MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

Jeez Kenlucky How does everything turn into a Hayden discussion? Dude, you need help...............................BAD!

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

There is a good article about the new 1000cc rules that I just read on speedtv.com by veteran MotoGP journalist Dennis Noyes.

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

MotoGP has put itself into a position like F1 where the manufactures have the series by the nuts. Look at F1 with BMW, Honda, and Toyota and maybe Renault pulling the plug and leaving the grid short. MotoGP has already lost Team Roberts and Scot Honda to cost and Kawasaki just left. Now the manufactures are not leasing a good number of bikes at a price that is viable for an independent team. So something has to be done to not only increase grid size but also not be so dependent on the manufactures for bikes and teams. Even F1 has now reached out to independents and have signed up some new teams (but it remains to be seen if they will be ready).

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

Robert and others You won't read ANYWHERE that the proposed changes are to make the top 4 come back to the pack or to give others the ability to level the field with the top 4. That's because even if MotoGP was racing shopping carts they would still be the top 4. That has to do with talent - not just machinery. Those guys are clearly head and shoulders above the rest - even the other GP riders admit it. This isn't spec racing or a lower formula - this is the Premier Class. The best will be the best. There should never be rules to "level the field". The tire rule was a mistake to try and "level the field". The new proposals are to lower the entry barrier for independent teams. con't

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

Robert The theory behind help fill the grid and being cheaper is for independent teams - not manufactures. It will be cheaper for independents to run production derived 1000cc engines. It's not just the fact that it's expense to lease prototype bikes but also the OEMs are unwilling to lease more than a few bikes (OEMs don't want to lease just the engines). So the theory goes if there are more engines available and are cheap to run than more teams would be invovled. Manufactures will always use full protoypes though and in theory can continue and improve upon with what they have used in the 990 era if they so choose or move on with a different prototype.

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

"They have to look at the riders in GP if they want to make more entertaining races....Edwards, De Angelis, De Puniet and now Buatista. Not exactly at the top of their game are they?" LTR450 You're an idiot. I can see if you said Talmasci, Toseland, and Canepa. I'm willing to bet Edwards over took more riders than anyone this year - he always had crap starts yet always finished 5th-7th. I've never heard anyone ever called either De Angelis and De Puniet boring - maybe wild or crashers or inconsistant but they are exciting. Did I mention you can't just pick up the phone and dail up 1-800-gprider to find someone who is better? And to say Bautista doesn't deserve a shot is laughable at best.

MOTOGP » Bautista under Vermeulen at Estoril test.

Unfortunetly, he will never place 4th like Hopper did on a Suzuki - the bike is even more hopeless. Let's hope he doesn't toss himself down the road too many times overriding a crap bike like Hopper. And hopefully he won't stay too long at Suzuki like Hopper. And Bautista can't choose the wrong team like Hopper in Kawasaki and go backwards - he's already at the worst factory team. At least there is nowhere to go but up.

MOTOGP » Bautista under Vermeulen at Estoril test.

c'mon tardozzi You can't be serious? The times aren't comparable. Everyone knows that Suzuki was running old engines that were down on power. Not to mention they have all the data from the last time they where there. It's like everyone getting all excited because JT and Cal lapped faster than Spies at the WSBK test. But everyone lapped faster than their bike did during race weekend as well.

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

hey waz Concerning what is proposed, the capacity will be 1000cc with a maximum stroke that allows production engines to be used without a huge difference. The manufactures will still be using full on prototype engines which of course will be faster. Privateers can used production-derived engines if they can't lease a prototype from a manufacture. Check motomatters.com - there is an interview with Filippo Preziosi from Ducati talking about this.

F1 » Raikkonen rules out Mercedes, confirms F1 sabbatical

why are people going on and on about him being one of the best or top 3 or the like? He isn't top 3 - Lewis, Alonso, and Vettel are better. He clearly didn't do jack squat after winning the title by default after McLaren screw ups. Massa shown what the car was capable of last year and Kimi was no where to be found. He has always been an inconsistant driver and at times completely lackluster. He's brilliant on his day but they are few and far in between.