Where have you gone Mr. Nicky Hayden?

[desmoquattro]

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

...production-based machines included. Riders too:

[Speeddog]

OMG...is it....no, it couldn't be... but then again....he almost looks like he's smiling a little bit. 

And 51kg? With all his gear on or is he fattening up?

[zooom]

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.

well...traction control trickled from GP bikes to production based superbikes ala WSBK and so forth and has now started in some degree or format to trickle into the showrooms on Ducati's and Suzuki's...so you tell me...Honda is putting out ABS on CBR's...it isn't an instant trickle down thing...but it is coming down the pike for sure...just takes more time with electrical stuff in comparo to proven mechanical things.

[derby]

And 51kg? With all his gear on or is he fattening up?

that's an old pic (michelin patches).

[zooom]

that's an old pic (michelin patches).

I would say so, since his race number is 26 in that...last year he was #2 and this year #3...so it musta been 2007 or perhaps 2006

[ZLTFUL]

First of all, any trickle down from MotoGP is going to take some time. Frankly, the class is meant as a prototype and experimentation class with the very best of the best overcoming the rulebook "restrictions" with creative engineering and design improvement. This is the way it is meant to be. MotoGP is NOT a race on Sunday sell on Monday class. Never has been, never will be. That's what WSBK/WSS is all about.

Second, we see trickle downs on a constant basis. Radial master cylinders, monoblock radial mount calipers, the new R1 is a great example. But it goes back to point one.

As for Nicky, while I am not a fan, the 2 crashes have done nothing to cement his confidence in abike that takes a TON of confidence to ride. Hewill get there. It's just going to take longer wit the shortened practices. Especially for a guy who is all about constant practice. But I also agree that Nicky is not a front of the pack rider in MotoGP. But I do see him spending alot of time dicing it up with Colin and Randy on a regular basis later this year. Maybe grabbing a few podiums. But he is a long shot for another championship. Just my thoughts...

[OT]

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

Je comprends....was musing about what "developing a bike" is supposed to mean (i.e., nothing - as very little trickles down from MGP in less than 10 years to the bikes that guys like me ride, and most of that is overkill anyway - like radial brakes); ergo, MotoGP is first and foremost an entertainment and marketing vehicle.

Not complaining - I enjoy motorcycle racing....but is Nicky Hayden (and others) just a test pilot ("hey Nikkisan, try this bike with the clutch in the middle of the engine")?  We shouldn't be too perplexed when he/they crash and burn or finish last on a regular basis.  They're not supposed to win - which makes Hayden's championship that much sweeter.

On the other hand there are a very special few, such as Rossi in this era, who are true racers, working and making suggestions to improve their machines to win championships, not "develop" a better clutch or braking system.

[Jester]

That's ridiculous if you don't think these teams aren't trying to win.  You can develop components for a bike and still expect to win.  Do you think Ducati is aiming for the back of the grid with that carbon fiber chassis or swingarm?  They are trying to make the bike more ridable and stable.  These teams aren't expecting their bikes to go "boom" when they hit the track.  Sometimes they do, but winning = sponsorships and following, which means you are doing your job better than the next guy.  Blame the engineers for not properly developing the clutch in the first place, but Honda is trying to win every week, trust me.

Sure, prototype racing has a measure of muscle flexing and posturing between the manufacturers, but in the end, they want to win.  The technology trickles down faster than you think.  I for one am all for that technology anyway.  I don't see how "overkill" is a bad thing when it improves any aspect of the performance on the bike you're riding.  Brakes that stop a bit faster or fade less are surely better than brakes from 10 years ago yes?  Hop on my 800 monster, and then hop on an 1198 and you tell me which brakes you want in a lifesaving stop.  Same could be said for traction control.  Do you want a literbike with it, or without it?

All racing of any level is an entertainment and marketing event.  Prototype series are there specifically to see how far the limits can be taken and then pass on pieces of what you learn to production models.  WSBK is an entertainment and marketing tool the same as MotoGP, it just has more relevance to us since we can purchase the basic bikes they ride.

Rossi is good at helping develop a bike, but Burgess is just as important to that process from the garage perspective.  Yamaha didn't just tweak the old M1.  That bike has definately been "developed."  That bike had to have a complete chassis re-devolopment for the Bridgestone tires.  The old chassis was built for Michelin, and while they were able to get good performance out of that chassis, you didn't see the potential until the following year after they made changes for the Bridgestones.  That is just one example, but it gets developed.  They don't just turn a few screws.  Another would be the redesign of the cooling system on the Yamaha after repeated overheating issues on the bike in years past.

[Spidey]

Be careful, Nicky.  Bayliss is always looming in the background.

http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/146437/1/troy_bayliss_to_test_ducati_gp9.html

[duccarlos]

I doubr Bayliss would ruin his "legacy" by going back to MotoGP.

[duccarlos]

I do hope his testing will help with the taming of the beast so that other riders will have at least somewhat of a chance to ride the thing.

[Spidey]

I doubr Bayliss would ruin his "legacy" by going back to MotoGP.

I agree, but that's no reason not to feed the rumor mill.   

I do hope his testing will help with the taming of the beast so that other riders will have at least somewhat of a chance to ride the thing.

+11tyb

[Jester]

[Cider]

As motogpmatters.com pointed out, three world champions haven't gotten along very well with the Ducati (Capirossi, Melandri, and Hayden).  If Bayliss doesn't get along with it either, maybe he can make some good development suggestions that would benefit Hayden.

[gm2]

Stoner: Hayden needs confidence