thanks to Scott Jones and asphaltandrubber for this photo
A third of the way through this year’s world championships in MotoGp, it’s probably time to assess whether the initial impact of DORNA’s changes to the format seem to be having the desired effect. On the one hand, the change to 1000cc machines seems to have been positive with all riders agreeing that the bikes are fun to ride and spectators agreeing that they sure are spectacular. The number of high-side accidents involving serious injury, something that dogged the latter part of the 800cc era seems to have decreased dramatically and that is an improvement. The racing at the “pointy end” is still frantic with the usual suspects featuring, but, has the change to CRT to increase the field sizes and break the stranglehold of the factories succeeded?
Sadly, no, it hasn’t and I think, even though it’s still early days, that we can safely say that the CRT experiment is a crock.
Here’s an experiment. Apart from Colin Edwards, who was an established MotoGp performer before CRT was introduced, can you tell me, without looking at Google, the names of any of the other CRT riders? Can you tell me their numbers, what kind of engines they are using, what kind of chassis their bikes have and who their sponsors are?
No? Of course you can’t. Why? Because NOBODY CARES!!! That’s why. Filling up the grid with slow bikes ridden by no-name riders isn’t the answer and we told them that.
OK, who is the rider in the picture above? Again, the helmet maybe a giveaway, but at least you probably had to think for a few seconds.
You see my point? Larger grids don’t mean better racing; more is NOT necessarily better. You only have to look at Formula One to see that.
So, what IS the answer, if CRT isn’t it?
If Honda follow through with this project, and be sure that they WILL, the other manufacturers will be forced to follow. As already noted, Suzuki already revealed that they are developing a 1000cc grand prix bike. Kawasaki could be inveigled back into the game now that the worst of the GFC is over and Yamaha will also follow suit. The only doubtful one is Ducati as I doubt they have the resources to be able to tool up for another bike. But, despite saying that they are not interested in Grand Prix racing. BMW could be interested as may be Aprilia.
So, what will be the difference between the present CRT situation and the proposed new one? Simple. If the manufacturers build and sell the bikes, they will be better bikes. They will be filled with factory trickery and, most importantly, they will be FAST. Honda isn’t going to sell a bike that will be 6 seconds off the pace of its factory one. The gap between the factory bike and the customer bike will be considerably smaller and the larger grids will be filled with vastly more competitive machines.
More WILL be better! Roll on 2014.
