Rossi to personally fund all 2012 MotoGP testing

[gm2]

Anyway, it seems that Dorna is dead set on making the CRT teams more competetive, even though they are aware that they simply can't compete against the aliens. They'll need as much help, and time, as possible to get to a decent point.

what they're doing is replacing satellite teams since the factories have made it nearly impossible to afford a satellite machine.  no one really expects a satellite bike to win (except on those rare combination of circumstances occasions, or if you're ben spies); they don't really expect the CRTs to win, either.  but if they can get within 1.5 seconds or so (kallio wasn't far off during the last test), and teams can afford 2 or 3 CRT bikes for the cost of 1 satellite bike, the grid gets bigger, the show gets better, and the factory ride pipeline gets more competitive.  win win for all.

[duccarlos]

The true win would be to make it more competitive at the front, which we should all agree is dangerously close to selling out ala DMG. Unfortunately in MotoGP there's not only a mechanical, but also talent gap.

[gm2]

but is it really a talent gap?  you can only fit so many on the sharpest point.  as evidenced by non-aliens that go to sbk, the riders in the middle of the GP pack are winning elsewhere

[duccarlos]

So the true measure would be to send the aliens to SBK for a season. Then populate the MotoGP grid with the previous year's top SBK riders. But seriously, the talent gap probably only applies to a few.

Pedrosa has an advantage of his size on an 800. Not sure if it was on this thread, but someone mentioned adding weight to the lighter riders' bikes. That would definitely slow down riders like Pedrosa that, IMHO, don't have the race craft to bang in the front. The gap applies more to the Stoners and Rossis, specially Stoner that has shown that he can win on anything.

[gm2]

that weight argument was pretty much thrown out by both the smaller and the larger riders.  there's advantages/disadvantages to both.  it's a wash.

[Triple J]

I think Pedro has an advantage at the start, but that's about it. Otherwise he'd be winning everything since he often jumps out at the beginning.

[duccarlos]

For most riders I would agree, but if the Turd is caught in any sort of traffic, then he goes pretty much nowhere. He's a very good defensive rider, so you won't see many people pass him, but once he's comfortable in one position that's it. You can't tell me that his size advantage does not play a role on race starts. I would prefer that to "rolling starts", again ala Nascar.

[desmoquattro]

So the true measure would be to send the aliens to SBK for a season. Then populate the MotoGP grid with the previous year's top SBK riders. But seriously, the talent gap probably only applies to a few.

Pedrosa has an advantage of his size on an 800. Not sure if it was on this thread, but someone mentioned adding weight to the lighter riders' bikes. That would definitely slow down riders like Pedrosa that, IMHO, don't have the race craft to bang in the front. The gap applies more to the Stoners and Rossis, specially Stoner that has shown that he can win on anything.

Putting everyone on a Turbo 'Busa would pretty much take care of that too

[duccarlos]

Someone say Turbo Busa trike?

[desmoquattro]

Someone say Turbo Busa trike?

Hells yeah!

[duccarlos]

That's what I'm talking about! Even American Stig can ride that thing.

[desmoquattro]

That's what I'm talking about! Even American Stig can ride that thing.

R....O....T....F....L!