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Ezpeleta explains MotoGP Rookie Rule change of heart

Pigeon

Pigeon

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Crashnet's report



Ezpeleta explains MotoGP Rookie Rule change of heart



"After many discussions with the independent teams, we decided that it is better to cancel the rule" - Carmelo Ezpeleta, Dorna.

Dorna CEO Carmelo Ezpeleta has explained why the MotoGP Rookie Rule looks set to be dropped for 2013, clearing the way for Moto2 star Marc Marquez to join Repsol Honda next year.



The present rule, which bans first-season riders from joining a factory team, was brought in for 2010.



It was intended to help the satellite teams gain the funding, factory support and track success that goes with having the hottest young stars - for one season at least.



The main effect was to force Ben Spies to spend his first year at Tech 3 Yamaha, but Suzuki was able to gain an exemption for Alvaro Bautista since the factory didn't have a satellite team.



Honda is keen to sign Marquez as a replacement for retiring world champion Casey Stoner, and the satellite teams seem to feel there is little benefit in potentially being forced to ditch their existing sponsors and some team members for a single-year Marquez deal.



Manufacturers can no longer simply add another bike, each being restricted to four machines (two official and two satellite).



With the very (satellite) teams the rule was intended to help untroubled by its removal, the new CRT class having been created and a lack of any 2013 satellite rides being made available for rookies, Ezpeleta has confirmed Dorna will now propose that the Rookie Rule is dropped.



Ezpeleta told MotoGP.com: “The Rookie Rule was implemented to protect the interests of the independent [satellite] teams. We had a grid of around 20 bikes then, all of them factory [made] bikes. Similar performance.



“Today we have factory bikes and CRT. Any new riders can either ride a satellite bike or go to CRT. But [if they can't get a satellite ride] maybe some would prefer to stay in Moto2 or do other things."



Ezpleta's next step was to ask the satellite teams if they expected to have any vacancies for new riders in 2013.



When told their priority was "to keep their existing riders" the Spaniard decided it would be "commonsense to propose to the Grand Prix Commission [that the Rookie Rule is dropped]".



“The request to cancel the Rookie Rule was made by the MSMA [manufacturers' association] at Jerez and we said 'no' at that moment," Ezpleta added.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Motogp com report

Ezpeleta explained that the MSMA (Motorcycle Sports Manufacturers Association) first brought up the subject of scrapping the Rookie Rule, which prevents any non MotoGP rider going straight into a factory team, at the Jerez round of the MotoGP championship on the 29 April.

The Rule was created back in 2008 to protect the interest of the independent teams, yet, as Ezpeleta explained, a shift in balance between bikes with the new CRT rule has thrown up new issues that need to be addressed to create a balanced talent pool over the coming years.

Thus, after further rallying by the MSMA and numerous talks between Dorna and the satellite teams, a joint proposal has been put forward to the Grand Prix Commission to scrap the Rookie Rule for next year. Ezpeleta said that the satellite teams actually feel they can benefit from the change as well, as they would have a greater chance to retain the services of their existing riders, while factory teams have a much increased rider selection to choose from.

Whilst Dorna, the FIM, IRTA and the MSMA have agreed in principle that the rule should be abandoned, it is still subject to final approval by the Grand Prix Commission.



Blah blah
 
haha, as if marquez would have seriously considered going to wsbk because he can't ride a prototype in the first year.



as i already said, the only reason why this helps the satellite teams is because they can't be ...... over by honda for not obeying and taking marquez for a year.



i'm starting to wonder whether the CRT concept really is what dorna are looking for in the future. if they really meant it , they would have done whatever possible to get marquez and the other rookies to join the CRTs and give them some exposure. but whats happening?the chosen ones get fast tracked to the best possible seats and CRT is for italian cops
 
yea...this rule only made sense for riders that didn't have a Spanish passport.



....... MotoGP is a joke...I have been enjoying WSBK much more these last couple of years.
 
........! ....... garbage. The rule should have never existed, all I can think is how this could have changed Marco's fate. .... that! Marquez is a reckless ...... I hope Cal punches him in the face the first time he comes over on him.
 
MdubSTYLIE said:
........! ....... garbage. The rule should have never existed, all I can think is how this could have changed Marco's fate. .... that! Marquez is a reckless ...... I hope Cal punches him in the face the first time he comes over on him.
Click to expand...



Cal would barge him out of the way!

Then later punch him as a warning not to try that .... with him again!
 
with this changing we have to see which part has more power:



1) HRC and Nakamoto keeping Pedrosa in the team.

2) Repsol putting Marquez in and kicking Dani out.



Or maybe



3) A change of heart in the "not two spanish riders at Repsol Honda" thing.



What do you think?
 
I think Dorna was painted into a corner with this rule and in this case. The way I see it, if a sponsor is funding like Elf and Castrol you have to keep them happy and especially at times like this. It seems to me as though everyone was in agreement in removing the rookies rule. I haven't heard any team or manufacturer complain about dropping it.

The only vocal negatives are on this board!
<




What are some suggestions by the "cons" as to how to solve this Marquez/Rookie/Satelite/Sponsorship problem?
 
i think this whole not two spaniards thing was never serious and if anything it was meant as not having lorenzo and pedrosa on the same team.



99% sure it will be marquez and pedrosa, anything else would come as a huge surprise
 
@ baturro

i don't think anybody ever complained because the liked the rookie rule

the beef is with dorna dropping it for what appears to many as the wrong reason,that is favoritism towards a single rider.



i never supported the rookie rule, there was not a single example in my mind where it hindered a rider. sic and spies were always going to end up at gresini and tech3, bautista was given a freepass from the get go.



i think the mistake here is that dorna wouldn't use the then stupid rule to now give some more exposure to the crts.it would have been no problem to set up a bike in repsol color scheme
 
Having Simoncelli on the satellite Gresini, I'm sure brought exposure and sponsors interest to the Gresini team. Same is true for Spies and Tec3. There were also available spots at both of those teams at the time.



Now there are no vacant spots at those teams or any team, they are all content with their riders. Tec 3 has a surplus right now with Smith. And in the case of Marquez going to LCR or Gresini, he only brings in money for a year and with his money pisses of current loyal sponsors who may not return on his departure.



Marquez's sponsors want him on a proper GP, not CRT, and they have the money to pay it. With the new rules on proper GP bikes to 4 per factory, the only vacant bike is the Repsol.



I think this rookie rule would be changed regardless of passport if all the current situations were the same.
 
yes but still, is there a single example where a rider ended up in a satellite team because of the rookie rule,and not primarily because the factory seats have been occupied anyways?
 
The rookie rule is being dropped because of Marc Marquez. Anybody trying to argue this point will have to get around this fact.



The sat teams are content with their riders. So why the need to drop the rule? Think about this for a moment. Why is there a need to drop this rule in 2013? Since when are riders force fed into the top series? What would happen if all the riders had contracts? What if Stoner didn't retire? Would there be a seat for Marc Marquez at HRC? Another consequence of Stoner's retirement, giving stupid Pedro another chance at HRC. Would the rookie rule been dropped to force out Pedro to replace him with Marquez? that sure would have been fun to watch unfold. If the sat teams are happy with their riders, supposedly, then they would have been forced to make room for a replacement or one more bike. This whole rookie rule thing is a ....... joke on us and the sport. Its a blatant change in rules over the want (not the need) for Dorna to force feed Marc Marquez into MotoGP.
 
baturro said:
I think Dorna was painted into a corner with this rule and in this case. The way I see it, if a sponsor is funding like Elf and Castrol you have to keep them happy and especially at times like this. It seems to me as though everyone was in agreement in removing the rookies rule. I haven't heard any team or manufacturer complain about dropping it. The only vocal negatives are on this board!
<
What are some suggestions by the "cons" as to how to solve this Marquez/Rookie/Satelite/Sponsorship problem?
Click to expand...



This rule was ........ from the start, as it wasn't enforced the first chance they got, again, a Spanish rider given a waiver at Factory Suzuki. Why the hell make rules if they are applied at a whim? If the sponsors could afford to pay for another bike, then let them. Why force a sat team to scrap their sponsors for a year? Everybody was in agreement as much as everybody was in agreement not to piss off Dorna. They are not complaining because they are not being affected negatively. This supposed agreement you speak of has all the markings of a back room deal. The seat is open at HRC, and Dorna intends to put Marquez there regardless of what other team think. My suggestion, leave the rookie rule in place until there are no hot ticket transfers into MotoGP.
 
I think MM may become pretty unpopular as a rider by this decision. I have never been a fan of his. I do not doubt his natural talent and if the guy gets given preferential treatment, you can't blame him for that.

But now, because of this change in the rules, I will be wanting ANYONE and EVERYONE to kick his little Repsol ...
 
well said wilski



i hope espargaro or lüthi pull it off in moto2, it will look ridicolous when those 2 won't be on motogp prototypes and marquez is on a repsol



will help to expose the ........ politics to the more casual fans
 
IF Dorna love CRT

Keep the rookie rule

Put MarcGP On a CRT Bike

the promo stories kudos coverage would be great for MarcGP future as a sport
 

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