Jumkie
3575781375762303
Ah yes, when the "spec" went his way. The "spec" that went decidedly away from Stoner (who later requested last year's "spec").
The spec tire didn't move towards Rossi. He had to engineer his bike to give a different feel b/c he didn't like the tires. Ben Spies confirmed the rumors in 2011. Spec tire didn't move away from Stoner b/c it changed very little between 2009 and 2011. Stoner was nearly unbeatable on the RC in 2011. The tires were not genuinely "anti-Stoner" until 2012 when Stoner vehemently opposed changing the tire spec. For the second time in Stoner's career, the tires were changed immediately following his world title. He retired as a result, and he has taken both incidences personally. Who can blame him?
The tires have changed somewhat arbitrarily over the years. The Japanese have adapted. Ducati's fortunes have been turned upside down. I suspect Kawasaki and Suzuki ultimately quit due to tire changes. Kawasaki made a huge investment in 2008, spending a great deal of money (for them) to acquire Hopper. Like Ducati, Kawasaki were also mystified by the 2008 Bridgestones, which Stoner insisted were not the same as his 2007 kit. After a respectable 2007 campaign, Melandri was also dazed and confused by the new B-stones. Suzuki stuck it out, but when the tires were changed for 2012, Suzuki also withdrew, despite having a working 1000cc prototype. Recently, they delayed re-entry when the fuel capacity was reduced.
This calls attention to Ezpeleta's inability to negotiate delicately and diplomatically with the MSMA, but it's the age old chicke-egg-conundrum. Would Ezpeleta be imitating Napoleon if the MSMA had not created a technical formula that was wildly unpopular with the fans, detrimental to IRTA, exceedingly expensive, and unsafe?
