This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

Stoner very outspoken about recent MotoGP issues

#22

#22

Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
Both of the following articles are from Autosport.com:



MotoGP grid sizes "a joke" - Stoner

By Steven English and David Emmett Monday, June 28th 2010, 10:23 GMT





Casey Stoner has labelled MotoGP's grid size as "pathetic", calling for more customer bikes to boost the numbers.



The series is aiming for a grid of 22 in 2011, but the Australian wants to see at least 25 bikes and believes each manufacturer should be forced to field more entries.



"They're talking about a maximum of 22, and that being a big grid - it's pathetic, it's a joke," Stoner said. "It needs to be like the grids of the old days with 25.



"They need more bikes on the grid. Suzuki need to be forced to put four bikes on the grid, personally [speaking]. They've got enough money, they've got enough chassis. It's just ridiculous, it should be a minimum of four.



"I don't understand why companies don't put last year's bikes out there like they used to. Put more bikes on the grid, make more opportunities for teams."



Stoner believes riders have been so strung out in this year's races because of a lack of bikes on the grid, and also hit out at riders of customer bikes complaining about their equipment.



"The reason why we're seeing fields stretched out is because there are no people to fill those gaps. There are enough riders around to fill those gaps. There are people this year who shouldn't be there and some people who should be there but aren't.



"The satellite riders complain so much about the bikes they've got these days - their bikes are basically factory. Freaking three or four per cent off a factory bike and they'll whinge, complain and whine. It's just tiring.



"In the old days they'd have two-year-old 500cc bikes and still stick it up there and try to get a podium. These days they just complain about whatever they've got."



He called for each manufacturer to put more year-old bikes on the grid for graduating Moto2 teams and riders.



"Last year's bikes are all being crushed or whatever, just put them on the grid," he said. "I'm sure they've got enough parts just sitting there. Even if each manufacturer ran one more of last year's bike, there's another four on the grid straight off.



"I'm sure if they were just one rider teams, some of the Moto2 teams would jump at that opportunity. There are no bikes for them [now].



"I'm sure there's a way they can sort it out to run last year's bikes, then smaller teams can grab a hold. It's always been like that for years, but now it just seems to have disappeared."
Click to expand...



I have to say I totally agree with a number of his points here. I graduated from 125cc superkarts to 250cc superkarts as, although its more expensive, the grid sizes are double, sometimes triple the size of the grids in 125. Now if like me you can't afford top notch equipment and arent racing every weekend, then with the performance you are going to have there is more than likely a bunch of people you can still race and battle with. In 125's if you are say a second off the leaders pace you end up at the back of a 6-10 kart grid dirving around on your own. There must be a way to entice more customer teams back, and surely it would earn the works companies more money if they are leasing 5 bikes out at 2.25 million USD isntead of 2?



Stoner: Yoshikawa call-up atrocious

By Steven English and David Emmett Monday, June 28th 2010, 10:01 GMT





Casey Stoner has slammed Yamaha's decision to field test rider Wataru Yoshikawa in place of Valentino Rossi for at least the next three MotoGP rounds.



The Ducati rider says giving the factory bike to the 41-year-old former World Superbike racer - who has not competed regularly at the top level in the last eight years - is "atrocious".



Yamaha riders Ben Spies and Cal Crutchlow had already turned down the opportunity and team boss Lin Jarvis admitted that fidning a replacement for Rossi had been problematic.



"That's atrocious," Stoner said. "They're putting in people that haven't raced in... I don't know how long. Why have they done it?



"Give someone an opportunity, like they used to. Anyone is better than putting nobodies in there that are never going to do anything except finish the race - even be lucky to qualify.



"I'm sure somebody would be willing to die to get on that bike. Give someone an opportunity, that's all I can say."



Yoshikawa has been confirmed at the Yamaha team for the Catalunya, Sachsenring and Laguna Seca races, with Rossi hoping to be fit in time for Brno in mid-August.
Click to expand...



I think yamaha have definately chosen a 'proven quantity' with regards to someone who will run the bike around without doing anything silly, but Casey is correct, give a young gun a chance.
 
I hope Stoner is still around in 2012,hopefully he`ll have a pleasant surprise mate.
<
 
This has made its way to three different threads and falls in the who gives a .... category. He wants to see 25 bikes on the grid by 2012, well no .... so do we all. And also no .... Pai Mie was a bad choice for yama to put in Vales seat. But wtf does he really care for? Its just another person for him to run circles around for a few races. He really needs to start focusing inward at himself, and the problems he is dealing with. They must have caught him on a day when he was pms'ing.
 
MotoGp is "atrocious"



it's been going downhill for a while and continues to do so
<
 
I especially like what he said he about the whining over 2 or 3% difference in customer bikes

and his reminding us that in the 500 days riders were out there battling on two and three year

old bikes. I remember those days well - but had forgotten. Having small "privateer" teams on

older bikes gives those riders time and experience they need to come up to speed on the

better bikes. A greater number of experienced riders is good for the breed in general. The

idea that they crush the bikes after a year or two is grotesque; a symptom of the malaise

of effete-ness that has replaced the "rugged" quality of MotoGP racing that was so exciting

during the 500cc era.
 
MdubSTYLIE said:
This has made its way to three different threads and falls in the who gives a .... category. He wants to see 25 bikes on the grid by 2012, well no .... so do we all. And also no .... Pai Mie was a bad choice for yama to put in Vales seat. But wtf does he really care for? Its just another person for him to run circles around for a few races. He really needs to start focusing inward at himself, and the problems he is dealing with. They must have caught him on a day when he was pms'ing.
Click to expand...

Then again, if he said apple pie was a pleasant dessert on occasion you would probably also find fault.
 
I agree with everything Stoner has said, but b/c of his proximity to Dorna, the MSMA, and Akiyoshi, I wish he were a bit more diplomatic. Those kinds of rants are reserved for message boards in cyberspace.



He should start posting on here. He'd find plenty of people who agree with him.
<
 
mylexicon said:
I agree with everything Stoner has said, but b/c of his proximity to Dorna, the MSMA, and Akiyoshi, I wish he were a bit more diplomatic. Those kinds of rants are reserved for message boards in cyberspace.



He should start posting on here. He'd find plenty of people who agree with him.
<
Click to expand...

He sounds very much like someone who has a contract with hrc next year. Either that or he is going to wsbk.
 
I agree:

-Grid size is .......... and actually in the "old days" you'd have at least 30 on the grid
<


-Each manufacturer minimum of 4 bikes (i'd say also include minimum of 2 "year old" bkes

-Run older machines



as far as the whining goes
<
Isn't Stoner Queen Whine?
<
<
<






bring back the 990.
 
MdubSTYLIE said:
This has made its way to three different threads and falls in the who gives a .... category. He wants to see 25 bikes on the grid by 2012, well no .... so do we all. And also no .... Pai Mie was a bad choice for yama to put in Vales seat. But wtf does he really care for? Its just another person for him to run circles around for a few races. He really needs to start focusing inward at himself, and the problems he is dealing with. They must have caught him on a day when he was pms'ing.
Click to expand...



Why the hostility? In the past riders have spoken out about things they feel are wrong with motogp and have been praised and their views taken on board. We know Stoner has a point, good on him for saying so



Keshav said:
I especially like what he said he about the whining over 2 or 3% difference in customer bikes

and his reminding us that in the 500 days riders were out there battling on two and three year

old bikes.
Click to expand...



Yes but especially toward the end a 2 or 3 year old bike was probably only 2 or 3% different to the factory kit. The rate of development in motog is pretty rapid and a 3 year old bike now would be hopeless.
 
xx CURVE xx said:
I agree:

-Grid size is .......... and actually in the "old days" you'd have at least 30 on the grid
<


-Each manufacturer minimum of 4 bikes (i'd say also include minimum of 2 "year old" bkes

-Run older machines



as far as the whining goes
<
Isn't Stoner Queen Whine?
<
<
<






bring back the 990.
Click to expand...



I'm possibly setting myself up for a fall here but....



Give a good legitimate example of whining from Casey?



You can't use his lactose problem because as soon as he recovered he came back and smashed everyone (if Rossi had a lactose problem it wouldn't have even been questioned) and hey well the arm pump that's a common problem among GP riders alike so yeah maybe he's bull shiting but I doubt and even with his arm pump he still managed to fight for 2nd at assen. His clutch problem hey Hayden had that as well so I don' t think we could include that but by all means if you could provide so go legit examples I would appreciate it.



Also Casey has highlighted some obvious points but maybe thats what Dorna needs, one of its high profile riders to say something? Maybe if all the top guys did the same thing MotoGP would be more interesting. I mean Ducati fields what 6 bikes? And Ducati are a way smaller organisation than Suzuki who supply 2 under performing examples, but hey I guess its good for the grid still. Honda do a good job, Yamaha could do a bit more but hey 4 bikes is good.



And yeah Yamaha could have put someone decent on their bike, but who knows Yoshi may come out and flog the pack!



Cheers



Gecko Hunter
 
Tom said:
Yes but especially toward the end a 2 or 3 year old bike was probably only 2 or 3% different to the factory kit. The rate of development in motog is pretty rapid and a 3 year old bike now would be hopeless.
Click to expand...



Hopeless (perhaps) re: competing for the podium, but look at what was accomplished last year

by Ayoama on the old Honda and Melandri on Kawasaki with no development - by riders with

fire and talent - against hi-spec customer bikes. Lap times from the back of the pack to the mid-pack don't change that drastically over two or three years.
 
I actually linked to one of those articles (the grid size) in the Assen Thread, and yes he is absolutly right there, and it's nice and good that a top rider like him cares to mention it, and maybe put some pressure on Dorna, to think about it.

about his other comment on Yamaha and Rossi's replacement he is still right, though maybe he could have been a bit more diplomatic, but since we all have our opinions on everything, he has surley more right than us to criticise and comment on motogp matters.



I appreciate it a lot that he speakes his mind, i wish Pedrosa and later (little by little) Lorenzo also join him and say something about different subjects of motogp. these guy's can put a lot of pressure on Dorna together if they try.
 
Former 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner will be offering his GP insights and opinions on a regular basis to cyclenews.com readers and we're happy to have him. For even more from the Wollongong Wonder, visit his website at www.waynegardnerapproved.com.au.



DUTCH DISAPPOINTMENT

Normally one of the highlights of the GP calendar, I noticed something very different about this year's Dutch TT. Obviously, the track is nothing like it used to be when I raced there in the mid-80s. Thanks to considerable modifications over the years, it's become a pale, soulless version of its former self. But with this having been the case for quite a while now, my impressions from the weekend are based on much more than that. For starters, there was the crowd. I remember the days when 200,000 spectators packed into the circuit on race day alone. On the weekend there was less than 100,000. The aura and prestige of the event also seems to have deteriorated. The Dutch TT was always one of those races that you looked forward to, and to win it was something really, really special. Now it just seems like another race.



Then there was the contest itself - a drawn-out affair that was a far cry from the nose-to-tail action you'd normally expect from a traditional Dutch TT. In saying all that, you can't escape the fact that Lorenzo was brilliant. He's really come into his own and is a step above everyone else. He's realized he can do it and that he doesn't have to live in Rossi's shadow anymore. Yet again, Pedrosa was good, but not good enough, while over at Ducati, I noticed that Casey Stoner was struggling to stay with the leaders, having to use a lot more lean angle compared to the others. To me, that again backs up what I've said previously - that there's a basic geometry and engine placement issue with that bike. Despite what I keep reading in magazines, it's not just about the front forks.



RING THE ALARM BELLS

MotoGP is in real trouble. At last weekend's Dutch TT there were just 15 bikes on the grid. Two of those were ridden by over-the-hill test riders that no one could care less about watching, while the two dismal Suzukis did little more than make up the low numbers at the back of the grid. If Suzuki were to follow Kawasaki out the back door - surely a strong possibility considering their appalling results - then next year's grid would be reduced even further. In fact, there would be more points available than there would be riders to claim them.



Alarmingly, I have heard that Dorna is having to fund some of the teams to keep them there. What a disaster. The 800cc formula itself is also delivering the most boring races of all the GP classes. Thanks to Dorna's disastrous regulation changes over the past few years, MotoGP bikes have become harder to ride and too expensive for manufacturers and teams to develop and run. Up until about a month ago the whole show had been glued together by the Rossi phenomenon, which distracted everyone from the problem. Now there's no escaping it.



Emergency action is required to prevent MotoGP becoming a thing of the past. I've heard some calling for the 2012 regulation changes to be brought forward for next year, but could the factories be ready in time? It's doubtful. There's talk of even allowing hybrid bikes on the grid as an interim solution for 2011, but even that will prove very difficult with the short lead time remaining until the start of next season. Short-term, I think the only thing that can save MotoGP is if Rossi comes back and rides for Ducati.



For the rest of Wayne's commentary from the Dutch Grand Prix, visit www.waynegardnerapproved.com.au.
 
Pigeon said:
Former 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner will be offering his GP insights and opinions on a regular basis to cyclenews.com readers and we're happy to have him. For even more from the Wollongong Wonder, visit his website at www.waynegardnerapproved.com.au.



DUTCH DISAPPOINTMENT

Normally one of the highlights of the GP calendar, I noticed something very different about this year's Dutch TT. Obviously, the track is nothing like it used to be when I raced there in the mid-80s. Thanks to considerable modifications over the years, it's become a pale, soulless version of its former self. But with this having been the case for quite a while now, my impressions from the weekend are based on much more than that. For starters, there was the crowd. I remember the days when 200,000 spectators packed into the circuit on race day alone. On the weekend there was less than 100,000. The aura and prestige of the event also seems to have deteriorated. The Dutch TT was always one of those races that you looked forward to, and to win it was something really, really special. Now it just seems like another race.



Then there was the contest itself - a drawn-out affair that was a far cry from the nose-to-tail action you'd normally expect from a traditional Dutch TT. In saying all that, you can't escape the fact that Lorenzo was brilliant. He's really come into his own and is a step above everyone else. He's realized he can do it and that he doesn't have to live in Rossi's shadow anymore. Yet again, Pedrosa was good, but not good enough, while over at Ducati, I noticed that Casey Stoner was struggling to stay with the leaders, having to use a lot more lean angle compared to the others. To me, that again backs up what I've said previously - that there's a basic geometry and engine placement issue with that bike. Despite what I keep reading in magazines, it's not just about the front forks.



RING THE ALARM BELLS

MotoGP is in real trouble. At last weekend's Dutch TT there were just 15 bikes on the grid. Two of those were ridden by over-the-hill test riders that no one could care less about watching, while the two dismal Suzukis did little more than make up the low numbers at the back of the grid. If Suzuki were to follow Kawasaki out the back door - surely a strong possibility considering their appalling results - then next year's grid would be reduced even further. In fact, there would be more points available than there would be riders to claim them.



Alarmingly, I have heard that Dorna is having to fund some of the teams to keep them there. What a disaster. The 800cc formula itself is also delivering the most boring races of all the GP classes. Thanks to Dorna's disastrous regulation changes over the past few years, MotoGP bikes have become harder to ride and too expensive for manufacturers and teams to develop and run. Up until about a month ago the whole show had been glued together by the Rossi phenomenon, which distracted everyone from the problem. Now there's no escaping it.



Emergency action is required to prevent MotoGP becoming a thing of the past. I've heard some calling for the 2012 regulation changes to be brought forward for next year, but could the factories be ready in time? It's doubtful. There's talk of even allowing hybrid bikes on the grid as an interim solution for 2011, but even that will prove very difficult with the short lead time remaining until the start of next season. Short-term, I think the only thing that can save MotoGP is if Rossi comes back and rides for Ducati.



For the rest of Wayne's commentary from the Dutch Grand Prix, visit www.waynegardnerapproved.com.au.
Click to expand...





This is spreading like wildfire! I've made my thoughts clear on the Assen thread on this, GP is looking in big trouble. Look back to the early 90's, when the top privateers like Mackenzie and McWilliams could get top 6 results on RoC or Padgetts Yamahas with somtimes a 2 year old engine. Niall even getting 3rd at Donny on the RoC in 93.



GP is in dire need of a severe rethink.



Pete
 
Keshav said:
Hopeless (perhaps) re: competing for the podium, but look at what was accomplished last year

by Ayoama on the old Honda and Melandri on Kawasaki with no development - by riders with

fire and talent - against hi-spec customer bikes. Lap times from the back of the pack to the mid-pack don't change that drastically over two or three years.
Click to expand...



You are right. I was not trying to suggest that old bikes shouldn't be on the grid, i absolutely think they should because they would make more entertainment and a stronger championship. However i wouldn't buy into the idea that people could ride old bikes around and get near the front.
 

Similar threads

M
Is KTM on the Brink of Withdrawal from MotoGP?
Replies
36
Views
2K
DavidSim
D
#22
Top 10 MotoGP rider moves of the MotoGP era.
Replies
23
Views
1K
#22
#22
M
FIM Technical Director, Roland Berger, Speaks About 2027 Technical Regulations
Replies
16
Views
1K
mikesbytes
mikesbytes
#22
David Emmet: A peek into the soul of Marc Marquez
Replies
20
Views
2K
#22
#22
M
GPOne: MotoGP At A Stalemate
Replies
0
Views
389
mylexicon
M

Recent Discussions