Ducati Monster Forum

(http://resources.motogp.com/files/images/xx/2008/MotoGP/Post/non/236027_._original.jpg)

sweet  [evil]

mitt

WORD [thumbsup]

THAT IS AWESOME!!!

this is a nice shot too...

(http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/69duc0ct08.jpg)

Cool!

Wonder how long it's going to take him to get used to it? Not only is it a new bike...with a seemingly far different personality, but it's also his first time on Bridgestones.

Warms the heart... [beer] [beer]

awh.....

a match made in heaven  [evil]

I wish he'd light that match.... ;D

MotoGP Test: Valencia
Times as of 2pm Monday

1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1´32.464
2. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 1´32.672
3. Loris Capirossi, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP - 1´33.325
4. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1´33.375
5. Chris Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki MotoGP - 1´33.565
6. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1´33.722
7. John Hopkins, Kawasaki Racing Team - 1´33.760
8. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1´33.832
9. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1´34.128
10. Marco Melandri, Kawasaki Racing Team - 1´34.152
11. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1´34.340
12. Sete Gibernau, Onde 2000 Ducati - 1´34.451
13. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1´34.628
14. Olivier Jaque, Kawasaki Racing Team - 1´35.013
15. Niccolo Canepa, Alice Team - 1´35.459
16. Mika Kallio, Alice Team - 1´35.727
17. Yuki Takahashi, JiR Team Scot Honda - 1´36.895

but then he may crash and burn.   :(

He's still the fastest of those who have switched rides. And 2 secs off the pace isn't horrible. Let's see how he goes later.

and at that current rate, he's also faster than Melandri in race condition yesterday...

Wasn't everyone faster than Melandri in the race? He was back there having tea with Kurtis...and Kurtis wasn't even on the grid ;D

Thought...did Stoner ever lap Melandri this season? That was the nightmare scenario Ducati was hoping to avoid.

I was just applying a little levity... ;)

Lighten up folks.

I have every hope that Nicky will do well with Ducati.

so do I.

I was just playing off your words. 

match...light...crash...burn(fire)... :P

I thought it was witty. 

Stoner is just over a tenth quicker that his fastest in Sundays race, Hayden is just under a second slower than his fastest in the race, not bad at all, he's just getting used to the Bridgestones

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/507445.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/507428.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/507378.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/507336.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/507334.jpg)

Drool, Drool!   [evil]

OMG! U JUST MADE MY DAY!!!!

HOLY SHIT BALLS!

CAN WE SAY SUPER UBER HAWTNESS...

where is my spanky icon when i need it [evil] [evil] [evil]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081027b.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081027b.htm)

Good little story!

 [clap] i've been waiting for this day for a long time  [thumbsup]

This season, did *any* of the Ducati riders get within 1.6 seconds of Stoner in dry conditions?

AWESOME!!!

Everything on Soup today was awesome.. the Caption underneath the picture, made me happy, good to see them working at making him feel at home :)

of you don't have motogp.com you gotta check it out!

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Elated+Hayden+says+first+Ducati+test+exactly+as+expected (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Elated+Hayden+says+first+Ducati+test+exactly+as+expected)

`When I got in the first time I told my brother (Tommy) that I´m not sure what they pay Casey, but it´s not enough! They need to double it because the bike is a bit of an animal!´ continued the `Kentucky Kid´.

Not that anyone would know, well maybe Derby, when will they roll out the new CF framed bike or are they using it now?

Nicky rode it today...in the afternoon.

The GP09 that Nicky tested (the one with the USA livery) has the CF frame [thumbsup]

How cool is it that his first day with the team and they have a bike for him with a custom livery to celebrate his arrival? I hope Nicky is a lot more comfortable and has more success with Ducati than back with the gimps at Honda.

you can see in those pics the bike no longer has the steel tube frame in the bike. also you know who has to be loving this

Alpinestars has got to love this they will have both hayden and stoner in their gear on identical bikes, and will be able to outfit them with identical gear of their top of the line stuff.

looks like he's starting to get along with the 'stones....

(http://resources.motogp.com/files/images/xx/2008/MotoGP/Post/non/236038_Hayden+on+track+at+Valencia+for+his+first+Ducati+test-1280x960-oct27.jpg.preview_big.jpg)

Good luck to Nicky, I really hope he does better than Melandri. I was bummed that he didn't go better on the bike.

Hayden:



Interesting comments for sure.

They already had that at Honda.  Pedrosa also wears A*s.

His new hat still does not fit >:(

Can't wait to see what he can do with a little more time under his belt. [thumbsup]

My point was for comparative purpose. That Stoner on the new model was faster than he was on the 08 (he set a new lap record in the race). Hayden on a new bike (and tires) was slower than he was on the Honda but that is to be expected, he is not that far off, this boy is going to fly next season.

Ducati is going to take real good care of him.

I wonder if anyone has ever approached him about that.  Maybe we should say something on his fan-site.

+1 -  >:(

But, it is very cool to see a stars and stripes bike for him - must have made him feel good after a rough day of good byes at H*nda.

mitt

Good to see, he likes his new home [thumbsup]

and Stoner thinks,`The GP9 is much smoother´  [laugh]

Pedrosa is sponsored by the Kids division of A* though, so it doesn't count. [cheeky]

ok, not quite nicky's bike.  but worth lookin' at..

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/507673.jpg)

they must have an led in there... ;D

Who took that photo? That is still cool.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Tuesday+Valencia+action+restricted+by+rain (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Tuesday+Valencia+action+restricted+by+rain)

The rain which has pursued the MotoGP World Championship throughout 2008 was present again in Valencia during the early part of Tuesday´s scheduled test, dissuading any of the riders present from going out on track until the late afternoon.

Having tested yesterday and having seen the conditions on Tuesday morning the likes of leading premier class stars Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) and Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) decided against riding in the rain, whilst there was no sign whatsoever of title-winner Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) at the circuit.

Shortly after 3pm hardy souls Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro), Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda), Marco Melandri (Kawasaki) and Toni Elias (San Carlo Honda Gresini) undertook the first tentative laps of the day, using the new Bridgestone rain tyres.

A further full update will follow on motogp.com after 5pm.

Valencia Test Final Day: Hayden Fastest (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081028a.htm) 

(no pedro, vale, or stoner)

Times Tuesday 28th
1. Hayden (Ducati) 1'48.287 (20 Laps)
2. Dovizioso (Honda) 1'48.296 (18)
3. Melandri (Kawasaki) 1'48.786 (26)
4. Canepa (Ducati) 1'49.917 (25)
5. Kallio (Ducati) 1'50.275 (26)
6. Elias (Honda) 1'54.057 (16)
7. Capirossi (Suzuki) 1'57.322 (7)

 [clap]

looks like nicky's going to be just FiNe on the ducati

i'm not sure,if hayden is already sayign that bike is a handful and a beast, he could be in the same "malandri situation" of qualifying 18th at every race once the season gets on. 

well...not sure how you came to that...it looks like to me he is 5 seconds behind what he was doing in the wet on the Michelin shod Honda....nothing about this testing told me anything about how well he'll do on the Ducati next season except he didn't crash it and he was faster than Melandri was on it...to me that just says that maybe he'll be alot closer in helping the team in Team Constructors points since he'll finish up higher in the points end of things than his predecessor!...he has to still fully adapt to the bike and to the 'Stone's as well as his crew.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71804 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71804)

New Ducati signing Nicky Hayden says he is still settling into the style of his GP9 after setting the fastest time in the wet second day of testing at Valencia.

The American, one of just seven riders to take part in the shortened second day, says he has a lot of hard to work to do before he is ready to match teammate Casey Stoner's pace in dry conditions.

"We haven't really played around with the setting too much because at the moment the most important thing is to try and adapt to the bike, the tyres, the team and their way of working and communicating," he said after yesterday's test. "I have to be careful not to speak too fast or use too much slang!

"Joking aside, I know I have a lot of hard work to do but I'm ready for it and so is the team.

"I haven't asked for too many changes because Casey has already shown what this bike can do and now it's up to me to do the same."

Hayden added that he was disappointed not to have had more dry running on the Italian machine, but said that testing in the wet was still useful.

"I would have preferred to have another dry day today because we still had a lot of things to try with the bike but at least I got chance to get a first feel for it in the wet," he said. "We've seen with the way the rain has followed us around this season how important it is to have experience in these conditions.

"After my first run I said to myself, "wow, you're so slow!" But then we made some small changes and I felt better."



http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71810 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/71810)

Ducati's technical director Filippo Preziosi believes the team has made 'the right choice' by signing Nicky Hayden after the American completed a successful first test for the team at Valencia this week.

Hayden, who was fastest of all on the wet second day of the shortened test at the Spanish track, impressed the team with his bravery and his swift integration with the engineers.

"He certainly is very brave," Preziosi told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport. "With the telemetry you can see that in certain situations the bike wobbles in a scary way, even more than with [Casey] Stoner, but he doesn't get off the gas.

"I think we've made a good choice."

Speaking of Hayden's relationship with Stoner, Preziosi added: "It looks like from the first moment there's been great accord between the two of them, also helped by the fact that they speak the same language.

"I don't know whether it'll be the best rider pairing we've ever had, but for sure it will be very harmonious."

Preziosi also indicated that Ducati were happy with the first run of an evolution engine used in the carbon-fibre GP9.

"We were a bit afraid," he said. "Here we had an evolution - never gone on track, not even with test rider [Vittoriano] Guareschi - of what Casey tried in Barcelona.

"Even on the installation lap he did to prepare the bike for the riders, Vittoriano told us it was a good step forward. Most of all in smoothness and progression.

"Casey liked it very much too. The power is still the same, because that's practically imposed by the limitation on the amount of fuel. We've worked on the usual things: fluid dynamics and reduction of frictions. We'll see if it's enough."

If we take Hayden's gap behind Stoner, in the dry testing at Valencia, it's 1.496 sec.

Apply that to qualifying for the Valencia race, and he would have ended up 12th.

Not bad at all for the first day on a new bike.

...and tires he's never ridden on before.

this is obvious, but not only are they tires he's never been on before.. he's been working hard at developing and understanding other tires for at least 9 years.

doesn't suck.

Everybody at the Valencia test was on the new 'control' Bridgestones, so I made a fairly gross assumption that the change leveled the field a bit.
Though it was likely not as big a jump for those who were on Bridgestones before.

What were Stoner's race lap times?

1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'32.582 5 30

best lap

another one, just cuz.

looks like the 990cc Honda: he actually fits on this bike.

(http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2008/mgp/valenciatest/1/8.jpg)

it was actually quite a big jump for anyone not previously using the "Rossi/Stoner front".. i.e., all but Rossi and Stoner.

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/171108-0/hopkins_its_the_rossistoner_front.html (http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/171108-0/hopkins_its_the_rossistoner_front.html)

mole has been quoted saying the new tire works well on the suzi.

folks like elias are potentially up the creek for a little while; he previously was using a 'stone that was made especially for him.  no one else used it.  but... he's moving back to a bike he knows well and got on with far better than the duc.

also interestingly, "Bridgestone has also reduced the maximum level of grip of the tyres in a concerted effort to assist the sport's governing body in its drive for improved safety, through reduced cornering speeds. That didn't stop most riders lapping faster in the test than they had in the race though, partly due to improved track conditions."

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/171121-0/bridgestone__good_start_to_single_tyre_era.html (http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/171121-0/bridgestone__good_start_to_single_tyre_era.html)

Well. I am all for Nicky doing well next season. But, I sure hope they change the paint job & his leathers.  looks like a Storm tropper from Stars Wars.

i guarantee you that's not going to be the standard marlboro livery for next year. i full suspect the bikes and leathers to look like they did last year... and the year before that... and the year before that... and the year before that... all the way back to 2003, when they (re-)entered the class.

woohoo!  I can't wait to get that reduced grip trickled down ... oh wait ...  [bang]

Typically, the post season test machines are not liveried, much carbon fibre is on display.

I was pondering that, I suspect there's an issue with Hayden still technically being under contract to Honda/Repsol, who wouldn't be too happy seeing him in the press with M*rlboro/Alice livery. I'll bet come Jan 1 we'll see Ducati's sponsors signage on Nicky's bike.

big

;D

Is Jan 1st the day?

I am ready for some Ducati/Hayden gear [thumbsup]

"It looks like from the first moment there's been great accord between the two of them, also helped by the fact that they speak the same language."

I don't know if I would go that far...   [laugh]

mitt

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

AWW...C'MON....they both speak sheep!...Casey Herds them down under and well...Kentuckians do other things with em....LOL...J/K

 [laugh] [clap] [laugh] [clap]

LMAO!!!!

 [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

Maybe Nicky needs some company (http://www.muttonbone.com/) on those long RV rides.

I can't believe they made that GP9 Red White and Blue.
New contract and all aside, they didn't have to go Red White and Blue! A little goofy, but cool at the same time.
Ducati seems to going be all out to make him feel welcome. That's so awesome.  [thumbsup]

omg I can't wait to see this develop.  [wine] To Bubba.

imagine the marketing buzz ducati gets in the USA by having nick on that bike.  the testing livery is certainly to support him but it's also just good business.

BINGO!.....looks what its already doing here 8)

Not to mention the U.S. is Ducati's biggest market.  Nick will have a home for a long time with Ducati b/c of the sales figures he will garner here, and the direction Ducati is taking with its new bikes/branding.  I hate to say it, but it is very Harleyesque.   Hopefully, Hayden's sense of style will mature and carry over to his wardrobe

I dont think thats going to be the case here.. certainly not harleyesque. Buyers of Ducatis will continue to be a niche group and pretty brand loyal IMO. Having Nicky on the GP9 isnt ganna be like a NASCAR racer driving around in the newest American made POS sedan in a commercial  - Thus causing NASCAR fans to go out and buy said vehicle.Motogp doesnt get that kind of exposure, not to mention The majority of motorcycle advertising/exposure to the general public seems to be MotoX and the stuntbike thingy.  At least that what im thinking at the moment ( then again im an idiot)

And whats with people baggin on Haydens fashion sense (or lack of it) ?

At least he's not sporting gold "TEEF" and a big-ass clock around his neck [laugh]

No, your thinking is fairly on point. I think another limiting factor here is Ducati's production capacity...currently around 40k bikes per year.

Funny you should mention that. My supervisor at work drives a red Chevy Avalanche, the hood and tailgate of which are both blue with white stars. I figured he'd get a kick out of the testing livery, so I emailed him the pic.

His response, verbatim, was "Thats awesome! To bad its not a Harley Davidson or a Buell."

...aaaaaand don't think they're not going to get the boy a little more "on brand."
Not saying I think they're probably going to pick out his undies for him, but he's going to be hanging out with a Italian garage/team - I can't imagine they wont throw a few tid-bits at him around how to interface with the public wearing Duc colors. - He'll have to grab it all and make it his if/when he starts kicking ass and sticks with.

Hope so.

 [roll] I just thought of what Lance Armstrong did for bicycling winning the Tour so many times.
He met the president.
It became a much more widely accepted sport after a couple of years and races made it to US TV.  
People don't throw beer bottles out of cars at me as much.
It wouldn't be at all bad if we had an 'merican making our sport a little more "ok" in the public eye. We catch so much hell from stereotypes + dumb-asses riding POS bikes. Positive publicity would be a blessing for moto'cycling.

Maybe I'm asking too much? We'll see what happens.

It's not like he hasn't been racing in GP for the last 5 years (not to mention Hopper and Edwards and plenty more before them).  He's only going to a new team and an Italian one at that.  I don't see how that would have any impact on American attitudes towards motorcyclists.

And won the world championship

all things being relative, it does have an impact.  you can't draw NASCAR parallels.. i don't think that nick is about to start showing up in McDonald's commercials.  but the USA is ducati's biggest (? -- if not, damn near) market and since the introduction of the 1098/848 you only see more and more of them on the street.  yes, the whole sport is still niche.  but taking that into account it still quite a coup to have the good looking, charismatic, recent world champion american on their bike.  esp if, apparently/hopefully, he can ride the thing when so far only 1-in-7 can.

Yup Mr Hayden is now a member of this thing of ours.

Ya and that. The point I was trying to make was hoping he would start winning again now that he's on Ducati, not that he's new to the sport.
Fingers crossed.  ;D

You been hitting some of Nicky's cornbread again?   [cheeky]

For whatever reason that just made me crack up lol.  [thumbsup]

...yeah, i should have put that sentence in quotes.  or italics.  or both.   =)