MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

Folks in the Business world refer to this as a "False Economy". They feign sincerity when it comes to the cost of the machines and at the same time they space the US rounds of the series out over a month! The Schedule is something that they can control, and they chose not to. They try to cut costs by limiting the number of engines a team can run but then you hear about Ducati offering Lorenzo (pruportedly) of over 8Million euros? I have no Doubt that Next season one of the big 4 will be paid over 10! Cost cutting indeed!

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

RE:Robert Jones. I don't believe it is as easy as simply unleashing them. The tires are simply not going to live with a 300hp MotoGP bike. Tires have improved over the last few years but not by that much. They are proposing this supposedly to cut costs. But My point is that it is a balancing act trying to not step on WSBK's toes metaphorically speaking.

MOTOGP » PICS: Simoncelli down and out on 250 farewell.

I watched the race again Tuesday and you could see he was so out of shape 200 meters before that corner his crash was inevitable. He ran up on the rumble strips and got out of shape and just didn't get her settled before the next corner. Had he just backed it down a little he might be a two time champion instead of having to suffer all the Barbera jokes all winter long! Knowledge is power, and now he knows!

MOTOGP » Pedrosa backs 'fun' 990cc return.

As I have cautioned on this subject before be careful what you wish for, you never get something for nothing. IF they were to go back to 1000cc and keep some of the existing Engine and fuel rules , & limit maximum stroke etc etc, it could narrow or eliminate the gap to WSBK lap times, which are falling all the time. When your Multi million$ Prototype is only marginally faster around a track than a far less expensive Superbike you will see defection purely on the basis of cost! Now that streetbikes are coming with crude versions of the same electronics MotoGP & Superbikes are using and making big HP, it'd be impossible to go back. So then what... do you ask WSBK to Slow down? Tread Lightly!

MOTOGP » Dovizioso: Sixth is nowhere near my dream

Lots of complaints about Dovi this year. All in all he really didn't have that bad a year. The 4 DNF's were his undoing. Without those he may have had a shot at 4th. Aside from the DNF's he had no finishes below 8th and his sole podium was a win (albeit through lots of attrition)which is technically one better than Edwards could say. Next year he will likely have a few new guys besides Edwards hassling him for this spot so he had better get on his horse soon!

MOTOGP » POLL: Which 250 rookie will succeed in 2010?

RE:the runner up gets the better bike and prospects... Posted by The Morgue Barbera was Runner up to Aoyama actually. Simoncelli crashed out of 2nd place at the last race.

MOTOGP » POLL: Which 250 rookie will succeed in 2010?

First the obvious. Crash has intentionally created this poll to get some action on here! By leaving out the two fastest rookies they appear to have done just that. They all have approximately equal time on their new rides and the current Bridgestones at this point. If you look at Equipment then Spies and Simoncelli have at least a theoretical machinery advantage. The others are all on theoretically low spec bikes, or in Bautistas case, the worst factory bike on the grid. If you look at recent results 2 of them are coming off bang up world championships. In all I think Spies and Simoncelli have the most expectation placed on them. Also RE: Alex Silverstone comment. Spies hasn't raced there.

MOTOGP » Barbera top 250 rookie at Valencia test.

So what does poor Alex Espargaro have to do to get a mention around here? He beat em all and was only 1/3 of a second off Spies and gets no mention? It sounds as if we might have to wait till Spring to see all of them at the same test too.

MOTOGP » Denning focused on 2010, happy with Bautista

I posted this a few days back. If anyone reading this gets Cycle World magazine, read the Captain America article from the December issue! In an interview with Paul Denning by Kevin Cameron. I read that article and just shook my head. How does a team so steeped in tradition. A team that won world championships with Sheene, Uncini and Luchinelli, then with Schwantz, and Roberts Jr. arrive here? 2010 will be ten years since they won a championship in Grand Prix racing. That is, I believe the longest drought of any full time continuous competitor (Kawi doesn't count since they have come and gone multiple times.) in the sport. Time for a major house cleaning!

MOTOGP » Bautista to Estoril, extra test for MotoGP rookies - updated.

This is purely a make up call! Anyone familiar with American football can surely relate! The Dorna Clown posse' created the stupid rookie rule supposedly to force the factories to support more Satellite efforts and expand the grids. And what has the end result been? No new teams and the loss of 2 of the 2009 teams! Brilliant! So now they are backstroking and allowing the rookies to test more. Anyone crying about Spies being allowed to run his Wildcard prior to the official test needs to realize that anyone can arrange a wildcard anytime they want. Pretty simple: All you gotta do is pretend your Freddie Spencer and run both races back to back! That and have a team willing to let you do so.