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studs

January 08, 2013 1:21 PM

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


Simply because the manufacturers would participate through the back door at favoured teams and the whole sorry saga will self-destruct. No, like it or not, stringent and careful rules need to be applied and modified (when needed) in an all-encompassing and complimentary manner. The nature of the beast (top-level racing) has always required this, but it's never been done with joined up thinking. The big players here (promoters, mfrs and bigger teams) are concocting new sustainable rules now and will continue to tweak them over the next few years. The rationalising of the production classes at world level we're seeing in this article was a necessary element and it will now happen. Give the resulting era a chance... there's little doubt it's the most pragmatic solution all things considered... and just keep watching, it might even work.

studs

January 08, 2013 12:24 PM
Last Edited 162 days ago

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


I understand your ideal completely TalentFan, and a laudable one it is too (though you perhaps miss the importance of prototype racing as a distinct draw to real fans in its own right). Given all the factors at play in big bike racing (including the conflicting interests of all stakeholders (inc. real racing fans), means it will remain just an ideal however. Edit to add: Dorna's yard would be empty if they didn't court and humour the big manufacturers... remember that too harsh a referee and the players could just run off with the ball... and if they got desperate enough to do that, we'd all lose out in the short-medium term.

studs

January 08, 2013 12:05 PM

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


...In the sphere of global two wheel marketing, the manufacturers are desperately trying to fathom a sustainable bottom to the big bike market. If demand for big bikes continues to fall over the next 5 years as it has in last 3, discussions like this will be moot, because in terms of production bikes, we'll be watching this generation's bikes held together with gaffer tape racing only in national championships. As for MotoGP in this "worst case" scenario... well, you can bet your last penny that a prototype world series will still exist in some shape or form.

studs

January 08, 2013 12:05 PM

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


@TalentFan... You speak like the manufactures don't even have a stake here, let alone a voice. Here's a final comment on the financial issue facing two-wheel racing and why you need to understand it's not a case of tails wagging dogs... it's about two dogs. Dorna v Big Manufacturers (of which Honda happens to be the biggest) For my sins I work in the front line of Motorcycle retail in the UK. The situation is bleak with a capital BLEAK. Big bikes are just not shifting. 'This is a WC after all' contention that there is still loads of advertising spend just ripe for the picking by teams is simply not the case. If it were true, we wouldn't be here now debating the situation...

studs

January 08, 2013 11:31 AM

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


Some great discussion on here lately. Makes a lovely change... :) @TalentFan I think you've fallen into the trap of wishing your preferred WSB championship to the pinnacle of world racing, while wishing MotoGP to simply wither and die. The truth is (whether you like it or not), MotoGP is the unassailable pinnacle of world racing. It is the number one, the dogs danglies. Not my opinion or my wish, just simply how it is. Now they're finally under the control of one body, it follows to set both championships not against each other (as has occurred), but to compliment... this news story is one of the cornerstones needed for this new era's coming into being. Whatever you think of Dorna, there' not daft. They're busy putting the finishing touches to a complimentary model of a sustainable two tier world championship series and crucially, their differences will be more distinct. While MotoGP will always remain the pinnacle, a complimentary production series marketed in conjunction with Mot

studs

January 07, 2013 9:58 PM
Last Edited 163 days ago

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


As an aside, given your reply to @sick, it seems you still haven't grasped the enormity of the global slump and its effect on capital expenditure (venture or otherwise) and the relative minority nature of our beloved sport. All I can say is you're going to wait an awful long time for the world wide economy to recover enough to allow unfettered technological racing again, and you'll wait until hell freezes over for Motorcycle Racing to garner mainstream interest and the massive revenues that only such interest could generate.

studs

January 07, 2013 9:45 PM

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


... If all interested parties succeed in this alchemy (probably the wrong term here, because it's there to be had with mutual goodwill), we should see full grids of excellent production motorcycle racing through the evolutionary transition from the current to the next crop of litre superbikes... Bring it on!

studs

January 07, 2013 9:44 PM

WSBK » Superstock class to be phased out?


@This is a World Championship after all A very good (and unexpected) answer... :) I also note with interest that your lack of a rebuttal suggests you reluctantly acknowledge the current financial constraints on top level racing. I actually agree that your vision of the future is not entirely without precedent! I suppose we just have to trust the powers that be to be circumspect, wise and flexible going forward. I already believe the manufacturers wish to make a new era work and hope their scruples, along with clever husbandry by the governing bodies, serve to make a fair and workable playing field for all. Oh, and homologation should be based on percentage of volume to keep the Hondas of this world in check. We should also stop pandering to manufacturers who spit the dummy over the rules. When Ducati find they can't run a twin and be competitive, they'll need to make a four or bu@@er off... trust me, there'll be plenty of great bikes and manufacturers left. If all interested partie


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