Topic: Pedrosa to Yamaha?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

That was a mystery -- nearly simultaneous double-front-end loss!

[simon#42]

the michelin tyres seem to have the same characteristics as they had 20 years ago , grip , grip , grip , crash .
there is no warning with them [ especially the front ]  all those years on brigestones has spoilt everyone !

[bwaller]

I agree about the Michelins. You have to wonder why in the name of safety there would be a tire manufacturer switch.

OK disregard....I know the answer to that one. 

[simon#42]

they are way behind with their development , the tyres the riders are getting are different every weekend , how on earth are you supposed to
develop the bike and get it set up when you don't know what next weeks tyres are going to be like ?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Bridgestone is probably laughing at Michelin.  It's really a shame that Michelin was not better prepared to take over. 

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

Interesting words from Schwantz on why Vinales should stay with Suzuki. I think the last portion on Rossi's gamesmanship and expectations are sage words.

[simon#42]

vinales has just signed a two year deal with yamaha .

[petercb750]

Thanks simon....so it looks like honda will remain the same..
All this 2017 season talk and moves and we're not even half way through this year!

[bwaller]

Yes Peter, it's crazy. Now they need to settle down & ride!

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

So the word is (with Pedrosa to stay put with Honda) that Vinales is moving to Yamaha, Dovi is staying with Ducati, and Iannone is moving to Suzuki.

[simon#42]

yes that is all done now , i am interested to see were rins and zarco are going to go . rins wants a proper factory ride and the only one left is at suzuki  will he get it ?
there is one vacancy at aprilia and another at ktm i suppose .

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

yes that is all done now , i am interested to see were rins and zarco are going to go . rins wants a proper factory ride and the only one left is at suzuki  will he get it ?
there is one vacancy at aprilia and another at ktm i suppose .

The rumor is Rins to Suzuki.  That would be a much more developed bike than the Aprilia. I'm curious to see how good the KTM is.

I like many of the consumer bikes coming out of KTM. However, I'm puzzled by the company's statement that it will no longer make superbikes (like the RC8) because they are not safe for the street, yet they continue to make the most Hooligan naked bike on the market -- the Super Duke 1290.

[simon#42]

that is an odd statement ! 
i have been told the ktm is looking good but i do have doubts , they have some great people working there and a lot of experience in moto 3
and in the german superbike championship but Motogp is a whole lot harder , aprilia who won the world superbike championship in 2012 and 2014
are yet to trouble the front runners in Motogp , it will be a huge ask for ktm

[J-Rod10]

KTM is going to have a fairly easy, compared to say five years ago, time jumping in and being competitive. The new electronics being standard across the board are going to eliminate a ton of the problems they were going to have.

[simon#42]

yes thats the theory , its not quite that simple though and there is a lot you can do with the new ecu .
suzuki and ducati have been using it for a year now and are much closer to honda and yamaha but as
the season goes on i think yamaha and honda  will get a bit more out of it . aprilia's performance is a bit
of a disappointment i expected them to be better . wonder who ktm will get to partner smith  ?

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

that is an odd statement ! 
i have been told the ktm is looking good but i do have doubts , they have some great people working there and a lot of experience in moto 3
and in the german superbike championship but Motogp is a whole lot harder , aprilia who won the world superbike championship in 2012 and 2014
are yet to trouble the front runners in Motogp , it will be a huge ask for ktm

It was an interview by Alan Cathcart of KTM CEO and President Stefan Pierer published in CycleNews magazine a few months back.

Stefan Pierer’s announcement came in response to a question regarding KTM’s return to MotoGP in 2016. Here’s the reason for returning to MotoGP:

"We’d like to produce a successor to the existing RC8 V-twin… In which case, let’s do the following: We’ll stick to making a Superbike, but only for closed course usage. So it won’t be homologated for sale as a streetbike. Okay? So then to produce that we will take the best prototype development arena available, which is MotoGP. And for the 2016 season there will be new rules introduced when the playing field will be leveled with a standard electronic system, so then KTM can challenge Honda, Yamaha, Ducati, Suzuki and Aprilia on an equal basis. So that’s the concept for development. We’ll call it the RC16 and it will also be available for the normal customer for track days or private use on track, but it won’t any more be homologated for the street. It’ll be a really serious sports and race item for closed course use only."

Cathcart then asked if there would be at least a homologated version of this machine? In answer, Pierer again said “No, because we at KTM think that a sportbike with such performance doesn’t have any place on the public roads.”

"But let’s be honest, if your Superbike is reaching 200 horsepower or more, it’s impossible to argue that it belongs on the street. It really doesn’t, anymore.

As soon as the RC16 is available for customers we will stop with the RC8. The design is outstanding. I would say it’s still state of the art, and there is nothing else like it. It’s a classic Superbike. But with the increase in safety concerns, I’m afraid bikes like this don’t belong on the street, only on a closed course."

[simon#42]

not the best sales pitch i have ever heard , there is a demand  now for very expensive track day bikes i suppose this is the market they are after .
rich people who cant ride on stupid fast motorbikes , sounds great  .

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

not the best sales pitch i have ever heard , there is a demand  now for very expensive track day bikes i suppose this is the market they are after .
rich people who cant ride on stupid fast motorbikes , sounds great  .

It's a reckless statement, and a shame because they are doing well in the dirt and naked bike market, and also with the smaller RC390 bikes.  The RC8 has been a slow seller and not a very successful racer (RC8R).  It seems that might be the more honest reason.

[simon#42]

its actually a good bike , i had one on loan for a year and loved it . was not the best looking of bikes mind .
they won the IDM championship [ german superbike championship ] in 2011 with a big money effort and were rumoured to
be going to world superbikes but in the end didn't . to be honest Austrians are odd on a good day so am not sure of the reason.

[SOHC4 Cafe Racer Fan]

its actually a good bike , i had one on loan for a year and loved it . was not the best looking of bikes mind .
they won the IDM championship [ german superbike championship ] in 2011 with a big money effort and were rumoured to
be going to world superbikes but in the end didn't . to be honest Austrians are odd on a good day so am not sure of the reason.

Chris Carr was racing one in American Superbike but could not get a win.  I think it's a pretty great bike, and it's cool that they were selling a customer race bike (RC8R) here in the states for a while.  They've barely sold for the street though.  The look is polarizing (people tend to either strongly like or dislike it) and the bike isn't cheap.