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Lone Wolf and the problem with control tyres

Tyres are the most important component of the racing motorcycle. To some that will seem like a statement of the bleeding obvious - and obvious for quite a long time - but to the rest of us it is like discovering the world has changed after waking up from an even longer period of hibernation.

In our befuddled state we were, of course, aware that something was going on but it was the debacle masquerading as the Australian MotoGP when the scales fell from our eyes. And we are not talking here about which team makes the right tyre choice or that Bridgestone made the most monumental cock-up. And had the arrogance not to apologise for it.

Equally significant to the growth in importance of good old rubber is how every major motorsport series in the world has now moved from a tyre manufacturer free-for-all to a sole supplier. This started with NASCAR in the States some ten or more years ago and has now been adopted by pretty well everybody.

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When this was happening we naive scribes were asking: If competition is a good thing in determining quality, price, etc. why do this? The answer given was that it would bring more money into the sport by manufacturers competing, and paying the highest price, for the sole supplier contract. The playing field would be levelled because all categories of tyres would be available to all teams and it would cost the teams less. And the promoter who awarded the contract would have control.

Seemed reasonable and, on the basis of giving poorer teams a better chance, some of us bought it. Has it worked? Difficult to say as in some series tyres are free and others not; some tyre manufacturers, like Pirelli and Dunlop, view racing as a marketing and a commercial enterprise, others purely as a marketing exercise. Teams are characteristically tight-lipped on this sort of thing but none have so far volunteered that tyre costs have come down.

What is clear is that the cost of tyres is a major issue from national to club championships and over the last few years it has escalated dramatically. And having a formula to control costs, which would include controlling the types of tyres available, can only be a good thing especially for club racing. It is something that a governing body should be able to get a grip of as cost is the main cause of the numbers of club racers declining.

The Australian MotoGP was, of course, a demonstration of a 'control' situation being completely out of control. The tyre manufacturer hadn't brought tyres to cope with a new track surface. The track had been used for World Superbikes earlier in the year, when Pirelli had problems; Bridgestone had apparently turned down an earlier testing opportunity; and weather forecasting is now, apparently, more accurate than in the days of Michael Fish.

Now if you want real tyre control look to F1 where the indefatigable Mr Ecclestone ordered Pirelli to provide tyres which wear out quickly thereby necessitating two or more pit stops to make the race more interesting. And after falling asleep during MotoGP from Motegi this writer is being drawn to the conclusion that the enforced 'experiment' at Phillip Island might turn into a good idea!

REASONS TO BE CHEERFUL

It may be a bit early to shout "The Brits are coming" as someone once did at an Oscars celebration may years ago. Or it may be too late. Sam and Tom have arrived. Big-time. Two world champions - Sam Lowes and Tom Sykes - as English as fish and chips.

As good as their monumental performances is the remarkable achievment of identical twins, Sam and brother Alex winning major road racing championships. In total, it puts Britain right back on the road racing map. It won't have the Spanish quaking in their boots just yet but next season is already one to look forward to.

While salivating over this year's achievements and next year's prospects we have to remind ourselves there is still much to be done to improve the pipeline of budding talent in the UK. We remain a mile behind Spain where support, recognition and, it has to be said, the suitability of circuits is way ahead of the UK.

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Media coverage for their champions is huge - other than the specialist media, hardly a line in the UK. Flowing from this is sponsorship - In the UK it is a hard grind to get peanuts. And Lottery money here seems to support losers rather than winners.

Whingeing is not the answer however. Good work is being done but shouldn't the ACU, together with professional promoters and clubs, campaign for greater recognition and support mechanisms - and money!

Plenty of reasons to be cheerful, including a couple of excellent programmes on BBC Four. One illustrated the history of British motorcycles through to the mods and rockers era. Dave Croxford and Dave Degens, ex-Ace Cafe rockers, were star turns. And did you know that at pre-war Brooklands the motorcycle racers weren't allowed to eat with the car chappies! No comment.

And the 80-year history of Ireland's most famous road race, the North West 200, with all its triumphs, tragedies, stops and starts, made fascinating viewing also on BBC Four. The sheer determination of these amazing Irish enthusiasts to keep this great event going through every barrier imaginable, not to mention wind and rain, was an inspiration.

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