Could a transmission rule save GP?

GP needs to move to a single transmission rule. At the beginning of the season manufacturers should be required to declare a transmission and sprocket set. They can make as many as they need, but the gear ratios must be the same.

Think about how different the sprockets/transmissions must be when teams are racing at Jerez and Mugello. Teams that want to win championships would have to design an engine transmission package for good all around performance.

Obviously, good all around performers have weaknesses in certain areas. If Honda/Yamaha/Ducati were forced to be good all around performers, would it give Suzuki or Kawasaki the ability to exploit weaknesses in the competition at certain tracks?


I think a transmission rule would drastically alter race results IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER, and would reward companies that build good all around bikes rather than rewarding the best tuner with the biggest budget.

It would probably bring top speeds down as well.

My only concern: would it put pressure on the riders to be even smaller?

Don't they do this is v8 supercars down in Australia? That always seems to be exciting racing.
Don't know how this would work on bikes though, because of the many different styles.

Is this you're idea or one you found online...either way it's a ....... ........ idea

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jan 30 2009, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>GP needs to move to a single transmission rule. At the beginning of the season manufacturers should be required to declare a transmission and sprocket set. They can make as many as they need, but the gear ratios must be the same.

Think about how different the sprockets/transmissions must be when teams are racing at Jerez and Mugello. Teams that want to win championships would have to design an engine transmission package for good all around performance.

Obviously, good all around performers have weaknesses in certain areas. If Honda/Yamaha/Ducati were forced to be good all around performers, would it give Suzuki or Kawasaki the ability to exploit weaknesses in the competition at certain tracks?


I think a transmission rule would drastically alter race results IN AN EQUITABLE MANNER, and would reward companies that build good all around bikes rather than rewarding the best tuner with the biggest budget.

It would probably bring top speeds down as well.

My only concern: would it put pressure on the riders to be even smaller?
Why were at it, why dont we pick one track and just race there all season too.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jan 30 2009, 10:56 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> Why were at it, why dont we pick one track and just race there all season too.

Or maybe they should all run automatic transmissions

Absolutly ridiculous. Motogp isnt the "R1 cup"

I reckon a new set of gears and sprokets costs significantly less than the wind tunnel testing needed to gain the extra mph! I also doubt engine life/cost would be reduced much by running bikes the length of the mugello straight on the rev limit.

Transmission, maybe. Sprockets, not so much.

But then they might start advancing the electronics/tuning to overcome that. That might cost even more.

Bottom line is that if the do something to lower the cost, they are going to spend money to work around that weakness.

Hard to say what the fix could be.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Jan 30 2009, 11:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I reckon a new set of gears and sprokets costs significantly less than the wind tunnel testing needed to gain the extra mph! I also doubt engine life/cost would be reduced much by running bikes the length of the mugello straight on the rev limit.

See that's the real trick, though.

You couldn't run on the rev limiter mainly because you'd run out of fuel.

It seems like it would require longer gearing than is currently run at a lot of the short straight circuits. It seems like it would slow the bikes down and perhaps allow them to raise displacement without fear of excessive performance problems.

However, cankles brings up a good point. It could cause even more excessive spending on engine development.

Yeah, you'll see all kinds of variable valve timing (how cool would that be seeing it at 18,000rpm), and electronic wizzardry to make up the difference off the corner exits.

When speaking of gearboxes,Jeremy Burgess suggested 5speed gearboxes in an interview.
This was when there was talk of slowing things down though.
Could have been quite interresting:990's with 5speed gearboxes.
Anyway,to make the racing closer and cheaper wouldn't it be easier to just go back to 990's.
As far as i have understood things,all 990 bikes had too much grunt/torque/HP for the tires to handle,so the tires decided the limit in the end.And with control tire on top of that it would be more equal chanses for every team.In the end it would be impossible to stop the fastest riders from being fastest ,but at least the Suzukis and Kawasakis could be more in the mix and not struggle like hell with engine preformance.

I am so sick of the "what is wrong with MotoGP" line.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ Feb 2 2009, 05:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I am so sick of the "what is wrong with MotoGP" line.
You're right, GS, its getting to be a bit much... Save MotoGP - save the freakin' whales - the sky ain't fallin' yet!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ Feb 1 2009, 05:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I am so sick of the "what is wrong with MotoGP" line.
it's the off season brother people gotta talk .... about somethin. doom & gloom is always interesting

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mick D @ Feb 2 2009, 01:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You're right, GS, its getting to be a bit much... Save MotoGP - save the freakin' whales - the sky ain't fallin' yet!
Your right mate. That will happen on 2010 when the contracts expire

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Feb 2 2009, 10:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Your right mate. That will happen on 2010 when the contracts expire
nah rog..... even if rossi leaves do you really think gps will end? besides he may not leave after 2010 especially if he has a difficult time keeping or even losing the championship.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Feb 2 2009, 03:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>nah rog..... even if rossi leaves do you really think gps will end? besides he may not leave after 2010 especially if he has a difficult time keeping or even losing the championship.
im talking about the team/manufacturer contracts not individual riders mate. After all the .... up decisions made be dorna like tv deals ect plus the global recession i have a feeling a few will go the way of kawasaki. I believe the contracts expire in 2010 meaning no penalties for quitting.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Feb 2 2009, 12:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>im talking about the team/manufacturer contracts not individual riders mate. After all the .... up decisions made be dorna like tv deals ect plus the global recession i have a feeling a few will go the way of kawasaki. I believe the contracts expire in 2010 meaning no penalties for quitting.
ahhh yes this is by far a much more serious threat unfortunately. lets just hope that the .... economy picks up enough to keep everyone interested in participation.