Topic: MotoGP 250 class

[JS550]

Anyone else bummed about the switch to moto2 600cc 4 strokes? This has been my fav class since the 500/2, (for the 990 bikes, that was a good year, GO NICKY), demise now the 250 is getting the fork in it. Im sure the racing will still be great and the moto2, just like the 800s, will be far from street spec bikes. But with the cutting back rules, how long will it be before its the same as WSBK,WSS, or the other upper classes? Not that those classes arent great, but they exist already.
jim

[tsflstb]

I was really hoping for a 400-450cc 4 stroke class.  I thought it would have spawned some neat street bikes. 

I think the idea with Moto2 was to cut costs with the Honda spec engine and give everyone a competitive shot.  I agree that it will probably look alot like WSS in that regard.  I can't imagine much innovation in chassis design coming out of this class.

With Gibernau getting the boot, MotoGP now has only 17 riders.  I think the end is near for that class once Rossi decides to retire.  The sponsorship money will dry up as the crowds go away.  The spec tire rule has closed up the racing this year, but they need to address traction control also.  Some of the proposed rule changes are pretty odd and I think they're dancing around the real issue.

WSB has really taken over as the premeir motorcycle racing class.  It's just a more exciting atmosphere with new riders and manufacturers from all over the globe.  The lap times are only a few seconds off of the GP bikes and the qualifying and racing is much more interesting at a fraction of the cost. 

[JS550]

That would be cool, something different. 400 or even 500 4s. As much as I hate to agree about GP, I think you might be right. & the traction control is bs. I loved watching Doohan slide in & out of corners! Even a few years ago GP seemed better. I liked the 990s. I understand that its safer for the riders, but at that level you can or you cant.

[tsflstb]

I wish they'd go back to the 990's also.  The safety aspect of the 800's kind of backfired.  The 800's are making about the same HP now as the old 990's.  To do that, they had to make all their power in a peaky powerband.  I've seen more highsides this year than I have since the old 500cc days.  Some of these guys are really not considered "crashers" either like Hayden, Lorenzo, Pedrosa.  Part of that might be traction control throwing off the riders' natural reactions.  The 990's seemed to have a more tractable power band that made for those nice big power slides we all like.   

[JS550]

Absolutly, when Hayden was winning in the AMA & even in GP his thing was backin it in & spinning out of the turns. So I definantly believe that traction control has hurt him more than anything. Its gotta suck trying to adapt & change the way youve raced your whole life.

[lordmoonpie]

WSB has really taken over as the premeir motorcycle racing class.  It's just a more exciting atmosphere with new riders and manufacturers from all over the globe.  The lap times are only a few seconds off of the GP bikes and the qualifying and racing is much more interesting at a fraction of the cost. 

On some tracks it can even be the other way around. A few years back Steve Hislop lapped Donington on his BSB ducati, 2 seconds quicker than Rossi on his Honda...but then Steve Hislop really was some sort of mercurial god