Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue_SV650S
I hear what you are saying, but take the tyres out of it and then it is down to who has the most horsepower .. so make all the engines the same ... then it is down to who has the best suspension ... so make all the suspension the same ... the it is down to . . . . . . . you see where I am going 
We have the R6 cup etc for that sort of thing, then superstock for a bit more variety/some differences .. then we have ... etc etc moving up the scale ... finally the last bastion of freedom is MotoGP ... lets keep the top level to keep pushing the boundaries hey!?!? |
I hear what you are saying also, but I think there is a distinct difference. If a team develops a great engine they deserve to reap the rewards. If a team develops a fantastic handling package they deserve to reap the rewards. If a team isn't so good in these areas then they deserve to struggle. This is motorcycle-racing
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Success or failure based largely (not entirely, obviously) on the contract you signed and the tyre you use is not motorcycle-racing, your team does not deserve to be successful just because your tyre is better. It devalues your efforts enormously. Ducati's bike may have been brilliant last year, as was Stoner, but in the end Bridgestone took a massive slice of the credit. Yamaha+Rossi may have been better still, or not, who knows -the tyre ruins our opportunity to compare the things we actually care about.
Imagine for a moment that there were various fuel options. Let's say Ducati are the only one contracted to Shell in 2008, all the others to BP. Shell develop a fantastic new fuel which is more efficient in every way and still meets every technical regulation. Riders and manufacturers championship decided right there. Ducati's work seems meaningless because of the news of this superfuel, the other teams fight for scraps and are all but forgotten, the season is just a constant debate about whether there should be a "control fuel", nobody gets the credit they deserve and nobody's happy. Except Shell who say the fuel war is "good for development". (Completely fictional scenario, obviously it could never happen like that but the parallel is there.)
Trust me I do not want a one-make series like the R6 cup. Although if tyre manufacturers really want to do battle, an R6 cup would be a much better place!!
Preferably with robot riders.
I just want to see competition between bike/rider packages. A single tyre would give a much better indication of which packages are best, and reward teams that do well, without that tyre issue hanging over their heads. If anything it could encourage development further still, since any improvement will be rewarded and recognised, and will not rely on a tyre also being good- but not so good your efforts become virtually meaningless anyway.
I really do not get the slightest bit of joy from seeing someone win or lose because their tyre is better or worse than the others around them, do you? I'd simply like the debate to go away too, it's just not good for the sport to cast doubt over whether the winners deserve to be winners.
Maybe there actually are people who get all kitted out in Bridgestone merchandise and cheer when a bridgestone equipped bike wins (whoever it may be)? "Go Bridgestone! In your face you fat white ****er!"