Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
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VOL. 53 ISSUE 40 OCTOBER 11, 2016 P115 soon defenestrated when KTM decided that while they might have to accept Dorna's decree on selling price and lack of ex- clusivity, they could go their own way on development costs, and sell every one at a loss, if they wanted. Honda, who originally pro- duced a very workaday little production racer in the spirit of the rules, huffed and puffed for a while, then swallowed their pride and did the same thing. Mahin- dra followed suit. Unlike the proddie-powered humbugs of Moto2, these are proper grand prix racing bikes. The electronics are simpli- fied, but at least they are there. More importantly, the gearing is adjustable. Which gives both engineers and riders something to think about and learn. And there's more than just one type of engine. The nature of the bikes takes simplicity to a very high level. I have often observed but remain intrigued by the fact that the end result closely resembles the single-cylinder Manx Nor- ton, the RCV or M1 of its day, good enough to win the 500cc championship for Geoff Duke in 1951. A Moto3 bike makes more or less the same horsepower from the same number of cylin- ders—one, albeit half-sized. But it's lighter, much better tired and braked, and significantly faster. Yet it is considered a learner-rac- er, suitable for novices in their early teens. Some progress in humans then, as well as engi- neering. This is reflected in this year's crop of super-rookies. For Moto3, unlike the CEV "Junior World Championship" or Red Bull Rookies, whence these youngsters came, the minimum age is 16. Unless you're already CEV champion: the "Quartararo Rule," for which the Frenchman has so far been the only candi- date. The average age this year, at the opening round, was just less than 18-and-a-half. Take out the single rider on the maximum age limit of 28, Alexis Masbou, and it drops to less than 18 and two months. The average age of the eight winners of the first 14 races is 19.4, John McPhee (Brno) the oldest at 21. It's likely to fall further next year, thanks to an amazing group of rookies. There are 10, and six are truly remarkable. Khairul Idham Pawi (17) has won twice, and Joan Mir (18) once, from pole. He lies fourth in the championship, ahead of Rossi protégé Nicolo Bulega (just 16), and Fabio Di Giannantonio (17). Not far behind, Bo Bendsneyder and Aron Canet. All of which throws an even sharper focus on the remarkable achievement of world champion Brad Binder. In this maelstrom of manic teenagers, he's kept the coolest of heads and used the wisest of tactics, to win five races and tie up the title—the first for a South African since Jon Ekerold in 1980. His greatest achievement was not just winning at Jerez from last on the grid (a penalty), but leaving the lead group trail- ing by almost 3.5 seconds. This in a year when winning margins have four times been less than a tenth of a second, another five times less than half a second. At Qatar it was 0.007. It takes maturity and race- craft to rack up win after win in these circumstances. Binder has faltered only once, with an out- of-character tumble in the wet at Brno, when in a clear lead. I think that's permissible. He moves on now to Moto2. Navarro and a surprisingly lack- lustre Quartararo go with him. Former Moto3 stars have either foundered or flourished in the downbeat middle class. Alex Rins and Maverick Vinales were winners in their first year. Likewise Marquez. So it's not necessarily such a bad finish- ing school. Just not as good as Moto3. CN