Dorna issues Suzuki with MotoGP ultimatum

[Bob]

Dorna boss Carmelo Ezpeleta has issued an ultimatum to Suzuki, demanding that they commit to returning to MotoGP for three years from 2014… or not at all.

Suzuki had hoped to re-join the series in 2014 on a ‘staggered’ contract, which would see them trial a new bike before dropping out in 2015 to make adjustments for a full return in 2016. But Dorna representatives are said to have warned Suzuki they need to commit to three full seasons – as have Ducati, Honda and Yamaha.

[Gremlin]

Excellent way to increase your numbers... be rigid and unbending...

[jim.cox]

If Dorna keeps this up, MotoGp will become as irrelevant and unexciting as Formula 1 cars....

[HenryDorsetCase]

If Dorna keeps this up, MotoGp will become as irrelevant and unexciting as Formula 1 cars....

irrelevant? in what sense?

and unexciting? really?


Yes, it appears Dorna are fuckwits.

Great opinion piece by Kevin Cameron in the current (Dec '12) Cycle World.

[James Deuce]

If Dorna keeps this up, MotoGp will become as irrelevant and unexciting as Formula 1 cars....

It's already irrelevant and will be boring once Stoner finishes.

Superbikes are the way forward, provided they go back to being lightly modified street bikes.

[onearmedbandit]

I'm the biggest Suzuki fan I know, and I can't wait to see them back in MotoGP. But there is some history here where Carmelo Ezpeleta went out of his way considerably to accommodate Suzuki, and they repaid that favour to him by initially going down to one bike, then dropping out completely. I can kind of understand his position if those reports were true.

[fatbastd]

Why the hell should it matter? MotoGP is a shadow of the former 500GP's and isn't exactly scintilating...small grids, etc. ANY extra bike on the grid, for however long, under whatever circumstances, however irregulalrly would add to the spectacle, as long as it met the quallifying cutoff times..

Dorna has head up arse.

[onearmedbandit]

Why the hell should it matter? MotoGP is a shadow of the former 500GP's and isn't exactly scintilating...small grids, etc. ANY extra bike on the grid, for however long, under whatever circumstances, however irregulalrly would add to the spectacle, as long as it met the quallifying cutoff times..

Dorna has head up arse.

I remember quite empty looking grids back in the 500 days, it wasn't all rosey back then either. And slow bikes don't add to the spectacle.

[Rcktfsh]

It's already irrelevant and will be boring once Stoner finishes.

Superbikes are the way forward, provided they go back to being lightly modified street bikes.

Boring is a little harsh but GP riders on Superbikes can put on a pretty good show.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCklVVSk3nM

[James Deuce]

No it isn't and if Marquez does a Rossi, it will get more tedious.

[actungbaby]

I remember quite empty looking grids back in the 500 days, it wasn't all rosey back then either. And slow bikes don't add to the spectacle.

I was going say the same thing it was waynes and kevin show in the late 80s

Only few riders seemed to be able to ride those beasts to the limit

[actungbaby]

I was going say the same thing it was waynes and kevin show in the late 80s

Only few riders seemed to be able to ride those beasts to the limit

In the finish the 250s where improving more in lap times

I think suzuki will be back but gee whats this for holding gun to there heads

Its not like dorna going pay the teams wages

[onearmedbandit]

Its not like dorna going pay the teams wages

Actually, they kind of do. Dorna pay lump sums to the manufacturers to show up. Now whether they are offering support like that to Suzuki I don't know.

[AllanB]

It used to be about the racing. Soooooo regulated now.