MNZ AGM, anyone got any news?

[gixerracer]

You still wouldn't be fast on it...not with your mass...Your winning my poll at the moment...and its not even about you!! http://www.kiwibiker.co.nz/forums/sh...post1129763561

lololololololololololololololololololololololololo . Got 2 be the 1st poll i ever won

[Kevin G]

Hi all.
Remember it is just a proposal and it is opened to all parties to have a say once posted on the MNZ web site as per the rule change process. It is not a done deal. Lots of good points have been raised, make sure you compile your views and make a submission when called for.

Good discussion keep it up.

Kevin Goddard
Board Member MNZ

[slowpoke]

So just hand the GP 250 riders a couple of $10 30mm (or whatever) restrictors and say "Fit em and come on in!". Easy. We should be figuring out ways to include bikes and vary the grid in our only Formula class, not narrow it down.

So what about the shorter 3 race propoasl and qualifying via Superpole? If I was a spectator who hadn't been along for a few years it would certainly have me think about going along again. I'd be rapt to see the Cole/Smith/Sketchy and Stroud/Bugden/Shirriffs type battles 3 times instead of just 2.

Can't wait to see the new race series schedule. Well done to MNZ for making some changes, the interest is building already. Oh yeah, can you please let me know who to send a copy of my work roster to so you can schedule everything accordingly.......it's all about me dontcha know!

[Kevin G]

What and where would such restrictors be placed...I am starting regret my wording already.....

[Shaun]

What and where would such restrictors be placed...I am starting regret my wording already.....

This IS NOT a good idea Kevin!!!!

These are 2 strokes, so messing with restrictors, will probally cause a LOT of MECHANICAL failures, as there are NOT MANY cleaver 2 stroke tuners left out there mate

[k14]

Yeah agree, GP bikes are very very highly tuned machines and interferring with anything in the inlet or exhaust system is steering at disaster. As many of us already can attest, a 2 stroke siezure can be very painful!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Yeah agree, GP bikes are very very highly tuned machines and interferring with anything in the inlet or exhaust system is steering at disaster. As many of us already can attest, a 2 stroke siezure can be very painful!

No worse than a dirty old four stroke putting a leg out of bed.

[Kevin G]

I am very aware of the pitfalls but thought I should ask in case I am dumber than I thought! I assumed Mr. Slowpoke might know something about it to make such a comment.
There are still a few players around in the two stroke scene...now where did I park that NXA.

[Ivan]

Im just thinking out loud here and probably is a dumb idea but if enough 250 guys turn up why not run a sperate championship for them inside that one race? like pro twin allready is, So you would have sportsbike pro twin and 250gp

That way mr Joe Bloggs on his cbr400 doesnt get put off racing by mr Joseph Bloggys out there on his 2002 Honda RS125 GP bike and only beating him by straight line speed etc

Just an idea and probably a stupid one at that but worth putting my voice out here for you guys to consider

[steveyb]

Im just thinking out loud here and probably is a dumb idea but if enough 250 guys turn up why not run a sperate championship for them inside that one race? like pro twin allready is, So you would have sportsbike pro twin and 250gp

That way mr Joe Bloggs on his cbr400 doesnt get put off racing by mr Joseph Bloggys out there on his 2002 Honda RS125 GP bike and only beating him by straight line speed etc

Just an idea and probably a stupid one at that but worth putting my voice out here for you guys to consider

It's a great idea in principle Ivan, but the unfortunate side was that until a couple of years ago we had a 250GP national championship, but riders simply stopped turning up.
In 2009 we had 2 GP bikes and one 250 proddie bike enter the 250GP Grand Prix. This year one 250Proddie bike entered so it was not run.
I think that is the reality of that situation really.
There is some traction being gained by a new GP riders group, so you never know, but I do not see it soon at NZSBK.
But, there is precedent, in the UK.
They canned their 250GP championship a few years back, but through lobbying and support it has been ressurected and seems to be doing OK now.
The 250 championship seems to be going well in the USA through USGPRU.
My feeling is that there are not enough modern 250s in NZ at the moment to make the championship class viable again, but with a mixture of 350s, 250s, 250 Proddies and 125's there could be scope for GP bike events or mixed class races at other events, such as Taupo Roadrace Spectacular and Tri-Series.

But what I like most is the passion with which so many people are speaking about this proposal.
Clearly many of them are not GP bike riders, but it means that people are passionate about these bikes even if they do not ride them themselves.

At the risk of creating more ire and heated discussion, I have had a bit of a look through Mylaps as much as I could to compare 250GP laptimes with current F3 laptimes.
We should bare in mind that what Fatty Shirrifs says is right, very few top NZ riders will divert their attentions from 600 or SBK to race 250s in F3/Sportbike.
So, the riders that will be on 250s in general terms, are those who are a bit older of spirit, larger of stomach (like Craig), and not the best young riders, although I think they should, but that is just my opinion. And the riders we have seen on 250GPs over the last 5 years or so of the championship were those types of riders. Good or even very good, but older and mixed in with enthusiasts and not so good riders. This is unlikely to change, in my opinion, except if some of the current 125GP riders progress onto 250GP rather than 600.
Anyway, the current F3 laptimes at NZSBK are virtually the same as 250GP laptimes of the past 5-7 years.
People will say, ah but so and so went faster than that, those riders were shit etc etc.
But the reality is that the riders that have ridden 250s over the past 5-7 years are the types of riders that will ride them in the future.
Hence, I feel that if 250GP bikes are included in Sportbike, I think that they will be very similar in terms of performance and that it will make the class just that much more interesting.
But as I have said previously, I do think that at least to start with, there should be age limits on the bikes with Honda up to 2000 (i.e up to NX5 model as very little that is useful can be put from the later NXA onto the NX5), and Yamaha up to 1999 5KE1 (or is it 4TW5??) model.
It is probably pretty clear that new model Hondas and especially Yamahas would be somewhat better than even the best current F3 bikes.

[Kevin G]

All it needs for a national class is six, I know Nigel has 4 already, I know of 1 other coming soon so we only need 1 more and you have a class. Will require some lobbying to get it turned back on but if the numbers are there it can happen.

[RDjase]

, but with a mixture of 350s, 250s, 250 Proddies and 125's there could be scope for GP bike events or mixed class races at other events, such as Taupo Roadrace Spectacular and Tri-Series.

350's , Sounds good to me,

Will bring out all the old TZ's, RZ's and LC's that arnt elegible for F3 now

[ttelp15]

350's , Sounds good to me,

Will bring out all the old TZ's, RZ's and LC's that arnt elegible for F3 now

Speaking of which, I know of a 1980 TZ 350 for sale. Got some history. Ex Bruce Woodley. Anyone keen? Let me know

[Ivan]

yip which is why I am saying run a class for them inside f3 then if they get the required numbers its a national class but they dont have sperate track time for 6 bikes hurtling around track at nats and it doesnt "put off" current f3 riders who dont have all the gizzmo wizz bang bikes

[lostinflyz]

yip which is why I am saying run a class for them inside f3 then if they get the required numbers its a national class but they dont have sperate track time for 6 bikes hurtling around track at nats and it doesnt "put off" current f3 riders who dont have all the gizzmo wizz bang bikes

or you could run 250gp inside 125's, as most are suggesting anyone running one would be on about their times??? (I think this is a stupid idea.........)

The trouble with multi class races is there is often no real reason to race the guy in front if their in another class, especially if crashing could hurt your position.

on the putting off side, there is a large difference between nats and club racing rules here that is an inherent problem with f3. At club level the rules don't make sense as most are not on "whizz bang bikes", with the class really being a pretty stock protwin/400 competition, while at nats the bike set is completely different. If you buy a bike to nats rules and go club racing your going to have an inherent advantage over a significant majority of the field. Down south competitive club f3 times for the podium were anywhere from 5-8 seconds off nationals pace at least. Usually theres one or maybe two under that then a gap to the 400/250 club racer brigade.