Wayne Gardner blasts MotoGP
'Emergency action is required to prevent MotoGP from becoming a thing of the past'
FORMER 500cc World Champion Wayne Gardner has blasted MotoGP, its organisation and the racing stars, calling the series 'a disaster.'
Airing his forthright views on motorcycle racing's premier class, Gardner says he believes Dorna's rule changes, 800cc in particular, have made today's MotoGP action 'the most boring races of all the GP classes.'
Gardner believes MotoGP has been propped up by Valentino Rossi's popularity over the last few years, stating he thinks the charasmatic Italian must move to Ducati in 2011 to save the series.
'Emergency action is required to prevent MotoGP from becoming a thing of the past ... I think the only thing that can save it is if Rossi comes back and rides for Ducati.'
Tough words for Dorna, no doubt, but Gardner's rant doesn't stop there. The Australian, noted for his never-say-die attitude, believes modern MotoGP stars are not as resiliant as they used to be:
'I think there's a definite lack of commitment exhibited by a lot of the current crop,' said Gardner in his online column, continuing '...they lack the strength of character and real gutsiness and willingness to fight to the very end. These days, if they have a bruise on their big toe, they decide to race mid-pack. Where's that toughness gone?'
The 50-year-old goes on to say he believes today's MotoGP stars can only get results if the whole package is 100 per cent, saying they do not have the ability to 'modify their riding style and line selection to overcome mechanical shortcomings that evolve during every lap.'
What do you think? Is MotoGP and the people in it really as dire as Wayne Gardner believes?
Discuss this story
He is right. however, The sport needs constructive criticism, not "hindsight" obsevations of the obvious. The Same with Stoner. He has an even less mature level of knowledge on the business of this of any organization. The current economy has as much to do with the implosion of the series as anything else. Add that to the fact that the face of gp,, "Ambassador Rossi" is sidelined, and you have the perfect storm. Safety and costs were the reason for the reduction to 800cc. OK, that didn't work. Regardless, the grids would be the same size today if they were still running 1k's. The riders commitmant? well if you knew, before hand, that the machine that you rode wasn't good enough for a podium, you would eventually loose some of your enthusiasm. Stoner/Rossi/Lorenzo and a rocket pack couldn't get the Suzuki on the podium. You couln't hear past the whinning if that were their ride.
Posted: 29/06/2010 at 15:43
So when Vale made the much publicised move from the "all conquering" RC211V to the, and lets not muck about here dog of an M1, and turned it round in effectively a winter testing schedule it was his whinging that got the bike sorted out was it? I think you could actually put either Vale OR Jorge on ANY bike in the paddock and, with the right engineers behind them, then could turn it into a winning ride. As for there not being the guts and grit anymore. I think Loris Capirossi might have a few words to say on this subject, remember 2 or 3 seasons ago when he had that horrific crash at Catalunya? Was back on the 990 Duke within weeks. I think the major part of the problem is that you HAVE to be SO much fitter to ride todays moto gp bikes than Mr Gardener was, don't get me wrong, the man is and always will be an utter legend. But the game and the technology has moved on SO much from that era. I do agree with the above comment of "The sport needs constructive criticism, not "hindsight" obsevations of the obvious." Bang on the money.
Posted: 29/06/2010 at 16:13
today's MotoGP stars can only get results if the whole package is 100 per cent, saying they do not have the ability to 'modify their riding style and line selection to overcome mechanical shortcomings that evolve during every lap.' With the exception of rossi, stoner and possibly lorenzo nobody else in the class is worthy of being there. All the critisiation of moto gp is 100% justified. It is dying a painful death right now, pushed forwards by the absent valentino.
Posted: 29/06/2010 at 17:01
The difference is riding on the limit all off the races. Those 500cc bloke's did not have any electronics controlling the level of grip they only had their right hand! Now the traction control/fuel control is interfering so even if the rider wants to go faster he can't because he needs to save fuel. In the past they switched from leaded fuel to unleaded and everybody expected they would go slower that year because of this. But they went even faster. But limiting the amount of fuel is crucial. And a few litres/gallons more.. come on! This should not be a financial problem. And then Traction Control..... man they gone crazy. The possibility to adapt it for every corner using GPS is nothing we need on the streets. Or am I wrong? And speeking about the MotoGP this is the class containing the best of the best. These guys are born with TC in their right hand. We the fans should decide. I would love it to see them sliding and fighting for every inch. If they increase engine capacity to 1000cc (still prototypes! very important) and the bikes each have more than enough power. It will come to the rider that needs to make the difference. Cost reduction should at least come from removing the electronics. The manufacturers already reached the maximun benefits from this system that they could use on the streets. "The strength of character" that Gardner is talking about should show when there is no TC. Remeber the first days of Rossi and the Honda NSR500 he was flying, literally. He needed to take the time to adjust to the power of this beast. Rossi should go to Ducati, just "for the love of the sport"!
Posted: 29/06/2010 at 17:53
With reference to Martin pages comments about riders having to be so much fitter these days by this i take it he's comparing it to the days of Gardner.lawson,Rainey,Schwantz,Doohan etc??? well he's just wrong and clearly doesn't know what he's talking about. Todays Moto GP bikes are so much easier to ride than the 500's of the past which had no electronics,tyres were crap and the bikes weighed just 115kg up until 1991 and kicked out 160bhp, these things were bloody wild as i watched from trackside and i can say you needed to be every bit as fit if not more so than today because the riders were constantly thrown off these old 500's with big highsides so you needed to be fit to recover from the injurys you were going to sustain. Can i also point out that Kevin Schwantz won the 1994 British Gp after a big highside in qualifying breaking his wrist in the process!!!,which riders of the modern era have managed that?. Wayne Gardners comments are totally justified Dorna need to sort this out now,we need 30 bikes on the grid not 22 as Dorna suggest. im bored with the 800's because the races are a procession and most of the poeple i speak to feel the same so bring on the 1000's now and restrict the electronics.
Posted: 29/06/2010 at 18:21
I LOVE MotoGP and class myself as something of a geek when it comes to it so if I am finding the racing boring and taking to watching the World Supers then there is something wrong. Gardner is 100% right about the racing itself and Dorna need to do something by the start of next season, never mind 2012. (Rossi could be gone to F1 by then anyway!!!!) I know everyone has their own thoughts on what they should do to make the series more exciting but personally I think they should up the engines to litre by the start of next season and also put some financial incentives in to get more teams on the grid or set an upper limit that any team can spend. This is supposed to be the 'elite' class and so only the best riders in the world need apply; but make it at least the best 25 in the world (there must be some Brits in this number too). Also, Stoner was right when he said each factory should have at least 4 bikes represented, Suzuki included. I could go on but what's the point? Dorna seem intent on ruining sixty odd years of heritage!!
Posted: 29/06/2010 at 22:20
moto gp became irrelevant the day they went to 800cc its an oddity, with the fuel restrictions and technology irrelevant to street use. Its a small loss if moto gp turns belly up, its a personal promotion vehicle for rossi and his legions of knicker throwing fans. When he crashed out the fans went home before race day, you got to ask, was it really about motorcycles? WSB is the preimier racing class for motorcycle enthusiasts.
Posted: 30/06/2010 at 08:21
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