were entered as Open.
These are proper racing bikes, which now
enjoy some major advantages: much more fuel
(24 liters to 20), many more engines (12 to five),
unlimited testing, the freedom to make engine
changes (Factory bikes are "frozen"), and softer
tires.
By now Yamaha was looking simultaneously
embarrassed and smug, and Honda was fum-
ing. Especially when Andrea Dovizioso's Ducati
was really quick in Australia. You can be sure Ez-
peleta's ears were ringing with the bloodcurdling
attack cries of HRC's Shuhei Nakamoto.
He should worry. He plans for the whole se-
ries to go Open in 2016: control electronics,
control costs, etc. – though why the factories
would bother is not completely clear.
All the same, it was time for some fancy foot-
work. Some Saturday Night Fever for the Danc-
ing Queen.
Within days, he had responded, adopting his
usual method of announcing game-changing
decisions… out of the blue in an interview with a
Spanish newspaper.
Lo and behold – a new category was born.
Factory 2! To qualify for this, you have to prove
too good to be a mere Open. And the official
announcement that came on the MotoGP web-
site a couple of days later made it very clear that
although it applied to any Open bike, it was very
much a Ducati sanction.
Managing Director Javier Alonso stated that
the test results made it clear that not only did the
new-generation control electronics offer better
performance, but "the only manufacturer ready
to use that software is Ducati." The plan they
would propose to the GP Commission was "to
find a balance which does not give one manu-
facturer too much of an advantage."
Will it get adopted by the commission?
Of course yes. The Lord High Everything will
make sure of that - in fact, it's more or less writ-
ten in the statutes.
And if that doesn't work?
It'll be back to Dancing Queen again. Chang-
ing the rules once more. CN
VOL. 51 ISSUE 11 MARCH 18, 2014 P161
LOOKING BACK
40 Years Ago
March 26, 1974
Mark Adent and a desert fox was featured
standing behind a DKW on the cover 40 years
ago to accompany our interview with the hare
and hound racer… We covered the second
and final round of the Yamaha International
(MX) Series, which took place inside the Hous-
ton Astrodome. Tim Hart and Jim Pomeroy
were the big winners, but Gary Semics and
Pierre Karsmakers took the titles and the
lion's share of the $24,000 purse… Ivan Mauger won the big Interna-
tional Speedway Challenge at Costa Mesa… Cordis Brooks won the
Jackrabbit's Hare & Hound in California.
30 Years Ago
March 28, 1984
Honda's new Nighthawk 700S was pictured
in action on the cover 30 years ago. At the
controls of our test bike was CN's own art di-
rector Lori Tyson… We were on hand at the
third round of the Bel-Ray GNC MX/Triple
Crown of SX Series to cover the Talledega
Supercross at Alabama Motor Speedway,
where Jeff Ward topped the 12-lap final over
Mark Barnett… Ronnie Jones won the Great
American Shootout Indoor Short Track in Philadelphia… We covered
the Alligator Enduro won by Mike Melton.
20 Years Ago
March 23, 1994
Daytona! We covered it all from Florida 20
years ago and Scott Russell got front-page
glory for winning the Daytona 200… Mike
Kiedrowski won the Daytona Supercross over
Jeff Stanton and Mike LaRocco; Jimmy
Button won the 125cc class… Chris Carr
did most of the damage in dirt track racing…
Guy Cooper made his off-road debut a win-
ning one at the opening round of the GNCC
Series at Florida Motorsports Complex… Joey Hopkins won the Al-
ligator Enduro.
10 Years Ago
March 24, 2004
James Stewart made front-page news for
clinching the 125cc East Supercross title at St.
Louis a year after winning the West title. Chad
Reed won the 250cc class… Jason Raines
motored to the front of the pack at The General
GNCC in Georgia… Ty Davis ruled the Adel-
anto GP in California… Steve Hengeveld and
Johnny Campbell teamed up to win the San
Felipe 250.
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