Topic: MotoGP

[bwaller]

Everything rolls uphill?

Kawasaki has pulled out of MotoGP for 2009, and the thought is Suzuki may follow. Sounds to me like this may take the shape of days gone by when the manufacturers didn't see enough value in full blown race teams. Honda, Ducati and Yamaha claim to be there for 09 but you have to wonder where this will all lead, privateer GP?!

Tis a shame

[HavocTurbo]

Heh and the rumor says that BMW and KTM and Aprilia are joining for 09... go figure.

[nickjtc]

So should we start the pool now for 'most likely 2009 champion'? Let's face it, the only manufacturers with any hope of winning the championship (subject to the newcomers being dark horses) are still there...

[Sam Green Racing]

Damn....and I let my FIM licence lapse

Sam

[tramp]

they say that is the death throws of a company when they get out of racing and prototype

[tsflstb]

Kawasaki has pulled out of MotoGP for 2009, and the thought is Suzuki may follow. Sounds to me like this may take the shape of days gone by when the manufacturers didn't see enough value in full blown race teams. Honda, Ducati and Yamaha claim to be there for 09 but you have to wonder where this will all lead, privateer GP?!

Even though Kawi gave up on winning a long time ago, it's sad to see them gone completely.  Times are getting tough.  Unless they get a big wad of cash from outside sponsorship, MotoGP may dwindle down to nothing in the next few years.  There will be just 14-15 bikes on the track this year. 

Heh and the rumor says that BMW and KTM and Aprilia are joining for 09... go figure.

They are joining up - in World Superbike.  Production racing may be all we can hope for in the near future.  World Superbike is shaping up to be the premier class in 2009.  There are rumors of Rossi doing a wild-card WSB race in Qatar with Bayliss coming out of retirement.

Nick - it will be Rossi again if he stays motivated.  Stoner will make another run at it, but I think it will take him a few races to get as comfortable with the new Duc as he was with last year's model.  Lorenzo, Dovizioso, Toseland should all come back strong this year.  That twit Pedrosa will flounder as his personal development rider (Hayden) is gone.

[nickjtc]

Damn....and I let my FIM licence lapse

As long as you don't ride a Suzuki or Kawasaki, Sam

[Sam Green Racing]

Hi Nick, in the 60s and 70s I had the pleasure of riding all the big fours 250s.
Fastest by far was the 73 RD Yamaha, with the 60s Suzuki Super Six a close second.
Not that far behind came the CB250 Honda with the Kawasaki 3 pot two stroke trailing by a long way.

Sam.

[nickjtc]

Gosh, you must be old Sam!! My Suzuki/Kawasaki reference was to do with the 21st century bikes from those manufacturers. I too remember the heady days when small race bikes from all of the 'big 4' were a real treat to watch. Alas I never had the opportunity to actually race one.

[scunny]

I've ridden the TZ250 and 350 but will stick to 4 strokes now, they suit my riding style and size of gonads

[bwaller]

Yea scunny I've had a go on a TZ350 and I always fiqured they didn't need a throttle, only a light switch, that's about how fast the power came on if you kept the revs up.

I understand there may be talk of Moto600 four strokes to replace the 250GP's.

Anybody with more info?

I have to admit the WSB show was fun to watch last year, but I think it would be tragic to lose the GP's. There is something to the trickle down argument.

[scunny]

http://www.fasterandfaster.net/2008/05/four-strokes-to-replace-250-gp-class.html
looks like the end of the road for the rice burners, a sad day indeed

[ekim98]

Hi Nick, in the 60s and 70s I had the pleasure of riding all the big fours 250s.
Fastest by far was the 73 RD Yamaha, with the 60s Suzuki Super Six a close second.
Not that far behind came the CB250 Honda with the Kawasaki 3 pot two stroke trailing by a long way.

Sam.

 Not that Sam is getting on in years, but didn't your for two vehicle have stone wheels?? 

[Sam Green Racing]

You can have any four stroke you like with with as much power as you like, but, nothing matches the awesome thrill you get when a well set up stroker gets into it's power band.
The only down side is trying to fire them off the line. The odd time you get it right it gives you a buzz and when the tyre hooks up, you get a second buzz .................















































and then you press the green button for buzz number three

Sam.

[Sam Green Racing]

Hi Nick, in the 60s and 70s I had the pleasure of riding all the big fours 250s.
Fastest by far was the 73 RD Yamaha, with the 60s Suzuki Super Six a close second.
Not that far behind came the CB250 Honda with the Kawasaki 3 pot two stroke trailing by a long way.

Sam.

 Not that Sam is getting on in years, but didn't your for two vehicle have stone wheels?? 

Fred Flintstone was my great grand-dad ekim 

Sam

[bwaller]

Bam Bam Sam.

[nickjtc]

So, to level the playing field for everyone, why not make the new four stroke class for 350's, like in the good ol' days? Then everyone would have to come up with new machinery and it might stimulate interest in 'smaller' bikes.

I see anothe 600 series as being a big yawn.