Racing next year will be boring

[feejer222]

Moto GP Stoner dominates

WSBK Bayliss runs away (bookies refusing to give odds, first time I have seen that)

BSB Leon Haslam dominates (the only competition threw their toys out and withdrew)

AMA Dominated by the Suzuki brothers.

 

[Randy]

MotoGP could be a toss-up. Michelin got caught with their pants down this year. I think the data obtained this year will help them prepare for next year. Has Rossi committed to a tire brand yet? I think Rossi will be in win it or bin it mode next year. He gave Yamaha an ultimatum and if they don't put a good package under him, he'll go elsewhere in 09 and embarrass them.

As much as it pains me to say it, look out for Max in WSBK next year on the 1098.

BSB - agree

AMA - agree. I've been a fan of Tommy Hayden since back in his Yamaha days...I hope he picks it up a notch next year. Supersport will provide much better competition than Superbike.

 

[tstaff]

I think MotoGP will be better next year, I think Michelin will come back strong, Japanese bikes won't have camshafts, & I think Marco Melandri will be right there with Stoner.

Indy's MotoGP event will be HUGE!

AMA will be the Ben & Matt show, I think one of the factory teams needs too get out of the Dunlop box & take a chance in Superbike. Supersport & Superstock will continue to be the best racing.

My .02

 

[Randy]

Supersport & Superstock will continue to be the best racing.My .02

Agree now that Spies won't be running Superstock. Should be good for Yates and the Jordan camp, but, BB and Yamaha will be right on their heels. Too bad 2008 will be the last year for Superstock.

 

[FJR Steve]

MotoGP 2009: Stoner 1st ; Daylight 2nd ; Sunset 3rd

 

[Ronman]

There has been several articles discussing the popularity of MotoGP since the 800cc engine displacement rules went into effect. MotoGP has been wildly popular, but the 800cc limit has made the racing very predictable and boring, according to some of the article I've read. I don't recall where or when I read these articles, but they were in some moto-mag or online media.

I actually agree. It's not the same anymore, and as these articles point out, while the 800cc machines are breaking track records, they are all running the same lines, corner entries, and don't have the power to stay close enough down the straights to allow last second braking manuevers entering the corners. In other words, the limitations of the bikes has taken the rider's ability or nerve out of the equation, because the bike doesn't allow him to position himself where he needs to be in order to pass. Instead, he just holds the fastest line on the track because to not do so would slow him down and lose time on the guy in front of him. MotoGP has become follow-the-leader around the track.

This last year of WSBK was just the opposite, particularly in the closing months and then weeks of the season. It kept getting better as the races wound down because the bikes were so close, and it was a rider's talent and determination that made the difference. I'm cheering for Haga next season. This guy deserves to be champion.

 

[Randy]

There has been several articles discussing the popularity of MotoGP since the 800cc engine displacement rules went into effect. MotoGP has been wildly popular, but the 800cc limit has made the racing very predictable and boring, according to some of the article I've read. I don't recall where or when I read these articles, but they were in some moto-mag or online media.

I disagree with the notion that 800cc limits made the racing predictable and boring.

I think the new tire rules had more of an impact on the racing than the size of the engines.

Additionally, now that there is a year of R&D behind them on the 800cc engines, I think you'll be seeing drastic changes from all of the manufacturers which, hopefully, will make for some better racing.

 

[feejer222]

Of course you realise that we have left out Lorenzo....I reckon he will come strong at the start of the season, he may start crashing but if he doesnt he may well upset the apple cart towards the end of the year, so maybe not so boring after all.

I don't think Yamaha will get within reach of the Ducati so Rossi will sadly not compete with Stoner again.

I don't hold with the theory that they can just keep these 800's wide open, they still take some riding.

All on pneumatic valves next year, should lead to some oily tarmac.

 

[Ronman]

Randy,

Agreed. The tires did play a big role this year. I'm happy to hear they ditched the spec tire for 08. I'm hoping they at least raise the limit of tires allowed next year. I don't like tires being a limiting factor for the outcome of a race. Racong is typically an R&D hotbed, and by limiting specs they reduce the amount of information gleaned.

Even the riders have been outspoken against the reduced power they now have. Rossi obviously, but Stoner as well are in this group. These guys are racers, and they want the riders to be the limiting factor, not the engines and/or tires. This past year you just didn't see these guys mixing it up as in years past. And I'm not talking just about the front of the pack either, but throughout the field. Again, many of the riders attribute this to reduced power, and of course tires.

But I hope I'm wrong and you're right Randy. I really miss the action from the past few years. It will be interesting to see how off-season development of the pneumatic valves of the Japanese bikes measure up to the desmo valvetrain of the Ducs.

Feejer,

Lorenzo sometimes reminds me of Xaus. And I mean that in a good way. Fun to watch if he's having a good day.

An article by Cameron in Cycle World stated that the 980cc bikes would use full throttle approximately 12% of the time on a typical track, whereas the 800cc engines use full throttle 27% of the time. Where they can use full throttle has a lot to do with race outcome, though. Races are won not through top speed, but in how fast the bike accelerates from point A to point B. This reduced rate of acceleration is what the riders are complaining about, as it doesn't allow them the same ability to manuever or position themselves as they would like, when compared to past years. The difference between 250hp as compared to 200hp. It's interesting too that WSBK are now making more power than MotoGP.

 

[OrangevaleFJR]

I don't know a whole lot about the racing scene, but many hockey fans looked ahead to post lock out hockey as no fun. They thought the superstars would all retire; they figured the superstars wouldn't play for reduced pay. So the fans thought that the great players would be gone, replaced by 3rd line players.

What happened? The superstars stayed. They love the game. The rookies are superstars! Crosby, Stastny, Kopitar, Ovechkin, Tate, and many more. The NHL is played with more heart and passion than ever.

Maybe you'll get some kick *** rookies this year.

 

[feejer222]

Feejer,Lorenzo sometimes reminds me of Xaus. And I mean that in a good way. Fun to watch if he's having a good day.

An article by Cameron in Cycle World stated that the 980cc bikes would use full throttle approximately 12% of the time on a typical track, whereas the 800cc engines use full throttle 27% of the time. Where they can use full throttle has a lot to do with race outcome, though. Races are won not through top speed, but in how fast the bike accelerates from point A to point B. This reduced rate of acceleration is what the riders are complaining about, as it doesn't allow them the same ability to manuever or position themselves as they would like, when compared to past years. The difference between 250hp as compared to 200hp. It's interesting too that WSBK are now making more power than MotoGP.

Good points Ronman, I can't see the comparrison though Xause spends more time leaning on a barrier watching than racing. Lorenzo wins, wins and then wins again. I tip him for top 4 this time next year.

 

[Randy]

2008 MotoGP tire rules seem to be a little less restrictive

https://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=30687

 

[dgfella]

I've been an avid MotoGP follower for the last few years.

I think two things had a huge impact on the season.

First is the tire rules; tires are everything in motorcycle racing. Bridgestone got it right, and Michelen got it wrong. Next year, they will be more even.

Second was that Ducati started their 800cc program 1 year ahead of the other manufacturers when the 'potential' change to the class was announced. Once committed, they pressured Dorna to go forward with 800cc otherwise they would have lost millions in research costs. The rest of the manufacturers lagged behind and stuck with their existing development programs.

I think the new season will be more competitive. Rossi will be running Bridgestones, Lorenzo will add some serious new talent. I don't think Lorenzo and Rossi on the same team will be a good thing, but will not have a serious effect. I think that the rider/team changes will be good, and several of the second tier teams will make a good showing, particularly Ducati. Honda will be back in the mix again.

I would hate for MotoGP to turn into F1, which is no longer racing to me. Let's keep our fingers crossed.

 

[Randy]

I think the new season will be more competitive. Rossi will be running Bridgestones, Lorenzo will add some serious new talent. I don't think Lorenzo and Rossi on the same team will be a good thing, but will not have a serious effect. I think that the rider/team changes will be good, and several of the second tier teams will make a good showing, particularly Ducati. Honda will be back in the mix again.

They'll be operating as separate teams, even thought they'll be on the same team. Confused? Me too.

 

[snikr]

OK...I missed something. What happened to Colin Edwards? And MotoGP was a little boring to me, what I could see of it. Speed Channel never did put as much of it on this year (or put it on at times I couldn't watch). WSB was great!

Tom

 

[Randy]

OK...I missed something. What happened to Colin Edwards? And MotoGP was a little boring to me, what I could see of it. Speed Channel never did put as much of it on this year (or put it on at times I couldn't watch). WSB was great!
Tom

They had to make room for Lorenzo. They moved Edwards to a satellite Yamaha team (Tech 3).

Speend Channel showed every MotoGP race this year.

 

[snikr]

Speend Channel showed every MotoGP race this year.

Thanks for the update Randy. Must be I was out riding too much to see the races. :clapping:

Tom