Rossi vs. Ducati...and more spoilers

[Raux]

I just don't see Stoner going back to Ducati. He has stated he liked his team, but thinks upper management are a bunch of liars, due to how they handled the Lorenzo issue.

and just how long do you see any of DUcati GP Corse sticking around with Audi oversight in 2014?
I know if I were Audi. Ducati GP would see a clearing house at the top.

These would have to go

Ducati Corse General and Technical Director - Filippo Preziosi
MotoGP Project Director - Alessandro Cicognani
Team Manager -Vittoriano Guareschi
MotoGP Press Manager - Federica De Zottis


The last one cause I want his job.

[Triple J]

No idea. We'll see if Audi really shakes things up. They are being viewed as the saviors by many here, but I'm not so sure.

If upper mgmt. changed then maybe Stoner would return. That is if he gets over what bothers him about MotoGP in general, which Ducati doesn't entirely control.

[Raux]

I see MotoGP in trouble if Ducati doesn't come up, so maybe Dorna will help ease things a bit.
An all Japanese fight won't be good for a European racing series.

[kopfjäger]

No idea. We'll see if Audi really shakes things up. They are being viewed as the saviors by many here, but I'm not so sure.

They felt that way about 'the Goat' as well. 

[gm2]

http://motomatters.com/analysis/2012/08/16/rossi_ducati_and_yamaha_and_the_winner_i.html

[duccarlos]

http://motomatters.com/analysis/2012/08/16/rossi_ducati_and_yamaha_and_the_winner_i.html

Great article. Rossi and JB have looked like douches for 2 years after the comments they made about Stoner.

[DRKWNG]

Rossi and JB have looked like douches for 2 years after the comments they made about Stoner.

Yup.

[OT]

Good article - as an R&D engineer, I see a lot of merit in this summary -- hits the nails on their heads.  All the personalities and drama are overblown and just a distraction....

[gm2]

http://motomatters.com/interview/2012/08/21/masao_furusawa_interview_on_visiting_ita.html

[Triple J]

http://motomatters.com/interview/2012/08/21/masao_furusawa_interview_on_visiting_ita.html

Very interesting article. Shocking to me that Ducati would admit they need help from a former rival. I also like how straight forward he is with his responses.

[mitt]

I think Vr and Jb set Ducati back 2 yrs in development.

The bike looks nothing like the championship bike.

Having free reign to make changes is a dangerous recipe for a factory.

[derby]

I think Vr and Jb set Ducati back 2 yrs in development.

i'd say ducati set themselves back ~5 years by not listening to their riders.

The bike looks nothing like the championship bike.

the last ducati boy wonder rode looked nothing like his championship bike, either...

Having free reign to make changes is a dangerous recipe for a factory.

sort of... rossi and burgess can provide feedback to the factory and tell them how the bike feels, what they think the bike is doing, and possibly even what they think would make the rider more confident/comfortable, but it's still the guys at the factory that are supposed to engineer those solutions that increase performance and rider confidence.

[mitt]

i'd say ducati set themselves back ~5 years by not listening to their riders.

the last ducati boy wonder rode looked nothing like his championship bike, either...

sort of... rossi and burgess can provide feedback to the factory and tell them how the bike feels, what they think the bike is doing, and possibly even what they think would make the rider more confident/comfortable, but it's still the guys at the factory that are supposed to engineer those solutions that increase performance and rider confidence.

I think people don't give Ducati enough credit.  They aren't dummies when it comes to designing motorcycles.  They have been doing it a long time, and have a pretty good track record in most endeavors. 

Personally, I would like to see them to back to the carbon concept, or back to something they have a good baseline with, and get it working with more engineering and testing. 

Right now, with all the changes, they don't even know what they have as a baseline.

[duccarlos]

They do not have a good track record building a MotoGP bike. They can build a screaming twin, but add 2 more cylinders and they make the beast with two backs it up.

[OT]

Canning Preziosi may not be the solution (unless he's impossible to work with); getting him a world-class chassis designer could be...

Perhaps they've reached the limit of what the L-4 bike's geometry can do with these tires...but going to a totally new engine concept is far more $$$$ and risky than trying to tweak the chassis and suspension for better performance.

If Audi brings help, at all, I would hope its towards an entirely new bike and engine, cause Ducati's not going to compete/survive in MotoGP if they keep bringing "a biplane to the warbirds air races"...