I'm so confused on this "class" issue. I've given up thinking about what is equal and what is "fair". Even within the individual "classes" there is such a wide gulf in the level of preparation and budget, and ultimately we are always going to get the "front runners" and the "tail-enders"...and there is ultimately no "cure" for this.
I currently run an essentially "standard" 600ss with a BB kit. I know I'm never going to be right up there at the sharp end...no matter how much money I throw at the bike. And let;s face it...precious few (ehem...probably none) of us are going to be the next Valentino Rossi...so why are we getting our knickers in a twist about it? I must say that I think a lot of us expected the bikes to be a little more equal than turned out to be the case...and I was utterly stunned at the rate at which the 620s went past me on the start/finish straight at Cadwell....but we all knew the rules. (Unconnected note; as it happens, I think it was extraordinarily "sporting" of Jeff Spencer to re-configer his bike back to standard spec).
I think each and every rider needs to take a close look at his/her motivation for getting out there on the grid and "doing it". Would I have any more fun if I were fighting a field of fifteen and finishing, say, fourth....or competing as we are in the existing field of thirty-whatever and finishing, say thirteenth? My enjoyment is really just getting out there on the grid and having a (semi) friendly scrap with my closest matched competitors...the fast boys have already cleared off, and I've left the slower riders behind...and if we change the rules to make FIVE classes nothing would change!
If there were to be a "split" in the field the arguments would just start to rear up...and NOBODY would be able to say with real authority how that split would actually take place....and whether the classes would be any "fairer". The danger is that we end up with two very under-subscribed race classes and the series begins a slow decent into obscurity. And...thinking selfishly...what would I do?...pay MORE money to re-convert my bike to 583cc, or EVEN MORE to do all the necessary mods to compete fairly with the 620s? I don't want to go there!
Sorry...I'm ranting....so the up-shot is....
DO NOTHING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love DD just as it is!





Andy #99
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