Can Suzuki and Kawasaki get their act together by 2007? Will the 800cc regulations even it all out? Do they now know enough about what works and what doesn't when making a competitive four stroke prototype racer? Are Honda and Yamaha in the slightest bit worried or could they care less?

I hope that the answer to the first question is yes. The impending new rules have been known about for quite some time so hopefully they've been feverishly rubbing their hands together in anticipation of wheeling out their new machines. Maybe that could explain the slightly obvoius lack of development of the current Suzukis and Kawasakis. Anyone else notice that? Whilst Yamaha and Honda blindly try to whip each others asses week in week out, try this new part, try that one and so on, with Ducati nipping at their heels, could it be that the other two Japanese factories have said to themselves, ' OK we made a mess of the it, wait till you see the 2nd generation GP bikes' ..........mmmmm?
I have a feeling and moreso a hope that this is the case. Whats the point of pouring millions of development cash into a machine when you consider...

a) it's going to be obselete at the end of 2006
b) Yamaha have rossi and there are just too many hondas
c) we got it wrong in the first place

If I was CEO at Kawasaki or Suzuki I'd hedge my bets on plan B. Maybe they have. I really hope so and that they've got it right. In the meantime I'll keep wishing my life away waiting to see that day. Hope this whets a few appetites 8O

Paul

I think the problem with the 800cc regulation is that it is bound to favour the teams with the biggest budgets (ie mainly Honda). If you're right and the likes of Suzuki and Kawasaki have been looking towards 2007, which doesn't seem unlikely, then they might be able to cancel that out to an extent but Honda & Yamaha (who also have the best development rider around, assuming Rossi stays in GP) will still have the better budget.

Although I would like to see the bikes line up in 2007 on a more level playing field I will remain sceptical for now. (Let's see how 2006 goes, too ;))

For sure Honda will always have the slight upper hand, and yes 2006 is still to kick off in earnest, though it looks like it'll be a Honda/Yamaha affair I do enjoy speculating on what might happen. Given that Honda and Yamaha will have more resources than the other two Japanese factories, a head start might not be such a bad idea.
Anyone else?

Paul

if rossi does go F1-then honda have it in the bag for 2007. they have plenty of riders,all young at that-and they have limitless funds to experiment with everything
for their 800c bikes, all they could do is take off a cylinder from the current bike then at least you have 800cc there and then!
pedrossi champ 2007?