I'd like to applaud Dorna's embrace of transparency, which is the net unintended effect of recognizing a 3rd category to be known as Factory 2. Some of us knew already there were 3 tiers/categories within MotoGP; Dorna just acknowledged what some of us have been pointing out. Kudos to Dorna. When the CRT existed along with factory and satellite entries, there were 3 plus tiers, and today there are actually more, which I hope Dorna acknowledge in the coming days. Baby steps. Dorna need to acknowledge the production racer category! Isnt this what is effectively the logical inference of identifying a Factory 2 category as--a uniquely distinct type within the Open class?! (Yes, think about this and let it sink in.) Oh let me spell it out. By distinguishing that Ducati is not a true open-class (even though its submitting itself to the open class formula) then this directly supposes that the production racer is a truer open-class entry. Well actually the production based entries with their prototype chassis are the truest open class entries, for example the Avintia Racing or Ioda Racing teams, where in contrast the production racer is coming directly from a factory and is not quite an amalgamation of an independent team mounting a production derived engine into a third party produced chassis; therefore the production racer is entirely another class/type of entry.
This actually helps the casual fan understand the reality of the competition parity on the field (God knows it won't do much for those still with their heads up their ... regarding the true nature of parity, politics, and legitimimacy of this sport). When the lights go out and the race commences, 99% of the viewing public will consider it an authentic contest (surely what Dorna is counting on), hell even those that should know better will tow the line. Its amazing to see so many reactions on other sites; Im amused and miffed at seeing the reactions on Kropo's site, as if this is something new that has transpired where many are expressing their objection to MotoGP as a farce of ........ arbitrary rules and 11th hour performance leveling and tinkering.
MotoGP has been a farce for a long time with many indications of power politics directly influencing the on track outcomes; but many denunciations have been downplayed and denied. Just conspiracy theory, right? Seems like the reaction (75+ comments so far) is an indication that Dorna have done a good job of presenting the sport as authentic. Perhaps Im mistaken, but why else would there be such a reaction to the recurring MO by the power players and GP officials for several years, has it gone undetected? The theme of the reaction is: this is a ........ thing MotoGP is doing. Uhm, newsflash, its been ........ for a while now. Where were these people, along with journalists and bloggers, expert tweeters and insiders when GP had tiers of tires (perhaps the greatest influence on outcomes) with the SNS, or changing formula for ........ claims of safety, and how about the subtle plot and influence to introduce limits on tires, engines, and fuel limit controls favoring one factory, and what about the freezing of prototype development (in a prototype option no less) via engine sealing? Yet experts were sure to tell us Dorna was simply reacting to the factories wish to develop an ECU while they were effectively halting actual prototype development. Thats some astonishing fuzzy logic the propaganda machine is tasked to feed us.
Where were these experts and lovers of the spirit of the rules when sudden changes were being made toward an 11th hour single-tire supplier, changes to the spec tire, and sudden evaporations of a rookie rule? Oh yeah, that rookie rule that was eliminated in the same crisis fashion as the imminent 3rd category alteration to the rulebook we see today! Those towing the Dorna lies saying previous adjustments to the rules were all done on the up and up and had nothing to do with politics, often times by categorizing the denunciations as conspiracy theory while attempting to promote the official version that it was done for______(insert Carmelos explanation here). Reminds me of his I am calm comment, which many still dont believe had anything to do with Ezpeletas machinates and backroom deals to act as an agent for VR to be signed by Yamaha. Not even the revelation that Dorna was subsidizing his salary are some willing to accept this sport is all but fixing minor details of competition. Where was Dornas integrity when for two years Aprillia fielded a defacto factory team? And now, making the distinction of a 3rd category within a categorywithin a categorywithin a category, breathtaking. Will this entry appear as a 5th machine on the podium? It deserves to be, given that the precedent had been set of the first CRT finisher in parc ferme. It should also include the first Factory 2.0 finisher as well, which this year sounds like a lock to be a Ducati. Wellunless the Forward Racing (FTR or whatever they are calling it today) entry is classified along with the Factory 2.0, which of course will be strange as the Tech3 satellite is more apropos to be called a Factory 2nd tier version of a factory entry. Confusing? Not really. Its all part of the plan.
MotoWWF.
