I can't find the article on the road racing world website so here is a typed transcript from the August issue 2008. The article was in the MotoGP Notes section written by Mat Oxley and is entitled "Dorna Boss Carmelo Ezpeleta Hasn't Got a Clue"
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>.......Ezpeleta explained that the aim of the new [600cc] class is threefold "The philosophy is to have a class that prepares riders for MotoGP, a class that will be economical and a class that will be prototype," he said.
But when questioned about the definition of prototype machinery Dorna's CEO revealed an absolutely astonishing lack of knowledge about his own Championship. The Spaniard insisted that MotoGP bikes consist largely of standard motorcycle parts. And then he claimed that a prototype motorcycle can be a production bike with just one component changed from standard spec.
"There are many parts of a MotoGP bike that come from standard bikes, many parts, the clutch for example.......or the chain, the chain is exactly the same," he said. This is manifestly untrue.
MotoGP manufacturers were aghast at Ezpeleta's outburst. "We though it was the other way round, the most of the parts on a MotoGP bike are prototype," said a spokesman for on eof MotoGP's main manufacturers. "It seems we have wasted 50 million dollars developing a prototype MotoGP bike!"
Ezy goes on to make comments defending a spec engine for the new 600cc class because the remainder of the bike wouldn't be governed by spec rules.
Normally I would shrug this off as Ezy being clueless if not for one thing.
There is an 80% likelihood (probably more) that this spokesperson is from a Japanese manufacturer. Ezy is the golden boy of Japanese motorcycling world because while the Flamini group panders to Ducati, MotoGP has always pandered to the demands of the Japanese manufacturers. Most importantly, Ezy is the golden boy for Japanese manufacturers because he is ousting Aprilia and KTM and handing the new "250 class" to the Japanese factories that keep MotoGP running.
Under no circumstances is it in the best interest of the Japanese manufacturers to make Ezy look incompetent or to weaken his argument in a way that would cause the FIM to side with the Flamini Group instead of DORNA. So naturally, it seems that the spokesperson is scrambling to make Ezy look bad to cover up the revelation he has dropped on the average fan.
Unlike Oxley, who believes Ezy is suggesting that MotoGP bikes use production parts, I don't believe that's what Ezy is saying at all. As everyone knows, Ezy is simply a marketing hack who knows little about the technical details of motogp manufacturing. However, Ezy is absolutely competent to understand the pact that the MotoGP manufacturers sign onto in order to compete in the premier class.
I believe Ezy has just told the general public that in the manufacturers pact there are exclusions for certain types of technologies. The chain must be of conventional design (seems somewhat superfluous since it is superior to most drive mechanisms). But much more importantly Ezy has told everyone that MotoGP clutches must adhere to a standard design. In other words MotoGP teams are not allowed to create automatic or semi-automatic gear boxes of any kind (like the ones in F1). I'm assuming the list of prohibited innovations is rather lengthy. It would certainly explain why Ducati (after 3 years) haven't unveiled or even tested the 2 into 1 racing fork they designed to further narrow their chassis and decrease drag. It may also explain why MotoGP teams are absolutely obsessed with electronics---chances are electronic aids aren't easily policed and therefore aren't governed by any manufacturers pact.
Furthermore, I believe this article speaks volumes about the current balance of power in MotoGP. It has long been my belief and the belief of some others on here that the FIM and DORNA have an alliance. However, Ezy has stated on numerous occasions that he is staunchly opposed to the 800cc class. Because the 800cc vote came after Kato's death, it was hard to glean any alliances by it's passing. However, the remarks weakening Ezy and his arguments before the FIM shows a surprising lack of indifference as to the strengths of Ezy's position about prototype racing. It leads me to believe that the FIM and the manufacturers march in lockstep and that Ezy is frustrated with his complete lack of power.
I am firmly of the belief now that the control tire issue of 2007 was posed in a technical committee and that the measure came to a vote. Bridgestone has a majority of the manufacturers (3 vs. 2) and riders (10 vs. 9) so they both dissented. Since the FIM march in lock step with the manufacturers they also dissented, making the final vote 3-1 with DORNA being the lone pro control tire vote.
Since then, Ezy has done everything within his power to alter the competitive environment in regards to the tires. Not only because he lost a crucial vote, but also because the sport's viewership was plummeting. The latest rider safety summit is an attempt by DORNA to rally the riders behind a control tire under the guise of safety so that the technical committee vote is split 2-2 and DORNA gets to cast the deciding vote.
If my reasoning is correct and the list of rider recommendations is correct. The control tire should pass at the end of this season.
"MotoGP bikes are produced largely from standard motorcycle parts".
Thanks Ezy
Keep leaking hints.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>.......Ezpeleta explained that the aim of the new [600cc] class is threefold "The philosophy is to have a class that prepares riders for MotoGP, a class that will be economical and a class that will be prototype," he said.
But when questioned about the definition of prototype machinery Dorna's CEO revealed an absolutely astonishing lack of knowledge about his own Championship. The Spaniard insisted that MotoGP bikes consist largely of standard motorcycle parts. And then he claimed that a prototype motorcycle can be a production bike with just one component changed from standard spec.
"There are many parts of a MotoGP bike that come from standard bikes, many parts, the clutch for example.......or the chain, the chain is exactly the same," he said. This is manifestly untrue.
MotoGP manufacturers were aghast at Ezpeleta's outburst. "We though it was the other way round, the most of the parts on a MotoGP bike are prototype," said a spokesman for on eof MotoGP's main manufacturers. "It seems we have wasted 50 million dollars developing a prototype MotoGP bike!"
Ezy goes on to make comments defending a spec engine for the new 600cc class because the remainder of the bike wouldn't be governed by spec rules.
Normally I would shrug this off as Ezy being clueless if not for one thing.
There is an 80% likelihood (probably more) that this spokesperson is from a Japanese manufacturer. Ezy is the golden boy of Japanese motorcycling world because while the Flamini group panders to Ducati, MotoGP has always pandered to the demands of the Japanese manufacturers. Most importantly, Ezy is the golden boy for Japanese manufacturers because he is ousting Aprilia and KTM and handing the new "250 class" to the Japanese factories that keep MotoGP running.
Under no circumstances is it in the best interest of the Japanese manufacturers to make Ezy look incompetent or to weaken his argument in a way that would cause the FIM to side with the Flamini Group instead of DORNA. So naturally, it seems that the spokesperson is scrambling to make Ezy look bad to cover up the revelation he has dropped on the average fan.
Unlike Oxley, who believes Ezy is suggesting that MotoGP bikes use production parts, I don't believe that's what Ezy is saying at all. As everyone knows, Ezy is simply a marketing hack who knows little about the technical details of motogp manufacturing. However, Ezy is absolutely competent to understand the pact that the MotoGP manufacturers sign onto in order to compete in the premier class.
I believe Ezy has just told the general public that in the manufacturers pact there are exclusions for certain types of technologies. The chain must be of conventional design (seems somewhat superfluous since it is superior to most drive mechanisms). But much more importantly Ezy has told everyone that MotoGP clutches must adhere to a standard design. In other words MotoGP teams are not allowed to create automatic or semi-automatic gear boxes of any kind (like the ones in F1). I'm assuming the list of prohibited innovations is rather lengthy. It would certainly explain why Ducati (after 3 years) haven't unveiled or even tested the 2 into 1 racing fork they designed to further narrow their chassis and decrease drag. It may also explain why MotoGP teams are absolutely obsessed with electronics---chances are electronic aids aren't easily policed and therefore aren't governed by any manufacturers pact.
Furthermore, I believe this article speaks volumes about the current balance of power in MotoGP. It has long been my belief and the belief of some others on here that the FIM and DORNA have an alliance. However, Ezy has stated on numerous occasions that he is staunchly opposed to the 800cc class. Because the 800cc vote came after Kato's death, it was hard to glean any alliances by it's passing. However, the remarks weakening Ezy and his arguments before the FIM shows a surprising lack of indifference as to the strengths of Ezy's position about prototype racing. It leads me to believe that the FIM and the manufacturers march in lockstep and that Ezy is frustrated with his complete lack of power.
I am firmly of the belief now that the control tire issue of 2007 was posed in a technical committee and that the measure came to a vote. Bridgestone has a majority of the manufacturers (3 vs. 2) and riders (10 vs. 9) so they both dissented. Since the FIM march in lock step with the manufacturers they also dissented, making the final vote 3-1 with DORNA being the lone pro control tire vote.
Since then, Ezy has done everything within his power to alter the competitive environment in regards to the tires. Not only because he lost a crucial vote, but also because the sport's viewership was plummeting. The latest rider safety summit is an attempt by DORNA to rally the riders behind a control tire under the guise of safety so that the technical committee vote is split 2-2 and DORNA gets to cast the deciding vote.
If my reasoning is correct and the list of rider recommendations is correct. The control tire should pass at the end of this season.
"MotoGP bikes are produced largely from standard motorcycle parts".
Thanks Ezy
