Dorna, FIM urged to cut MotoGP costs

With continued concerns about the impact a global recession will have on motor cycling's premier racing category, especially following Kawasaki's departure, bosses from the title-winning Yamaha team are adamant that careful thought must be given to changing the sport.

Lin Jarvis, Yamaha's managing director, said: "I think when you have times of economic difficulty and recession, everybody has to rethink. That includes Dorna, that includes the FIM, it includes the manufacturers, the private teams, and the riders.

"Everybody has to think about how we can minimise the negative effects and look forward to the future growth. I think the immediate cost-cutting measures that are proposed by the MSMA are a good start. Already this year we reduced a lot the winter tests, we are going to reduce further the testing and the practice times throughout the season.

"There are proposals for 2010 to make important changes in the technical specifications, and I think all these things will be essential. Cost-cutting however is only one story. I wouldn't say cost-cutting is easy, but it's an action in a negative sense, to try to reduce something.

"But we have to look for how we can grow the income, because the other way to balance costs is to make sure the sport becomes more commercially attractive and that the show becomes something that is more in demand. The more revenue we have, we can see really long term growth. I think we need sensible cost cutting, serious cost-cutting, but also we need to look for revenue growth, to grow the sport."

Davide Brivio, Yamaha's team manager, believes Kawasaki's exit from MotoGP was not entirely down to the economic situation - but still thinks action needs to be taken.

"The economic crisis, which is affecting all sectors of business worldwide, has made no exception for motor racing," he said. "Some companies are facing difficulties, although I think Kawasaki were also pressured into retirement due to a lack of results.

"With more success and challenge for victories they might have postponed their withdrawal or even stayed. However, this situation requires action.

"All the manufacturers are planning cost-saving solutions and I hope the FIM might take up an active role again, as we are all asking them to do, because maybe in recent years the commercial aspects of the sport have received too much attention compared to the technical ones. This is the right moment for the FIM to do more, it's the moment for reconsidering the rules.

"Cost-cutting is the priority, however I don't think anybody should panic. Some things should be changed and costs reduced and resources need to be managed well for the next two years. Also to think of how motorcycling will be in the next years is important, because this sport will go on.

"The crisis will finish, we must be positive and try to survive like everybody else, but also try to lay the bases for an even better future for this sport. Many suggestions can be made: carbon fibre disks could be eliminated, practice times reduced, thus diminishing the wear of engine and tyres. There are many possible solutions, the engineers will choose which changes will allow them to save the most. We'll all have to make an effort together.

"Yamaha will do its part, as it is right. Survival is our main aim, and managing resources well, but we must also think of how to improve this sport in the future."

Despite Kawasaki's departure, and the troubles faced by Japanese manufacturers as a whole, Yamaha are confident that their future in MotoGP is secure.

Jarvis added: "It started at the end of December when almost one after another, after another, firstly Honda stopped (in Formula One), then Suzuki and Subaru in rally, and then finally, unfortunately, Kawasaki. It's a sign of the times. These big factories are pulling out of the top sports disciplines.

"Fortunately our position as Yamaha is a little different. We are facing the crisis as mush as anybody else, but our team project is very successful and that's why I think we can and will continue into the future, because it's a very important tool for Yamaha, for its marketing. With regards to the number of bikes on the grid in the MotoGP, of course I'm concerned. I'd rather not see the global recession, I'd rather see the teams prospering, I'd rather see in excess of, 20, 22 or 24 bikes on the grid.

"We have to face the reality as it is and I sincerely hope that the Kawasaki bikes will stay. Ideally it would be at least 19 or 20 bikes on the grid. We have to really seriously rethink for the future how we can further grow the health of the sport."

Yamaha Motor Company's president Takashi Kajikawa said that the manufacturer was convinced about the benefits of remaining in MotoGP for now.

"As you know, 2008 was also a year that saw a dramatic worsening of the world economy, which left Yamaha Motor in an extremely difficult and adverse business environment," he explained. "Needless to say, the severity of this environment also affects our motor sports activities.

"However, we believe that the MotoGP is an especially important competition for sharing Kando (excitement and deep satisfaction) with Yamaha fans around the world, and as a 'Kando Creating Company', this is a core part of our corporate mission. Therefore, we have decided to continue our participation in MotoGP in 2009 despite the extremely harsh business environment we face."