P152
CN
III IN THE PADDOCK
BY MICHAEL SCOTT
fives and sixes; and a whole gen-
eration of whooping two-strokes,
before the marvelous 990s rang-
ing from Aprilia's inline three to
Honda's unique V5.
But even an old curmudgeon
like me has to admit, with grudg-
ing admiration, that in terms of
Dorna's stated aims, it's really
worked.
Big chief Ezpeleta was de-
termined not just to reduce the
general cost of racing, but to
cut the natural advantages to
the big spenders. To bring the
factory teams back within sight
of the independents squads, the
descendants of the grid-filling
privateers of days gone by.
Three different winners,
indeed, three different podiums,
in the first three races proves
that leveling the playing field has
at least made the racing less
predictable.
Some of the more impression-
able youngsters are even prone
to talk of a new golden age.
MEDIOCRE IS BETTER
R
egular readers will not
need reminding that I have
always deplored Dorna's
dumbing down of MotoGP. Stan-
dard electronics, limited num-
ber of cylinders, limited engine
numbers, frozen engine design,
fairing design. It's beneath the
dignity of the premier world
championship.
A series, after all, that has
given us such variety, from lum-
bering singles to the glory of the
Guzzi V8, by way of Honda fours,
