Stoner threatens to quit motogp if CRT changes are made to the whole GP field

[Quo Vadas]

Australian MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner has threatened to quit MotoGP if the category decides to change regulations to make bikes more like standard road-going machines.

Although the category is moving to bigger and more powerful 1000cc engines, the introduction of the new Claiming Rule Teams will see several new squads enter with more budget-friendly and production-based bikes.

Just days after taking victory in the final race of the season in Valencia, Stoner warned that if MotoGP moved towards making the entire field run with the lower specifications, he would consider leaving the sport.

"I think if we kill prototypes then we may as well be racing touring cars," Stoner said. "It's no different to this. It'll definitely take everything out of the racing for me".

"I won't find the same interest to the point where you can maybe get a street bike, put a different chassis on it, a bit of suspension and this and that, and have a competitive bike".

"(Prototype racing) is the way it's been for so many years. There have been a few things recently about costs, which have definitely increased, and the amount of personnel needed to run these bikes. They're definitely more complicated than the old 500cc".

"But if it does change, then it's definitely going to be disappointing for me and I don't know if I'd want to be a part of it."
http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports...6188377787


It would add more interest to the sport (more competitive, more riders) but I see his side of the story in relation to prototypes being used in the GP field. Watch SBK if you want more riders or stock - slightly modded - street bikes.
I guess the big manafacturers in the field don't want this to happen but I think something need's to be done to make the racing more interesting.

Discuss moles..............

d

[cbrrrz]

i dont see why they just cant leave production to Superbikes and prototype to MotoGP. Doesn't make any sense to me at all...

[Humbug]

tbh i agree with him.

not only that, the manufacturers depend on this as a big part of there R&D.

i think if they remove the competitive edge, manufactures wouldn't really develop their product as much anymore... which ofcourse filters down into the production line in the future.

how often have you heard of marketing lines of designs used on streetbikes borrowed from motogp, such as the unit prolink swing arm etc

i really enjoy the tech side of motogp... if it was just about racing, then I'd lose interest too

[CammyGTIR]

I'm with Stoner. Production classes have their place, and so does GP prototype racing. The threats are probably just bandying to bring attention to the issue, like the whole Rossi-Bridgestone shit fight.

Well enough alone.

[Cerberus]

fuck he is a primadonna! well why doesnt he take a pay cut to a normal working mans wage and give the rest to help fund the team? no one wants to see a honda championship as they are the only manufacturer really big enough to be able to throw endless money at thir racing team. the gap betwen factory teams and satelite is too large already.. of course he would like it to stay like that. being on a factory honda he only has to atm worry about lorenzo and ped bot.. so limits the actual "racing" he has to do.

i agree i dont want to see superbike spec bikes on the field but i dont see a problem with most proposed regulations (the proposed regs stop far far far far short of production machines - that claim is just to try to create panic similarly to "i wont race in montegi!").. i dont care if the engine block is from an r1 or a blade.. if its fast sweet! biggest saving would come from ditching the electronics like traction control..

without exciting racing ppl will stop watching and sponsors will be even harder to find. F1 has "dummed" down in recent year in electronics and tyres and bar few dumb rules its brough excitment back to racing.

[shvlzz]

I'd have to agree with his argument that MotoGP should be only prototype racing.

It's not called the 'pinnacle' of motorcycle racing for using production equipment..

[Reaper]

Lets just see how the season works out for the other crt teams first.

[rubenastley]

agree with stoner... even though it would be cool i could get a bike very similar to what stoner would be riding (if he continues) on the street

[Pronto]

As much as I love to see the racers and the engineers on the forefront of cutting edge technology, I cannot help but feel only the strong and wealthy companies will have the upper hand. Why not shift your attention to modifying the stock bike? I understand that tweaking a 'stock' machine may not be as exhilarating as making and racing a prototype, but why not challenge yourself in these proposed limits?

If Stoner was racing for a less wealthy team, I am sure he would be all for leveling the field. And I am sure he knows that if he quits he will have many avenues open in car racing for him. So, either way he wins. If they level the field, he can quit and I would bet he goes into some form of car racing e.g. V8 Super Cars. If they listen to him and refuse to lose a young, he stays and races for the money tree team aka. Honda.

Don't get me wrong, I love seeing those prototype bikes whiz around the track at phenomenal pace. But, I for one would rather see rider's fighting tooth and nail for the #1 position rather than breezily zipping across the line.

Look at golf. The balls, clubs and technology they can use is limited to certain specifications and deviating from the norm results in the equipment not being legal.

Anyway, just my 2 cents.

[Hessian]

I agree with the whole product development thing. Where would all the cool bells and whistles be developed? If I want to see a mob of dudes riding modified streetbikes, I'm pretty sure thats called a trackday.