Motocourse - simply the best

Finally my 2008 copy of Motocourse arrived. I had to get my own copy again this year as my repeated hints to friends and relatives pre-Christmas fell on deaf ears.

These books are the dogs danglies and its such a shame that we only get this level of great writing, analysis and insight once each year.

Micheal Scott's state of racing review, this year called "The Age of Change", is as good as ever and reveals just how much panic has been driving the decisions in the corridors of MotoGP power.

These last few years have seen Dorna institute change after change normally under the guise of "safety improvements" but in reality a series of modifications aimed at making racing closer.

It's absolutely clear that the panic driven tweaks and changes have had the exact reverse effect. As Scott says in his essay "one statistic had a powerful ring to it: the last time there had been any overtaking on the last lap in the premier class had been back in 2006". In other words the move to 800's, the restrictions on choices of tyres, the fuel limits, have all made racing more processional.

The only initiative coming from Dorna's 2007 sponsorship crisis meeting, the exclusive MotoGP paddock within the paddock, has had a similarly banal effect. At the few GP's I was able to attend in 2008 the place was a ghost town. Far from the impoverished proletariat looking wishfully into the exclusive enclave, the real atmosphere is found outside.

Carmelo should be renamed CEO of rearranging the deck chairs. It doesn't take a genius to work out if you cant get sponsors into the sport there is little point in changing what happens when you get there.

Similarly close racing is not the answer to all the anti-genius's think it is. If it was MZ racing at Bemsee would be the biggest ticket in town.