2 strokes are dead? ....guess who's coming to Donington...

ChrisUSA · 7 Jul 2003, 17:26 (Ref:655020)

well, the inevitable is happening - WCM is fielding 2 YZR500's at Donington and get this - one will be a 1993 model originally ridden by Niall Mackenzie. Completely updated of course, but even the 2002 2strokes had trouble holding off the big 4strokes. I think they should be gratuitously allowed an 8mm overbore just for having the cajones to show up!

details at motogp.com

ChrisUSA · 7 Jul 2003, 20:22 (Ref:655191)

by the way, here's my picks for this Sunday at Donington
1)Burns
2)McCoy
3)McWilliams
4)Hayden

:-P

Gerrit · 8 Jul 2003, 08:37 (Ref:655564)

I doubt if they will have the time to update the bikes, even if they were given the specs by Yamaha, which is highly unlikely. It will be a miracle if they qualify- outdated bikes and third-grade riders who have no business in the top class. Oh well, maybe they can beat the Kawasakis!!!!!!!!!!!!
And according to Clifford they will only be used for two races, Donington and the Sachsenring.

Still, better two outdated strokers than none at all, I suppose...

Gerrit · 8 Jul 2003, 08:38 (Ref:655566)

And I think you mean the 2002 four-strokes had trouble holding off the 2001 spec two-strokes.....

JohnnyFiama · 8 Jul 2003, 12:23 (Ref:655742)

Can you imagine how embarrassing it will be if they beat anyone? Manufacturers plough in millions and then a few British guys turn up with a 10 year old 500 and beat them.

I bet Kenny is glad he's not racing, that could be the final nail in the coffin.....

GO TWO STROKES!!!!

BootsOntheSide · 8 Jul 2003, 12:50 (Ref:655767)

Quote:

Originally posted by Gerrit
And I think you mean the 2002 four-strokes had trouble holding off the 2001 spec two-strokes.....

Not ocne they'd been properly developed. Guys like Katoh, Jacque, Nakano and Barros all rocketed up the order once they got new bikes by the end of the season.

This is not going to be a successful operation, such an old bike which wasn't really competitive in 2001, ridden by a pair of no-namers.

The British media will eb right ebhind them, of course, WCM has been cleverly exploiting the whole thing regarding the legality of their bikes to whip up nationalistic support. Besides, us Brits love gallant losers, right?

Gerrit · 8 Jul 2003, 13:11 (Ref:655798)

Even towards the end of the season, the 2001 spec two-strokes were still competitive with the 2002 spec four-strokes. Witness capirossi's ride at Motegi- third, only beaten by Barros and Rossi. Phillip Island, v.d Goorbergh dicing the whole race with Katoh and Ukawa on RC211Vs, and only just being beaten by them- and ahead of ALL non-Honda valved horrors. And v.d. G. was on Bridgestones, which weren't as good as the Michelins used by Ukawa and Katoh. Only the KR3 saw further work done for 2002- none of the NSRs or YZRs was updated. So an updated NSR or YZR, to 2003 spec, would still be a very serious threat indeed, which is why they are either in factory museums or scrapped.
But the choice of the WCM team for ancient ROC-Yamahas is insane, Honda NSR500Vs would have been a better choice. Sadly, I don't expect them to achieve much- even qualifying would be a miracle.

racer69 · 8 Jul 2003, 13:25 (Ref:655816)

Bring back the ROC Yamaha's

ChrisUSA · 8 Jul 2003, 14:07 (Ref:655861)

Gerrit, someone mentioned that one of the reasons WCM had to go to such an antiquated bike was that all the 2001 and 2002-spec 2strokes had been destroyed. good god, that's like Monet destroying all his works just so no other artist could copy them!!

Let me clarify my earlier statement - the very best 2strokes of 2002(which were actually 2001-spec) had trouble holding off the very best 2002-spec 4strokes(RC211V's). I truly believe that Kato's NSR was the best 2stroke out there by far. His was the only stroker that could hold off the RC211V's on the straight. With enough development they could absolutely hold their own against the big 4strokes. the difference came down to 2002 vs 2001

DavidStHubbins · 9 Jul 2003, 17:02 (Ref:657083)

The 93 2 stroker is a joke! Even with Rossi on it they would have no hope... COMPLETE JOKE! =WCM

f1manoz · 9 Jul 2003, 23:28 (Ref:657464)

Why have they gone for such old bikes? It's beyond reason. They'll never qualify.

wreckless · 10 Jul 2003, 02:17 (Ref:657533)

You would think they would be able to get something more advanced than a 93 bike, finally mc coy will have a better machine than somebody else

Gerrit · 10 Jul 2003, 08:23 (Ref:657644)

Honda NSR500V V-twins would certainly have been a better choice as they would undoubtedly be more competitive. But I think cost was the main reason for the choice- apparently Clifford had one bike at home, so he only had to find one more. Plus, WCM ran YZRs for several seasons and have more experience with them. But I agree that the choice is madness- even the Swissauto/Elf/MZ/Pulse would have been a far better bet. But, again, probably more expensive.........

Highlander · 10 Jul 2003, 13:18 (Ref:657885)

I bet Tom Wheatcroft would lend them something out of the donny collection!!!! and it'll save a fortune in transport.

There's a few bike's in there with a number 7 on them as they'll need the luck.

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