Ducati Monster Forum

Glad to see he's getting the hang of the mind games.

""The truth is that Honda already had a good bike even before my arrival: it just needed new strength coming from the outside, fresher strength able to make the difference without being frightened by this role."

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97159 (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/97159)

except for the fact that Honda was a major catalyst in getting the 800cc era implemented and it would have been a pock mark and then some to them for to have not gotten a championship in an era they spurred into existance....but I guess that doesn't matter at all...and while he does say they didn't spend alot in development on 2011 on that bike, while that may have some truth, they did alot of that development on the 2010 bike before his arrival for to make that 2011 machine be what it was....

that is the case tho.  they finally had it sorted by about the middle of 2010.  and of course they did a ton of development before that.  to your point, they had been working their asses off (not very successfully) since the bike debuted in 2007 and got left in the dust.  considering their push for the 800s, if they hadn't won at all in that era: hara-kiri time.

They probably gave up trying to make it Pedrobot's bike and just started making it a better bike all round. Everyone who rode it last year did OK on it... Stoner, Dovi, Super Sic, Dani, etc. Well sorted scooter on tires that worked well on it ridden by good (some great!) riders. What's to go wrong with that formula? [Dolph] [popcorn]

hell, look at Dovi the 2nd half of the 2010 season when SmurfyMcDouchnozzle still wasn't putting it on the rostrum

Before they built a bike that only the midget could ride. Since 2010 the focus changed as soon as they understood they could get Stoner. What Stoner did do was show that he is by far a better rider compared to Brittle Bones. When you put a great rider on the most sorted bike on the grid, you get last year's domination.

...or 2007's ;D

What he said. [thumbsup]

Ah... were these comments really necessary? Doesn't this kind of crap feed the "Stoner is a whiny pregnant dog" attitude?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jan/120126f.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Jan/120126f.htm)


I don't remember Vale smack talking about Honda or whiny boy.

I do.

"It made no sense to invest a lot on a bike, the 800cc, on the verge of being retired while in the meantime the new 1000cc was being developed."


he's right... absolutely zero sense (unless you're a japanese company in the final year of a competition class you pushed for and hadn't won a championship in yet).

 ;D

He isn't whining. They asked a question, and he answered it. He's right, the Duc wa a POS in 2009, 2010, and as Rossi found out - 2011. He's also right that it'd be very surprising if Ducati is suddenly fighting for podiums this year.

Meh... maybe I just took it the wrong way. Don't mean to start the "Stoner is a whiner" thing again. [thumbsup]

I'd sure like to see a Duc fighting for a podium. Damn sure hope they are at least ahead of the CRTs. :P I've just got a feeling that even with the displacement bump this year we could be seeing a whole lot more of Stoner winning races. I hope for better competition from the Yamaha and Ducati camp but I just don't see Stoner getting any slower over the off season or the Honda having any Ducati-like sorting problems.

Oh well... hey, when's the first WSBK race? [popcorn] [laugh]

like they did in 2007? the maiden rc212v was a friggin POS.

I think they got it figured out. [Dolph] ;) Again, maybe they decided not to "Pedrobot it".

Pedro wasn't the problem.  It was his injuries.  I think he would have given a hell of a run at a few championships if he didn't break himself into pieces each year.  The guy is just as fast as the others.

At times he is indeed. But Stoner was just on a roll last season. McBrittlebones for sure has had injury issues the last couple of seasons but I don't think Dani could have put on a big threat this last season hurt or not.

Hopefully everyone will stay healthy this season and we can see what everyone has got on the new big block bikes. [Dolph] [popcorn]

[laugh]
Are you serious?!

Yes, I am serious. Vale always speaks the truth. He would never smack talk or say a disparaging word. Just like Colin Edwards never says how it really is. Both of them altar boys for sure. [thumbsup] ;)

Immediately, maybe. But I think the change in rules regarding testing is huge; Casey has shown that he's got the natural talent, feel & guts to go crazy fast on anything with two wheels, even if it's not fully developed for him - put him on a bike as sorted as the 2011 Honda and it's good from the first lap. But Rossi and Burgess have shown that, with enough testing time & a willing, deep-pockets sponsor, they can use brute force to turn most any dog into a greyhound. Might explain why Stoner's was the loudest voice questioning the expansion in testing for 2012...

I doubt Stoner's all that worried. He knows he's fast and on a good bike. He probably didn't directly question the increased testing time, but rather answered a question as to whether he thought it was good/necessary. I'm sure he thinks what they're allowed now is OK.

I hope Ducati can turn it around...we'll see. I'd love to see some good battles for the podium.

Anyone riding a bike that is as sorted as the Honda would not want the competition to have 1 second of additional testing. It would be ridiculous to expect anyone to answer any differently. I'm sure he doesn't want to give Vale/Burgess any sort of chance to make the Duc better.

True...Stoner is also well known for getting comfortable on a bike very quickly though.

Exactly, another reason for him to prefer limited testing. This rule change was meant to be an advantage for he CRT's and Vale. I don't see the Yammie getting much different. The Honda is already a beast.

The masses are right. If you are in Stoner's shoes with a good bike why in the world would you want any team or rider to have more testing time? I'm sure he would like to have more testing but not everyone else. God forbid they might catch up! [laugh] And that's what DORNA wants. ;) They claimed the limit was all about saving everyone $$$ but Honda blew that excuse by being a little too dominant. Ergo, more testing. [Dolph]

Stoner speaks:

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/01/30/casey-stoner-ready-for-test/ (http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2012/01/30/casey-stoner-ready-for-test/)


And his new bike:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/2012rc213v/ (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/2012rc213v/)

This is funny!

Casey's new baby  [thumbsup]

Born on Rossi's birthday  [laugh]

Let the head games begin!

http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/moto-gp/motogp-champion-casey-stoners-wife-adriana-gives-birth-to-the-couples-first-baby-allessandra-stoner/story-fn2ms4i4-1226273586588 (http://www.foxsports.com.au/motor-sports/moto-gp/motogp-champion-casey-stoners-wife-adriana-gives-birth-to-the-couples-first-baby-allessandra-stoner/story-fn2ms4i4-1226273586588)