Ducati Monster Forum

Had to do it in 4th place, but all hail World Champion Johnny Rae.

Sykes, Davies, VanDermark on the podium.

edit...

Still waiting on Race 2

And an extremely strong weekend for Davies. I'm so glad to see that bike come around!

Pirro did well on Giuliano's bike for his first outing finishing a strong 6th in Race 1. [thumbsup]

Still waiting on Race 2.

 [thumbsup]

Pirro might have found a good place if only Davies and Giuliano's contracts had not been extended.

I think he likes his gig as test rider. He races several times a year and gets to ride all the time.

I'm not sure about that. Racers want to race and get the big $$$

So why did he take the gig at his age and not try to get a ride with another team?

Race 2 Was Davies...Torres...Haslam with Rae in 4th again.

Pirro finished 7th for a solid weekend.

He's never been the best rider out there and he was going to be running sub-standard bikes the rest of his career. At least with Ducati he gets a decent steady pay check and gets to ride a factory bike on occasion. It also opens doors like being considered for a spot on the factory Ducati team in WSBK. If he didn't want to compete, he would not take David's spot for the remainder of the year.

I never said he didn't want to compete. His Ducati deal allows him to race regardless of someone's injuries. I said he was happy with the gig he got.

I think he's happy because he wasn't a top rider, but he's certainly capable. He did, after all, qualify as the top Duc rider at Jerez.

Based on the fact he wasn't going to get a factory ride in a race series he took the best deal offered based on a lot of what you say.

I think he's smart enough to be happy with a steady paycheck from a company that lets him ride the latest greatest things they build.

Agree 100%

I think that he's always in contention for any Ducati ride that comes available.

He'll always be considered...but I think they have him where they want him right now.

It isn't too many factories that can say their test rider can qualify 5th on the motogp grid and the next weekend finish the WSBK meet in 6th and 7th place.

We know that's the case for both Yamaha and Honda test riders.

Takahashi and Nagasuka qualify 5th?

What planet are you on today? ;D

Yep, dream job. He must be a smart guy with good self knowledge to know his limitations as a top ten, non alien, support rider who on a real good day gets a podium. Sounds like a solid guy to me. Gotta respect that.

I was in a hurry, it was meant to say "not the case"

I was worried about you there for a minute. ;)