The temptation to adapt the rules to your own needs has always been a prerogative of totalitarian regimes.
In fact, rules are a limitation and often solving problems by following the directions above is a problem.
So why not fix setbacks simply by pretending they don’t exist? Even abolish “ad personam” if necessary?
What a great temptation! Plus, it wouldn’t even be the first time it happened. An exception was created Fabio Quartararo debut in Moto3 after his victory in CEV and even Marc Marquez ‘debut directly in the Repsol Honda factory team without going through a satellite team was the result of an exception to the rules.
So what’s the big deal? What’s wrong with three Hondas driving in the factory team and increasing the number of RC213-Vs to five? After all, Ducati drives six motorcycles …
In addition, in the past, many drivers were allowed to drive without any particular problems. So what?
Inciting Dorna to disregard his own rules
The fact is that the request for an exception came from a post on SKY Sport TV (which you can find HERE) after HRC previously asked Dorna to put up a third bike for Andrea Dovizioso. Not as a temporary replacement, but as a nominated driver to give Marc Marquez the opportunity to calmly relax. So that he could take his place in the team again after his return without Dovi – obviously presented as a fighter for the MotoGP world title – having to leave his seat.
So we’re going to say it again, what’s wrong with that? Well indeed It would be against the rule that teams only consist of two drivers. There would also be the rule that a team must have two drivers. And then there’s the little detail of three motorcycles for a single sponsor, but that’s really a deadly sin, because after all, next season we’ll have monsters on the Yamaha factory team, but also on the Petronas fairings. Not to mention the fact that the Esponsorama team in MotoGP will almost certainly have different supporters for Enea Bastianini and Luca Marini … but if you think about it, the fact that Tito Rabat had to give up MotoGP Making room for Marini is exactly the confirmation of the principle one wants to break.
So: can it be done?
The question is: why are there rules?
One question that leads to another: Why do we have rules? And the answer, while self-evident, is not obvious: to ensure that all participants are on the same level without anyone benefiting from it. But what would be the advantage here?
The answer is clear: if Honda had three starters on the same team, it would have two (supposed) “top drivers” Not the same as three “top drivers” in three different teams. For obvious cost reasons. So if Honda wants to use a fifth bike, if it wants to keep the rules, it should come up with a third team with two other riders, one of whom could be Dovizioso.
Obviously, Since Dorna guarantees a significant economic contribution to all teams present, everyone else must agree, unless …
Unless this “additional” team waives the above contribution. Another exception to the rule, but a voluntary one. Another example of how we pay for everything so don’t break our balls …
The “limited number” of teams guarantees the teams’ investment
It could be done if it wasn’t it would open the doors of MotoGP to a super ultra billionaire like Jeff Bezos or Elon Musk, Who could say to Dorna: “I want to ride in MotoGP with my money, I’ll pay for everything, bike and everything, I don’t want a cent, I just want to compete.” Whose balls would that break?
Yes, but it is clear: By today’s rules, teams are a finite number, and therefore they have value. When a sponsor or manufacturer wishes to participate, they have a limited number of options. And by virtue of the law of supply and demand, value has been created for those managers who have invested over time. Let someone in and that value would collapse. Therefore Carmelo Ezpeleta has already declared his rejection of the idea.
As we saw, Disregarding a rule by making an exception has a domino effect. But it can be done. Anything can be done. It remains to be seen why Simone Battistella and Andrea Dovizioso refused when they were offered the KTM before Danilo Petrucci.
Think how many broken rules would have been avoided!
PS And it is savings or costs, depending on which side the problem is viewed from, the very essence of the initiative which, in the best case scenario, would cause the current participants in the World Cup to ask everyone, everyone, something in exchange for the “favor granted “. It would mean that on the table would be the cost of two more MotoGP bikes, parts and management (staff, travel and transportation) for the entire championship. Sure, Andrea was able to run practically for free, Luca Cadalora even did it for a season with Erv Kanemoto, but based on what we know so far, this option doesn’t seem to be on the table. And today we are in difficult times …