private team

sadly it would seem that to be a privateer team
in top flight grand prix racing has become a
thing of the past.

Privateers absolutely can still compete in Motogp, but it's not as easy as before.

Every year there are at least 1 or 2 design teams with decent funding who have competed in other types of racing series (F1, etc.).

In 2005 I think it was Motocycyaczyzcycyz (whatever) and their flirtation with a horizontally opposed (for a bike) I-4.

Then it was Illmor in 2006

And I think I remember at the beginning of 2007 Eccosse (sp?) developed a super narrow chassis by reworking the chain drive system.

One of these design teams will actually build something that works eventually. They will probably compete and win, then the big budget teams will change and force them out.

Sad, but a privateer probably can't hang around for long based only on innovative bike design (unless its something that can't be reegineered) and privateers can't make a buck if they are being spoon fed by the big companies.

That's life. Too bad Ezy has been so eager to send costs through the roof.

i think the 4 stroke era killed off the privateer, it was a mirical king kenny stayed as long as he did.

I can see them bringing in costcutting rule changes within the next couple years.... Dorna are always behind the times.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jan 16 2008, 08:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i think the 4 stroke era killed off the privateer,

You hit the nail on the head!! 4 stroke = 4 times the price

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jan 15 2008, 09:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i think the 4 stroke era killed off the privateer, it was a mirical king kenny stayed as long as he did.


Totally agree Roger as in the 500cc days we always seemed to have privateers competing.

Certainly in most cases they were just making up the numbers but they were still there adding to the spectacle and earning a few points here and there.

It is a shame that we have no privateers left but it is unfortunately a sad reality of the progress to 4-strokes and subsequent increase in cost.





Garry
<span style="font-size:8pt;line-height:100%And Roger, having met Stacey McMahon (one of your fave's) a few times I can say she is genuinely gorgeous with a great personality (have pics to prove the looks side).

IMO, they should have stuck with the 990s a bit longer so that teams aren't forced to invest on the necessary R&D required to make the 800s competitive. They should have used less drastic approach of taming the 990s (for safety reasons) instead of the ones we have now. IMO, they should have carried of with the current tire rule (2007/2008), the fuel limit rule (< 1 liter) but maintained max capacity to 990. Then increased the minimum weight a bit. At least that way, privateers can utilize previous years bikes and won't have to purchase the new 800s.

But at the rate things are going, with talks of implementing rules to make racing interesting (albeit artificially IMO), cost are gonna escalate a lot more. My guess is if the privateers leave, the factory will be forced to run a 3rd bike, or have a 'B' team, just to keep the grids field.