Where have you gone Mr. Nicky Hayden?

[Cider]

I suppose Stoner can pretty much name his price now.  What if he leaves or gets injured?  What will Ducati do?  I'm surprised that they are content to put all their eggs in the Stoner basket.  He's undeniably fast, but he won't be around forever.

[mikeb]

I don't think they are putting all their eggs in Stoner's basket.  They hired Nicky for a reason.  Besides being, usually consistent, he's a development rider.  He's said in interviews that they (he and Ducati) want to develop the bike so more riders have success on it.  I don't think it's "Stoner's bike" so much as it's a quirky bike only Stoner can ride.

But they are lucky the got Stoner.  Because the bike was developed before they signed him....and by luck he's the one guy that can ride it.  Can you imagine where they'd be had they not signed him?   

[Jester]

I suppose Stoner can pretty much name his price now.  What if he leaves or gets injured?  What will Ducati do?  I'm surprised that they are content to put all their eggs in the Stoner basket.  He's undeniably fast, but he won't be around forever.

That may be true, but Stoner is young.  Assuming they pony up to keep him around, they'll have him for the next 7-10 years on that bike if he rides a full career.  Might as well develop around him.

[Cider]

Yeah, that makes sense--he is quite young.  Still, prototypes are expensive enough already.  A prototype that only one guy in the world can ride fast is a pretty risky investment.

[derby]

That may be true, but Stoner is young.  Assuming they pony up to keep him around, they'll have him for the next 7-10 years on that bike if he rides a full career.  Might as well develop around him.

i wouldn't expect the current 800cc formula to stick around for another 7-10 years.

there's already been talk of doing away w/ the "rider aids" and, if you believe melandri, the ducati gp bike was built around the electronics (much like a modern warplane) and cannot be ridden without them.

[gm2]

if you believe melandri, the ducati gp bike was built around the electronics (much like a modern warplane) and cannot be ridden without them.

mamola said the exact same thing when he rode the 800.  he said it was a monster "barely under control by electronics"

[desmoquattro]

mamola said the exact same thing when he rode the 800.  he said it was a monster "barely under control by electronics"

...if only one of us could get a ride on one and find out. Anyone up for changing careers and becoming a "Moto Journalist"?

[superjohn]

...if only one of us could get a ride on one and find out. Anyone up for changing careers and becoming a "Moto Journalist"?

I would LOVE to be a Moto Journalist. Would the DMF like to request "Press Credentials" for me? 

[gm2]

you'd love to be a moto journalist until the day you drop the million dollar bike 

[zooom]

you'd love to be a moto journalist until the day you drop the million dollar bike 

that's Spidey's job!

[ducpainter]

you'd love to be a moto journalist until the day you drop the million dollar bike 

That happens all the time.

[RodeoClown]

Julian said something similar. Something like Ducati's philosophy is to make too much power and then manage it...

[Jester]

Julian said something similar. Something like Ducati's philosophy is to make too much power and then manage it...

That's pretty much been their MO for this series.  Make a rocketship engine and then try to figure out the rest later.

[OT]

Would be interesting to see what features actually make their way from the 2009 GP Desmo to those bikes the rest of the world buys.  I may be able to understand and see the merit in things like radial brakes, swingarms, etc., but how MotoGP traction control would ever make technical or price-point sense on a streetbike is a mystery.

Ultimately, it seems that MotoGP bikes are becoming mostly very fast billboards.....

[derby]

Ultimately, it seems that MotoGP bikes are becoming mostly very fast billboards.....

racing budgets often come out of the marketing budgets... they've always been very fast billboards.