Ducati Monster Forum

rossi P1 all morning until just before lunch when... marquez took over.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187750/1/marquez_from_rossi_by_halftime_at_sepang.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187750/1/marquez_from_rossi_by_halftime_at_sepang.html)

Marquez's best lap is comfortably under the official Sepang race lap record of 2m 2.108s by Casey Stoner.

after seeing the timing sheets

1- why doesn't Aprilia just jump in. their CRTs are consistently faster than the Ducati Satellite teams last year and the new 2nd factory team.
2- even KA can keep up with the Ducs now with an Aprilia
3- 2 seconds off the pace... really 2...

With no major changes to the bike and no miracle rider showing up on day one, I'd think that getting back to 1+ seconds off the pace is about the only achievable goal that Ducati can have.  Dovi's nightmares begin.

Times at the end of day 1:

Pos   Rider Team Time Diff Prev.
1 26 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 2:01.157     
2 99 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing 2:01.165 0.008 0.008
3 93 Marc Marquez Repsol Honda Team 2:01.201 0.044 0.036
4 46 Valentino Rossi Yamaha Factory Racing 2:01.584 0.427 0.383
5 6 Stefan Bradl LCR Honda MotoGP 2:01.789 0.632 0.205
6 35 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:01.881 0.724 0.092
7 19 Alvaro Bautista Go & Fun Honda Gresini 2:01.981 0.824 0.100
8 T2 Katsayuki Nakasuga Yamaha Factory 2:02.968 1.811 0.987
9 72 Kosuke Akiyoshi HRC Test Team 2:02.972 1.815 0.004
10 69 Nicky Hayden Ducati Team 2:03.336 2.179 0.364
11 T1 Wataru Yoshikawa Yamaha Factory 2:03.456 2.299 0.120
12 38 Bradley Smith Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2:03.460 2.303 0.004
13 4 Andrea Dovizioso Ducati Team 2:03.535 2.378 0.075
14 41 Aleix Espargaro Power Electronics Aspar 2:03.782 2.625 0.247
15 14 Randy de Puniet Power Electronics Aspar 2:04.283 3.126 0.501
16 29 Andrea Iannone Energy T.I. Pramac Racing Team 2:04.500 3.343 0.217
17 11 Ben Spies Ignite Pramac Racing Team 2:05.086 3.929 0.586
18 37 Takumi Takahashi HRC Test Team 2:05.154 3.997 0.068
19 8 Hector Barbera Avintia Blusens 2:05.469 4.312 0.315
20 68 Yonny Hernandez Paul Bird Motorsport 2:05.656 4.499 0.187
21 17 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Motoracing 2:05.694 4.537 0.038
22 9 Danilo Petrucci Came IodaRacing Project 2:05.753 4.596 0.059
23 7 Hiroshi Aoyama Avintia Blusens 2:05.919 4.762 0.166
24 71 Claudio Corti NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2:06.426 5.269 0.507
25 33 Michael Laverty Paul Bird Motorsport 2:06.507 5.350 0.081
26 52 Lukas Pesek Came IodaRacing Project 2:07.015 5.858 0.508
27 67 Bryan Staring Go & Fun Honda Gresini 2:07.044 5.887 0.029
28 5 Colin Edwards NGM Mobile Forward Racing Team 2:08.206 7.049 1.162

Lap records and 2012 Sepang 1 times:

Pole Record 2012 Jorge Lorenzo 2:00.334
Lap Record 2007 Casey Stoner 2:02.108
2012 Sepang 1 Day 1 fastest Jorge Lorenzo 2:01.657
2012 Sepang 1 Overall fastest Casey Stoner 1:59.607

I love Colin but that old whiplash injury better not bother him all season...

less than .04 between P1 and P4..

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130205cypvid1.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130205cypvid1.htm)

Dean captions..   [laugh] [laugh]

this is not a fair representation of that new ducati team, at least not half of it.

the CRT bikes got a new ECU, reportedly is going to make them much more competitive
 
 

btw - all things considered not a bad showing at all for Bradley Smith on day 1.

Yep, pull out the factory test riders and he'd be 9th.

Does Bautista have a factory-spec Honda like Bradl's?

Spies may be packing his bag:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/13020511leaving.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/13020511leaving.htm)

Well...

he just rode the Duc. ;)

Plenty of ability, but no luck.
Injury free, I was hoping he would be big and strong enough, and of a different mindset, to show that bike who's boss. My hope was that, riding style wise, the Ducati might suit him as much as it didn't suit Rossi.
Hope he heals up before they dump him.

I've seen this photo a couple of places today:

(http://hellforleathermagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/marc-marquez.jpg)

I'll be curious to hear his side of it; I get that he may not be fit to ride after shoulder surgery, and don't fault him for that. On the other hand, I wonder why Sepang wasn't the best place for him to be for the next couple of days, as I'm sure his brand new team might be able to work out a few things with him, turning laps or not.

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 2m 0.568s (Lap 6/13)
2. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.978s (7/13)
3. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 1.359s (5/12)
4. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 2m 1.508s (11/12)
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 1.568s (7/14)
6. Alvaro Bautista ESP Honda Gresini (RC213V) 2m 1.739s (4/5)
7. Katsayuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 2.701s (10/12)
8. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 2m 2.726s (16/17)
9. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 2m 2.742s (5/13)
10. Kosuke Akiyoshi JPN Honda Test Rider (RC213V) 2m 2.898s (5/10)
11. Wataru Yoshikawa JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 3.156s (6/10)
12. Aleix Espargaro ESP Aspar (ART CRT) 2m 3.355s (10/11)
13. Bradley Smith GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 3.517s (11/14)
14. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (GP13) 2m 3.732s (10/14)
15. Ben Spies USA Pramac Racing (GP13) 2m 3.908s (5/14)
16. Randy De Puniet FRA Aspar (ART CRT) 2m 4.593s (3/13)
17. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB (ART CRT) 2m 5.028s (12/14)
18. Takumi Takahashi JPN Honda Test Rider (RC213V) 2m 5.082s (10/12)
19. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 5.441s (7/8)
20. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 5.749s (4/6)
21. Danilo Petrucci ITA IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 5.917s (6/7)
22. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 6.949s (3/3)
23. Bryan Staring AUS Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT)* 2m 7.112s (6/11)
24. Yonny Hernandez COL Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 8.792s (2/4)
* Control ECU

2pm:

1.    Dani   Pedrosa ESP   Repsol Honda (RC213V)    2m   0.549s    (Lap 29/31)
2.    Jorge   Lorenzo ESP   Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1)    2m   0.568s    (6/37)
3.    Marc   Marquez ESP   Repsol Honda (RC213V)    2m   0.803s    (20/27)
4.    Valentino   Rossi ITA   Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1)    2m   1.038s    (20/35)
5.    Cal   Crutchlow GBR   Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)    2m   1.311s    (31/38)
6.    Stefan   Bradl GER   LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V)    2m   1.369s    (5/18)
7.    Alvaro   Bautista ESP   Honda Gresini (RC213V)    2m   1.729s    (18/30)
8.    Bradley   Smith GBR   Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1)    2m   1.931s    (32/33)
9.    Nicky   Hayden USA   Ducati Team (GP13)    2m   2.110s    (30/37)
10.    Andrea   Dovizioso ITA   Ducati Team (GP13)    2m   2.379s    (33/34)
11.    Kosuke   Akiyoshi JPN   Honda Test Rider (RC213V)    2m   2.526s    (16/16)
12.    Katsayuki   Nakasuga JPN   Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)    2m   2.701s    (10/24)
13.    Ben   Spies USA   Pramac Racing (GP13)    2m   3.002s    (22/27)
14.    Wataru   Yoshikawa JPN   Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1)    2m   3.156s    (6/33)
15.    Andrea   Iannone ITA   Pramac Racing (GP13)    2m   3.169s    (15/29)
16.    Aleix   Espargaro ESP   Aspar (ART CRT)    2m   3.251s    (29/34)
17.    Randy   De Puniet    FRA   Aspar (ART CRT)    2m   3.791s    (38/39)
18.    Hiroshi   Aoyama JPN   Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)*    2m   4.786s    (23/24)
19.    Danilo   Petrucci ITA   IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)*    2m   4.971s    (19/32)
20.    Hector   Barbera ESP   Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)*    2m   4.989s    (15/21)
21.    Karel   Abraham CZE   Cardion AB (ART CRT)    2m   5.028s    (12/40)
22.    Takumi   Takahashi JPN   Honda Test Rider (RC213V)    2m   5.074s    (27/28)
23.    Michael   Laverty GBR   Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT)    2m   5.417s    (13/14)
24.    Yonny   Hernandez COL   Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT)    2m   5.837s    (27/28)
25.    Claudio   Corti ITA   Forward (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)*    2m   5.953s    (13/13)
26.    Colin   Edwards USA   Forward (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)*    2m   6.379s    (8/17)
27.    Bryan   Staring AUS   Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT)    2m   6.898s    (22/23)
* Control ECU.
 

If there was a question about Marquez not being fast, that's pretty much out the window. Alien in the making. Now if he could simply not try to kill someone.

I don't think there was ever really a question of whether he would be fast or not...I think it was more of a matter of whether he'll be punting himself or others in/under race condition....

Not sure if that was ever a question either!  [laugh]

so MotoGP is run by a Spanish Corp. and the top 3 and 4 of the top 7 are from Spain... hmmm

it was also run by the spanish when the italian, aussie, and american won their championships.

And Spain has made a gigantic effort to create racing classes and infrastructure to get kids onto bikes and find the best riders.

this....probably the best effort over any other country....

 [evil] hehe. just throwing out conversation pieces

Day 2: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130206motogptest1.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130206motogptest1.htm)



http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187841/1/full_lean_ahead_for_marquez_at_sepang.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187841/1/full_lean_ahead_for_marquez_at_sepang.html)

“I'm just concentrating on my riding style. I haven't arrived at the limit of the bike...” – Marc Marquez.

+2
Most motorcycle friendly culture. Even the King rides bikes.

MOTOGP »
Sepang MotoGP test times - Thursday 3pm

Fastest man Dani Pedrosa has already finished testing.

The third day of official 2013 MotoGP action got underway under sunny skies at Sepang in Malaysia on Wednesday.

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.100s (Lap 4/44)
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 2m 0.429s (4/37)
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Yamaha Factory (YZR-M1) 2m 0.542s (43/44)
4. Marc Marquez ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 2m 0.636s (32/33)
5. Cal Crutchlow GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 0.734s (5/33)
6. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda MotoGP (RC213V) 2m 1.003s (14/43)
7. Alvaro Bautista ESP Honda Gresini (RC213V) 2m 1.502s (29/34)
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP13) 2m 2.184s (19/32)
9. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Ducati Team (GP13) 2m 2.345s (24/29)
10. Bradley Smith GBR Yamaha Tech 3 (YZR-M1) 2m 2.556s (17/34)
11. Katsayuki Nakasuga JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 2.616s (12/21)
12. Aleix Espargaro ESP Aspar (ART CRT) 2m 2.628s (37/38)
13. Andrea Iannone ITA Pramac Racing (GP13) 2m 2.864s (17/23)
14. Kosuke Akiyoshi JPN Honda Test Rider (RC213V) 2m 3.082s (14/28)
15. Wataru Yoshikawa JPN Yamaha Test Rider (YZR-M1) 2m 4.137s (5/18)
16. Randy De Puniet FRA Aspar (ART CRT) 2m 4.151s (23/24)
17. Takumi Takahashi JPN Honda Test Rider (RC213V) 2m 4.288s (37/46)
18. Danilo Petrucci ITA IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 4.583s (20/27)
19. Michael Laverty GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 4.603s (22/27)
20. Hector Barbera ESP Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 4.910s (21/26)
21. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB (ART CRT) 2m 4.971s (28/43)
22. Claudio Corti ITA Forward (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 5.107s (13/22)
23. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Avintia (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 5.305s (28/35)
24. Lukas Pesek CZE IodaRacing (Suter-BMW CRT)* 2m 5.321s (39/40)
25. Yonny Hernandez COL Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 5.580s (14/32)
26. Bryan Staring AUS Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 2m 6.481s (17/22)
27. Colin Edwards USA Forward (FTR-Kawasaki CRT)* 2m 6.641s (16/29)
* Control ECU.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187850/1/marc_marquez_takes_a_tumble_at_sepang.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187850/1/marc_marquez_takes_a_tumble_at_sepang.html)

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187852/1/honda_talks_2014_production_motogp_racer.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/187852/1/honda_talks_2014_production_motogp_racer.html)

I think he just found the limit.   ;D

What the hell is going on with CE, has anyone heard?

makes you wonder if he did it on purpose to find the limit.

the buzz is that his neck injury from 2009? is bothering him and hindering them from really developing the Marelli electronic package on his Ioda Kwakasaki crossplane bike

Yeah...he has mentioned on Facebook that his whiplash injury from 2009 is rearing its ugly head. They gave him like 9 injections in his neck with no improvement.
Right now, he is just trying to relax and try to heal up.

Marquez has not only returned to the track but - shortly before 1pm - set his fastest lap of the test so far and moved up to third place, +0.536s behind Pedrosa...

yep, just finding limits.

HRC promo stuff from the test

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQJnSHdkb0 (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxQJnSHdkb0)

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/13021193.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/13021193.htm)

click through to the larger photo: not that we haven't seen plenty of photos of the rear wheel off the ground, but.. dayumn.  i'm 19 and i don't give a f#ck!

Rossi: “I like Marquez's attitude a lot because in his mind, looking at him today, it looks like he wants to win the championship at the first try”

 [thumbsup]

Something that is definitely lacking with his countrymen. They are fast as make the beast with two backs, but they're not willing to lay it all on the line for the wine. Most likely because they have been in some hellish crashes.

just cuz it's purdy.

(http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/archive/rossim1.jpg)

 

 [drool]

this is like pointing out that water is wet, but it's an interesting confirmation:

'Brutal' Reality Bites Ducati's Gobmeier (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Feb/130214f.htm)
 

I'm waaaaaay out of my depth on all this technical stuff, but how in the world can they still be talking about an evolution of the GP design?  It doesn't work.  It hasn't worked for years.  It isn't going to work.  WTF makes them think otherwise?

well...this is the same leader that led the development charge with a team that insisted on using their own in house electronics instead of the package that was tried and true and used by every other team when he was leading the Beemer WSBK team...and I recall them chasing so many issues around that it was amazing that they could even see the forest through all the trees.

bc if you don't change things in a very measured and incremental way at this level it could get waaaayyy worse.
 
that said, does seem like they should just scrap the L - or at least TRY it.
 

on the other hand they went from a brand new bike, and a category they had zero experience in, to winning races in a really short amount of time.

 

Once they scrapped their own attempt to develop the electronics, after realizing that they were trying to do things in-house that they weren't capable of doing.

Hint, hint, Ducati.  Now I'm not saying that Ducati should farm it out, but it's about time to admit defeat and start anew.  This is a make the beast with two backsin' joke.  And it's been a joke for too many years.  Hayden, Melandri and Rossi can't ride the thing and it just keep falling further and further behind?  Jeebus.  Just take it out back and shoot it. 

Big ol' +1 to that

I keep thinking Ducati know Trellis frames better than anyone.
Build a damn trellis and put a 90 deg V4 that is closer to the new Superquadra axis,
put the airbox AROUND the trellis in carbon fiber to get more volume.

ie,
start with handling
then add the power.

the whole frame move away from trellis was all about more power, but they were never creative enough with the motor design IMO

remember last year when nicky was, like, on fire the first 3 laps of some race?  (might have been le mans?)  (then the GP12 ate his rear tire and it was over)

i don't disagree that they're currently make the beast with two backsed.  but the distance between make the beast with two backsed and winning at this level is about 2mm.  the problem is finding the right 2mm to move... while not moving the other 657 options, so that you know which 2mm is the right one to move.

i don't envy those guys at all.

My point is that they've had years to try to find that 2mm.  they keep talking about that elusive 2mm, i.e. the "evolution".  They've had enough time to find it or to "evolve."  They're not going to.  We all know that.  They should know that.  It's well past the point of "maybe we just haven't found the one thing that will make this whole debacle turn around." Or in other words,  "Just give me another chance, baby.  I promise it'll be different this time.  I'm a new man.  Really, I am.  Trust me.  I loooooooove you."

They should burn the whole thing to the ground and try again.  Or get off the grid.