Suzuki plans MotoGP test

Ezpeleta is a cock and I wouldn't let him run the school fete...

Desperately biased towards anything Spanish and under his stewardship MotoGP has gone from the greatest show on earth to a sunday afternoon mogadon.

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 13:07

^ Exactly!

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 14:47

I would love to see Suzuki back in Moto GP, after all they have brought so much to the sport and have consistently featured in some of the greatest bike races over the decades.

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 14:48

Ezpeleta will be the end of MOTO GP, he's unaware of the gravity of the current economic situation. At this rate there will be a championship in.. China on Chinese bikes backed by a Chinese tyre manufacturer.

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 17:07

Why exactly should Suzuki be allowed to just waltz back into Moto GP because they are Suzuki? If this was the way it was allowed to go, teams would be walking in and out all the time!!

I know he's a cock, but he's right on the fact they should not be given a slot because they were there before.

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 17:18

Part of Ezpeleta's reasoning though is that he doesn't want to expand the grid further as far as I know. What's really the difference between going from 24 to 26 riders?

I do agree with discouraging teams to come and go as they please though.

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 18:03

Pagik, your thinking is exactly what's made MotoGP televised Mogodon. Forget the typical "I'd like to thank my sponsors" celebrity parade, more passion and more proper race teams, then perhaps then we can have some real competition rather than the usual tedious trip around the M25 for a change.

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 18:21

While teams should discouraged from coming and going it's crazy to shut Suzuki out, the more big teams the better. But a CRT Suzuki? Is that the best they can offer?

Posted: 28/02/2013 at 20:03

I think they would've have to sell their bikes to any team as an entry in the first season, and / or / then buy out that team. E.g. it could be an LCR Suzuki if they can convince them to go away from Honda... don't see that happening though, maybe they could infuse some money into one of the CRT teams and make them a proper factory bike team, just with e.g. NGM or whatever logos

Posted: 01/03/2013 at 04:50

@anonv7 can you please elaborate? I'm not sure I'm following (and I'm not taking the piss). Why does my thinking make Moto GP a Snoozefest?

You REALLY think that would be an ok way to run a world championship series? OK, lets do it, and see how long the major sponsors stick around for? My guess is it would be dead inside 5 years.

Whether we like it or not (and I actually don't). NO ONE can go racing on shirt buttons. Sorry, but the misty eyed memories of people working out the back of vans with a fag on the go is exactly that. A memory in top flight autosport.

Posted: 01/03/2013 at 12:58

OK maybe I wasn't that clear. MotoGP races are boring because there aren't enough teams to make up a decent grid. If all it takes to get points is to ride around and not fall off, then that isn't racing. What that comes down to is giving your sponsors a mobile bill board to advertise their products in front of a world wide audience. If the same four names take turns to fill the podium week after week it just goes to show the rest are just there to make up the numbers. Regardless of who is currently running it MotoGP looks like it's dead already and it's place as a premier event has been taken by WSB where there is real excitement and proper racing.

Forget the misty eyed stuff. When 14 year old club racers show no pleasure in their racing but can take the opportunity to thank their local tyre company or carpet warehouse for sponsoring them, why are they bothering?

Posted: 01/03/2013 at 13:49

I'd certainly agree with most of the points you're making there mate. For sure the frankly laughable situation we had 2 years ago with 12 (was it) bikes in the premier class was a disgrace. Yes, I'd completely agree as well that one shouldn't simply have to finish to get points.

Show me a single bike racer that's happy to just "get points".

Totally agree, it's all about giving the sponsors the "airtime". Always has been. The problem lies (and I honestly believe this) in the fact that the factories were given FAR too much power by Dorna. Which is Dorna's fault. And who's in charge there? Ezpeleta. So ultimately, he's to blame.

All I've heard for the past 4 years or so, is how no one else wanted 800's everyone was happy with 990's. But, because HRC wanted it, it happened. Why? Because they've TOO much power over everything in the paddock. Essentially the factories have had to be TOLD that they're having radical changes next year to the formula. And even then they've spat their dummies about it.

The playing field needs, no actually MUST be levelled. This is the reason why the same 4 people are on the podium each time, because the bikes are a long way technically in front of EVERYONE else and they've got the best riders. All due to money. Money to pay for the best riders, and money for the best R&D.

I think your point about 14 yr old club racers thanking their sponsors whilst looking glum is a little over dramatic. I've certainly never seen that. But I'll be happy to be proved wrong.

Yes. WSBK IS more exciting right now. No doubt.

With regards to Suzuki coming back, does anyone really think that after 3 years out of the paddock they'll rock up next year and instantly start putting in the mix up the front? Come on, HONESTLY...

Posted: 01/03/2013 at 14:29

Suzuki - go spend your money in World Superbikes and reap the rewards that Kawasaki are now enjoying.

Spend your millions on a new GSXR that can run at the front WSB and people will then want to buy, GSXR has always been the working mans bike of choice and WSB is his series of choice, go race there, win a few and sell some bikes...

Posted: 01/03/2013 at 16:49

@Pagik No if Suzuki put in a team right now they'd struggle for sure. But regardless of the cost of running a moto gp team, isn't this what all the top manufacturers aim for? To develop a prototype that can fight for podiums? Maybe i'm missing something but i just can't understand why Suzuki and Kawasaki are not back in there. Granted you're spot on about Dorna and HRC it's totally out of line. But the fact is if Suzuki can put a bike capable of fighting for podiums in the so called top class of motorbike racing, they'll sell a hell of a lot more gixers. It worked for the M1/R1, and the fireblade even though it's a different version than the RC. I find it hard to believe they can't run a works team.

Posted: 01/03/2013 at 21:50

Just read this on SuperbikePlanet about Suzuki. Explains a lot and worth looking up.
Suzuki apparently was well underway with hardware and software development for its 2014 GSX-R with Mitsubishi before the spec ECU was mandated. So new software had to be rewritten from scratch to work with the Magneti Marelli hardware - at a price.
Yep Dorna strikes again..

Posted: 02/03/2013 at 22:33

I sincerely hope that honda's customer bike idea works out and yamaha follow suit. I think that would be a good way forward to great racing, and I think that if suzuki return they will be in that mid pack area mixing it up (if they can get good riders).

Posted: 04/03/2013 at 12:42

So in summary: Suzuki have to go beg Dorna to be allowed back into MotoGP so that they can trickle round mid-pack hoping that they don't get swamped by CRT bikes...

Not seeing the appeal myself, am I missing something?

Posted: 06/03/2013 at 14:28

why isn't moto gp run by people who are passionate about bikes and racing rather than that prick.....

Posted: 12/03/2013 at 11:34

Yes because the grid is just so full of factory bikes that they can snub a team with a works bike ! what a set of wankers dorna are,crt bikes are useless and just get in the way,dorna should be begging factories to get involved,

Posted: 04/04/2013 at 14:44