Off Topic » MotoGP 2024 - Leveling the playing field

Dorna is giving Honda and Yamaha some serious concessions in 2024, including 10 engines (vs 8 for Ducati) and the ability to change spec on all 10 engines (vs Ducati being limited to 1 spec...i.e., no changes during the season). Also, Yamaha and Honda can do as much testing as they like, with their factory riders, and at as many tracks as they like; Ducati can only use "test" riders and are limited to 3 tracks. Also, Ducati will be allocated 35% fewer test tires.

Whether this is equitable or not, it'll make for a season with Honda and Yamaha having a chance at competitiveness. Wouldn't it be ironic if Marquez goes to Ducati, and Honda wins the championship. Luca Marini's a good rider...Mir is a question mark.

But odds makers will lean toward Ducati, despite the handicapping of the team. Should be interesting!

Haven't followed MotoGP for a number of years, seems a bit unfair on Ducati. Being punished for being much better than the other teams. Yamaha and Honda should up their game rather than handicapping Ducati.

WSB/BSB/TT looking more interesting to me. With all the aero MotoGP looks more and more like F1 - a million miles away from an every day vehicle.

WSB - BMW have invested in the M1000R and put Toprak on it - Rea on an R1 - old model but proven plus the usual Ducati showing. Also some sort of synthetic fuel rule coming in.
BSB - Honda have put money in and secured top riders on an improved bike ( also invested in 600 Supersport). By mid-season BMW should have useful hand me downs from WSB and Rory Skinner coming into the championship with TAS racing on the M1000R is going to be very interesting. Looks like no PBM so only 1 Ducati on the grid. Anyone's game.
TT - as above with Honda, Harrison could really take it to Hickman on the 'Blade. Todd will be quick on the BMW. Bit of romance with Hutchy going back to Padgett's where he won 5 races in a week (2010). Also Connor, the top Manxman in the same team; he did a 133mph stock lap 2 years ago, but was ill last year and pulled in after only a few laps. If the weather is good, it will be a fast fortnight.

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #3

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I have no interest in MotoGP nowadays. Not really paid much attention since Stoner and Rossi were slugging it out. Seems to me, looking through my cynical lens, that this is economic. Dorna are shit scared that the remaining Japanese brands will walk away.

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A friend of mine was bemoaning the fact that Honda and Yamaha (he's a Yamaha/Suzuki rider) are not as competitive as he would like. I had to remind him that the Japanese factories have had the upper hand in GP racing for DECADES! Ducati has developed their bike from "unrideable" in the Rossi/Hayden days to the dominant bike they have. The Japanese developed the bike for Marquez and no one else could ride it like him. Not that long ago Yamaha (Quarteraro) and Suzuki (Mir) won championships. I am glad to see KTM and Aprilia have competitive bikes in the field. Being a BMW rider and recovering Ducatisti I suppose I am biased towards the European brands.

Frank

Zitat von wessie im Beitrag #3

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I have no interest in MotoGP nowadays. Not really paid much attention since Stoner and Rossi were slugging it out. Seems to me, looking through my cynical lens, that this is economic. Dorna are shit scared that the remaining Japanese brands will walk away.

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Despite the concessions awarded to Honda and Yamaha, Ducati still has no less than eight bikes on the grid. Honda four. KTM four. Aprilia four. Yamaha only two. This surely levels the overall playing field somewhat. Unless Yamaha comes up with some real innovation, and they were lucky to retain Quartararo, they are going to have to work the hardest. The Japanese have dominated for decades as someone remarked earlier. European innovation, largely in terms of aero tech has turned that around.
Dorna's fat finger in the money pie might well overcook the whole thing, but for me MotoGP remains the pinnacle of motorcycle racing, not SBK.

I'm sure there's a good reason why Yamaha hasn't done this, but what's to keep them from going to a V4 engine instead of their inline 4? The inline 4, by every reckoning, is at a disadvantage when compared to the V4's.

Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #9

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I'm sure there's a good reason why Yamaha hasn't done this, but what's to keep them from going to a V4 engine instead of their inline 4? The inline 4, by every reckoning, is at a disadvantage when compared to the V4's.

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Zitat von Duckbubbles im Beitrag #6

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The Japanese developed the bike for Marquez and no one else could ride it like him.
Frank

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Zitat von Duckbubbles im Beitrag #10

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Zitat von BEARR im Beitrag #9

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I'm sure there's a good reason why Yamaha hasn't done this, but what's to keep them from going to a V4 engine instead of their inline 4? The inline 4, by every reckoning, is at a disadvantage when compared to the V4's.

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I am pretty sure that Yamaha's crossplane crankshaft acts like a V4. They sound about the same.

Frank

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