used to get rid of the last two pure prototype classes.I can see a pattern forming and it shits me no-end thinking of the consequences

Stop taking the piss roog.

It's bad enough having roogazza taking the urine but this is the last straw...next they'll be advocating oval tracks and safety cars,hmmmm someone should put it to DornaIt would make the racing so much more closer afterall and should drag in more fans and sponsorship.

Think you misquoted me Eel, I'm only in favour of the 24 on the grid part !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But shudder to think, maybe a full field of CRT bikes is what it'll turn into ???? hope not.

[Reckless]

Calendar is out! I added it to post 1 as well so you don't need to dig through the thread to find it!

Date, Grand Prix - Circuit
15 April, Qatar* - Doha/Losail
29 April, Spain (STC) - Jerez de la Frontera
6 May, Portugal (STC) - Estoril
20 May, France - Le Mans
3 June, Catalunya - Catalunya
17 June, Great Britain - Silverstone
30 June, Netherlands** - Assen
8 July, Germany (STC) - TBC
15 July, Italy - Mugello
29 July, United States*** - Laguna Seca
19 August, Indianapolis - Indianapolis
26 August, Czech Rep. - Brno
16 September, San Marino & Riviera di Rimini - Misano
30 September, Aragon - Motorland
14 October, Japan - Motegi
21 October, Malaysia - Sepang
28 October, Australia - Phillip Island
11 November, Valencia - Ricardo Tormo – Valencia

* Evening Race
** Saturday Race
*** Only MotoGP class
STC (Subject to the contract)
TBC (To be confirmed)

[Crasherfromwayback]

Might have to go back to Laguna and do Indy as well!

[rachprice]

'Stability should be the preferred option. MotoGP is a prototype class. Print the rules after sensible negotiation between riders, teams, manufacturers, the FIM and Dorna, and get the hell out of the way and let the teams race.'

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Nov/111111a.htm

[denill]

Bradl & LCR:

[Reckless]

Bugger this is no good if its true??

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sp...gp-withdrawal/

[Reckless]

Also found this comment interesting from Rossi

"The problem is not the material or if the engine is an important part of the chassis. It is something else like weight distribution because between aluminium and carbon there is not a lot of difference.”

here

[denill]

Why we're forced to go down the CRT path, whether we like it or not!

Suzuki's withdrawal from MotoGP illustrates perfectly why Dorna and IRTA have elected to pursue the CRT project. When the series switched to four-stroke engines in 2002, the manufacturers - assembled in the MSMA - were given control of the technical regulations, on the understanding that they would provide a plentiful supply of machines to fill the grid with. The spiralling cost of racing four-stroke engines, made exponentially worse by smaller capacities and limiting fuel to just 21 liters, saw manufacturers pull out, Aprilia leaving after just three years of four-stroke racing, Kawasaki holding on until 2008, and only fielding a single bike in 2009 after pressure from Dorna to fulfil their contract. Suzuki's withdrawal leaves just three of the original manufacturers in the series, with Honda, Yamaha and Ducati fielding factory prototypes in 2012. Without CRT, there would be just 12 bikes on the grid for 2012, the teams simply no longer able to afford the exorbitant lease prices charged by the factories for their machines, anywhere between 2.5 million and 4.5 million euros a year.>

[Reckless]

Why we're forced to go down the CRT path, whether we like it or not!

Suzuki's withdrawal from MotoGP illustrates perfectly why Dorna and IRTA have elected to pursue the CRT project. When the series switched to four-stroke engines in 2002, the manufacturers - assembled in the MSMA - were given control of the technical regulations, on the understanding that they would provide a plentiful supply of machines to fill the grid with. The spiralling cost of racing four-stroke engines, made exponentially worse by smaller capacities and limiting fuel to just 21 liters, saw manufacturers pull out, Aprilia leaving after just three years of four-stroke racing, Kawasaki holding on until 2008, and only fielding a single bike in 2009 after pressure from Dorna to fulfil their contract. Suzuki's withdrawal leaves just three of the original manufacturers in the series, with Honda, Yamaha and Ducati fielding factory prototypes in 2012. Without CRT, there would be just 12 bikes on the grid for 2012, the teams simply no longer able to afford the exorbitant lease prices charged by the factories for their machines, anywhere between 2.5 million and 4.5 million euros a year.>

Grisini Honda's first choice satellite team are hedging their bets and going CRT as well with FTR here

By golly if Ducati cant fix their woes that'll make it a two horse race between Honda and Yamaha!
And if Honda keep the gap they appear to have and improve on it as Stoner imply's here It will be a one horse race? We might even get to the possibility that Honda see the lack of competition as not worth the large investment especially if teams like Gresini and LCR stop hiring factory bikes off them by going more towards CRT and they can't get some of their investment back. If it becomes a non event up front the camera's will also drift towards where the racing is if its in the CRT bunch.
Bit of doom and gloom there but I really hope the above musings are way of the mark? Big changes and no one will really know till the racing starts?

I suppose the CRT teams have to use the control tyre. The word tyre seems to very much dominate everything now days in Moto GP. No front end feel, hard side wall, chatter, then you have the race that there was so much rubber down last season there was no passing. It just seems we are designing bikes around tyres shouldn't it be the other way round.

[roogazza]

Why we're forced to go down the CRT path, whether we like it or not!

Suzuki's withdrawal from MotoGP illustrates perfectly why Dorna and IRTA have elected to pursue the CRT project. When the series switched to four-stroke engines in 2002, the manufacturers - assembled in the MSMA - were given control of the technical regulations, on the understanding that they would provide a plentiful supply of machines to fill the grid with. The spiralling cost of racing four-stroke engines, made exponentially worse by smaller capacities and limiting fuel to just 21 liters, saw manufacturers pull out, Aprilia leaving after just three years of four-stroke racing, Kawasaki holding on until 2008, and only fielding a single bike in 2009 after pressure from Dorna to fulfil their contract. Suzuki's withdrawal leaves just three of the original manufacturers in the series, with Honda, Yamaha and Ducati fielding factory prototypes in 2012. Without CRT, there would be just 12 bikes on the grid for 2012, the teams simply no longer able to afford the exorbitant lease prices charged by the factories for their machines, anywhere between 2.5 million and 4.5 million euros a year.>

There'll be lots of jumping up and down Bill, but Motogp needs big changes. I disliked the canning of 250gp but really the moto2 racing has been a shot in the arm.
I'm sure we'll get used to it.
(haha, at least stoner will be back on the farm) !!!!!!!

[Crasherfromwayback]

We all know if they really wanted to make it cheap enough for more teams to compete, they should simply go back to 500cc two strokes.

That also limits HP etc, as there really is only so much you can get out of one with current technology.

Ban traction control while you're at it.

Sorted.

[denill]

There'll be lots of jumping up and down Bill, but Motogp needs big changes. I disliked the canning of 250gp but really the moto2 racing has been a shot in the arm.
I'm sure we'll get used to it.
(haha, at least stoner will be back on the farm) !!!!!!!

Yep, nothing stays the same, eh Gaz.

2012 will see James Ellison in Paul Bird's CRT team along with Edwards and West and it would be good to see some quick youngsters in there too.

Still can't help thinking though that it's just one step removed from WSBK and it will be interesting to compare times.

[denill]

Here's the latest 2012 MotoGP rider line up, as of November 17th:

No. Rider Bike Team
1 Casey Stoner Honda RC213V Repsol Honda
4 Andrea Dovizioso Yamaha YZR-M1 Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
5 Colin Edwards Suter / BMW NGM Forward Racing CRT
8 Hector Barbera Ducati GP12 Pramac Ducati
9 Danilo Petrucci FTR? / Aprilia IODA Racing CRT
11 Ben Spies Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha Factory Racing
13 Ant West FTR? / Aprilia Speedmaster CRT
17 Karel Abraham Ducati GP12 Cardion AB
19 Alvaro Bautista Honda RC213V San Carlo Gresini
26 Dani Pedrosa Honda RC213V Repsol Honda
35 Cal Crutchlow Yamaha YZR-M1 Monster Tech 3 Yamaha
46 Valentino Rossi Ducati GP12 Ducati Marlboro
65 Stefan Bradl Honda RC213V LCR Honda
69 Nicky Hayden Ducati GP12 Ducati Marlboro
77 James Ellison FTR? / Aprilia Paul Bird CRT
99 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha YZR-M1 Yamaha Factory Racing

Unconfirmed
51 Michele Pirro FTR / Honda CBR San Carlo Gresini CRT
68 Yonny Hernandez FTR / Kawasaki BQR CRT
22 Ivan Silva? Inmotec BQR CRT
41 Aleix Espargaro? Aprilia Mapfre Aspar CRT
14 Randy de Puniet? Aprilia Mapfre Aspar CRT
Carmelo Morales? Suter / BMW Team Laglisse CRT
Suter / BMW Team Laglisse CRT
All entries with a question mark (?) behind them are best guesses.
All unconfirmed signings without question marks are based on media reports and information from the MotoGP paddock. However, they have yet to be officially confirmed.
All riders entered under the Claiming Rule Teams regulation are marked with CRT after the team name.

[denill]

Not the way to go? Colin Edwards II recalled last year that his 990cc Yamaha factory bike had around eight to 10 electronic settings. He said his 800cc Tech 3 Yamaha satellite bike in 2010 had around 40 electronic settings.