I just watched another great Moto2 race from Australia, but in spite of the close racing I just can’t warm up to this series like I should and I’m not the only one. Moto2 hasn’t garnered the attention of racing fans, other than for the sheer spectacle of watching riders bang, block, lean on and chop each other off.
I think the reason is obvious – Moto2 is a spec-engine class and spec racing has no place as a world championship.
Ever notice how nearly every motorcycle manufacturer has one word in common in their titles? There’s Honda Motor Co., Kawasaki Motors Corp., Suzuki Motor Corporation, Yamaha Motor Corporation, Ducati Motor Holding and so on. You get the picture. Motors are a pretty important part of the equation. The name of the machine the riders’ race is even called a “motor”cycle for goodness sake. So the idea of a racing division on the world championship level where the motor companies aren’t competing is against all that is sacred in motorsport.
The thing that really gets me is that Moto2 s the one class where a lot of manufacturers produce a motor that could easily be used in the class. Every one of the Japanese makers produces a 600cc four-cylinder sports engine; Triumph has its 675cc in-line three-cylinder and Ducati’s 848 seems to fit well in the formula. Everyone knows that the engines currently used in Moto2 bikes are nothing more than Supersport-spec Honda CBR600RR powerplants. Why not just allow the other manufacturers supply them same to various teams? The engines could be control engines like they are now. Today’s 600cc class motors are so equal it shouldn’t mess up the racing. Perhaps one configuration might be better than the others at certain tracks, but those things tend to equal out over the course of a season.
I understand Moto2 in its current guise is a way to keep costs down, but it couldn’t be that much more to have what are basically production motors supplied by the various makers.
While I suspect I’ll get a lot of agreement from my fellow racing fans on the motors used in Moto2, I doubt I’ll have as great of a following when I say I don’t like spec tires either. Sure it keeps the playing field level, but whatever happened to tire manufacturers battling it out to make the best possible race tire? I would love to see Bridgestone, Michelin, Dunlop and Pirelli all racing in all three world championship classes.
Sorry for the digression, but I just thought I’d get that out of my system as well.
I’ve never been a fan of spec-class racing and I’m not sure any spec class is worthy of being considered a true world championship.
Rider Files 
I’ll have to disagree with you here. As a race fan, I want to see good, close, elbow-rubbing, fairing-banging racing. There’s very little of that in MotoGP–with the exception of occasional isolated battles every race or two, the class is largely a procession–while Moto2 is practically overflowing with it. I don’t care who makes the engine, or the chassis, or the tires. When you get down to it, racing is show business, and Moto2 is a better show.
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It’s the IROC disease. Non racing officials neutering competitors and boring the spectators.
The most interesting racing series was the original “Run what you Brung” Formula USA at Willow.
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“I’ll have to disagree with you here. As a race fan, I want to see good, close, elbow-rubbing, fairing-banging racing. There’s very little of that in MotoGP–with the exception of occasional isolated battles every race or two, the class is largely a procession–while Moto2 is practically overflowing with it. I don’t care who makes the engine, or the chassis, or the tires. When you get down to it, racing is show business, and Moto2 is a better show.”
So Jerry, would it be fine with you if MotoGP used a spec engine to make the racing closer?
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“So Jerry, would it be fine with you if MotoGP used a spec engine to make the racing closer?”
Not a spec engine like in Moto2, which is one brand, one supplier; the factories would all bail.
Instead, maybe specify a bore, a displacement, a cylinder layout, the number of cylinders and valves, a rev limit, an electronics package, and a fuel capacity. Let the factories do whatever they can within those parameters. It would make racing cheaper for the factories, limit the effect technology has on the racing, and give the fans a better idea of who the best riders really are.
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I have to agree with Larry, I never liked the GSXR or HONDA races of the 1980″s. Yes riders were able to make a living on production bikes back then but I always sought to find an advantage over my competion by building and rule stretching Superbikes. Let the manufacture”s show who is better. Heck Larry, you should do an article on all the AMA rule bending the Japanese were doing in the 80″s. My favorite saying Cheatin ain”t cheatin till your caught.
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Interesting POV Larry. As a competitor in the AMA Pro Vance & Hines XR1200 class, I feel a strong spec class could have place as a support class in any series (even a World Championship). It can provide close racing with minimized costs and a darn good show. And isn’t the Moto2 class a support class? I don’t think it takes away anything from the racing (or the racers) for the bikes to be powered by the same brand engine.
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Just for the record, I don’t like spec anything. Tires, fuel, engines, whatever. Make the rules and then have anyone that can, meet the rules and and compete! Winner take all. With that said. I will never understand the concept of “Bracket” drag racing!
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Jerry – Sorry we’re just going to disagree here, especially with bikes having the identical configuration for MotoGP. That’s crazy talk. The whole idea is to find the perfect combination of engine configuration, number of cylinders, etc. to out engineer the competition.
Paul — I should have been clearer. It’s not that I’m so much against spec racing per se, in fact I loved the Suzuki GSXR Cup, and the Harley 883 Series, but certainly I wouldn’t advocate either of those being classified as a world championship event. Moto2 is a support class true, but it is a world championship. That’s the dig for me. World championships in my mind have always been manufacturer against manufacturer. If they want a spec support class that’s fine – just don’t designate it a world championship.
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“Jerry – Sorry we’re just going to disagree here, especially with bikes having the identical configuration for MotoGP. That’s crazy talk. The whole idea is to find the perfect combination of engine configuration, number of cylinders, etc. to out engineer the competition.”
Change “out engineer” to “out spend” and you’ll be closer to the truth.
I’m surprised I have to make the argument that MotoGP racing is dull. Today’s race was a blowout for Stoner. Are you honestly amused by one rider pulling out huge lead and leaving everyone else in the dust? I’m not.
Also, there’s a new reality in racing, one in which spiraling costs are killing competitiveness. Fifteen riders started the MotoGP race in Oz; 40 started the Moto2. Giving MotoGP free rein to come up with whatever outlandish and expensive engines it wants to is like burning the village to save it.
But we’ll leave it at the “agree to disagree” stage. You like tech, I like to be entertained.
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Jerry
You have some valid points for sure. Today’s MotoGP race wasn’t a good example because Stoner owns his home race. There have been plenty of good races this year. I totally agree with you that the number of riders needs to increase, maybe double. Perhaps when the new 1000cc formulation is in place we’ll get bigger grids.
Thanks for commenting.
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Some valid points, but I’d like to point out that if you have multiple manufacturers making engines in a spec class, you lose the “economy” aspect. Folks will spend to compete. Right now the Moto 2 motor is slower than a Supersport CBR600 motor due to longevity and cost concerns.
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Understand Larry. But Moto2 isn’t a true spec class in the sense that all the machines are nearly identical. Chassis is relatively open, correct? We’re just talking about a spec engine. And really, how different are all the Japanese 600cc inline-4s?
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Paul
If the engines aren’t that different let them run the various engines. If you have six chassis and four engines, that’s 24 possible combinations. I’d love it.
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