Ducati Monster Forum

Incouraging news!

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/January/jan3112-sepang-lorenzo-leads-first-session/?id=134735 (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/January/jan3112-sepang-lorenzo-leads-first-session/?id=134735)

Lorenzo dominates. The Yammies look to be serious. No idea why Casey only ran 4 laps.

hmmm... i'm kind of scared to get my hopes up...

This is why I said encouraging. Honda has admitted that the same bike they tested at Valencia is being tested at Sepang. If that is the case, then it's all up to the rider to adjust, which is what Casey does best. Lorenzo also seems to have adjusted extremely well to the new bike. For it being the first day out on the new bike I can only hope for steady improvement.

supposedly


Casey Stoner


"I was stretching this morning for a good twenty minutes preparing to go out on track for the first time and then all of a sudden my back just locked up on me, I couldn't move or do anything. I had to call someone to come and help me move into a position that was less painful! Then I had some physio on it straight away trying to get it better for this afternoon but it's wasn't feeling good.

I had some more physio after lunch but it still wasn't easing up, I felt I could have gone out on the bike in the afternoon but we all agreed it would probably make it worse for tomorrow. We have two more days testing here in Sepang, we know the track well and we are getting to know the bike, we just need some time to test the new parts we have here to give feedback to HRC.

I think tomorrow the track conditions will be better and as long as my back improves overnight we should get back on schedule with our testing programme tomorrow".

From the article I understood that the track was a little wet. Maybe Casey back cramps up every time he feels rain  ;D

Anyway, he can probably afford to sit out a test session. I would not worry about him making good times in the near future.

Wish I had someone sitting around all day just waiting to massage and rehab my back every time it acts up! ;D Rough life. ;)

He'll come back with a vengeance and break the track record 5-6 times. [roll] [Dolph]

Official press release from Ducati, with Rossi & Hayden quotes:

http://ducati.com/racing/motogp/news/the_ducati_team_starts_work_on_the_gp12_at_day_1_of_sepang_test/2012/01/31/810/index.do (http://ducati.com/racing/motogp/news/the_ducati_team_starts_work_on_the_gp12_at_day_1_of_sepang_test/2012/01/31/810/index.do)

It may be me imagining things, but Hayden just doesn't look that comfortable on the bike in the gallery photos, which is understandable.

Still, all in all, a rather positive story. [thumbsup] [Dolph]

Definitely very encouraging news.  I am keeping my fingers crossed for steady improvements leading up to the start of the 2012 season. 

I believe he is still feeling the effects of his scapula-ectomy.  [Dolph]

Here comes Casey  :o

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/February/feb0112-sepang-test-stoner-leads-day-two/ (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/February/feb0112-sepang-test-stoner-leads-day-two/)

And the Ben!  [clap]

I would prefer to see average times, but that might be too much to ask.

Nice seeing Spies up there! [thumbsup]

Damn, Edward's a full 5 seconds off? :P

Edwards was less than yesterday...


and yes, Spies up there for sure...wait till he is sliding that bike around with spent tires and managing it all in the final laps...

Oh...yay...another season of one rider dominating while everyone else battles for 2nd on back. Should make for some entertaining races.  [roll] [thumbsdown]

Hey... WSBK 2-26-12 Phillip Island!! [thumbsup] [popcorn]

Just sayin'

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120201d.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120201d.htm)

The CRT gang will be used to slow down Stoner when he's trying to lap them by the 10th lap. It will then allow the other factory teams to catch up in the middle of the race when it's boring. Once Casey passes all the CRTs, then he will win by only 2 seconds.

It will be just like Le Mans. The factory teams will be like LMP1, satellite teams like LMP2, and CRT teams like GT2. And just like Le Mans, I will have no idea who is on the lead lap.

in due time the (non-kawasaki) CRT bikes will be within 2 seconds of the satellite bikes.  this is just electronics, tires, and general teething.

go ben   ;D

If it was The Ben dominating would you make this statement?
Every couple of years there is a rider who dominates, its just the way it goes.

Oh yeah, if The Ben won every race that would be great! [thumbsup] [Dolph] [popcorn]....  [laugh]

sponsors, numbers, touch of blue, check.  is this still Testing Livery?  ok, yes it is.  no media event yet and the tail section is empty.  but how about they just keep the bike black for once?

(http://photos.motogp.com/2012/02/01/spies_1_slideshow_169.jpg)

Too bad they can't get the chassis setup close on the Duc.

(http://photos.motogp.com/2012/02/01/rossi01_slideshow_169.jpg)

^ dayumn.

That's some Stoner-caliber sliding.

Also: holy make the beast with two backs.  :o

Unfortunately...

this isn't a mile oval track we're running today. [evil]

That's a pretty good drift for a 1000cc/800cc spin off electronics package nightmare bike. Very Stoner-ish. [Dolph] Maybe Vale was losing the front end due to plastic tank swelling? [popcorn] ;) Or maybe the aftermarket aluminum frame actually is working? Old school is better than the recent school.

Halfway through day three and it looks like a repeat of last year.  Stoner pulling a nice gap on second place, and Rossi getting closer and closer to 1.5 seconds.

Hopefully the second half of the day will see the other riders catch up, or this is shaping up to be a boring ass season once again.

Dont worry, I reckon the big bikes will suit Ben, maybe more than George.
Ben and George will push Casey this year.
Note how it's Stoner and the two Yamahas, not three Hondas.
Barbera did well, first Duke ahead of Rossi.

Typical Barbera though.  He was doing all his laps 1-2 seconds off that pace, then pulled it out of his ass.  Rossi was more consistantly near his fast time.

Barbera is the master of latching on to someone and pulling a hot lap from nowhere.

the other typical Barbera trait is that he has the "bin it or win it" kind of riding style and pushes that knife edge a little more recklessly than Rossi or Hayden...almost like he is channeling Stoner of '09 in a way...

Final day lap times.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/020202a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/020202a.htm)

The duc really might be promising this year... in 3 days of testing they managed to drop 2 seconds off.  And the times are comparable to the yam's.  Close enough that Rossi's racecraft might be able to make up the diff.

Stoner is just that 500lb gorilla on the block though...

Vale 1.2 off Casey's pace, but Lorenzo is about half a second from Stoner. That's ridiculous and we can't say it's the Honda. Casey is riding the shit out of that bike. The times for the last 3 CRT bikes are laughable.

As a matter of fact, I wouldn't be happy with that either being I am not a "The Ben" fan.  [laugh]

Point is, boring racing is boring. At Indy, the XR1200 races were the best part about the whole weekend race-wise. I am beginning to want to stop having tickets given to me at this rate.  ;D

Why am I not a NASCRAP fan? Because the racing is boring.
Why haven't I watched Indy in years? Boring racing.
Why have I gotten bored with F1? Well at least F1 is making an effort. The fastest cars get "hamstrung".

I would much rather see a rider's skill winning the race rather than simply being on the fastest bike out there.
I absolutely HATE Stoner. But he can ride the wheels off any bike they put him on.
I feel the same way about Crashy McDoucheSmurf but when the kid is on, he is on.

I don't want riders crashing at every corner. That isn't exciting racing. But I do want the race to be a battle from start to finish. I mean sure...titles are great and all but how much fun is it for a guy to be out in front by 20 seconds? How about the fans?

the Kawi was a BAaaaaaaaaaaaad choice for a motor...

I believe they are agreeing with you right now. 10 seconds behind?! I have not seen a rider getting lapped, unless they crashed, in years. I believe this will change this year.

Yeah, how many times do you ever see a rider get lapped in WSBK? My memory says never. Crashed out rider? OK sure but not an out and out lapped bike by the leader. Not even in Super Sport. Could be the case this year in MotoGP.

I don't think it will help the Kawis, but once the rest of them are sorted out does anyone think the extra fuel allotment for the CRT bikes will make them enough faster over the whole length of the race to keep ahead of Casey?

(http://a6.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc7/s720x720/418598_321793427859763_119869244718850_890703_244027342_n.jpg)

Who would you suggest has the skill that isn't at the front and is being held back by the bike. And who would make the decision if its the riders skill or the bikes technology

on the 1st...Dovi...Val...

ultimately...that 2nd part decision will be made by Dorna...

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/ducati+2012+sepang+test+day+3 (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/ducati+2012+sepang+test+day+3)

Doesn't WSBK start soon? [popcorn] [laugh]

QFT

I don't know exactly why The Don has choosen to single me out in this thread and ignore the other comments, but fact is, MotoGP has not been fun to watch for a few years now.

I would actually agree that it has been boring for the past 3 years. It's bad when you hope it rains to get closer racing. 2007 was the last time I would say I really enjoyed a season.

QFT???....

I agree about the processional events ( because can you really call them races?) being not very fun to watch...

QFT...quoted for truth

http://motomatters.com/analysis/2012/02/02/2012_sepang_1_motogp_test_day_3_round_up.html (http://motomatters.com/analysis/2012/02/02/2012_sepang_1_motogp_test_day_3_round_up.html)

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/176449/1/ducati_turns_the_corner_with_new_gp12.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/176449/1/ducati_turns_the_corner_with_new_gp12.html)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120203a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120203a.htm)

Leave it to Mladin to be a douche when speaking about any rider. Anyway, it doesn't seem to be bothering Stoner at all. Pedrosa's times seem to be showing the opposite. In the photo caption they mentioned that on a 990 he did well, but that was a few years ago now. Not sure if he'll be able to acclimate in time before the season starts.

 ;D

pedrosa also said it's the toughest bike he's ever ridden and that he's physically sore from manhandling it.

Could Stoner's back problem be caused by not being used to the bike? Didn't he set his fastest times at the beginning of the session? If that's the case it would be interesting to see if towards the end of the session Lorenzo was fastest.

Stoner also had an issue with his back last year.
You guys are just hopin' real hard ;D!

as a back pain sufferer....I don't wish or hope that upon anyone....

Stoner's back locked up on the first day, while he was stretching out, before he even had ridden.

Probably the common condition "Shagger's Back", he's livin' the dream. ;)

He said when his back acted up he was just stretching getting ready to ride. Probably something he does every time before he gets on a bike. He hadn't even thrown a leg over the saddle yet so the bike had nothing to do with it. He was just experiencing a crampy, bad back momment. I have those 3-4 times a day. :P [bang] [roll]

Damn sure didn't seem to bother him on day 2 and 3 of the test! [thumbsup] [Dolph]

If there's merit in this "more physically demanding" observation, then strength and stamina will definitely play an increasingly important role as the season progresses....watch for the bigger guys (e.g., VR) to have an advantage.

I agree...

but only if the bike is close.

Yep.  Possibly more of an advantage to The Ben at the moment... 

http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120207b.htm (http://superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120207b.htm)

reading between the lines, I am betting Jorge is worried about how knackered he'll be after a whole race on a 1000cc beast....

I think he might be worried more about beaning it at over 200mph.

Yawn.  Just more of the same.  Honda on top, Yami chasing, Ducati consistently behind.

Maybe the Yami won't get killed quite as much on the straights this year, but I don't imagine things looking much different other than more Yamis being interspersed between the Hondas (in part b/c there are fewer factory Hondas). 

I'll be REALLY happy to be proved wrong. 

Or maybe he's worried of a return to his high-siding days of old.

Watched the last race of the 2011 season again last night. SPEED TV, as you all know, shows a lot of last season's races during the off season. Was hoping The Ben would win that one after passing Stoner and all the other Hondas and leading into the last turn on the last lap. But as we all know Stoner was just playing cat and mouse and powered out of the last turn to nip The Ben at the line. He got a hell of a drive and it showed the Honda's power.

What self-respecting racer says their bike is TOO FAST???  He kray-zeee.  

Like some of the articles have said, George went from 250s to 800s and has never ridden the big block bikes. Vale seems to like the difference in the way the 1000cc motors deliver power, as well as The Ben. Stoner damn sure isn't complaining either! It will be a very interesting year for sure. More of the same as well as something different. And something different is what DORNA wants... factory entries or not. [popcorn] ;) 2013 will be the real test with everyone using the same ECU.

But then it's not much of a prototype bike anymore, is it?

sure it is...

Don't they all pretty much use the same electronics anyway?  I don't see how a spec ecu will change much.

[laugh] [laugh]

Oh, you weren't kidding.

iirc, the spec ECUs used in formula 1 are designed in such a way that the organization can police the ban on traction control but still allow the teams to write custom software for the respective platforms.

Ah.  Well, if that's the case, then I can see the bikes still being "prototype".  But if there's any limitations on the engine control code that is written for each bike?  Not so much...

I think the only engine control coding is a limitation/setting of the rev ceiling....

AFAIK, they're presently using GPS-based adaptive TC.
IE, it knows where it is on the track, and it learns what the traction availability is wherever it's at.
Impressive kit, for sure.
Usable tech for the street...not so much.

I suspect that stuff would not be included in the spec ECU.

BUT imagine, like the Nissan GTR, that it recognizes when it is on a specific tracks ;)
Wouldn't be much to include it as an option AND allow new tracks to be flashed during services as they become available.

No thanks. The GTR is set up to recognize it's at the track and then shut off the speed governor.

I don't want no steenking speed governors to begin with...

As for GPS-based adaptive TC... Maybe if they figured out how to share info between bikes in real time it might find some use on the street.

"No, you ride ahead of me. I insist." ;D

of course in no way did i mean a speed governor. Just the ability for it to recognize it's on a track and to use say the WSBK abs/suspensions/throttle control/power map settings for that track.

and the idea that you could do a run with a DDS hooked up with your lap timer. do a lap, save all the settings and then share between bikes is an awesome idea as well.

I thought the speed governor and traction control was what you did with your right hand? I'd be happy to share that info with fellow riders. ;D...   [laugh] [laugh]

if there's a rev limit and a spec ECU, maybe some other limitations on the electronics dev, the bike shouldn't be called a prototype?  seriously?

Rumor is that they'll be using the dashboard display on the bikes to play videos during the races, as the riders won't have anything to do anymore while the computers drive the bikes... ;D

and they eventually will replace the handlebars with Playstation type of controllers....

And then there were three...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120216a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120216a.htm)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120215a.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Feb/120215a.htm)

wouldn't be the first time.  by a long shot.

Lorenzo with mind games?

He has one?

"...It's Stoner and me....but I gotta include Dani, too, cause we're countrymen and DORNA told me I had to...."

 [laugh]

 [laugh]+1

Hey DP, which riders don't you hate? :) Give us a list and include one Australian besides Bayliss and one Spaniard besides Checa [laugh].
One of my kids recently said to me, "you don't like people, do you Dad" ;).

People (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KAPOEHMrL5U#)

I actually do like some people, but...

tell your boy that we're brothers. ;)

I agree, some people.. [laugh]

...and for the record...

Bayliss is OK. ;D

 [laugh] [clap]

looks like my rossi link got lost in the shuffle


[laugh]

Kinda.
 ;D

He's obviously done it before, but...

not this time I'm afraid..

wanna bet?


j/k =)

[laugh]