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Very Interesting Moto GP article
- Thread starter Annasta.
- Start date
lizroswelluk
New member
Interesting write-up. TV ratings in Spain and Italy are down 'cause Rossi's not winning, so the response is to re-write the rules so Rossi can win again? Gimmie a break!
Rossi didn't compain about the tire regs when he won 5 consecutive motogp titles. And neither did the sponsors. And neither did the sanctioning body, (who is in the sponsor's back pocket!). But enough was enough. Rossi's little "deal" with Michelin was so patently unfair to all the other teams that FIM finally changed the rules this year, thereby eliminating Rossi's unique advantage. No more overnight tires specially designed for Sunday's weather. Everybody picks their tires on Thursday. Too bad for Rossi.
But now that Michelin can't overnight Rossi custom made tires for the race on Sunday, he doesn't have that special advantage. Now he's not so special. Now other riders have a chance. And all of a sudden, Rossi doesn't win so often.
And now the legions of Rossi fans, (most of them clueless to the sweetheart deal Rossi had with Michelin and the unfair advantage this gave him), aren't so interested in watching motogp, so the ratings are down. And the sponsors get nervous, 'cause they don't care about motorcycles or racing or esthetics. They care about money. So the sponsors lean on the sanctioning body to make changes. Not changes that are good for racing, but changes that are good for ratings, (spelled R-o-s-s-i!).
And to justify the change, the sanctioning body talks about how the races haven't been competitive this year!!?? Please! Do you think the sponsors, (and their mouthpiece, Dorna), would be complaining if it was Rossi who was winning by 8 seconds? Not likely, 'cause the legions of clueless Rossi fans would be glued to the TV. And that's all the sponsors care about. Ratings.
Sadly, this is inevitable. It's all part of the "cult of personality" that permeates modern culture. Most fans aren't really interested in motogp, in the machines. They're interested in Rossi or Hayden or whomever it is they idolize. I see them at the races. They don't even really watch or understand motogp. They wear their Rossi t-shirts and wave their yellow #46 flags when he goes by and yell when he podiums. But watch the race? Not really. They're more interested in Rossi than they are in motogp or motorcycles. (Btw, we see the same thing here on the forum all the time. "Ducatisti" going on endlessly about how great Rossi is. You know who you are!) But Rossi fans fuel the economic engine that drives motogp, so the sanctioning body is now contemplating a rules change to help the sponsors out. Incredible, but sadly, predictable.
A sad day for motogp.
Just one man's observations.
Elton
Rossi didn't compain about the tire regs when he won 5 consecutive motogp titles. And neither did the sponsors. And neither did the sanctioning body, (who is in the sponsor's back pocket!). But enough was enough. Rossi's little "deal" with Michelin was so patently unfair to all the other teams that FIM finally changed the rules this year, thereby eliminating Rossi's unique advantage. No more overnight tires specially designed for Sunday's weather. Everybody picks their tires on Thursday. Too bad for Rossi.
But now that Michelin can't overnight Rossi custom made tires for the race on Sunday, he doesn't have that special advantage. Now he's not so special. Now other riders have a chance. And all of a sudden, Rossi doesn't win so often.
And now the legions of Rossi fans, (most of them clueless to the sweetheart deal Rossi had with Michelin and the unfair advantage this gave him), aren't so interested in watching motogp, so the ratings are down. And the sponsors get nervous, 'cause they don't care about motorcycles or racing or esthetics. They care about money. So the sponsors lean on the sanctioning body to make changes. Not changes that are good for racing, but changes that are good for ratings, (spelled R-o-s-s-i!).
And to justify the change, the sanctioning body talks about how the races haven't been competitive this year!!?? Please! Do you think the sponsors, (and their mouthpiece, Dorna), would be complaining if it was Rossi who was winning by 8 seconds? Not likely, 'cause the legions of clueless Rossi fans would be glued to the TV. And that's all the sponsors care about. Ratings.
Sadly, this is inevitable. It's all part of the "cult of personality" that permeates modern culture. Most fans aren't really interested in motogp, in the machines. They're interested in Rossi or Hayden or whomever it is they idolize. I see them at the races. They don't even really watch or understand motogp. They wear their Rossi t-shirts and wave their yellow #46 flags when he goes by and yell when he podiums. But watch the race? Not really. They're more interested in Rossi than they are in motogp or motorcycles. (Btw, we see the same thing here on the forum all the time. "Ducatisti" going on endlessly about how great Rossi is. You know who you are!) But Rossi fans fuel the economic engine that drives motogp, so the sanctioning body is now contemplating a rules change to help the sponsors out. Incredible, but sadly, predictable.
A sad day for motogp.
Just one man's observations.
Elton
Alex_Amaze
New member
Elton I think you said that pretty well. I agree with you. In fact to some degree it is what we all deal with in our lives everyday. At least I do working and living in DC. But don't you think if everyone is on the same tires it will remove some of the advantages certain riders have?
Royal Blue
New member
Sorry guys, this is now old news and things have moved on.
The current speculation is that the one tyre rule will not happen, BUT Rossi is apparently awaiting an answer tomorrow (Friday), as to whether his request to be the only Yamaha rider to be on Bridgestone in 2008 has been granted or not.....watch this space.
The current speculation is that the one tyre rule will not happen, BUT Rossi is apparently awaiting an answer tomorrow (Friday), as to whether his request to be the only Yamaha rider to be on Bridgestone in 2008 has been granted or not.....watch this space.
AustinGarrod.ca
New member
TC,
Yeah, I read the same thing. God forbid his teammate, Colin Edwards, should be allowed to run Bridgestones also. What a brat. I really don't get the appeal.
Elton
Yeah, I read the same thing. God forbid his teammate, Colin Edwards, should be allowed to run Bridgestones also. What a brat. I really don't get the appeal.
Elton
TigerLilly
New member
I agree Elton, maybe while they're at it, they should give Rossi a Ducati as well, then he'd have much less to moan about.
BTW, Edwards isn't going to be Rossi's team mate next year, he's in the Tech3 team with Toseland next year. Rossi's team mate for 2008 is Jorge Lorenzo.
BTW, Edwards isn't going to be Rossi's team mate next year, he's in the Tech3 team with Toseland next year. Rossi's team mate for 2008 is Jorge Lorenzo.
My understanding is Yamaha decided to keep Colin Edwards around for another year because they needed a senior/experienced rider with the tech3 team to partner with Toseland who will be new in motogp. another reason is, for as long as Edwards has been in motogp and while he was in superbikes, he was/has been a development rider for michelin. since michelin has been having problems producing tires that can win races on the new 800 machines, they want Edwards to stick around to help the development of the tires.