Peter Clifford`s WCM 990 Yamaha

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (DRILL @ Aug 18 2009, 05:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I`d like to run this by you all in the current cash crisis.
Was WCM onto something when they introduced a lowcost MotoGP bike? It caused some headaches for Dorna I know,but could this be the way forward for the 1000cc limit proposal?Tp me it makes sense,the main point being you can use an engine tuned enough to be a step above WSBK but not have the hefty bills of MotoGP.
Would it still have the same appeal to you the fan? Of course electronics would have to be limited too purely so we can get that 990 spirit back but this deserves to be considered as an across the board idea,theres no way I want a two tier championship!
I`m sure I`ve missed some important points there but please get your input on here to guage the general consensus+its a post that people won`t have the chance to slag off other riders.

hooray....more like this needed, although the angry twats will try to find a way to turn it into a Fanboy Bar-Brawl.......good thread DRILL.

The 990's are sorely missed, watching that Sacs-Ring 06 highlight the other confirmed for me why. The corner speed whilst slower seemed more exciting because of the acceleration between, and of course the squirming in and out, lets hope they can revive it effectively.....

It was sad to see the Harris WCR bikes/team booted out. Surely, all parties could have come to some agreement. After all, we are men, it's racing not war!

Either way, I see Harris WCR would have struggled to find/build/modify/prototype (whatever) an 800cc engine like they did with the 990.
I see it as they, most likely, would have not continued in MotoGP due to the engines being shrunk to 800. Sad, cause more bikes on the grid can only be a good thing.

Great topic, the first time i went to phillip island was with the WCM team. A good family friend of outs was their technical pit manager (malcom pitman) he previously worked with McCoy at Red Bull Yam. What a weekend.

The team worked really hard, massivley long hours and the like, but back at the hotel they were party animals. Was a blast drinking late into the night on friday and saturday night wwith all the mechanics.

I remember around the time talk of an aprillia engine or similar being thrown around, but the details escape me. Either way they were a great 'spirited' team. It was good to see people racing because they wanted to race. Unfortunatley circumstance and regulation prevented them from being competitive. I suppose they were a similar mindset to Williams (without the history). Any how here are some pics from that weekend. Sorry if they are massive.

^^ great pics.. i also remember vaguely talk about leasing the cube engine but without the drive by wire throttle. pity it never came off.

yeah a shame. the more teams the better.