The simmering feud between the motorcycle manufacturers and DORNA, the governing body of MotoGp, comes to a head this weekend with an announcement expected about the proposed “spec” ECU to be made at Motegi. Since the matter is complex and far-reaching, I don’t propose to dissect it myself here, but leave it, instead, to others who are far more in contact with the intimate details.
Consequently, I provide you with two links where the matter is explained and the implications of it discussed. The first is by David Emmett, creator of the motomatters web site, and the preeminent internet commentator on all matters MotoGp.
Next an excellent parallel article by Mat Oxley, one of Britain’s senior motorcycling journalists and published author.
If I was king of MotoGp and WSBK
In both of these articles the basic conclusion seems to be that DORNA and Caramello Koala have finally broken the power of the factories over the rules and direction of the sport and will come out on top in the current war over the “dumbing down” of both categories (all in the name of “cost-saving” I hasten to add). Should they be right, then we are in for a very dark period where the bikes will be slower and the allure of the top classes as being the pinnacle of the sport will be dulled. The sport will survive because there are too many people who have invested too much money in it to let it die, but my guess is that, in years to come, as those of my generation look back on the 500cc GP era as being the “golden era”, future generations will look back on the four stroke era with a great deal less emotion and nostalgia.
For my money, the whole 4 stroke experiment has been a dismal failure. Sure, you can make a 4 stroke bike go faster than a 2 stroke one, as long as you allow it enough capacity, rev limit and throw enough money at it. But, at what cost? And I don’t mean the MONETARY cost.