Re: Honda is chicken shyt for not playing
I think for twins, the main differences are looser homogonization standards for special race-kit parts in WSB (which is why the US Ducatis run smaller throttle bodies) and the different fuel standards I mentioned. I think there is a slightly lower minimum weight as well.
Last year's AMA and WSB Hondas were reportedly very close in performance. Actually, from what I am told, the biggest difference was in tires and suspension. AMA has claiming rules that theoretically limit how much someone can spend of forks and shocks (that is you can spend as much as you want, but a competitor can claim them at a set price and you have to sell). As to tires, since Dunlop basically "owns" AMA racing, they don't have to give the AMA teams cutting edge stuff, like they do in WSB and GP. According to Nicky, the tires he ran in the WSB last year were much better than what he got for the AMA race.
My opinion is that if Ben had been winning regularly this season, his team would have found a way to run a competitive bike for him, and that still might happen. Seems like a lot of people in and out of the industry feel that they should.
I think for twins, the main differences are looser homogonization standards for special race-kit parts in WSB (which is why the US Ducatis run smaller throttle bodies) and the different fuel standards I mentioned. I think there is a slightly lower minimum weight as well.
Last year's AMA and WSB Hondas were reportedly very close in performance. Actually, from what I am told, the biggest difference was in tires and suspension. AMA has claiming rules that theoretically limit how much someone can spend of forks and shocks (that is you can spend as much as you want, but a competitor can claim them at a set price and you have to sell). As to tires, since Dunlop basically "owns" AMA racing, they don't have to give the AMA teams cutting edge stuff, like they do in WSB and GP. According to Nicky, the tires he ran in the WSB last year were much better than what he got for the AMA race.
My opinion is that if Ben had been winning regularly this season, his team would have found a way to run a competitive bike for him, and that still might happen. Seems like a lot of people in and out of the industry feel that they should.