WSB tech

There's something weird going on with the 999. Laconi (and possibly Eric
B and Steve Martin) seems to be the only person who can make it work.
Why is that?

Will the 999 engine fit in the 998 chassis?

Honda also seem to have a big problem with the clutch on the Blade.
Again, why?

 

Well there you go. Wouldn't it be great if Chili ends up winning the
championship with a privately built half breed...

 

That is such a fascinating question when you throw it against the entire
picture of WSB and how it develops.

I mean, I applauded Chili's performance yesterday, the planets seemed
properly aligned for him, and it was great to watch.

But would him winning the championship on his half-breed Ducati really be a
good thing?

For Chili, yes. For Ducati, I'm not sure. For the series, is having a 40
year old privateer winning the series what they really want? Do they want a
series that holds back the other, younger, riders enough so that a 40 year
old can win the whole thing?

I like Miguel in the AMA, he's a consistent performer, and has a fun
character about him. (I know some riders have a lower opinion of him), but I
certainly don't want him to win the championship. Eric B. or Mladin. Ben,
perhaps. Yates and Zemke can wait. Duhamel is there to carry the Honda flag
and mix it up and keep the youngsters honest, IMHO. For me, Miguel is a
fixture. And I will be sorry to see him go when he does. But he certainly
shouldn't win the series.

The classic Groucho Marx line of "I wouldn't be a member of any club that
would have me" has a similar ring of being in a series where Chili can
actually win the top prize.

And this is not meant as a slight on Chili! But just the realities of the
human condition, and where I would rather a series where the subtle
difference in people can make that much of a difference in the outcome.

Regards,

Will Hartung
()

 

Yes, it will, but it would be against WSB rules.
Before the Misano race, Chili raced a 998RS "old model" (with a 100mm
piston).
The byke he ran in Misano is a new (I mean, new for him, 'cause he
bought it just before the race weekend) 998R (with 104mm pistons)
which has the very same engine as the 998F02 and 999.

 

I hate how in sports people seem to turn on the old guys. If a 40 year
old can do it better than the young guys then so be it. It sounds like
you are wanting WSB to become Nascrap (i.e. doing what it takes to
grow the series instead of having good, fair racing). How are the
young guys being "held back"?