How many bikes in 2012

birdman said:

Too much control garbage. Control tyres, control fuel capacity, control cylinder numbers, control 81mm bore, control number of engines per year, control number of tests per year, control this, control that blah blah blah. It seams to me more manufacturers are actually in superbikes because there is more potential there to develop and continuously improve a bike than motogp.

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Agreed, the prototype aspect has been diminished by these limitations. I'm not in favour of a totally open formula but regulations about the number and dimensions of cylinders are definitely a step too far as far as I am concerned, as would be rev limits. The problem with developing these things in wsbk is the performance indexing. Can you tell, from watching wsbk, which bike is faster, the 1000cc inline 4 CBR or the 1200cc L2 1198?



I don't have more of a problem with all bikes having to run with a limited amount of fuel as I have with requiring all bikes to have no more or less than 2 wheels. If 21 liters is what the MSMA wants to run in order to push innovation in fuel consumption that's their choice. I have no problem with it since they are the ones providing the bikes and paying R&D. It then also makes sense to me that the CRT bikes get to use more fuel as they use production derived engines which cannot be expected to be as cutting edge in this area.



A privateer might be able to design and build a decent frame from out of his proverbial tool shed, he cannot design and build an engine and figure out how to best use the electronics system to realistically compete in the same class as the big manufacturers. So we let them tinker with a production engine and give them 24 liters of fuel.



MSMA happy, because no way the CRT bikes will threaten their factory efforts, nor most of their satellite teams. Ezpeleta happy, because he finally has enough bikes on the grid to call this thing a world championship. On track crowds happy, because they get to see 24 bikes thundering by every lap (well, 22 if you take Simonchelli and RdP into account). Sponsors happy, because they will be able to get their brand associated with motogp for a relatively low price. And finally, us happy, because apart from the world championship, the race wins, the podiums, the midfield and the eternal Stoner-vs-Rossi debates, we have one new element to talk about.



I only fear that Stoner will be less than enthusiastic and might start running Ben Hur-style spikes on his wheels with all those slower bikes getting in his way.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93778



Looks like 5 most likely for Honda, Bradl rumored to get one if he's got the money to buy. Where would Simoncelli or Dovi go anyway? Only other factory rides worth it are already taken by Spies and Lorenzo. The bargaining seems to favor Honda that they will be able to keep them at at lower price and not have to supply them factor rides (unless they both have the backing to get them). Aoyama and Elias are obviously out, down to Moto2?

Dovi to LCR, with Bradl alongside if they cough up the money, and it sounds like they have it. it's looking more and more like 6 Hondas (I can't see Gresini campaigning 1 bike), although Bradl to Tech 3 rumors are still floating around as well.