MotoGP 2013

[DidJit]

From the combined results...

I wasn't really knocking them. They are what they are — able to fill the grid and not embarrass themselves. Initially, I was an optimist about the CRTs a year or so ago and had as much enthusiasm about the concept as you seem to now, but after watching them struggle for a year with not much (if any) development going into them (because the teams fielding them don't have those sorts of budgets), I've just accepted that... they are what they are. Ask any of the riders atop them and I'm sure they'd prefer to be astride a prototype. There's an interview with Randy de Puniet about his thoughts on them somewhere on the internet — not this one, but it'll do — where he explains the differences from his point of view. Michael Laverty (who was impressive on his debut) also had a few words about them.

[roogazza]

What Yamaha and Honda look to be doing next year is a far better bet.

Yeah P, that would seem to a better way to go and of course it has been done in the past with intro of production racers such as tz500s and rg 500s, rs 500 hondas.
I could see that working well if it comes to pass.The incentive is always there to step up to the 'Works" bikes.

[DidJit]

Just a matter of accumulating the necessary $$$s (as it always is)...

[Mental Trousers]

I agree. Doesn't mean I think CRT is the answer. What Yamaha and Honda look to be doing next year is a far better bet.

The only reason Yamaha and Honda are actually going to do this is because Dorna have been threatening to change the rules and take away all of their advantages, basically turning the entire series into a CRT based one. Without the pressure Dorna are putting on through having the CRT's on the grid Yamaha and Honda would never again build customer bikes or engines.

As amazing as the prototypes are you can't have a 2 team series and expect it to be popular and profitable.

[Crasherfromwayback]

The only reason Yamaha and Honda are actually going to do this is because Dorna have been threatening to change the rules and take away all of their advantages, basically turning the entire series into a CRT based one. Without the pressure Dorna are putting on through having the CRT's on the grid Yamaha and Honda would never again build customer bikes or engines.

.

And that's fine. I don't really mind how/why. Just be glad to see it happen.

[eelracing]

Yeah P, that would seem to a better way to go and of course it has been done in the past with intro of production racers such as tz500s and rg 500s, rs 500 hondas.
I could see that working well if it comes to pass.The incentive is always there to step up to the 'Works" bikes.

Totally agree Roog as can remember Gardner,Mamola,Haslam,Baldwin etc earning Works rides on the back of their performances on the venerable RS500.Something CRT riders hav'nt a hope in hell of earning.
Lets not forget The Harris and Roc Yamahas as well...so good in fact that Rainey used the Roc chassis in his final year.

Actually the era between the RS and Roc Bikes was a golden age so maybe it's a def step in the right direction for the future? Heres hoping eh.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Actually the era between the RS and Roc Bikes was a golden age so maybe it's a def step in the right direction for the future? Heres hoping eh.

Indeed mate!

[tail_end_charlie]

I wasn't really knocking them. They are what they are — able to fill the grid and not embarrass themselves. Initially, I was an optimist about the CRTs a year or so ago and had as much enthusiasm about the concept as you seem to now, but after watching them struggle for a year with not much (if any) development going into them (because the teams fielding them don't have those sorts of budgets), I've just accepted that... they are what they are. Ask any of the riders atop them and I'm sure they'd prefer to be astride a prototype. There's an interview with Randy de Puniet about his thoughts on them somewhere on the internet — not this one, but it'll do — where he explains the differences from his point of view. Michael Laverty (who was impressive on his debut) also had a few words about them.

Interesting articles there from RDP and Laverty. Like you said, I'm sure everyone would prefer a prototype to a CRT, but if it is a choice between CRT or nothing, that seems pretty easy as well.

Development: Yeah, that is a more difficult road to hoe. While running a CRT allows the teams to modify and work on the bikes as they see fit, this is a far cry from the satellite teams that can't hardly touch their bikes and end up giving them back at the end of the year. I'm sure development is also a little stunted as people wait to see what will change with the rules for next year, ect.

Optimistic about CRT? I dunno. To be honest, I don't like the fact that there is so much difference between them. And I don't really think that there is any chance in hell of a CRT bike winning a race (though I will admit to jumping up and down cheering on Aleix at Valencia last year when he lead the race!). But I do find the combinations interesting, and I do think that they are making a valuable contribution to the racing overall.

[tail_end_charlie]

The only reason Yamaha and Honda are actually going to do this is because Dorna have been threatening to change the rules and take away all of their advantages, basically turning the entire series into a CRT based one. Without the pressure Dorna are putting on through having the CRT's on the grid Yamaha and Honda would never again build customer bikes or engines.

As amazing as the prototypes are you can't have a 2 team series and expect it to be popular and profitable.

That in of itself makes the CRT worthwhile I think.

[tail_end_charlie]

Totally agree Roog as can remember Gardner,Mamola,Haslam,Baldwin etc earning Works rides on the back of their performances on the venerable RS500.Something CRT riders hav'nt a hope in hell of earning.
Lets not forget The Harris and Roc Yamahas as well...so good in fact that Rainey used the Roc chassis in his final year.

Actually the era between the RS and Roc Bikes was a golden age so maybe it's a def step in the right direction for the future? Heres hoping eh.

And why wouldn't a standout performance on a CRT lead to a rider being picked up by a prototype team (either factory or satellite). I would think that teams that might have a seat open for 2014 would be keeping an interested eye on Aleix this year, seeing as how well he went last year.

[tail_end_charlie]

Oh yeah, and a look under the fairings of the 2013 Yamaha YXR-M1 shows an interesting development on the frame package.

Too bad I can't read Italian for the original article.

[eelracing]

And why wouldn't a standout performance on a CRT lead to a rider being picked up by a prototype team (either factory or satellite). I would think that teams that might have a seat open for 2014 would be keeping an interested eye on Aleix this year, seeing as how well he went last year.

I would agree but the riders I mentioned were more consistently battling the works boys because of the type of machinery they were riding, ie closer to factory bikes,not some halfarsed proddy bike.
I'm interested to know if you really think the satellite teams get to choose their riders in this current Dorna age?
Because as we all damn sure know the grid does'nt need another fucking Spaniard on a works bike.

[tail_end_charlie]

I would agree but the riders I mentioned were more consistently battling the works boys because of the type of machinery they were riding, ie closer to factory bikes,not some halfarsed proddy bike.

Ah, ok. I haven't been following MotoGP for that long, so I'm really not familar at all with the 500 GP days.

I'm interested to know if you really think the satellite teams get to choose their riders in this current Dorna age?
Because as we all damn sure know the grid does'nt need another fucking Spaniard on a works bike.

I would like to think that the satellite teams get the say in who they hire to ride for them. Maybe I'm being a bit naive about how much influence Dorna has, but I don't think that they tell the teams who will ride for them. As far as the distribution of riders goes:

6 - Spainish
5 - Italians
3 - Brits
3 - Americans
1 - Columbian
1 - Aussie
1 - German
1 - Frenchman
1 - Chech
1 - Japanese

So yes, there are a lot of Spanish and Italians (those two nationalities make up half the grid), but I would also hazard a guess to say that the Spanish also do the best job of nuturing young riders and preparing them to make it in the upper echelons of motorcycle racing. I would imagine that the old man, Carmen Expolusia (whatever the f*** his name is, too lazy to look it up), has some recommendations to the satellite teams on who they may want to look at (and what nationalities), but I can't believe that he is telling them specifically who to hire.

[pritch]

Because as we all damn sure know the grid does'nt need another fucking Spaniard on a works bike.

Amen brother. I wonder how they'll fit Vinales and Espagero in next year?

Ooops! I'm promoting maverick prematurely, he'll probably graduate in 2015?

[Crasherfromwayback]

Amen brother. I wonder how they'll fit Vinales and Espagero in next year?

How 'bout a Frog with a hot GF on a Suzuki then?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130214b.htm