Playing Power Politics – Why The MotoGP Weight Limit Was Changed

Mar 7, 2012 by admin

The weight increase in the MotoGP class introduced for 2012 – from 153kg, as originally agreed when the 2012 regulations were drawn up back in August 2010, to 157kg – has had many repercussions. The addition of 4kg to the 1000cc MotoGP machines has been blamed for causing the chatter that Honda's RC213V suffers from, and for complicating the pursuit of the ideal weight distribution for both Honda and Yamaha, which the two Japanese factories had spent most of 2011 perfecting ahead of the 2012 MotoGP season.

The decision was taken in a Grand Prix Commission meeting held on December 14th of 2011 in Madrid, and though it drew little comment at the time, once the MotoGP paddock reassembled at Sepang for the first test of the year, some intriguing details started to appear. Crash.net's Peter McLaren has an excellent reconstruction of the decision process, from which it is clear that the path to adoption the proposal faced was far more complex than usual. It also reveals some of the underlying tensions in both the Grand Prix Commission and the MSMA which will go on to play a major role in the rule-making process for 2013 and beyond.

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Jean Aureal Josef Autengruber Stu Avant Rex Avery Masao Azuma

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Traversing Flat Corners

Mar 7, 2012 by admin

One of the great things about a worn down track is the help from ruts and berms.  Sure they can make things difficult, but they essentially help us keep our speed up in the corners.  Just like in NASCAR, the angled surface allows the bike to lean over and still find plenty of traction.  However, [...]

Luca Boscoscuro Gimmi Bosio Juup Bosman Adrian Bosshard Christian Boudinot

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2012 Ducati 1199 Panigale Review – Video

Mar 7, 2012 by admin

Image: http://www.motorcycle.com/gallery/gallery.php/d/324574-2/2012-ducati-1199-panigale-_tin4123.jpg
When a motorcycle company starts with a…

Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay Jean Michel Bayle Jean Pierre Bayle Len Bayliss

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Red Bull Teka KTM factory motocross rider Steffi Laier “Ready to Race” in 2011

Mar 7, 2012 by admin

When Steffi Laier, Red Bull Teka KTM factory rider and two-time Women's MX World Champion takes to the track in the pre-season MX races in Valence, France, this weekend it will be her first competitive ride for 2011. Steffi has been training hard on the bike since mid December and in Valence tests herself against a field of male riders.

At the French pre-season special, she faces off with a strong lineup of riders including those from the Nestaan JM Racing KTM squad led by Joel Roelants, Yentel Martens and young talents like 125 European champion Jordi Tixier of France and Austrian Pascal Rauchenecker. Also in the field are other KTM riders like British rider Nathan Parker (PROPPA-COM KTM and French riders Loïc Leonce (B G R KTM) and Loïc Larrieu (WOLFF KTM). But these and other top riders hold no fear for Steffi who his very well known for her toughness, skill and courage when attacking any MX track.

Manfred Baumann Alvaro Bautista Lenfranco Baviera Richard Bay Jean Michel Bayle

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