Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
Well JPS, you win the shocking post of the year.
Never saw that coming and neither did the team members it seems. So they say Mir will likely go to Repsol Honda. Could Rins make a deal with Yamaha to replace Dovi or Morbidelli?
This also leaves 2 slots in the championship free for a team (or manufacturer) to come on board.
Never saw that coming and neither did the team members it seems. So they say Mir will likely go to Repsol Honda. Could Rins make a deal with Yamaha to replace Dovi or Morbidelli?
This also leaves 2 slots in the championship free for a team (or manufacturer) to come on board.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
I'm interested to learn what the reasoning behind pulling out is.
They just brought Livio Suppo on board as team principal, so what changed all of a sudden?
Just pure speculation on my part, but I wonder if the direction of MotoGP with the winglets and shapeshifters might have been enough for them as you can't really tie that into road going bikes. WSBK maybe? If it comes down to something like this, Dorna/FIM are going to have to figure out what they want the future of GP racing to look like.
Joined Sep 2015
734 Posts | 1K+
Office cubicle
Dorna caprices? Shrinking sport bike motorcycle sales? Worldwide economic contraction?
The coming electric revolution?
There are any number of plausible reasons for withdrawing.
The coming electric revolution?
There are any number of plausible reasons for withdrawing.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
The Japanese boards are known for doing things on a whim. Look at Honda in F1 in 08 and 2021. I was listening to a Podcast about the 2008 sale to Brawn and Ross Brawn said they were literally told by the board in Japan to send everyone home, turn off the lights and lock the front door.
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Can't argue with that. A number have riders have already said they don't like the aero. Remy Gardner retired at Jerez because he lost 1 front winglet and the bike was dangerously imbalanced. Lets be honest. Ducati are pushing all these technological advances and it's beginning to make the sport expensive (in comparison to before) and, as you say, less relatable to road bikes.
It may end up being a stand off between Dorna/IRTA and Ducati....
Indeed. They also won a world champ in 2020 so it could be they don't feel the need to prov anymore.
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Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
cant say I am surprised... as a dealer and someone who pays close attention to the motorcycle industry, the Suzuki brand has been in trouble for a while. Their motorsports program was not translating to bike sales. They pulled out of Supercross in the US a couple seasons ago, which is the biggest motorcycle racing series in the US market, though some privateers still run Suzuki bikes.
Joined Oct 2015
985 Posts | 634+
Siebenbürgen süße Heimat!
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
Joined Oct 2015
985 Posts | 634+
Siebenbürgen süße Heimat!
This is MotoGP, not Hotel California....
What? The other 5 manufacturers made room at the table. Welcomed them with open arms to have a seat.
God forbid someone stood in the way of suzuki earning. And now they think there's a retirement plan? The balls on these pricks!!
Didn't see this one coming. They just signed a 5 year renewal with Dorna last season, covering 2022-2026.
Can't say that I blame them. Global economy is slumping, and MotoGP has become an irrelevant money pit. The previous fuel-saving formula was a disaster commercially, but at least it gave the MSMA something to do. It's just an entertainment property now.
If a manufacturer is spending money somewhere, production racing is a better gig. If you can sell a couple thousand homologation specials to racing team, club amateurs, and avid enthusiasts (collectors) at $35,000 you're looking at some big numbers. Of course, those rosy revenue projections are assuming Dorna and the FIM actually get the rulebook sorted, and the bikes are all relatively competitive without $5M in electronics research and development.
Can't say that I blame them. Global economy is slumping, and MotoGP has become an irrelevant money pit. The previous fuel-saving formula was a disaster commercially, but at least it gave the MSMA something to do. It's just an entertainment property now.
If a manufacturer is spending money somewhere, production racing is a better gig. If you can sell a couple thousand homologation specials to racing team, club amateurs, and avid enthusiasts (collectors) at $35,000 you're looking at some big numbers. Of course, those rosy revenue projections are assuming Dorna and the FIM actually get the rulebook sorted, and the bikes are all relatively competitive without $5M in electronics research and development.
Well, the most interesting part if Aprilia assumes Suzuki's role is that the MSMA and GPC will become Eurocentric, after decades of Japanese domination.
It seems like Dorna has been working in this direction since the financial crisis.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
It was a joke bruh. For the record I agree with you, didn't they just sign a new agreement till 2026?
I don't recall Suzuki having a major or title sponsor either, so this has all been coming out of their own pocket. Kawasaki left and haven't looked back.
Joined Oct 2015
985 Posts | 634+
Siebenbürgen süße Heimat!
I tried having fun with the mob speak/references@22. Seems folk here prefer Guy Richie over Scorsese and Chase.
Back to my old shtick then....
What are Suzuki smoking? The signed contract surely means this is a very expensive decision. Hence my alluding to the no retirement in this thing. Suzuki don't wanna spend money? No problem, don't develop the bike and just hire Bautista. But don't just drop out!?
Back to my old shtick then....
What are Suzuki smoking? The signed contract surely means this is a very expensive decision. Hence my alluding to the no retirement in this thing. Suzuki don't wanna spend money? No problem, don't develop the bike and just hire Bautista. But don't just drop out!?
True. Suzuki doesn't have the star power or the sponsor rolodex of the Big 3. KTM are linked to Red Bull via the Austria connection.
Suzuki may leave and do the same as Kawasaki, but the reasons behind each manufacturers departure, are probably a bit different. Kawasaki got screwed royally by all of the changes that occurred in the 800cc era. I wouldn't trust Dorna or the MSMA after that, either. Suzuki's move is cold and calculated, imo. No emotion. They know MotoGP isn't providing anything.
Joined Oct 2015
985 Posts | 634+
Siebenbürgen süße Heimat!
Sorry to go off topic, but my fading memory and respect for your opinion urge me to ask you to elaborate a bit further on this. Thx in advance
Well, my recollection of 2007 was that Kawasaki did a relatively good job of building a competitive bike. They had pneumatic valves and decent electronic management, and they leveraged their relationship with Bridgestone correctly.
Unfortunately, RdP and Jaques sort of stunk up the joint by failing (generally) to score at circuits where the bike went well, and Jacques literally crashed himself into retirement. Kawasaki responded by spending big money to lure Hopkins away from Suzuki.
During the 2007 off season, the GPC gifted Rossi with Bridgestones, and, in my opinion, gifted Michelin and the safety wonks with new front tire regulations. The 2008 season was a nightmare for Kawasaki, after which the GPC announced that the tires would be changing again, and everyone would get Bridgestones.
In other words, Kawasaki did their homework, and built a respectable bike, but they were punished because Honda, Yamaha, and Michelin had deciphered the 800cc formula incorrectly.
