It’s about time you heard the story from the other side of the fence. I believe the only people I have to answer too are my rider / my team and our sponsors. And that is the reason I am doing this…….. Because the rider in question has held his head up and coped with the whole appeal process with maturity way above his tender years. He was fully briefed on the situation and understood it as it stood. But this latest wave of “got away with it” “won on a technicality” is now taking its toll on him personally, far more than the original case. He knows how hard he had to ride to win and how much hard work went into it….. He knows it wasn’t a case of just opening the throttle and cruising away (far from it). I don’t give a rat’s arse what anybody thinks of me…… but when it effects the person I have devoted my life to for over 2 year and one of the most talented young riders we have seen for many years. I do care!
The question of “is the engine legal” was asked by all our sponsors and riders family at the beginning…and rightfully so in the circumstances! I gave them the same answer i am giving here today YES. The only person who knew it was, without ever asking the question was the rider.
Be in NO DOUBT if the bike was running such mods that have been alleged, I would have been the first to carry the can for it………… but it hasn’t and I wont.
The engine surfaces in his bike have NEVER been machined since it left Thailand/Japan or where ever it was built. The rebuild consisted of new OEM piston rings / inlet vales / gaskets & valve clearances which were all purchased through a Kawasaki agent in NZ. The only difference from when the current rider rode it last year and another rider rode it in 2012 is the exhaust can. And some replacement levers and added bling. It underwent the exact same tech checks as every other bike both this season and last.
I have now seen the full independent report carried out against specs provided from Kawasaki Japan and can say that those measurements have NO tolerance…….. Yes it surprised me too. But there is no +/- figure. The engine in question was exact to those measurements…….. How can that have been machined? It has only covered around 1800km and the surfaces didn’t even need cleaning when I rebuilt it.
Yes it has had a lot of time and money spent on it……. Best components available such as rear sets/levers/etc. Yes it has some unnecessary (in some people’s words) bling bits. All within the rules and looking the part isn’t a crime. Yes we do run a data logger on unofficial practice days and public test days……. And once again thought by some as not being in the spirit of things! Nothing to say we can’t in these circumstances. It is on public display…… unlike those in the pockets of riders leathers!!. Yes it gives us valuable info which we can use on race day….. But the rider still does the riding. Yes we are Guilty of using an on board camera…and like many others misinterpreted the rule.
I know this will mean nothing to many. It will evoke even further disgust/hatred and threats of physical harm…….. I’m neither worried nor frightened of it. But just take a long hard look at the effects it has on the young rider. My relationship with that rider his family and his sponsors is strong and true. Only we will decide which path the future takes for us.
IMHO the series was run better this year, somethings worked others didn’t. That’s called progress and development. Personally think strip downs and proper tech checks (and heaven forbid scrutineering) should take place all the time. Making that work and work fairly to all parties is something I don’t have an answer too.
Now here is my chance to start a rumour…………………… most of the rumours and statements that have been posted around this episode are in fact the truth or in fact very close to the truth in some cases. (pardon the pun) Just directed to the wrong people. There will be those who are very glad their bikes didn’t undergo the same scrutiny that our has. And just like the old days……….. The best riders are always at the front of the field….they are not always on the best bikes!. Happy to pass on the correct way to measure them if needed
Im not going to get into an internet/KB war of words with any parties…………. I have said my piece
Thank you.
Bro, are you high?
The business name being mentioned, was with no implication I can see. My initial response to reading it, was a quick stocktake of my bikes to see which one could benefit from having it done. Alas, the GL would likely just clip a valve if I lowered the head in any way. So I'm shit outa luck.![]()
Has anyone ever tried to put an eccentric gudgeon pin in a motor?
Be a bit hit and miss to locate the thing so ya didn't end up with it spinning and firing on low compression half the time, but it'd be missed in all but a very thorough inspection.
Just a random thought, been racking my brain something fierce trying to figure a method of cheating that would maybe get overlooked if a protest got lodged.
You know i'm not High. I have to race the bucket GP this weekend. Remember that other long bitchy thread about drug testing.
As far as this dispute goes. Well I feel for all involved. Especially Bailie. I really enjoyed watching him race the southern rounds. From what I saw he was fast coz he kept it pinned and rode the wheels of the bike. Well done. Look forward to watching the next 2 rounds.
why is it the entire governance of our sport is done behind closed doors? Surely there should be public (or at least member accessible) information on the causes for the original exclusion and the subsequent notes, minutes or transcript of the hearing? This shit should be readily available for everyone to draw their own opinions (or at least understand the justification for the final decisions) but i have never once seen the details of any hearing, exclusion or meeting on racing matters, except for the AGM. The only time you see any sort of information is when the rules get updated.
There's just no facts in official form so how is anyone supposed to interpret what the fucks going on without hearing it second hand.
How anyone can come to bag Merv, Ballie, the MNZ team at the round or the appeal committee just baffles the hell out of me as for all i can see is not a single person has all the facts, minutes and details of the consideration, justifications and decisions taken...
For anything race related from arai helmets, to sprockets and chains, XT Lap timers, HRC parts you name it, Kev can get it www.racesupplies.co.nz
"more than two strokes is masturbation"
www.motoparts-online.com
"more than two strokes is masturbation"
www.motoparts-online.com
2. Only OEM engine parts for the homologated model may be fitted - In the
case of overboring, only oversizes listed as genuine options in the
manufacturers partsbook for the homologated model may be used. only
gaskets of the standard thickness may be used
silly me read it as pistons, that'll learn me for interpreting the rulz my own way!!
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