Best of the Rest?

[f1manoz]

It's become obvious that Honda and Ducati are the top bikes of the MotoGP class this year, while I'm not ready to discount Yamaha just yet as their bikes have been competitive at times, but just lack that top-end pace of the Honda/Ducati.

But what of the rest - Aprilia, Suzuki, Kawasaki and Proton - can we expect any immediate results from these bikes? Will it take a year or so of development? Or are they, in the end, never going to be able to match the big companies?

Suzuki have proven before capable of producing race-winning machinery, but then they always go through big slumps of producing nothing.

The Aprilia machine is still very much in development, but they have two good riders surely they will be competitive in the near future.

Kawasaki... well, who knows what's going on there. But it's obviously NOT a rider problem as both Pitt and McCoy are talented riders. The bike just looks slow.

The Proton is brand new and relatively untested. But considering that the KR3 never really worked until the END of it, how long will it take to get the new bike to be up the front?

[Dani Filth]

if we put yamaha in the top three .. is Aprilia , the best of the rest .. the engine is very high tech with Cosworth backing ..... the riders are very good . and is yet to be at the minimum weight ...

[BootsOntheSide]

Yamaha seem to be a clear third. I don't think Proton really have the funds to develop a bike to be a real contender, which is a shame because the riders deserve more. Suzuki seem to be going nowhere right now, sadly Kawasaki will need a lot longer to improve. McCoy shouldn't be bringing up the rear, it's not fair. As for Aprillia, they could be in a position for occasionally challenging for wins by mid-2004. Edwards is really doing well.

[Rambo]

I can't understand why Haga goes from thrashing his team mate one week to looking mediocre then next. And he certainly did something special on the last few laps at the weekend - but why leave it until the end of the race to pull your finger out?

[wreckless]

Aprilia will certinally be the best of the rest, colin edwards is certinly a competative rider, and in testing surly he would be better than laconi, its a pitty for them that ducati have come out with all guns firing and made them look bad, because in reality their bike has come along nicely since last year.

[Gerrit]

The KR5 will be fully competitive a lot sooner than you think. Up to now they did not even have alternative gearbox ratios available. Yet they are already in a position to beat the Kawasakis. Suzuki will be their next target and beating them shouldn't be too hard either. Then Aprilia, who can be discounted once the KR5 gets fully sorted, leaving Yamaha, Ducati and Honda. Realistically they can get up to Yamaha's level by the end of the year.

[elephino]

Yamaha is best of the rest at the moment. Then Aprilia and the rest are close enough to equal (Suzuki slightly ahead maybe). But the KR5 will come on, you mark my words.

[Dani Filth]

just because Pitt and McCoy are on the KR5 doesn't make those bike that good ... ...

[Gerrit]

Er...... Dani....... Pitt and McCoy AREN'T on the KR5 (they wish!). The KR5's riders are McWilliams and Aoki.

[Dani Filth]

fu** ... i've did it this time .. ... lol ... lol .... .. sorry for the mistake .. it must have been sleeping my mind ..