| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Lorenzo hasn't used Rossi's set up information since the start of the season. The M1 was down on power compared to the Hondas. Every time Lorenzo opened a gap on Dovisioso in the turns, Dovi just had to whack open the throttle in the long straights to catch right back up. You can bet Yamaha will be working on that. | ||
| Doerman |
*Wild speculation alert* The frame on the Ducs are laid up CF, right? I think that presents a problem. In all the considerations that go into the design of a frame; hours and hours of testing goes into it to understand stiffness and stress distribution. That's the easy part. The chassis dynamics is a different matter. A metal frame has an uniform matrix of material. Not so with the CF. It is biased as a result of directional layup of CF layers. So, on the dynamics side (or frequency response) I wonder if Ducati has overlooked a frequency response induced by very specific pavement and vehicle dynamics that will "upset" the vehicle and toss the rider to the ground. If that *is* the case, it is a very difficult characteristics to chase in a testing environment. | ||
| Trojan |
The frame on the Ducs are laid up CF, right? I think that presents a problem. In all the considerations that go into the design of a frame; hours and hours of testing goes into it to understand stiffness and stress distribution. That's the easy part. Ducati spent the best part of two years testing and refining their CF 'chassis' (in fact there is very little chassis at all as the front end bolts straight up to the motor rather than provide a conventional chassis) so that they could adjust and control the amount of flex that it provided. They even tested it extensively back to back against the previous chassis before deciding to go with it this year, so must have had faith in it. Neil Spalding (the resident UK tech expert at GP's) has another theory altogether and thinks that the Ducati problem is related to the triple trees and forks that they have been using. Stoner went back to the 2009 forks on Sunday that are less rigid and smaller diameter, and that seemed to help a little. One thing that is apparent is that the modern GP bikes are on the razors edge when it comes to setup and that even a miniscule setup tweak can change the bike from competitive to almost completely unrideable in one fell swoop. Whichever is the case it would appear that Ducati have to go back to the drawing board rather than try to fix it at every race track with a band aid approach. It looks almost certain that Stoner has already committed to Honda for 2011 so Ducati could find themselves without a top flight rider to even develop the new bike when/if it comes (unless Rossi does the unthinkable an signs for Ducati of course). Hayden is out of contract this year too and I haven't heard any whispers about his contract being renewed at Ducati yet. | ||
| Trojan |
This makes we wince every time I see it   OUCH! | ||
| Jaimec |
Oh MAN!! Look at his right shin! "OUCH!!" is right! | ||
| Jandj_davis |
If there is one thing Stoner is NO good at, it would be developing a bike. If the bike was any good, do you think it would have humiliated so many top class riders? Casey is an AMAZING rider, but is a sucky developer. So, I don't think Ducati will be in a worse situation when casey is gone. Sure, they may not be as competetive, but it will give them a chance to find a good development rider and come up with a bike that doesn't tuck the front with no warning. | ||
| Trojan |
, I don't think Ducati will be in a worse situation when casey is gone. Their problem won't be getting a rider to develop the bike, but getting a rider who is fast enough NOW to develop the bike straight away. Otherwise they could be looking at a 3-5 year development cycle with a new rider and bike They really need to recruit one of the 'aliens' to be in with a shot at next years title and I don't think any of them are brave (or foolhardy) enough to risk signing for Ducati regardless of the amount of cash that Marlboro bring to the table. Their only salvation could be if Rossi decides he wants a new challenge, and I think that is very unlikely following his accident (the last thing he wants to be doing now is throwing himself up the road trying to get a new bike competitive). It is interesting to note that some of the first people to visit Rossi in hospital were the senior management from Ferrari, and four wheels may be starting to look a lot more attractive to Rossi at the moment  | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt: No one ever got trapped inside a burning motorcycle... | ||
| Trojan |
Matt: No one ever got trapped inside a burning motorcycle... Yeah but lets face it, F1 (and most other single seat racing) is much safer these days so you hardly see any injuries at all. Racing MotoGP bikes at the ragged edge now is almost guaranteed to get you at least one crash every weekend and every one could be the last. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
"If there is one thing Stoner is NO good at, it would be developing a bike" Says who ???? I think the people in the "know-how" , think otherwise. Ducati are so stupid that they keep the 90degrees engine that makes the bike too long , and they sucrifise the chassis to make the geometry realistic. Their road bikes are well recognised for their chassis , and they choose to run a bike with no chassis in motoGP. They are idiots. Ducati was never 100% competitive at motoGP. They were lucky to get the power advantage exactly after the rules changed in 2007, and they used the desmo to get more power than the rest that used spring valves. Of course the main reason they got the 2007 title was Stoner. Their bike was miserable.......ask Melandri, Capirossi, Barros, Hofman, Hayden that were destroyed by the bike. Stoner was also "destroyed" last year from over-training while trying to make the Ducati hanlde. A race bike with no chassis ??? Ducati is a joke !!! | ||
| Xb1125r |
Stoner is a great rider, but Pedrosa has to be the big surprise. He seems like his old self. But My boy Lorenzo did great, stayed focus and did ot screw up. if he keeps it up it will be the Spaniard taking the tiltle this year. Cardenas is doing great in AMA. Spanish riders are taking no prisoners,lol | ||
| Fresnobuell |
Cardenas is doing great in AMA. Spanish riders are taking no prisoners,lol Cardenas is Colombian. (Message edited by fresnobuell on June 08, 2010) | ||
| Firstbuell |
Spanish-speaking riders are taking no prisoners.... fixed | ||
| Trojan |
A race bike with no chassis ??? Ducati is a joke !!! Absolutely, what was John Britten thinking of when he designed a race bike with no chassis! That will never work.......oh hang on..it did work  There is no reason to believe that the chassis is the problem that has hampered Ducati over the years (lets face it they are on at least their 5th different chassis since they started so it would be hard to lay the blame there). It seems that Stoner can't stop moaning about other riders though This time it is Randy De Puniet who gets Stoners tongue lashing after having the temerity to race against the moaner for th whole of the Italian GP. It also appears that Ducati are set to re-sign Hayden for 2011, although Nicky may not think that is his best option just now given the problems at the factory team | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Is this picture of Rossi genuine or a photoshop work ?? | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Legit pic I'm afraid, which is why he needed surgery to fix it. | ||
| Jaimec |
To be read with a saltshaker nearby: http://www.asphaltandrubber.com/rumors/casey-stone r-hrc-honda-rumor/ | ||
| Crusty |
Isn't Silly Season starting a bit early this year? | ||
| Svh |
Very early. Talk started 2+ weeks ago already. Crazy. | ||
| Trojan |
This is old news. Stoner reportedly signed a 'letter of intent' for Honda some 4 weeks ago but that has of course been strenously denied by all parties! Ducati need to sign one of the 'Aliens' to remain competitive in 2011 and so far he only one who seems to be available or willing to move from his current position is Pedrosa. Much as Ducati would love to have Rossi or Lorenzo for 2011 I can't see what they could offer to tempt either rider away from what is undeniably the best bike/team package in MotoGP at the moment (unless Rossi just wants to do it for the challenge of course). Wouldn't that put the cat amongst the pigeons for 2011....Pedrosa and Hayden team mates again Of course there are other riders out of contract at the end of 2010 that could take the Ducati ride, so Pedrosa isn't a sure thing (yet). Toni Elias has shown that it may have been premature to dump him from the top class and could be back next year with a chance to ride for a top team (and wouldn't be subject to the 'rookie rule' either) and there will be other graduates from Moto2 looking for rides too. | ||
| Jaimec |
Doesn't sound like he's considering a four-wheeled future just yet: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Jun/100610-46- 2.htm | ||
| Trojan |
Sounds very positive Although he has long hours of boredom to mull over all his choices for the next couple of months at least, so could have a change of heart if the right offers drop onto his door mat (and I'm sure there will be plenty of offers!). | ||
| Jaimec |
Now THIS is interesting! Apparently the GP bikes USED to have infrared sensors monitoring tire temperatures, but they were BANNED this year! http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motogp-burg ess-rossi-can-win-title-in-2011//P3/ Think someone at Dorna may be reconsidering that decision?? | ||
| Vagelis46 |
I think that if banning electronics lead to broken bones and "cripled up" motoGP riders...........Bring them back!!! | ||
| Jaimec |
This weekend should be interesting. None of the current MotoGP grid has experience racing a motorcycle on the new Silverstone layout (though Colin Edwards has raced on the old layout). This should PROBABLY give us the best look at Ben Spies' potential, as he is now on even footing with the series regulars. | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt, Any chance King James might get a call back? | ||
| Davegess |
This should PROBABLY give us the best look at Ben Spies' potential, as he is now on even footing with the series regulars. I was thinking the same thing. Actually I was thinking that his ability to learn tracks quickly might give him an edge over all but the very best guys out there. | ||
| Trojan |
Any chance King James might get a call back? The rumours have been rife as you'd expect. The latest is that Cal Crutchlow was offered the gig (and would have been the best choice in my opinion) but has decided to turn it down to concentrate on WSB. James Toseland is now allegedly at the front of the queue for the ride at tech 3 and Colin Edwards will move to the Fiat team for the duration of Vale's absence. It will certainly be interesting to see who gets to learn the circuit quickest this weekend, although I suspect that same top 4 will emerge as usual (they are not the top 4 for nothing). Although none of the teams have setup data for the new track it is the top teams that will adapt and get the setup sprted fastest as they have the best technicians and the best development/setup riders. The only top team that may struggle this weekend could be Ducati, who are all at sea at circuits they already know let alone new tracks. maybe they will stumble across a decent setup by accident though Spies and the other rookies need a decent result as their early season form hasn't matched expectations from certain quarters so far, so Silverstone should present their best chance yet. | ||
| Jaimec |
Don't you mean "top THREE?" | ||
| Trojan |
Don't you mean "top THREE?" I promoted Dovi to the top 4 temporarily in Rossis absence |
