2013 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[Triple J]

Ducati throwing in the towel....?

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/ducati-engine-only-hope-keep-145505347.html

Rossi sounds like a major whiner here. They've switched to a twin spar aluminum frame for him, and their getting him a revised motor with a less than 90* angle. Both firsts for Ducati. He's crazy if he thinks Ducati can knock it out of the park on the first try with things (like the frame) that they have zero experience with. He also knows they're not Honda, and can't develop and supply things as quickly as they can.

I understand that he wants to win, and I respect that, but it gets tiring listening to him complain about the bike.

[ZLTFUL]

"Not listening to the riders" and "No solutions" is hardly whining. It's no secret that I am a Rossi fan boy but he is making some pretty good points.

And Rossi not being able to ride the bike doesn't mean that Casey wasn't at 110% on that bike. Even the telemetry showed in several races that he had literally crashed several times per lap throughout the entire race. If that is a "good bike" then I am a unicorn that pisses rainbows and shits piles of Skittles.
The Ducati is shit and the shit isn't getting any less stinky.

[koko64]

It could be argued that Ducati have never listened to, or accommodated any rider as much as Rossi.

[derby]

It could be argued that Ducati have never listened to, or accommodated any rider as much as Rossi.

you could say that... you can also say "too little, too late"...

if they'd listened to nicky, or casey, or even bayliss, they might be closer to a solution by now.

[koko64]

I believe you're right about those guys, but I think they listened to Capirossi to an extent.
When they let Bayliss bring his SBK team with him for the last race, the bike was set up just right for him and he won. Those guys loved Bayliss and his result probably backs your argument.
But Rossi is a special case. I reckon he is doing the PR softening up of the public before he moves. Honestly, Ducati have moved heaven and earth for Rossi in comparison, I dont think he has a strong case to complain.

[derby]

I believe you're right about those guys, but I think they listened to Capirossi to an extent.
When they let Bayliss bring his SBK team with him for the last race, the bike was set up just right for him and he won. Those guys loved Bayliss and his result probably backs your argument.

i was actually referring to bayliss' (semi-secret no laptimes) test of the 800cc bike, not his valencia victory on the gp6.

i also should've included melandri in my previous list of riders.

[gm2]

I believe you're right about those guys, but I think they listened to Capirossi to an extent.
When they let Bayliss bring his SBK team with him for the last race, the bike was set up just right for him and he won. Those guys loved Bayliss and his result probably backs your argument.
But Rossi is a special case. I reckon he is doing the PR softening up of the public before he moves. Honestly, Ducati have moved heaven and earth for Rossi in comparison, I dont think he has a strong case to complain.

of course he does.  he knew he was in deep shit at valencia 2010.. it's a long time since then.

the PR job he's done was to be completely positive last year while running around in 10th.

[koko64]

i was actually referring to bayliss' (semi-secret no laptimes) test of the 800cc bike, not his valencia victory on the gp6.

i also should've included melandri in my previous list of riders.

You're right about Melandri, that bike wrecked his GP career.
I wonder if Ducati did or didn't listen to Bayliss when he tested the 800? I say that because he has a very forceful and particular riding style. Dont know what to think about that.

[gm2]

You're right about Melandri, that bike wrecked his GP career.
I wonder if Ducati did or didn't listen to Bayliss when he tested the 800? I say that because he has a very forceful and particular riding style. Dont know what to think anout that.

that's why after that test they went to checa.  who also said nothing.

[koko64]

of course he does.  he knew he was in deep shit at valencia 2010.. it's a long time since then."

I obviously disagree with that. Ducati have tried so hard to give him a bike he can win with,  to the point of going outside their historical engineering experience, it's just that they've failed. But if you look at what Stoner achieved, Ducati are probably thinking Rossi has failed or at least is partially to blame.


"the PR job he's done was to be completely positive last year while running around in 10th."


So he should have for the money they paid him.

[gm2]

I obviously disagree with that. Ducati have tried so hard to give him a bike he can win with,  to the point of going outside their historical engineering experience, it's just that they've failed. But if you look at what Stoner achieved, Ducati are probably thinking Rossi has failed or at least is partially to blame.

stoner is a well-documented exception; he himself says he rode around constantly crashing.  MANY other riders have tried and failed.

rossi has 9 world titles on 3 manufacturers and 5 formats.  and he has jerry burgess.  if you've got that guy in your garage, and you're paying him $17 million, and your baseline design hasn't been cutting it for quite a while, do what the f he says. 

valencia 2010 the bike understeered and had rear grip problems.  it still does.

[Triple J]

It could be argued that Ducati have never listened to, or accommodated any rider as much as Rossi.

Exactly. I'm not saying Rossi isn't right, but it would seem they've bent over backwards for him. I'm just tired of hearing him whine about the bike is all. I don't know how anyone can really expect the new frame to fix everything, given that they have no experience with that set-up. They also don't have the resources of Honda or probably Yamaha.

If this was Stoner saying it instead of Rossi, people would be all over him!

[duccarlos]

It's obvious he's going to Honda. Now it's a question if Ducati will be able to capitalize for next year's bike. The Duc has ruined another career. Just goes to show that maybe Stoner's greatest legacy is being able to ride the beast. Just imagine what he could have accomplished with a sorted bike from the beginning.

[Spidey]

I was thinkin' Honda.  But now, I'm not so sure he won't go back to Yamaha.  Lorenzo has started to publicly welcome him back, Rossi didn't burn any bridges there, it's the best bike in the paddock, Rossi already has shitloads of $ (other than that tax thing), Rossi will likely bring a title sponsor on board and I'm sure he'd love to go head to head with Lorenzo on the same machinery. 

[gm2]

some in the press heard george's welcome as a taunt.  rossi didn't want him in the same garage starting in 2008.  and while it wasn't honda 2003 by a long shot, jarvis was none too happy with rossi when he left.  so the bridges aren't exactly pristine. 

and i think this

he'd love to go head to head with Lorenzo on the same machinery. 

is not the case.  different machinery = strengths at different tracks & at least the possibility of an edge if things are really close.

i suspect he's going to end up on marco's bike, poetically enough.