Proposed new wet tyre rule

[Kickaha]

At a MNZ meeting today and they are looking at bringing a new rule in regarding wet conditions

Rather than declaring a meeting wet and leaving it the riders to choose what tyres they will run they will look at it by a "Race by Race" situation and declare individual races "wet"

If a race is declared "wet", then wet tyres must be used (no grooved slicks)

This will apply to all classes from F1, Sidecars, to Buckets and all classes in between

Personally I am not in favour of it,any thoughts from the rest of you?

[k14]

Argh, why can't they just leave it as is. This is so annoying. All the other places in the world seem to be able to function with the same set of rules MNZ has in place fine so why do we need to change it?? If its slightly damp and someone wants to take a risk going out on slicks then thats their decision.

[Ivan]

Yip I agree with K14

[Moss 16]

So what would hapen if the track dries out on the warm up lap? like what hapend at the nationals at Teretonga when all the 125's went out on wets and raced in the dry? I cant remember the meeting being declared wet but the race before the 125's certainly was!

This will just cause more problems, because of some one falls off in a race like the above all they have to say is "you said I had to go out on wets" and the person who made the call would be responsible!

[k14]

So what would hapen if the track dries out on the warm up lap? like what hapend at the nationals at Teretonga when all the 125's went out on wets and raced in the dry? I cant remember the meeting being declared wet but the race before the 125's certainly was!

This will just cause more problems, because of some one falls off in a race like the above all they have to say is "you said I had to go out on wets" and the person who made the call would be responsible!

Yep exactly, this also happened again to the 125's at Ruapuna. Meet was declared wet and it was still a 50/50 call as to wets or slicks. In the end slicks would have been the proper choice, I decided to take a gamble and went front wet and rear slick (everyone else on the track were on full wets). Co-incidentally I lost the front on the last corner because the wet was totally torn to shreds. Those 10 laps were horrible, I lost count of the times I nearly lost the front (including a big near miss at the back straight kink doing 150 odd). The rule has the potential to be even more dangerous than the current percieved danger.

[Sketchy_Racer]

Wont someone PLEASE wrap me in bubble wrap!!

Are they soon going to be telling all 125 riders what jet to run in what conditions? because we might make a bad choice go lean and have a nasty highspeed crash.

MNZ SORT IT OUT!

-Glen

[Kickaha]

Well get on to MNZ and tell them, lobby your clubs as well, tell those who you think haven't seen this to get onto MNZ as this rule could be in very shortly, check the MNZ website to see when it's posted up and put in submissions against it

This rule has the potential to see a lot of people sitting on the sidelines at meetings or simply not bothering to take a chance at turning up if the weather is a bit dodgy

[oyster]

At this meeting we asked why MNZ would want to deviate from FIM rules.
It seemed MNZ were unaware of the FIM rules, they have also been asked on several occasions in the last month to define "wet race". There has been no reply until this meeting yesterday.

FIM have a definition of "Wet Race" and "Dry Race", whereas MNZ (at least recently) haven't. It states
"Rule 1.20.1.2
WET RACE - A race classified as wet, usually commenced in varying or wet conditions, will not be interrupted for climatic reasons and a rider who wishes to change tyres or make adjustments must enter the pits and do so during the race"

Commonly, worldwide, FIM and it's affiliates approve cut slicks at a tyre suitable for wet use. About 8 weeks ago a Superstock bike in the AMA got third on hand cut slicks, in the wet. Good enough for them surely the same for us.

The real crux of it is that MNZ is responsible for a safe environment, management, technology choice and then the rider makes THEIR decisions.

SUGGESTION
Lobby MNZ for alignment to FIM on these matters, don't mess it up with "home grown" rules.

[TonyB]

I'm surprised that MNZ are putting so much responsibility in the hands of the Steward. As far as MNZ and their responsibilities go, I thought the best situation from the 'cover-your-arse' point of veiw, would be to allow the rider to choose and be responsible for the consequences of their own choices.

From what I can make out, it looks like MNZ are making the choice for you, and are perhaps opening up a nice big can of worms.

[sidecar bob]

Possibly what MNZ are trying to do is create a level playing field where everyone is on the same tyre, & remove the skill & luck factor of choosing a tyre in fickle conditions, i dont really know.

[Shaun]

At a MNZ meeting today and they are looking at bringing a new rule in regarding wet conditions

Rather than declaring a meeting wet and leaving it the riders to choose what tyres they will run they will look at it by a "Race by Race" situation and declare individual races "wet"

If a race is declared "wet", then wet tyres must be used (no grooved slicks)

This will apply to all classes from F1, Sidecars, to Buckets and all classes in between

Personally I am not in favour of it,any thoughts from the rest of you?

This new proposed rule is total RUBBISH! The rule that has been used has worked perfectly! and there is not the experience in the race clubs to make this decision safely! They the clubs and offifuals do NOT know what the riders and teams no.

This proposed rule, is totally against the nature of our sport, and is totally against what MNZ is supposed to be doing for the riders and racing, once again time is being wasted on an issue that is NOT an issue, untill now!


please ignore and read following post

[Shaun]

MY ABOVE POSTING WAS MADE WITH OUT ME DOING ANY PROPER HOME WORK ON THIS MATTER, THIS IS MY TRUE OPINION ON IT!

I think you will find that this new suggested tyre rule is based at the 150cc learner class, where there is a lack of knoledge and set up skill involved.

This is not to say that the fantastc people that are working so hard to keep this class going, do not know what they are saying or doing, just that perhaps an out side opinion is required on this issue!

PERHAPS, a rule like the new proposed one is the safest way of dealing with this issue, it is a safety issue, and we do want to make our racing as modern and safe as we can have it for our riders and the future.

I think we will all find out in the future, that MNZ are required to look at rules based on a LEGAL aspect as well ? What if a rider ( Young and with a lack of knoledge or common sense) was to enter a race with totally the most un safe tires on his bike, and he was to be severley injured? the police and ACC and others would be involved in the investigation of this crash, and IF the rider did have non appropriate tyres for the conditions, where is the blaim going to be laid? who was at fault for allowing this to happen etc?

I now think that this conversation re this rule has good merrits, but still think the CORE classes should be allowed to make there own call re tyres to be used.

[Kickaha]

I think you will find that this new suggested tyre rule is based at the 150cc learner class, where there is a lack of knoledge and set up skill involved.

They said and they were very clear about this, that it will cover "all classes" up to and including Proddy Superbikes, 600 Supersport, Sidecars etc

[Brian d marge]

You know that feeling that you have when you see a small child stuffing things up and you just want to take charge and put it right


( Theres so much I want to say about the state of Road racing in NZ that It wont fit into this Sentence)

Stephen

[Tim 39]

so are 150's allowed to use cut slicks now? (I'm not up to date on the matter)
secondly, that rule is a load af crap in my view. At club level not everyone has spare wheels with wets, and I think this will see fewer people turning up to meetings in case it's wet.
I thought MNZ's wee line was "fostering the sport of motorcycling..." their rules dont fit with their objective.

all their new found authority over riders tyre choices is getting worse and worse.