MotoGP 2018

**Mental Trousers** · 10th January 2018, 21:40

Originally Posted by WALRUS

I'm just hoping they continue to develop it! Moto2 was pretty good in the first couple of years, all new and exciting, but then it sort of plataeu'd off IMHO.. The racing was still pretty close most of the time but there wasn't much development beyond some fairing changes and by the end of last year, pretty much everyone was just riding a Kalex chassis bike instead of the 15+ "different" bikes that were in the first season

It's a fact. I was hoping to see all sorts of developments, especially getting away from the twin beam + telescopic forks layout. But instead we've ended up with a series that could've been designed by accountants.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 10th January 2018, 21:54

Originally Posted by WALRUS

I'm just hoping they continue to develop it! Moto2 was pretty good in the first couple of years, all new and exciting, but then it sort of plataeu'd off IMHO.. The racing was still pretty close most of the time but there wasn't much development beyond some fairing changes and by the end of last year, pretty much everyone was just riding a Kalex chassis bike instead of the 15+ "different" bikes that were in the first season

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

It's a fact. I was hoping to see all sorts of developments, especially getting away from the twin beam + telescopic forks layout. But instead we've ended up with a series that could've been designed by accountants.

It's shit, and has been since it's inception. Sometimes, winding the clock back is ok. ;-)

**eelracing** · 11th January 2018, 04:19

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

It's a fact.It was designed by accountants.

Fixed that for you MT.

**pritch** · 11th January 2018, 08:59

The rules permit all sorts of weird and wonderful frame and steering designs, but the team managers are very conservative - and risk averse. The result must be the most uniform class ever.
Suter had announced their withdrawal from the class which would have made it even less diverse but at least one team requested they stay.

International racing being a bit quiet at the moment I've been watching what Lyndon Poskitt has been getting up to at the Dakar. He is planning to record his race, currently he is up to episode 7 which covers up to stage 3. How much coverage we get will depend on how long he can stick around. He was 2nd in class last year, currently 3rd.

It can be followed on Youtube by checking: Lyndon Poskitt Racing: Races to Places - Dakar Rally 2018

**WALRUS** · 11th January 2018, 12:01

Originally Posted by pritch

It can be followed on Youtube by checking: Lyndon Poskitt Racing: Races to Places - Dakar Rally 2018

That's really cool, I'll check it out after work!

I'd love to see more experimentation and development across all three of the prototype classes... I was excited when "winglets" started to be a thing but even they got (semi)canned.. At least Aprilia followed through and started releasing them available on Production models (or will be soon).

I fully agree with MT.. It'd be sweet to see someone try something which isn't conventional but I don't think it'll ever happen.. At the end of the day, what wins will make money, why gamble that on something new or exciting which could either change the world or fail epically? It's all accountants and beuocracy these days... We need another John Britten to come up with an idea and go against the grain and succeed before anything major will change, I suspect. Other than the development of E Bikes, the motorcycle hasn't had a big shake up since the early 90's as far as I can tell.. I remember watching or reading an interview with Guy Martin about riding the Mugen at the TT Zero, saying he was excited to finally be riding something different from every other bike!

I'm watching the Crighton CR700P with interest but all their prototypes keep getting pinched so I'm not holding my breath :P I doubt it'd ever get into GP's anyway but I'd love it if it could!

**Autech** · 12th January 2018, 14:25

Originally Posted by pritch

Suter had announced their withdrawal from the class which would have made it even less diverse but at least one team requested they stay.

Didn't I read somewhere that the deal fell through? Would be a shame but as Kalex and KTM are both going to be massively dominant this year you can see why the teams wouldn't want to back a Suter.

We should all get together in a barn sometime a design a chassis for Moto2 and question everything while getting slowly hammered. I'm thinking square wheels, wooden chassis to give good flex (Kauri to give it a kiwi touch). Suspension will be one of those whoopy tubes that makes noises when you tilt it side to side.

Then we will get CWB to ride it for us as he's already crashed lots so wont mind crashing some more during development. Added amusment will be the whoopy nosies as the bike flips end over end

**Mental Trousers** · 12th January 2018, 14:48

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2017/1...om-2018/247973

Safety = good
Compulsory = bad

**george formby** · 12th January 2018, 16:04

Are the current Aliens wearing these leathers? I recall seeing crashes a season or three ago where the rider got up doing a Hulk impersonation, but I have not noticed if that is still the case. They don't look buff after a bin.

**Mental Trousers** · 15th January 2018, 13:35

Originally Posted by george formby

Are the current Aliens wearing these leathers? I recall seeing crashes a season or three ago where the rider got up doing a Hulk impersonation, but I have not noticed if that is still the case. They don't look buff after a bin.

You can tell if there's a LED somewhere on the suit. But most of the MotoGP riders already do wear the airbag suits so it's essentially formalizing something that's already happening.

**george formby** · 15th January 2018, 14:18

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

You can tell if there's a LED somewhere on the suit. But most of the MotoGP riders already do wear the airbag suits so it's essentially formalizing something that's already happening.

Cheers. I guess the tech is improving rapidly.