All quiet on the Western Front

Remember this time last year, the paddock was abuzz. People were talking about the demise of the sport. Rossi was talking about quiting. Riders were sneaking in and out of meetings. The press was making new dirty allegations daily.

This year the tire situation is more or less the same. We know a deal was brokered at the end of last season. Are the riders/teams at peace b/c a control tire is on the way?

dunno

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 16 2008, 07:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>dunno
Why would a control tire be needed?
Anyway, DORNA won't wipe out a whole teams sponsor - Tech 3, to enforce an unpopular rule. What rider has the clout to demand Stones?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Sep 16 2008, 11:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>dunno

Thank you for lending your expertise to this speculative discussion.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Sep 16 2008, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why would a control tire be needed?
Anyway, DORNA won't wipe out a whole teams sponsor - Tech 3, to enforce an unpopular rule. What rider has the clout to demand Stones?

I'm kinda with you. There are many reports suggesting Michelin may continue, the weirdest of which was Suppo suggesting Alice may run Michelin next season. I'm beginning to wonder if Michelin is going to be supporting all of the satellite teams while they get their act together.

Eurosport's commentators seem to think it is far from a done deal.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Sep 16 2008, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why would a control tire be needed?

Because it's should be about the rider bike and racing....not tires........ the tires....they need to go to single tire

Furthermore, the riders allegedly requested a control tire at the safety meeting so it seems that the IRTA should swing towards a control tire.

If a dual manufacturer spec tire is introduced, my conspiracy will be confirmed, imo.

Plus, what's with all the old guys coming back or being linked to rides? Allegedly the sport had passed them by, now they are a good insurance policy?

I think the tires are in for radical changes.

With Pedrosa's push to get Bridgestone's it has just about set the ball in motion for a control tire, with the only major hangup being Tech 3's budget and possible demise should Michelin take a hike. I don't see Honda having a split garage with their other Repsol bike (Dovi) being on Michelin. Also what factory rider who has been racing these past years would disadvantage themselves by taking a risk with Michelin, they will do everything they can to push for a switch to Bridgestones. So the likelihood that Lorenzo will want Bridgestone as well is high, and it would unifiy the Yamaha team once again. For the sake of entertainment of the sport, please bring on a control tire. I would love to see a pack of 4-5 riders fighting until the end vs. the runaway wins we've been seeing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Sep 16 2008, 01:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>With Pedrosa's push to get Bridgestone's it has just about set the ball in motion for a control tire, with the only major hangup being Tech 3's budget and possible demise should Michelin take a hike. I don't see Honda having a split garage with their other Repsol bike (Dovi) being on Michelin. Also what factory rider who has been racing these past years would disadvantage themselves by taking a risk with Michelin, they will do everything they can to push for a switch to Bridgestones. So the likelihood that Lorenzo will want Bridgestone as well is high, and it would unifiy the Yamaha team once again. For the sake of entertainment of the sport, please bring on a control tire. I would love to see a pack of 4-5 riders fighting until the end vs. the runaway wins we've been seeing.


I don't see how you think a controlled tire rule would be the end of TECH3...It would be CHEAPER to run the team.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Sep 16 2008, 08:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't see how you think a controlled tire rule would be the end of TECH3...It would be CHEAPER to run the team.
Pls explain

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (clarkjw @ Sep 16 2008, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pls explain
Control tires == cheaper tires.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Sep 16 2008, 09:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't see how you think a controlled tire rule would be the end of TECH3...It would be CHEAPER to run the team.

My understanding is that Tech 3 gets a large part of their budget from Michelin. Get rid of Michelin, get rid of a big chunk of the budget. Where I work, when budgets get cut, people lose their job. No one wants to see a team leave MotoGP, on the contrary we want to see more teams added, but it takes money to run a team. If a control tire gets put in place, Tech 3 will need to find new money to keep running the show.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Sep 16 2008, 08:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Because it's should be about the rider bike and racing....not tires........ the tires....they need to go to single tire
Wrong its about the MOTO GP series which is and ALWAYS have been a prototype series. Not a spec or sorta spec series in any way shape or form. So the racing suffers cause a tire manufacture gets it wrong. I guess that is what is so compelling in racing as well. The race to get it right on that side of the coin. Look its not like we make the rules or have any kinda say regardless so we can go on and on. The fact is if they stay true to the series then we won't see a spec tire. They obviously don't want it cause it devalues the series and makes them glorified superbikes in a way. So if we get a spec tire I for one don't think it is going to make that much more of closer races.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Sep 16 2008, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wrong its about the MOTO GP series which is and ALWAYS have been a prototype series. Not a spec or sorta spec series in any way shape or form. So the racing suffers cause a tire manufacture gets it wrong. I guess that is what is so compelling in racing as well. The race to get it right on that side of the coin. Look its not like we make the rules or have any kinda say regardless so we can go on and on. The fact is if they stay true to the series then we won't see a spec tire. They obviously don't want it cause it devalues the series and makes them glorified superbikes in a way. So if we get a spec tire I for one don't think it is going to make that much more of closer races.

Don't give me that prototype ...........look who you're talking to brother

yes prototype "BIKES" ....not tires....yes get it right like you said...you can't tune tires....you obviously don't watch much racing....cause obviously the cont tire rule ...... up WSBK

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Sep 16 2008, 12:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wrong its about the MOTO GP series which is and ALWAYS have been a prototype series. Not a spec or sorta spec series in any way shape or form. So the racing suffers cause a tire manufacture gets it wrong. I guess that is what is so compelling in racing as well. The race to get it right on that side of the coin. Look its not like we make the rules or have any kinda say regardless so we can go on and on. The fact is if they stay true to the series then we won't see a spec tire. They obviously don't want it cause it devalues the series and makes them glorified superbikes in a way. So if we get a spec tire I for one don't think it is going to make that much more of closer races.

do you really believe that after 5 decades of prototype racing we have arrived at this point---all of the bikes being within earshot of one another?

I don't, you shouldn't either.

This isn't prototype racing. The manufacturers are all dedicated to restrictions. They are trying to eek out small leads in the 5% of the sport that is still unregulated.

Electronics is the new frontier Why? Because they are relatively new and there aren't any restrictive covenants on their usage.

Tires used to be one of the other frontiers, but that was summarily ended at the end of last season.

Prototype is a marketing slogan that really means 99.9% of all known motorcycle parts are banned.

Welcome to MotoGiP

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Sep 16 2008, 08:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>do you really believe that after 5 decades of prototype racing we have arrived at this point---all of the bikes being within earshot of one another?

I don't, you shouldn't either.

This isn't prototype racing. The manufacturers are all dedicated to restrictions. They are trying to eek out small leads in the 5% of the sport that is still unregulated.

Electronics is the new frontier Why? Because they are relatively new and there aren't any restrictive covenants on their usage.

Tires used to be one of the other frontiers, but that was summarily ended at the end of last season.

Prototype is a marketing slogan that really means 99.9% of all known motorcycle parts are banned.

Welcome to MotoGiP
LOL yeah I know I am just stating the obvious though. I think at some point in the very near future once TC gets to be very good they will ban it and we will have some real racing again.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Sep 16 2008, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This year the tire situation is more or less the same. We know a deal was brokered at the end of last season. Are the riders/teams at peace b/c a control tire is on the way?

Ask Babel, he seems to know all the tire answers, real and imagined.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Sep 16 2008, 02:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ask Babel, he seems to know all the tire answers, real and imagined.


Okay.

Babel, will you consult with your magic 8-ball and see if a control tire is on the way?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Sep 16 2008, 11:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Okay.

Babel, will you consult with your magic 8-ball and see if a control tire is on the way?
Finally getting som acknowledgement here.

YES There will be a control tire. It will be the well known manufacturer Cheng Shin that will supply tires to all the MotoGP teams in 2009. The tires supplied will be modified versions of the C116 front and C180 rear suiting the 16.5" rims. The width will however be limited to 3.00" front and 4.50" rear and the tires will of course keep the same pattern as original as a way to lower corner speeds. In a further attempt to lower cost and corner speed the compund will not be changed from the original. This will enable not only<u> a single </u>control tire but as the "rubber" in these tires are so hard that you would brake your teeth on them, Dorna will enforce a rule similar to F1 engines: The teams will not be allowed to change tires more often than every third race. Failing to comply either by puncture or overly hard burnouts after a race will cause a 10 position drop on the grid at next race.

Anything else I can help you with?