[ST] GP's: New & unimproved

["John Petrey, Jr." <john@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Ladies & Gentlemen:

The new GP rules allowing four stroke bikes have ruined Grand Prix 
Motorcycle Racing.

Two races complete now. I held this back after the Suzuka round because of 
the wet race there. We really didn't get a good look at the impact of the 4 
strokes on the sport then. Now we know. African GP, Wellcom, the four 
stroke's are in a different class.

I understand and agree with Matt Knowles point that at least they are now 
running machinery with technology that could _conceivably_  trickle down to 
us sport minded street & occasional track riders. But at what expense? I'll 
tell ya: At the death of the premier, most exclusive, highest echelon of 
motorcycle roadracing. It's gone forever & I for one will lament it's 
passing the same way I lament the ban on turbocharging in F1 in the 80's.

Two classes now compete in the 'top' class but they're scored together. I 
have a bad (but hopefully thoughtful) comparison: If we modified my not 
fully developed homemade S6 (and other mfr's similar sedans)  to the point 
they'd DOMINATE F1 races next year, the FIA says  bring them on. What 
happened? Of course we just killed Formula 1. And that's what has just 
happened to the GP's. Please, at any of motorsports Highest Level of 
racing, you don't change the rules to allow drastically different types 
of  machinery to compete in the premier class. Or at least score them 
differently: 500's 1-2-3 and 4-Strokes 1-2-3. No, I take that back: DON'T 
RUN THEM IN THE SAME CLASS !

Hey, don't they already have a series for the crim-de-la-crim of the 4 
stroke roadracing machines? Yeah, we know it & love it. I wished all those 
new Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, Aprilla (did I miss one?) were in that series.

Matt, couldn't the technology 'trickle-down' from there, too. I sure hope 
it works better that wonderful trickle down economics a'la Regan era 
Republican idreameology.

Johh Petrey
Apex Dawg, distraught 500GP fan


     *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *   *
      The ST/RS Mailing list is sponsored by Jack Lilley Ltd.
          http://www.TriumphNet.com/st/lilley for more info
   http://www.TriumphNet.com/st for ST, RS and Mailing List info

=-=-=-= Next Message =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=