How to save MotoGP

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Jan 5 2009, 12:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Really impressive thinking.
Here are 3 questions:

- Please tell us WHO (or what evil entity) is 'feeding the sport' mostly ITA and SPA, or AUS and USA riders (while you are at it, maybe explain also WHO is feeding the sport mostly Japanese bikes! ) .

- Please tell us WHY 'more countries' do not have any racetracks. Maybe they have been destroyed by the above evil entity?

- Please explain HOW MotoGP races can be organized in countries of the world where there has never been any real following of the sport. Hint: there are not many Qatars in this world, where they can burn money just to appear on TV.

Before prescribing a medicine for a sport, at least take the pain to learn its history. It would make you understand the WHY's and HOW's much better, and maybe you would understand why certain countries have come to play more important roles than others.




Whilst I don't agree with everything TP70 said he does have some excellent points as well.

Look at all the #52 flags that were flying at Donnington because Toseland was racing.
Then there was the loud Pesek fans in Brno.
Look at how popular Motogp is becoming in Hungary and Talmacsi can take some credit for that.
Then you have Hayden in the US, Stoner in Australia.

The point I'm making is that the fanbase needs to branch out into other parts of the world.
Spanish & Italian riders make up a large portion of the lower classes right now and it might be wise to try to nurture talent from elsewhere. If we add another 5 or 6 spanish or italian riders to the grid or aussie or american riders for that matter, will it create more fans? probably not.
But if some of the new kids entering the lower classes are from countries not synonymous with Motogp then the fanbase can only spread and grow. The tour also needs to take in more countries. Surely South Africa is ready to be re included to the tour? Brazil & Canada perhaps?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 2 2009, 09:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Good point, but I don't think they make that much anymore. Over half the pack cost goes to government.

Also to add to your point, I haven't heard of too many smoking-while-driving crashes killing innocent families on the highway.



How far beyond? (don't answer)

I wouldnt feel to sorry for the big tobacco companies,they are making plenty of money.Look up the Altria Group,they used to be Phillip Morris.Changed their name to hide from bad publicity and diversified big time.Have at one time or still do,depending on how you look at it,own companies such as Kraft Foods,Nabisco,Sears and others.Altria stock is said to be a cant miss in 2009 .They have money to burn if the nanny governments around the world would quit making laws that prohibit tobacco advertisement.If you dont know by now that smoking can kill you,your to ....... stupid to live anyway.I smoke,i know it can kill me,its my choice.I certainly dont need some liberal politician telling me how to live my life because im to stupid or dont understand how to do it on my own.I will not sue a tobacco company if and when i develope a smoking related ailment.I will not sue a gun manufacturer if someone in my family gets killed.I will not sue a fast food chain if my arteries explode.This whole planet has turned into a bunch of sniveling candy ..... who are always looking to blame someone for their stupidity.A warning on any product should be enough.If it says THIS CAN KILL YOU,and you do it any way,who's fault is that.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Jan 5 2009, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If you dont know by now that smoking can kill you,your to ....... stupid to live anyway.
Post of the year.

It would be great if the sport opened up to more fans from more countries across the world. It would be even better if the sport got bigger in new places because more countries were represented by talented riders from countries not currently represented. I'm not being sarcastic or anything, I would really like to see that. Unfortunately, we don't see many riders from outside the traditional motorcycle hotbeds because motorcycle racing is not a popular sport amongst young people or it is not financially viable in some places. There are so many Spaniards and Italians and Americans and Australians because there are so many motorcyclists in Spain, Italy, the states and Australia. You can't very well get talented riders from new countries into the sports if there are no talented riders from new countries. It's not a conspiracy by these four countries to keep a stranglehold on the talent in the sport. If the next Valentino Rossi was eight years-old and riding in Kazakhstan, it would only be a matter of time before he's noticed and getting rides in series in preparation for world championship racing.

Like I said, I would love to see more countries represented in the series but in many places around the world, motorcycle racing is not financially possible.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jan 5 2009, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Post of the year.

It would be great if the sport opened up to more fans from more countries across the world. It would be even better if the sport got bigger in new places because more countries were represented by talented riders from countries not currently represented. I'm not being sarcastic or anything, I would really like to see that. Unfortunately, we don't see many riders from outside the traditional motorcycle hotbeds because motorcycle racing is not a popular sport amongst young people or it is not financially viable in some places. There are so many Spaniards and Italians and Americans and Australians because there are so many motorcyclists in Spain, Italy, the states and Australia. You can't very well get talented riders from new countries into the sports if there are no talented riders from new countries. It's not a conspiracy by these four countries to keep a stranglehold on the talent in the sport. If the next Valentino Rossi was eight years-old and riding in Kazakhstan, it would only be a matter of time before he's noticed and getting rides in series in preparation for world championship racing.

Like I said, I would love to see more countries represented in the series but in many places around the world, motorcycle racing is not financially possible.


To first bolded section: Not really. Unless he connections in the racing industry like Rossi did, he would be like many young US riders and do nothing with their racing careers. There are plenty of riders in all levels who should not be there, but because of connections and a monetary backer, they get the rides.

I have seen dozens of great Canadian riders, but because they only run 3-4 months a year, it is difficult to get notices, as you'll have to move to the US, or move to Europe. Australian riders still struggle getting notices at home. Stoner probably would only be running a local superbike class if he did have get uprooted an moved to Europe by his parents. The US has hundreds of great young and old riders who will never or never had the chance to advance to the upper levels because of the small amounts of rides available.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Jan 5 2009, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Like I said, I would love to see more countries represented in the series but in many places around the world, motorcycle racing is not financially possible.

Do you not find it astonishing there are NO top level Chinese or Indian riders in MotoGP since they make up more than 1/3 of the human population today?

And if you have been to either country you will not that thousands upon thousands of people ride bikes....so somewhere in that huge lot of humanity (consumers) there must be at least 20 people that can ride at the top level......statistically speaking of course, but eitherway the money available from companies in those parts of the world must be accessible by GP teams.

Just for a laugh....here are the top 500 largest companies from July 2008 (so some may not be in top 500 anymore).....and Number 1 should be sponsoring an American team / Rider, but why is it not?

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/glo...2008/full_list/

Like I said in my first post, it is either not financially possible or it is not popular enough to garner top talent. These riders don't just luck into rides. If someone is good enough to get a top level ride, sooner or later someone of consequence is going to see them and make it happen. I've never been to India or China, nor do I know anything about the motorcycle racing climate in either country. Although I would suspect that if there are no Chinese or Indian riders in a top level series, then there is likely not a deep enough talent pool in either country to draw a top level talent from.

There is not a conspiracy to keep the world out of the MotoGP World Championship.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Jan 5 2009, 01:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Do you not find it astonishing there are NO top level Chinese or Indian riders in MotoGP since they make up more than 1/3 of the human population today?

And if you have been to either country you will not that thousands upon thousands of people ride bikes....so somewhere in that huge lot of humanity (consumers) there must be at least 20 people that can ride at the top level......statistically speaking of course, but eitherway the money available from companies in those parts of the world must be accessible by GP teams.

Just for a laugh....here are the top 500 largest companies from July 2008 (so some may not be in top 500 anymore).....and Number 1 should be sponsoring an American team / Rider, but why is it not?

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/glo...2008/full_list/

Clearly you've never been to India. I lived there for 10 years( hence the nickname "Keshav" ) and there isn't a decent road in the entire country. Every once in a while I see photographs of guys in India or Pakistan who own modern Japanese street bikes - but these guys can only be super-wealthy guys who only occasionally ride to the local curry shop in order to impress the beggars and cows. The two-wheel transportation is largely limited to Bajaj scooters and 125cc Hero Hondas and re-built lumbering Enfields. Back country roads in China are nothing to write home about either.

The reason i think there are no riders at the top level in countrys outside of aus usa and europe is because its a cultural thing im sure the races in qatar and china dont get as many spectators as they do in spain ita or the us. Plus many people in the countrys where the riders come from there are thousands of kids who are hoping to one day becoming gp riders with only 19 spots (at the time) i dont think theres room for diversity. im not sure but ive never heard of an indian superbike series, i know theyre serious about their cricket though! most other countrys view motorcycle racing as a dangerous hobby and not a way of life like its viewd in spain and italy. On the top 500 companys i found it hilarious to see wal mart at the top and just imagine them sponsoring a bike because in america the average moto gp fan tends to be from the upper middle class and educated ( i am neither) and does not shop at wal mart. In order to get money flowing in moto gp again they have to let Big tobacoo back in like everyone else suggested I for one respect marlboro for dumping so much money into ducati and only being able to advertise like in 2 races (not sure about that). I am not a smoker and if i see them advertising on bikes its not going to make me go out and buy a carton and start puffing away, if people are that stupid they deserve to die of lung cancer and everything else associated with tobacoo. Now that Nicky Hayden is on Ducati i encourage all smoker too switch to marlboro . If i had the power the grid would look something like this Marlboro Ducati Smith and Wesson Yamaha Carlsberg honda and viagra Kawasaki. it doesnt matter where the money is coming from as long as we see some good racing like back in the golden days ( the early 90s)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Jan 5 2009, 11:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Do you not find it astonishing there are NO top level Chinese or Indian riders in MotoGP since they make up more than 1/3 of the human population today?

And if you have been to either country you will not that thousands upon thousands of people ride bikes....so somewhere in that huge lot of humanity (consumers) there must be at least 20 people that can ride at the top level......statistically speaking of course, but eitherway the money available from companies in those parts of the world must be accessible by GP teams.

Just for a laugh....here are the top 500 largest companies from July 2008 (so some may not be in top 500 anymore).....and Number 1 should be sponsoring an American team / Rider, but why is it not?

http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/glo...2008/full_list/

Because in the business world, for the past since the introduction of a global economy, nationalism has gone out the window, outside some Japanese companies. Sporting events like a MotoGP Grand Prix are a global event, and sponsors go to who is popular, who will make them money all over the world, not just in their country. Rossi has companies all over the world wanting him, because he has fans all over the world. American companies do not sponsor a US rider, because the return in doing so, no matter no much you use them in adverts, still will not get you anywhere. Honda has used Hayden, and Danica Patrick, and Marco Andretti in their adverts, but the popularity of these people is still relatively small.

Wal-Mart has there money in what is popular in their biggest market, North America, in Nascar. Andrew Ranger (Nascar Canada champion) is a Wal-Mart backed driver. Overall, this company does not really need to advertise in this market, as what they have done already is enough. Everytime you watch television, you will see 10-15 Wal-Mart adverts per day. Even the bad publicity about them is still good publicity for them, as they are growing in leaps and bounds still.

The California Kid,

1. True. Places like China and Qatar have money, but the overall interest in the sport is low. In Qatar, nearly 100% of the fanbase supports Valentino Rossi. Places like China have a growing racing following, but the 4 wheel action of Formula One still dominates. Many young drivers in Europe and throughout Asia in the junior levels are Chinese drivers. Yes, there are kids in Spain and Italy and Britain who are using the lower levels to reach stardom, but that also goes back to the support system set in place for these young riders to reach the top. You have thousands of young riders in the US, but they struggle to make anything of their career because of the support system in place (made even more difficult by the DMG-AMA system).

2. Man you need to go back to school. Learn some English grammar man. You say your a Cali kid, and that could make you from any country in the world, but sheesh, even if English is a second or third or fourth language for you, ever language starts sentences with capital letters.

3. Walk into a Wal-Mart parking lot. You will notice a BMW, a Mercedes, a Cadillac (not a tinted window 1980's El Dorado used by a drug dealer either). Every one shops at Wal-Mart. Everyone wants to save money. Thinking with that mentality is just ignorant to how the world works.

4. Like said by povol, "If you dont know by now that smoking can kill you,your to ....... stupid to live anyway." You'd have to be a very stupid ignorant child to want to pick up a cig if you saw your favorite rider sponsored by a tobacco company. So what who advertises on the side of a motor bike or race car. As long as it is legal, I say, "If you have the cash and want to spend it that way, go ahead." The public is much smarter than the government thinks it is.

While MotoGP might have names in their ranks right now, that cannot save a series or sport. You need on-track action.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Jan 5 2009, 05:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Because in the business world, for the past since the introduction of a global economy, nationalism has gone out the window, outside some Japanese companies. Sporting events like a MotoGP Grand Prix are a global event, and sponsors go to who is popular, who will make them money all over the world, not just in their country. Rossi has companies all over the world wanting him, because he has fans all over the world. American companies do not sponsor a US rider, because the return in doing so, no matter no much you use them in adverts, still will not get you anywhere. Honda has used Hayden, and Danica Patrick, and Marco Andretti in their adverts, but the popularity of these people is still relatively small.

Wal-Mart has there money in what is popular in their biggest market, North America, in Nascar. Andrew Ranger (Nascar Canada champion) is a Wal-Mart backed driver. Overall, this company does not really need to advertise in this market, as what they have done already is enough. Everytime you watch television, you will see 10-15 Wal-Mart adverts per day. Even the bad publicity about them is still good publicity for them, as they are growing in leaps and bounds still.

The California Kid,

1. True. Places like China and Qatar have money, but the overall interest in the sport is low. In Qatar, nearly 100% of the fanbase supports Valentino Rossi. Places like China have a growing racing following, but the 4 wheel action of Formula One still dominates. Many young drivers in Europe and throughout Asia in the junior levels are Chinese drivers. Yes, there are kids in Spain and Italy and Britain who are using the lower levels to reach stardom, but that also goes back to the support system set in place for these young riders to reach the top. You have thousands of young riders in the US, but they struggle to make anything of their career because of the support system in place (made even more difficult by the DMG-AMA system).

2. Man you need to go back to school. Learn some English grammar man. You say your a Cali kid, and that could make you from any country in the world, but sheesh, even if English is a second or third or fourth language for you, ever language starts sentences with capital letters.

3. Walk into a Wal-Mart parking lot. You will notice a BMW, a Mercedes, a Cadillac (not a tinted window 1980's El Dorado used by a drug dealer either). Every one shops at Wal-Mart. Everyone wants to save money. Thinking with that mentality is just ignorant to how the world works.

4. Like said by povol, "If you dont know by now that smoking can kill you,your to ....... stupid to live anyway." You'd have to be a very stupid ignorant child to want to pick up a cig if you saw your favorite rider sponsored by a tobacco company. So what who advertises on the side of a motor bike or race car. As long as it is legal, I say, "If you have the cash and want to spend it that way, go ahead." The public is much smarter than the government thinks it is.

While MotoGP might have names in their ranks right now, that cannot save a series or sport. You need on-track action.

Sure it's off season, but criticizing his use of capitols is a bit of a stretch when looking for things to ..... about. It's also "the pot calling the kettle black". As a former professional editor I could easily go around tearing everyone here a new ....... when it comes to punctuation, spelling and grammar. Bit it ain't about that - is it?

Re: the public being smarter than the government thinks it is - you're kidding right? How after re-electing Alfred E Bush who threw us into an insane war, ruined the environment, set human rights back twenty years, emasculated health care and education, and threw us into the worst economic depression since 1929 - can you say with a straight face that the American public is smarter than it's government??? For decades now, American consumers have been mindlessly buying whatever the .... tube has thrown at them and that includes the idea that smoking is cool. # Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of American men and women; it kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers COMBINED. # Lung cancer kills almost twice as many American women as breast cancer annually. You can choose to be blithe if you want and say that nobody ever crashed their car due to tobacco smoke - but you can't ignore the fact that cigarettes do over time ruin the health of millions and that the costs in terms of hospital care and raised insurance rates to all Americans is totally ....... staggering.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Keshav @ Jan 5 2009, 04:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sure it's off season, but criticizing his use of capitols is a bit of a stretch when looking for things to ..... about. It's also "the pot calling the kettle black". As a former professional editor I could easily go around tearing everyone here a new ....... when it comes to punctuation, spelling and grammar. Bit it ain't about that - is it?

Re: the public being smarter than the government thinks it is - you're kidding right? How after re-electing Alfred E Bush who threw us into an insane war, ruined the environment, set human rights back twenty years, emasculated health care and education, and threw us into the worst economic depression since 1929 - can you say with a straight face that the American public is smarter than it's government??? For decades now, American consumers have been mindlessly buying whatever the .... tube has thrown at them and that includes the idea that smoking is cool. # Lung cancer is the #1 cancer killer of American men and women; it kills more people than breast, prostate, colon, liver, kidney and melanoma cancers COMBINED. # Lung cancer kills almost twice as many American women as breast cancer annually. You can choose to be blithe if you want and say that nobody ever crashed their car due to tobacco smoke - but you can't ignore the fact that cigarettes do over time ruin the health of millions and that the costs in terms of hospital care and raised insurance rates to all Americans is totally ....... staggering.
I agree with everything you say but its a choice that people are allowed to make.Once you make that decision,it should be all on you.It wouldnt matter if they made cigarette companies include a electronics device installed on every pack that screams [You stupid ....,these things will kill you}.People will do harmful things to themselves for self satisfaction.I would have no problem with laws that would say the government doesnt have to supply anyone with health care who have smoke related illness.No insurance,to bad dude,your the one who pulled the trigger.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Hayden Fan @ Jan 5 2009, 12:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Man you need to go back to school. Learn some English grammar man. You say your a Cali kid, and that could make you from any country in the world, but sheesh, even if English is a second or third or fourth language for you, ever language starts sentences with capital letters.
Let us take a look at your sentence above:

How about you using commas and apostrophes appropriately in your stupid ....... sentence above Mr. Grammar Nazi? A comma belongs after "Man"(,) in your first sentence. There is a natural pause there but you forgot the comma. You also miss used the word "your", you should have used 'you're' as in 'you are'. It's a contraction dumb ... (most third graders know the difference). What is up with the comma before the "and" in your second run-on sentence? Don't you know the word "and" is a natural transition word; hence, a natural pause? Putting a comma there is a redundant pause. Moving on, what is up with the list of "ors" in your second run-on sentence? Feel free to mix in a period or a semi-colon in your run-on sentence. Just because you loaded it with transitional words (or/and including some poorly used commas) doesn't make it a complex compound sentence. Did I mention you misspelled the word 'every'? Did you mean to use the word "ever"? Yeah, perhaps you forgot a 'Y'. Most people wouldn't need a spell checker to spell a word that is in the fourth grade spelling book of words 'every' fourth grader in America should know (look it up). I don't think you would do very well on that game show, Are you as smart as a 5th grader? But I suspect you missed it because "ever" is an actual word and wasn't detected by your spell checker. Embarrassingly, it failed to alert you that it did not make sense in your ..... sentence. You still feel like correcting people's grammar? Why don't you go back to school clown?!

Who the .... made you the grammar police? I read a lot of your .... and find a grip of errors, but that's not what bothers me, what really bothers me is the lack of mature thought. But you don't see me harping on it do you? I know you have some background from your dad's experience and all in racing, but you are still very green behind the ears when it comes to meaningful, intelligent, and complex thought. What the .... is it with children these days, you go to school for a few years and now what, you're the English teacher? Well, while you're concentrating on the proper use of nouns and verbs some of us are graduating to high order thinking. I usually give you a pass because you're (or is it your) a Hayden Fan... not today.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Keshav @ Jan 4 2009, 11:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The above from someone who's never been within five feet of an actual
500cc GP bike. These bikes were awesome and the likes of Roberts, Doohan,
Gardner, Schwantz and Rainey feared and respected these notoriously treacherous machines.
Hey there little 4-stroke street-bike dudes - do your mommies even let you wear long pants yet?

You muppet, I live on a island with the most notorious race track in the world, Ive watch motocycle racing here since I can remember which would 1984.
So dont you start giving me .... about not being within Five feet of a GP bike.. I ve seen the best machines honda, yam, kawa, suzuki, have had thown at this course, you dont know .... about me Keshav.
I actually met Kevin Schwantz in June 2007 at a hotel about 3 miles from my house, suzuki had a huge open day, I was stood right next to Schwantz when he fired up his lucky stripe suzuki..
So stick that in your pipe and smoke it... 2 stokes sound .....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Jan 5 2009, 10:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree with everything you say but its a choice that people are allowed to make.Once you make that decision,it should be all on you.It wouldnt matter if they made cigarette companies include a electronics device installed on every pack that screams [You stupid ....,these things will kill you}.People will do harmful things to themselves for self satisfaction. I would have no problem with laws that would say the government doesnt have to supply anyone with health care who have smoke related illness.No insurance,to bad dude,your the one who pulled the trigger.
Not sure where you hail from but in the UK the tax on cigarettes is enormous. I can buy duty free in Singapore (even with the current exchange rates) 200 for £9. 200 in the UK is over £50.

The reason the the govt (here and elsewhere) tread carefully with smoking and do not consider banning it is because of the huge tax generation it represents.

Whilst it may be true that smokers cost the NHS more, if smoking causes earlier death then the costs are mitigated as are pension costs. However, without the tax gains from smokers the UK would not be able to afford the current NHS spending, amongst other things.

My friend (a non-smoker) reccently had a middle ear infection following a bad dose of the flu. His doctor said that he must be a smoker because these infections only occur in children and smokers because smoking increases mucus production. The mucus issue is true in itself, but is not related to middle ear infections AFAIK.

Talk about blaming smoking for anything and everything these days!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ Jan 5 2009, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You muppet, I live on a island with the most notorious race track in the world,
Speaking of dangerous, "this is going to ....... kill you" things, how about that Isle of Man "race track". Sorry it just was too fitting to the recent conversation.


My addition to the topic of "How to Save MotoGP": anything that makes the racing closer and exciting, specifically for the top finishing positions. The bottom line, as it has always been, is this is not a time trial race, its all guys on the track at once, the appeal is the passing and close finishes. So MotoGP can do whatever it wants, so long as I get that feeling I had watching Laguna Seca this last year (until Stoner went gravel surfing) or the feeling I get watching almost every recent WSBK/WSS race.

My suggestion: go back to the rules and average specifications of the bikes ran in 2006, plus a control tire (preferably from some company other the Bridgestone or Michelin). And then leave these rules alone for a long time.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ Jan 5 2009, 07:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You muppet, I live on a island with the most notorious race track in the world, Ive watch motocycle racing here since I can remember which would 1984.
So dont you start giving me .... about not being within Five feet of a GP bike.. I ve seen the best machines honda, yam, kawa, suzuki, have had thown at this course, you dont know .... about me Keshav.
I actually met Kevin Schwantz in June 2007 at a hotel about 3 miles from my house, suzuki had a huge open day, I was stood right next to Schwantz when he fired up his lucky stripe suzuki..
So stick that in your pipe and smoke it... 2 stokes sound .....

Living on an island (with one track) doesn't make you an authority on racing any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. BTW - I live on a continent that is home to twenty or thirty incredible racetracks and during the 70 and 80's my wife was a corner worker and I raced at most of the great American tracks (as a club-racer) and worked as a race mechanic for several AMA Superbike racers and having seen the top guys regularly get violently spit off the 500s, I have a certain respect for these bikes. Standing next to an idling two-stroke is not the same as hearing it as Schwantz takes a right-hand off-camber turn at 160 mph. Having seen Roberts, Spencer and Schwantz actually race these bikes (live, in-the-flesh) - as opposed to just watching them on the telly - I have a different perspective. And no, it's not a question of nostalgia. The 500cc two-strokes were really special. Only a really callow kid with no historical perspective would be incapable of recognizing this.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Keshav @ Jan 5 2009, 11:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Living on an island (with one track) doesn't make you an authority on racing any more than standing in a garage makes you a car. BTW - I live on a continent that is home to twenty or thirty incredible racetracks and during the 70 and 80's my wife was a corner worker and I raced at most of the great American tracks (as a club-racer) and worked as a race mechanic for several AMA Superbike racers and having seen the top guys regularly get violently spit off the 500s, I have a certain respect for these bikes. Standing next to an idling two-stroke is not the same as hearing it as Schwantz takes a right-hand off-camber turn at 160 mph. Having seen Roberts, Spencer and Schwantz actually race these bikes (live, in-the-flesh) - as opposed to just watching them on the telly - I have a different perspective. And no, it's not a question of nostalgia. The 500cc two-strokes were really special. Only really callow kids are incapable of recognizing this.

Your right living on a island with 3 tracks doesnt make me a authority on racing ! Neither are you a authority on racing because youve watched roberts spencer schwantz ?
You should try hearing a 500cc go round a 160mph bend with no run off only stone walls.
Foolish maybe, but at least 8 MotoGp legends have done it.
I not doubting 500s were angry bikes, but I still feel present bikes are far worse.
I dont want to argue with you Keshav, I am just a bit sick you mocking other people and there posts.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Frizzle @ Jan 5 2009, 09:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Whilst I don't agree with everything TP70 said he does have some excellent points as well.

Look at all the #52 flags that were flying at Donnington because Toseland was racing.
Then there was the loud Pesek fans in Brno.
Look at how popular Motogp is becoming in Hungary and Talmacsi can take some credit for that.
Then you have Hayden in the US, Stoner in Australia.

The point I'm making is that the fanbase needs to branch out into other parts of the world.
Spanish & Italian riders make up a large portion of the lower classes right now and it might be wise to try to nurture talent from elsewhere. If we add another 5 or 6 spanish or italian riders to the grid or aussie or american riders for that matter, will it create more fans? probably not.
But if some of the new kids entering the lower classes are from countries not synonymous with Motogp then the fanbase can only spread and grow. The tour also needs to take in more countries. Surely South Africa is ready to be re included to the tour? Brazil & Canada perhaps?

You will be unlikely to get a top rider from India or China, unless there is a 'gifted' paid ride, but maybe that is what is needed.
What I am talking about is spreading the series into other European markets, Asian markets, South America, Canada, Scandinavia. Places that will fill the grandstands at race meetings, and places where people will spend money to buy a team T-Shirt.
Look at a guy like Kenan Sufuoglu in WSS.
I was in Turkey just after he won his WSS ritle with Ten Kate, and this guy is an absolute god in Turkey. How much support would the guy get in Moto GP in Istanbul, and how many more thousands of people would go to a MotoGP race in Istanbul if he was racing, and buy a cap from the team he was riding for.

MotoGP is one of the most spectacular forms of motorsport world wide. It can appeal to more than just hard core bike nuts, and this is what DORMA need to look at. The more interest in the sport, the more people attend the races, the higher fees from track promotors, the more corporate sponsors, the more people wartching on TV, the higher the TV deals, etc etc etc.
But the money coming into the sport needs to go back to the teams, to make business sense for new teams to come into the sport, and for factory teams to be able to offset their costs by selling or leasing out bikes.
If the teams were all shareholders in the sport, they all have a vested interest to make it successful.

I don't like whats happening in the world ecconomy, but I am all for the Kawasaki bail out for the long term benefit of the sport, but whatever is paid to Kawasaki should be paid to all teams, pro rata.
DORMA needs to change the structure of the series, The series should be owned by the teams collectively, with DORMA to hold a share. DORMA needs to realise that without the teams there is no series.
The sport should be managed by a Board made up of elected representatives of all teams, and DORMA.
The teams own / buy a licence to run each bike (ie: a two bike team owns two licences / a one bike team owns one licence). The profits from running the series are shared (say 25% to DORMA and 75% to the teams) based on the number of licences held. That would channel Millions of Dollars back to the teams and offset their costs of racing.
DORMA can keep things like their dodgy subscription website etc, for their own benefit. They need to realise that 25% of a sustainable pie, is better than 100% of a pie that is about to fall apart.
Teams should also maximise revenue from merchandise at the races. I read somewhere that McLaren makes about GBP 10.0 million annually from the sale of merchandise at race meetings.

There is enough interest in MotoGP world wide to make the sport sustainable with 20+ bikes on every grid. The thng that will kill it is greed.
DORMA needs to make the series an attractive business model for teams.

OFF SEASON!!!! LET'S ....... FIGHT!!!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ Jan 5 2009, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I dont want to argue with you Keshav, I am just a bit sick you mocking other people and there posts.

QUOTE (Anders GUZZI @ Jan 3 2009, 12:24 AM)
The racing might be good on two strokes because of their nature but i'm more of the simple minded who likes to hear thunder from 990's rather than the sound of bees. biggrin.gif


"Ha, love that one !!!!! Your right anders, 2 stokes sound like tree felling tools...
I much more 4 stroke fan, spitfire bikes !!!
All 2 stroke lovers can F off "

??? Uhh excuse me???