Production based MotoGP bikes

[DesmoFan]

I was reading my 2009 Motocourse last night, and the Michael Scott article at the front was going on about the idea of the introduction of production based MotoGP bikes as apposed to the prototype rule that currently exists. He cites the case where a CBR100RR Superbike did a quicker race lap time than Chris Vermeulans qualifyer at the recent Phillip Island GP (who was the rider?)!

My first reaction to this is that it is a bad idea. it's a slippery slope, and MotoGP is supposed to the pinnacle of bike racing.
Having said that, the MotoGP grid keeps getting smaller. How long can this go on? Watching MotoGP classics on the weekend. 30 odd starters at Donnington was quite a spectacle (even though some of them were 5+ seconds a lap slower than the front runners).
And where does this leave SBK?

[magwitch]

FG Sport have the exclusive sanction from the FIM for production based racing (WSBK) so I don't think you could have production bikes in MotoGP unless Dorna buy out FG and merge the series. Which isn't impossible I guess...

[DesmoFan]

FG Sport have the exclusive sanction from the FIM for production based racing (WSBK) so I don't think you could have production bikes in MotoGP unless Dorna buy out FG and merge the series. Which isn't impossible I guess...

I think the idea is production based bikes. That is, production cyliinder blocks and crak, prototye gearbox and chassis. That sort of thing....

[Para045]

I think the idea is production based bikes. That is, production cylinder blocks and crank, prototype gearbox and chassis. That sort of thing....

Yeah a bit like V8 SC started out as - The chassis and bodies and engine blocks originally had to be production based (even down to door trims etc) but the rest was almost anything goes within reason

[Roger Explosion]

I don't think its beyond the realm of possibiliy. Moto2 is essensially what Scott has proposed, just with 600. If Moto2 starts to deliver some cracking racing with large grids (which it hopefully will), it will start to steal ratings and sponsorship from the larger bikes. Dorna will follow the money.

[drifter]

as long as the bikes in motogp are purely prototype wsbk doesn't care what capacity they are.

[Roger Explosion]

as long as the bikes in motogp are purely prototype wsbk doesn't care what capacity they are.

are you sure? They may have changed there policy, but the reason moto gp was 990 instead if 1000, was to avoid legal issues with the promotors of wsbk. But, like i said, they may not be so protective now they have seen wsbk flourish in recent years.

Sent using Tapatalk Nokia Beta version.

[magwitch]

I don't think its beyond the realm of possibiliy. Moto2 is essensially what Scott has proposed, just with 600. If Moto2 starts to deliver some cracking racing with large grids (which it hopefully will), it will start to steal ratings and sponsorship from the larger bikes. Dorna will follow the money.

I agree with that. I think Moto2 is just Dorna getting us wet for spec. engines and ECUs in MotoGP to break the power of the MSMA.

[millsy]

and what happens to Dorna when Rossi retires.... I'll bet their shitting themselves.

[drifter]

are you sure? They may have changed there policy, but the reason moto gp was 990 instead if 1000, was to avoid legal issues with the promotors of wsbk. But, like i said, they may not be so protective now they have seen wsbk flourish in recent years.

Sent using Tapatalk Nokia Beta version.

yep, pretty sure. have a read of the start of this interview.

[quattro750]

probably wayne maxwell, he was flying
q

[R160]

cant hurt to allow production based engines, in prototype frames, if the engines can be modded however anyone wants, i dont see a problem, with the new engine life spans though, how ballistic with tuning can you go?

beats me why no-ones running a desmosedici on WSBK anyhow.?

[magwitch]

cant hurt to allow production based engines, in prototype frames, if the engines can be modded however anyone wants, i dont see a problem, with the new engine life spans though, how ballistic with tuning can you go?

beats me why no-ones running a desmosedici on WSBK anyhow.?

You need to sell 3,000 bikes to homologate for WSBK. I think they only made 1,500 DRRs.

[R160]

Foggy petronas only made 150 bikes to make them eligable?

[browncow]

WRES^^.

I'll miss the 125's and 250 ning nings (It's the death of the smokers) but having said that it will also be sweet having a single class for the non motogp riders (i.e. big class, lots of riders) plus the potential advancements to 600cc blocks will also be interesting..

Also the initial production run was for 300 DD16's

[magwitch]

Foggy petronas only made 150 bikes to make them eligable?

The 3,000 rule only came in for 2009 I think. Before that it was all a bit vague over what constituted an acceptable bike.

[Jamathi]

GP racing should be open to all that meet the CC class regulation and some basic rules to make sure it is a bike plus safe to ride!
Prototypes that are build to go faster is how we came to today's roarbikes development.
Production build race bikes in World championship GP is wrong!
As wrong as the engine savings rules in all premier class racing!
Next will be dragracing 1 engine and build for the whole season, ohh yeah the excitment!

[rod]

Foggy petronas only made 150 bikes to make them eligable?

I think Benelli hadn't made enough Tornados when they were SBK racing

Flammini let them both race as they were in the process of getting production up and going - Benelli did and Foggy has a warehouse full of rolling chassis somewhere. It's not as if they were going to upset the apple cart too much (Ducati, Honda etc)

[GD66]

probably wayne maxwell, he was flying
q

Yes, it was Wayne Maxwell, he was quicker than Vermeulen in practice, qual and the race. If that didn't cause Vermeulen's team boss to go and give him a Grade One reaming, I don't know what it takes. And I think Josh Waters may have snuck in a couple of quick laps as well. Bloody disgraceful really : OK, Verm had long since figured out that the Suzuki (as usual) was a slow PoS ("but we have some NEW engine parts on the way !!"), but surely he should have clocked that being outlapped by a local on a prod superbike was likely to be the death knell for any hope he had of ever getting another MotoGP seat ? And (sigh), now he's struggling on the Kawasaki superbike....

[M|ke]

WRES^^.

I'll miss the 125's and 250 ning nings (It's the death of the smokers) but having said that it will also be sweet having a single class for the non motogp riders (i.e. big class, lots of riders) plus the potential advancements to 600cc blocks will also be interesting..

Also the initial production run was for 300 DD16's

Agreed. Only been into bike's for a short time but I like them little 250's