Disclaimer: I don't actually know what I'm talking about and everything I say should be taken as words of wisdom from a armchair general/mechanic/engineer/racer.
My references to spare bikes were tongue in cheek, the reality is virtually no-one now has a spare bike.
But what needs to be taken stock of is that any ''slash and burn'' of any classes needs to take stock that already there is very little room to move, sensibly. Many suppliers of bikes and componentry / expendable componentry are ( myself included ) already doing so at a bottom line of what is sensible, perhaps over that.
In Superbike stock engines with bolt on bits such as pipes and filters, and ECUs with an engine life extending rev limit sounds eminently sensible as a very real cost cutting move. BUT and this is a big but, policing of that becomes a major issue.
And is it always about trying to cut costs even further, when everyone involved should be trying to atract more money via sponsorship or by well heeled benefactors? Not so possible from product suppliers, as above. But occassionally we see well heeled benefactors come and go, but often go. Why is that? Is it because people with money who may be prepared to spend it on supporting young talent may either be put off by those in the paddock who almost openly sneer at people with large chequebooks? Or they get ''the vibes'', very quickly. Or, overall are we not as proffessional as we should be? Those factors being the case there are plenty of other sports where they may be more welcome.
posted this on another thread and just stating what I know.
Having been a tyre importer in a previous life , I can tell you the margins that were run on race tyres was kept to a minimum where possible . The bulk of the tyre stock (MX , Road etc)carried the race stuff which was a very seasonal thing sales wise , and if you weren't the top dog , you could tie up a lot of capital in slow moving stock. Remember tyre importers are in business to sell tyres for the Joe and Joanne average motorcyclist , racing is great and great for image , but I'm sure the cost to benefits still aren't that crash hot.
The fact of the matter we made sweet F**K all on road race stuff after interest and other costs. I would imagine things aren't that different today. But it was the fact that our product did well , that we got the buzz out of it , if we had been more of a business person I guess we would never have done it.
But hey thats the way things pan out I guess.
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