Phlegminis' Folly, Part Vi...

 

So no comment on the latest rules-related developments in WSB?

First, the Aprilia cam gear drive business, with the WSB Commission or
someone apparently ruling that Aprilia will be allowed to run the
replacement drive starting at Miller, even though it is clearly and
obviously prohibited as the rules are written.

And after three rounds the twins-fours balancing rule has finally
triggered a change, for the first time since it was put in place before
the 2008 season. With Haslam leading the championship and the top two
finishers in each race on both configurations currently totaling 235
points for the fours and 186 points for the twins (Ducatis), the twins
minimum weight now drops by 3kg. If the current situation doesn't change
sufficiently (which really means if a Ducati rider doesn't take over the
points lead) they will drop another 3kg before Miller, and then get to
toss the restrictors three rounds later. And there is almost no chance
that the Ducatis will have to put that weight back on this year, because
that would take a sufficient advantage in total points over all the
fours combined, and at this point that just won't happen.

Now, put this into the current situation in the series in terms of
competitiveness. In Valencia Biaggi put the Aprilia on the box in both
races (after sweeping the wins at Portimao), and in race two Ducati
finished 1-2. Right now Biaggi is 2nd in the championship, Checa 3rd,
and Haga 4th. The Ducati point total at 186 is the highest of any
manufacturer, with Suzuki 2nd at 173 points, and Aprilia 3rd with 137,
even with Camier's crashes; the other four manufacturers all have less
than 100.

I wonder how long it will take for the Japanese factories to again
remove what limited support they provide to WSB. At least that may
provide them some budget to work on the new 1000s for MotoGP...

 



<shrug>

I dunno.  I haven't been paying much attention to that sort of thing.
I only know that to my layman's eye the four cylinder bikes appeared
to dominate at Portugal and appeared to be the equal of the V-twins at
Valencia.  There was one notable shot that showed a massive top speed
advantage of one of the fours (BMW I think) while passing a Duc on the
front straight.

 


The principle of having a moving adjustment between the types of machine
is not such a bad one. The problem is that it's inevitably tied to a raw
reading of the stats and ignores everything else that is going on.
Tardozzi has left Ducati. Haga's been injured. Byrne has been off form.
Fabrizzio has been off form. At the same time the Yamaha's have been
confused. Rea hasn't hit his stride yet. Camier is new to the bike.
Perhaps it all evens out. Right now I'm not sure anything needs to be
done. A fit Haga on the Ducati and Checa on the Ducati at this stage in
the season look a very good match for Haslam and Biaggi. Each bike has
got different strengths in different places but the end result is very
similar lap times.  Do we really need to do anything?

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Julian Bond wrote:

Well, no. After having this rule in place and it never getting
triggered in 08-09, it should have been dumped and the "penalties" on
1200cc twins made permanent, there is no indication at all that they
aren't competitive. But of course it would seem it was left in place
to protect Ducati, given how it works and what the results are so far.
Kind of hard to argue that.

The Aprilia thing is another matter, it's more on the level of DMG
allowing into ASB that Buell race prototype last summer. Except that
bike was never going to win and the Aprilia already is winning, so in
that sense it's worse. There's no excuse for simply not enforcing the
rulebook.