Questions to Kropotkin...

[Kropotkin]

David,

Any update on the ship-date of our highly anticipated, eagerly awaited 2011 Calendar?

Regards,
The Gang

It's looking like it'll be a couple of weeks. We ran into a couple of delays (one of which was my fault! ) Hopefully, it'll be worth the wait!

[8 dirt]

Hi Dave.
Nevermind. 8d

[tom]

Kropotkin, I'm new here but I'm frantically catching up, reading in breaks between work. Fantastic info, brilliantly run site I stumbled on a link to your blog in an Ozzie site and now I'm hooked. I've been hungering for a quality MotoGP news site for ages. Any progress on the paid subscription? I'm up for it even if there are no added benefits. Quality journalism and sites like this need support.

I'm fascinated with the Rossi Casey battle and the Ducati front end issues, so any info you can get on changes JB and Rossi make to the bike will make my ears prick.

[tom]

Just finished Oscars 'Valencia tests, dreams and predictions' thread http://motomatters.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1140&start=0. Ignore the bit in my above post about wanting more info on the Rossi/Casey battle and ducati front issues, they have quite clearly been well and truly covered. I'm behind half a day at work now :laugh I just couldn't stop reading...

[MarvoGing]

Welcome Tom.
This site can become an obsession!

[tom]

Welcome Tom.
This site can become an obsession!

im beginning to suspect i need to ban myself from looking at this site at work im halfway through the carbon vs steel brakes thread, im not going to get enough done today either

[Rusty Bucket USA]

And you've only got 25 pages of topics still to go!

Welcome!

[Cam D]

re:the brake thread. Krop if you ever get the chance it would be interesting to get Ben's, Max's, Marco's etc view on the major differences in carbon and steel brakes when you use them in anger. Maybe even feed back from Herve or someone in a similar position?

Thanks,
Cam

[Kropotkin]

re:the brake thread. Krop if you ever get the chance it would be interesting to get Ben's, Max's, Marco's etc view on the major differences in carbon and steel brakes when you use them in anger. Maybe even feed back from Herve or someone in a similar position?

Thanks,
Cam

Good point. I'll try and get some decent feedback from people about this. Will take a while, though.

[Albert]

re:the brake thread. Krop if you ever get the chance it would be interesting to get Ben's, Max's, Marco's etc view on the major differences in carbon and steel brakes when you use them in anger. Maybe even feed back from Herve or someone in a similar position?
Thanks,
Cam

Good thought Cam!
I'd expect that Ben (moving to Carbon) and Marco (moving from Carbon) would be the best to comment!
I look forward to the answers!

[ipso]

We really do need some recon and closure on the carbon brake thing.

Other than that, my question is this: “Is that your dog?”

[Kropotkin]

We really do need some recon and closure on the carbon brake thing.

Other than that, my question is this: “Is that your dog?”

Nope, that's Andrew Wheeler's dog, as that's Andrew Wheeler's laptop.

[phil]

Will you be attending many races this year Krop?

[Kropotkin]

Will you be attending many races this year Krop?

Probably Qatar, plus all of the European rounds, except for Le Mans. Because Le Mans is a dump, and I'd rather eat my own intestines than go there.

[RatsMC]

...except for Le Mans. Because Le Mans is a dump, and I'd rather eat my own intestines than go there.

But you had so much fun last time.

[Kropotkin]

...except for Le Mans. Because Le Mans is a dump, and I'd rather eat my own intestines than go there.

But you had so much fun last time.

I know... But it wasn't even the fact of the bike breaking down, it was paying 90 euros for an internet connection, the facilities were decidedly shabby, and the staff were utterly indifferent. As for the crowd, well if you've seen Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome then you have a flavor of the convivial, charming and polite atmosphere that Le Mans enjoys.

[Rusty Bucket USA]

Hmmm... that doesn't sound like France.

[Faster1]

Here's one for posterity DE,, maybe (it's general, not particularly for Motegi as Japan has far more pressing problems than a gp race)

When an/any entire round is canceled, who pockets money and who loses money? I would imagine all involved has an entire fiscal year planned out,,, some to the penny??

On the surface:
you have a track rented and paid for?,,, track employees do or don't get paid?
moneys allocated to travel for everyone except the gp teams themselves, refunded? lost?
Advertisers, both local and viral, prepaid? refunded?

Teams; They budget for 'x" and now,,, no wear and tear,, no data, stronger engines for the later races?,, sponsors?
Bridgestone - Did they pre-manufacturer the tires,, now left overs at the end of the season?

Fans - fully re-reimbursed for tickets?

Who is insured and who is financially out-of luck?

and motomatters?

[Kropotkin]

Here's one for posterity DE,, maybe (it's general, not particularly for Motegi as Japan has far more pressing problems than a gp race)

When an/any entire round is canceled, who pockets money and who loses money? I would imagine all involved has an entire fiscal year planned out,,, some to the penny??

On the surface:
you have a track rented and paid for?,,, track employees do or don't get paid?
moneys allocated to travel for everyone except the gp teams themselves, refunded? lost?
Advertisers, both local and viral, prepaid? refunded?

Teams; They budget for 'x" and now,,, no wear and tear,, no data, stronger engines for the later races?,, sponsors?
Bridgestone - Did they pre-manufacturer the tires,, now left overs at the end of the season?

Fans - fully re-reimbursed for tickets?

Who is insured and who is financially out-of luck?

and motomatters?

Good question. The financial hit MotoMatters takes is modest, but then so is our income ...

As for the rest: It depends on the cause of the cancellation. Contracts are hugely complex, with multiple layers of insurance against the round not taking place. It can end up being more expensive to cancel than to run it at a loss.

Dorna bears the biggest risk, as their TV contracts are signed a long way ahead of time, and the TV companies are not happy when a race gets canceled. There will be large penalty clauses in these cases. The same is the case with the series sponsors such as Tissot, BMW, etc.

Fans get their money back on tickets, though hotel rooms and flights are usually a write off (very common problem for journalists too). Teams no problem, as their travel is largely paid for by Dorna.

Tracks make money on a race weekend (most ofthem anyway), so they will lose out, but the bigger loss is usually compensating Dorna.

Bridgestone can usually use the tires at a later data and at a different track.

The current situation for Motegi is different though. This is exactly the kind of contingency that Dorna will have insurance for, a rare but devastating event.

[Pantah]

Krop,a question that may not be relevant to all Moto GP participating countries.............

I have a bike ,which I would prefer to be in my home country (Australia).......I want to use the bike as a play thing on closed circut courses .......read tracks......
I was chatting with an employee of the local Ducati store and told him of my plan.....Ship the bike over in pieces and reassemble it ( Australian law makes importing a nightmare..).
When I come for my holidays,bring my boots, suit and helmet,then attack the trackdays...(about 75 % cheaper than doing the same in Japan).
All good,except for the helmet......NO ADR ( Australian Design Rules) sticker...NO GO !
Thats shit as my helmet is a very nice Shoei ( even more...its my helmet!).........Basically if I want to get through scrutineering I need a helmet with ADR approval...........

So....My question......When GP teams rock into Victoria ,Australia and head on down to Phillip Island.Do they bring their own stock of fancily painted helmets ( with no ADR approval) or do they need to get a bunch from some special supplier ( with ADR approval) or are they set up for this stupidity OR do they just do their own thing...( Money talks stuff...) ?
Would be interested to know....
Cheers

[Gustav O]

I assume all the goods is shipped using what is called an ATA-Carnet. That is transportation documentation used for equipment you have to bring for professional reasons. As they only intend to come, use the gear and then get out again normal import laws wouldn´t work.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ATA_Carnet
Bet all that is handled by the cargo company that do the shipping.

[Pantah]

Thanks,Gustav.That makes sense......I believe the cost of that permit outweighs the cost of a new helmet.............Im gunna get stung......

[Kropotkin]

Krop,a question that may not be relevant to all Moto GP participating countries.............

I have a bike ,which I would prefer to be in my home country (Australia).......I want to use the bike as a play thing on closed circut courses .......read tracks......
I was chatting with an employee of the local Ducati store and told him of my plan.....Ship the bike over in pieces and reassemble it ( Australian law makes importing a nightmare..).
When I come for my holidays,bring my boots, suit and helmet,then attack the trackdays...(about 75 % cheaper than doing the same in Japan).
All good,except for the helmet......NO ADR ( Australian Design Rules) sticker...NO GO !
Thats shit as my helmet is a very nice Shoei ( even more...its my helmet!).........Basically if I want to get through scrutineering I need a helmet with ADR approval...........

So....My question......When GP teams rock into Victoria ,Australia and head on down to Phillip Island.Do they bring their own stock of fancily painted helmets ( with no ADR approval) or do they need to get a bunch from some special supplier ( with ADR approval) or are they set up for this stupidity OR do they just do their own thing...( Money talks stuff...) ?
Would be interested to know....
Cheers

Gustav is right, but there are other considerations as well. The reason you have to have a helmet with an ADR sticker on is because you want to participate in track days run by an Australian organization. MotoGP races are run under the auspices of the FIM, and so all helmets (and other safety gear) have to conform to the safety standards as set out in the FIM MotoGP regulations. Here's what it says:

2.12.7 Helmets must be of the full face type and conform to one of the
recognised international standards:
• Europe ECE 22-05 ‘P’
• Japan JIS T 8133: 2000, JIS T 8133: 2007
• USA SNELL M 2005, SNELL M 2010

The helmet manufacturers generally follow the circus with a truckload of spare helmets, too, so there are always legal helmets available.

So to answer your question, you'd be OK to race in MotoGP or WSBK with your current helmet, but not to ride a local trackday

[Pantah]

Thanks for the quick reply.....
I think Im gunna get a SUPERBIKE......

[Cam D]

Krop,a question that may not be relevant to all Moto GP participating countries.............

I have a bike ,which I would prefer to be in my home country (Australia).......I want to use the bike as a play thing on closed circut courses .......read tracks......
I was chatting with an employee of the local Ducati store and told him of my plan.....Ship the bike over in pieces and reassemble it ( Australian law makes importing a nightmare..).
When I come for my holidays,bring my boots, suit and helmet,then attack the trackdays...(about 75 % cheaper than doing the same in Japan).
All good,except for the helmet......NO ADR ( Australian Design Rules) sticker...NO GO !
Thats shit as my helmet is a very nice Shoei ( even more...its my helmet!).........Basically if I want to get through scrutineering I need a helmet with ADR approval...........

So....My question......When GP teams rock into Victoria ,Australia and head on down to Phillip Island.Do they bring their own stock of fancily painted helmets ( with no ADR approval) or do they need to get a bunch from some special supplier ( with ADR approval) or are they set up for this stupidity OR do they just do their own thing...( Money talks stuff...) ?
Would be interested to know....
Cheers

Pretty sure that was changed years ago to basically say approved in country of origin. I looked up the rules.
Aussie GCR's http://www.ma.org.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/MOMS/2011_MoMS_Folder/15_Road_Racing.pdf
15.4.1.1 An approved and correctly fitting full-face
helmet which must:
a) Carry the Standards Association of
Australia “AS 1698” label, or
b) Be approved under Rule 01.69
& 01.70 of the Road Racing FIM
Technical Rules [see Appendix 1].
Apendix 1 = http://www.ma.org.au/fileadmin/user_upload/Documents/MOMS/2011_MoMS_Folder/App_1_Helmet_Approvals_and_Fitting.pdf