With all do respect, several peeps are just ignoring what has been written on the subject, for a recap you can re-read it at motomatters. I get Pov, Mental, etal takes, they come from a place of blind allegiance from wherever Stoner sits (commonly devoid of logic and fact checking), but the situation here is NOT the fault of Ducati or Dorna. If anybody tried to power play here, it sound like it came from Honda & Yamaha. Dorna had a certain interest (CRTs), and hence, they 'proposed' a change in weight. (Contrary to the now debunked conspiracy theory that the weight increase was to help Rossi/Ducati at the expense of Stoner/Honda). Dorna 'proposed' it back in November NOT in December to adopt a new weight regs, it wasn't implemented then because MSMA lied about the vote. It wasn't until the actual minutes were requested that this lie was exposed. It matters not how the lie was exposed, whether it was Ducati telling or the church mouse. Had they been forthcoming, Honda & Yamaha (now whining about last minute with their particular supporters echoing the whine) would have had since the end of last season (the first test of the new season in Valencia) to make adjustments. Why is this getting missed?
Jums, I have not overlooked nor forgotten what has been written on the subject and I am a frequent reader of Krop's site and articles as I find them well written, thoughful and extremely insightful with little to no prejudice when it comes to the subject matter. In short, I greatly enjoy his site and spend a lot of time there as it is a site (and of course forum) that is yet to be teh subject of the radical fanaticism and hatred that infests so many other once good sites.
Now, let me ask you why it is not the fault of Ducati?
I ask as you seem to possibly have missed my point entirely in that irrespectivie of who may have been teh 'bully boys' in the past, the current situation of the weight issue was not of their making given teh last minute changes. Now, do you agree that the addition of 4 kilograms to the minimum weight limit was last minute or do you suggest that all manufacturers had ample warning and notice that their machines had to be 157 kg?
This is the crux of the situation as I see it.
The manufacturers agreed at an MSMA meeting in late 2010 as to the minimum weight limit which DORNA put in writing as the standard (irrespective of whether or not the limit was agreeed by all etc). This was then the mandated minimum weight limit and the manufacturers all commenced the ongoing development of a bike for the 2012 season based on that essential and critical component and in all likelihood spent many millions of dollars towards achieving the end goal.
In late 2011 news broke from DORNA that apparently the manufacturers were not in agreement afterall, and as such this opened the door for DORNA to implement (mandate?) their own decision as to minimum weight. This they did quite quickly and decided to raise the minimum weight by 4 kilograms.
Now, as to their reasons for the 157 vs 153, who really knows, but let us take it on good faith (and remove any conspiracy theory as to it being designed to impact one rider or manufacturer) it was well within their right to make that decision .... of this there is no doubt or argument (I suggest).
However, they knew full well that certainly Honda and Yamaha, and quite reasonably Ducati had already spent money on their machines to meet the minimum weight. Now, given the frequent bleatings by DORNA about reducting costs to then have them make a 'late' decision that would result in an increase in costs (along with associated wastage of funds already spent) does seem somewhat contradictory and arrogant.
Now, do I blame them ................ no, for they ARE the boss and they can mandate, dictate and do as they want, as they are the people/organisation in charge.
As for Ducati's involvment and why I believe and posted that Ducati were involved in a powerplay of their own, I will simply ask whether you feel that Honda or Yamaha would have advised DORNA that the decision in question was not unanimous and given taht there are no other particpants, how did the decision leak?
Thus, to me Ducati likely got sick of being on the receiving end and decided to 'dish it out' as it were.
Just because Honda/Yamaha may well have been bully boys and may well have utilised their power does not mean that they cannot be bullied, nor out manouvered, nor have power used against them
Friend, it IS Dorna's "game" (at least partly), as in, they purchased the rights of the show. They promote it, and so have a heavily vested interest. Also, they 'proposed' the new weight, this should be contrasted with the word 'imposed' the new regs, which it seems people are mistaking. The MSMA get to either veto this or agree to it. So as much as I dislike Dorna in many respects, this was not like its being portrayed or by those echoing Stoner's disapproval of the weight regs.
Never said it wasn't DORNA's game and suggest that you misinterpreted the post.
As for the difference between proposed and imposed, there is no difference when a proposal becomes imposed without discussion, it is then dictated or mandated as it has been in this case.
A true proposal would have resulted in the discussion with MSMA (whether or not it would have been fruitful is open) and a better lead time to the imposition of the new weight.
