Ducati Monster Forum

With all the issues the HRC guys are experiencing, just makes you wonder if using MM and Stoner's inputs have ruined the Honda. Cal must be kicking himself for trading a factory spot on a bucking bronco to a satellite spot on a bucking bull.

It's a engine problem according to MM as you know, that's a engineering, nothing to do with MM.

Because standing still leaves you behind, factories try to leap ahead of the opposition. Seeking the advantage can go wrong unfortunately.

I just think HRC took a slightly wrong turn...nothing to do with MM or Stoner. They did it in 2007 as well, but recovered quickly enough. I don't expect MM to be fighting the bike for much longer.

Stoner is my favorite rider....

Maybe his advice as a test rider  was to make a bike for imself  [evil]   lol

Difficult ducati+ Stoner= world champion

Difficult honda+ Stoner = world champion ... ;D

I like how you think.  ;D

Wonder how good the Ape will be next year? That is thw only factory I see Stoner riding for. Although jlo leaving yamaha and VR and Stoner as teammates would be fun....

George is never leaving Yamaha, not without being pushed.
Why do you see stoner riding the ape, what have you heard?

Heard nothing.....

The JLo musing is just a bit of random silliness. VR and Stoner would never be treammates. VR will make sure of that...

The Ape is the only factory seat available. Melandri is gone at the end of the season (if he lasts that long).

Where is there for Melandri to go if he leaves?

Retirement

Has he indicated he's ready?

 ;D No....

Bu there is only so much time you can spend being over a second slower than everybody else....
The bike will continue to improve, but his times will stay the same i think.....
Just looks like he does not want to be there...

Some websites seem to be linking him with Yamaha Superbike for 2016....

Maybe the bike really sucks.....one recent example of this phenomenon was VR with Ducati.

I think it does...

but Melandri finished 51 seconds behind his team mate and 1 min 41 seconds behind the winner.

He definitely isn't giving it his all.

Melandri definitely isn't into it this season. He wanted to stay on the RSV4 in WSBK and have a shot at a title. Aprilia needs to just let him go, as I doubt they're learning anything form him.

The Ape is nothing but a test mule this season. Next season is when the all new bike is to be introduced. I do wonder if they shouldn't have just waited until next season though.

If Stoner came back, and I don't think he will, I think he would get Dani's seat.

I could see Stoner taking Dani's seat but only if Dani's arm gives him more problems.  And he seems to be recovering well as seen by this weekend.

I think Dani will stay. Appears to be good progress.

I really don't see any of the factory guys going anywhere other than where they are at. Kind of sucks really. I'd like to see things get mixed up.

To clarify what I said earlier...I agree that Stoner getting Dani's seat would only happen if Dani needs to retire due to his arm pump issues. I don't think HRC would cut Dani.

I got what you meant J. I think Honda really only want 1 going for the win. Dani is a solid points gatherer for the manufacturer title.
i think they want this season and next from him and then hope one of the young guys is ready.

Sorry I have not responded in a few days.

HRC will find and fix whatever is causing all these handling issues. They probably have an army of engineers looking into it right now. Cal just can't buy a break. He left Ducati last year expecting to get on the arguably best package. In one year both Yamaha and Ducati have leap frogged the Honda. Again, they will get this fixed and quickly, but it must be demoralizing.

Marquez came out and said its the power delivery. It's too much of a power hit before and after the corner. He said they knew it at sepang test but track grip hid how bad it is.

Do you have a link? I would have thought that they could regulate power delivery with the software. They should have resolved that issue at least a few races back.

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/05/28/marquez-and-honda-looking-to-get-their-season-back-on-track/176468 (http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/05/28/marquez-and-honda-looking-to-get-their-season-back-on-track/176468)

More words from Marquez on Honda's woes, which he puts down to engine character:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/219783/1/marquez-we-have-a-lot-of-work-to-do.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/219783/1/marquez-we-have-a-lot-of-work-to-do.html)

Sounds like they're trying to Band-aid the problem with chassis & electronics fixes, but the engine freeze means they're not able to address the root problem.

This sounds like it should be able to be fixed electronically. The chassis has no effect on the engine "locking the rear tire" ( unless the new swingarm is locking the chain ) and I cannot imagine what internal engine setup would do this either. Now, if they are having problems with the transmission that would be different. I think there is something being lost in the translations during the interviews.

...but I don't think transmissions are sealed. They still can change internal ratios AFAIK, not that that's the problem.

I believe the transmissions are sealed in SBK which was one of the reason Sykes had trouble gettin g used to the new bike.