There’s no question that MotoGP seems to be on the decline, in the face of constantly changing regulations, the impending retirement of the series’ current champion, and a lack of factory interest in the series.
One notable absence from the series is BMW; BMW is extremely competitive in superbike racing, but their only involvement in MotoGP is with the CRT team Forward Racing. They built the engine for Colin Edwards’ motorcycle.
The reason for their absence? According to Visordown, Bernhard Gobmeier, BMW’s director for motorcycle sport, says Yamaha and Honda are ruining the series by focusing on expensive technological developments.
“I believe that Honda and Yamaha are killing MotoGP,” he says in the Visordown piece. “It’s the truth, the Japanese have a different idea of racing. Their goal is to beat their rivals by leading through technology, if this war ruins the show, it doesn’t matter.”
His solution?
“At this point we can say that the technical level in MotoGP is now extremely high and the investments required to be competitive are immense. If the situation does not change, then BMW will not be interested in joining MotoGP, unless the rules change.”
Of course, that might work for BMW, but many fans would argue constant rule changes are part of the problem as well – and the racers aren’t too happy about them either.
Furthermore, it’s hard to argue that technological development itself is the ruin of MotoGP – after all, the series’ cutting-edge technology is what separates it from superbike racing.
Funny, considering BMW has outspent the Japanese factories by a fair margin in World Supers. Kettle, meet pot; glass house, meet stone, etc.
1. Series is in decline due to frequent and moronic rule changes
2. F-1 has slightly backed away from technology
3. MotoGP should do the same. $25k Brembo brakes? Stainless seems to work fine in WSBK. Miss a keystroke in the Traction Control program and your rider doesn’t have a chance. That’s not racing.
4. Your opinion may be different than mine. You’re wrong. 🙂
BMW is suddenly the expert on everything after three years (and just now getting their $#@! together) in WSB!
Oh wait, they aren’t in F-1 any more, are they…?
I don’t know if they are in F1 or not. I don’t follow car racing at all.
It does seem kind of strange to complain about technology in MotoGP, when that’s the point of MotoGP. If they want to race stock-ish superbikes, they’re free to run their machines in WSBK.
And F-1 car racing isn’t technology driven ???
Sure, but there are limits, such as no ABS. This makes for some exciting moments, as flat-spotting a tire can ruin a race.