Jerez Test 2012

[Raux]

apparently rumor is ducati is going down cc's to get more oversquare to get more revs to get more power....
so they'll make the bike peakier with less midrange?
i dont think it's the straights they are losing on. it's still the turning.
why can't they just give up and go back to what works and what they know. a trellis frame. get the fricking handling right.

[gm2]

why can't they just give up and go back to what works and what they know. a trellis frame. get the fricking handling right.

it's not like the GP0-7 were known for their handling.  they don't really 'know' chassis for a 4 at all.

[Jester]

i dont think it's the straights they are losing on. it's still the turning.

Right now it sounds like they are losing in both departments.  Turning has more to do with the chassis in my opinion.  From what I've read, they are losing a lot of ground in fast corners ( chassis ), and still a minimal bit of ground on the straights ( engine ).  Unfortunately a change in engine can change how the chassis responds, but for all we know it might improve the entire package with a different lump underneath there. 

[derby]

Right now it sounds like they are losing in both departments.  Turning has more to do with the chassis in my opinion.  From what I've read, they are losing a lot of ground in fast corners ( chassis ), and still a minimal bit of ground on the straights ( engine ).  Unfortunately a change in engine can change how the chassis responds, but for all we know it might improve the entire package with a different lump underneath there. 

if you can't maintain speed throughout the turns and get the power down on the exits, you'll lose out on the straights.

[gm2]

perfect CEII shot..

[zooom]

perfect CEII shot..

caption...


"Oooooooo...Bright Shiney!!! "

[Spidey]

<debbie downer>

I'm already bored by the upcoming season, not excited.  Maybe if I were a real fan of any of aliens (well, at least the aliens on bikes that work), it wouldn't seem so dull.  I hope the reality of the season confounds my expectations.

Here's what it looks like to me --  Casey runs away a lot of time.  Sometimes George is close and/or wins it.  Pedrosa may have some good races where he takes off and can't be caught.  Ben will sometimes podium, but is consistently .3-.5 sec off of Lorenzo.  Crutchlow shows us why he's better on the big bikes, and may podium.  Rossi and Nicky have issues throughout the season, but ride well in the rain.  Rossi and Nicky may fight for 4-6 a lot, and have a chance to snag a couple of podiums.  CRT is going to look like a bust, but a lot of that is b/c the CRT riders suck.  They'll have to double down on CRT at the end of the year to determine whether it is a success.

Basically, it'll be more of the same.  That said, I *really* hope I'm wrong.

[zooom]

....... That said, I *really* hope I'm wrong.

1 potential reason why you might be wrong....we hear of Jorge doing a full race simulation....you hear of Casey doing 10 laps simulations....you don't hear much from any camp on actual overall race simulation average times...just hot extreme fastest lap times...so over race distance might be a whole 'nother animal...at least...here's to hoping!

[gm2]

Here's what it looks like to me --  Casey runs away a lot of time.  Sometimes George is close and/or wins it.  Pedrosa may have some good races where he takes off and can't be caught.  Ben will sometimes podium, but is consistently .3-.5 sec off of Lorenzo.  Crutchlow shows us why he's better on the big bikes, and may podium.  Rossi and Nicky have issues throughout the season, but ride well in the rain.  Rossi and Nicky may fight for 4-6 a lot, and have a chance to snag a couple of podiums.  CRT is going to look like a bust, but a lot of that is b/c the CRT riders suck.  They'll have to double down on CRT at the end of the year to determine whether it is a success.

you're probably not too far off.  but like all things in GP i think there will be minor things that make (sligthly) bigger differences.

hopefully day 3 in jerez indicates that rossi may get back to form.  and i expect a better season from both nicky and ben.  whether or not 'better' means still chasing casey.. probably.

i'd also really like to see dovi get back to 2009 form.  something about that factory honda made him get all vanilla.

[zarn02]

I'm already bored by the upcoming season, not excited.

Yup.

I fully expect it to be another snoozer.

[pennyrobber]

I am hoping tire life also becomes a bigger factor with the increased power. Maybe it'll shake things up a bit. On an only slightly related note, F1 has been good so far this season. 

[zooom]

http://superbikeplanet.com/getVote.jsp?pn=crt0327

CHIME IN....

[ducpainter]

http://superbikeplanet.com/getVote.jsp?pn=crt0327

CHIME IN....

The results speak for themselves...

I honestly think Carmelo is gonna kill GP.

[koko64]

+1

He's thinking like a banker/accountant and not like an enthusiast. Sure it's gotta make money and be affordable, but he's killing the passion and prestige in it for the factory teams. He betta watch out because Honda won't put up with this forever and if they pull out (and they've done it before), why should the rest stay?

If he dumbs it down too much then HRC and Ducati Corse will leave and go where the passion is. He's got so economic rationalist about it that he's lost the point that its passion which sells motorcycles and tickets, (and makes race teams turn up).

[duccarlos]

Bring on Imola.