<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bootsakah @ Aug 5 2009, 06:57 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I like these ideas. And Dorna has been thinking along similar lines with the idea of 1000cc production spec engines being allowed. Granted the Flamini's were non too pleased with the idea. In the end, for the series to survive I think they need to open it up to live up to the idea of prototype. Allow multiple ways of making a two wheeled machine go around a track as fast as possible. Clearly the promoters and manufacturers have no interest in safety as the lap times have been getting faster and we see higher top speeds as well over the 990cc formula.
It'd be nice to see a rule that forced factory teams to sell their old bikes to private teams for a fixed cost. There should be at least 4, if not 6 or more of each manufacturers' bikes on the grid. Still not sure how I feel about allowing production parts into a prototype class (Moto2 included), but who knows.
I feel you on the "multiple ways of making a two wheeled machine go around a track" but I wonder if we can ever go back there? We're now at a place of such advanced development with regard to what is the best way to get power out of an X by Y stroke engine in a L,V,I configuration with X number of cylinders. I don't think we'll see anyone trying to build a 3 cylinder or 6 cylinder and race it against the factories. Of course, Honda built a V5 which sounded totally weird to me when I first heard about it and it turned out to be the best bike in the world so wtf do I know. Most of the advances are now tires and computers and "getting the power down". I fear that what you are looking for is still happening, but it's happening on laptops so we, the fans, don't see it.
EDIT: I have to correct myself. Without sounding too cynical, we, the fans, DO see the result and the result is .... racing.
