Control tyre for NZSBK

[wharfy]

It would be good if there was a rule like only 3 sets of tyres for the whole weekend

For nationals i reakon ill need prob 5 sets a week (ill have maybe 2) so thats $10k just for tyres thats not including wets...

Fark good job I'm in no danger of getting kicked out of clubmans anytime soon !!!

[roogazza]

Fark good job I'm in no danger of getting kicked out of clubmans anytime soon !!!

Shssssh , Wharfy, they'll catch on and want us on control tyres next ! G.

ps I think we're the happiest class in road racing , are we not ?

[cs363]

Well intentioned but misguided and short sighted meddling by MNZ (or more to the point, one individual there who should know better).

Limiting tyres to one brand in the premier class will alienate many wholesalers who not only supply tyres, but other parts and apparel thereby potentially limiting sponsorship opportunities and possibly even raising costs.
We are not talking about big tyre brands as in WSBK etc but in reality small businesses that distribute a brand or two of tyres amongst their other wares.
Banning suspension modifications is just sheer stupidity as there are huge disparities between brands as Robert T has pointed out, this doesn't just affect handling but tyre wear as well.
Not only that but there are issues with varying rider weights and abilities that will be directly affected by having to run stock suspension - simply changing spring weights to suit as has been suggested is a band aid fix at best.
Not only will money spent on suspension and tyres equate to faster lap times (invariably more so than equal or greater amounts spent on engine mods) but greater safety.
It seems MNZ have fallen into the trap of thinking like our present government; 'if it sounds good in theory it must be so' and not going any further down the thought process track....
The suggestion of just limiting these bikes to slip on exhausts rather than full systems is laughable too - are they not aware that slip on's aren't available for some models, only full systems? So presumably the bikes that you can't buy slip-on's for would be limited to stock exhausts??
Not only that but if this is a cost limiting move then MNZ need to get out more and price some OEM exhausts versus aftermarket.
Regardless of any of the arguments for or against control tyres or suspension mods and even performance mods the simple fact remains that the cream will always rise to the top - the same names will still be out front.
If anyone has talent but no $$ then they need to get off their arses and go and get sponsorship -and no, that's not easy but then if it was everyone would be doing it!
On that note too - if you want sponsorship it takes more than sending a pretty picture and a letter to a potential sponsor telling them how expensive it will be to go racing this season, do you think they really give a big fat rats arse?
What they want to hear is what you will do for them to increase their brand exposure. I don't see too many guys on the motorcycle front going to the lengths that many of the car racing fraternity go to to get exposure for their sponsors. (Don't get me wrong, there are notable exceptions - as with every generalisation!)
Racing is hard work and unfortunately a huge percentage of that is working for your sponsors, vastly outnumbering the time spent racing.
Anyway, that's my 2 cents spent for now...