2013 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[duccarlos]

 

Both tech 3 boys going to Ducati? These guys are smoking some very wacky weed. Have they seen what that bike has done to the careers of some very good riders in the past years?

[ducpainter]

Both tech 3 boys going to Ducati? These guys are smoking some very wacky weed. Have they seen what that bike has done to the careers of some very good riders in the past years?

Audi will change everything...

right?   

[duccarlos]

Don't care how many clauses you include in that contract. Audi are not miracle workers unless they are able to steal an M1 and clown it. Ducati might as well have been bought by a Chinese tech company.

[ducpainter]

Don't care how many clauses you include in that contract. Audi are not miracle workers unless they are able to steal an M1 and clown it. Ducati might as well have been bought by a Chinese tech company.

They already have a clown bike.

[potomacduc]

Both tech 3 boys going to Ducati? These guys are smoking some very wacky weed. Have they seen what that bike has done to the careers of some very good riders in the past years?

Maybe they're just being realistic and taking the cash.  Neither of them is getting a factory ride on a Yamaha or a Honda for at least two years and by then the next great Spanish hope or Italian hotshot will have come along, so they still won't get a factory ride. Dovi's factory ship has sailed and Cal's window is closing.  By going with Ducati, they at least get a shot at getting paid more like a contender even if they are not likely to actually get a bike on which to contend.  Also, there is always the outside chance that Ducati "figures it out" and produces a competitive bike. Sure, that's a bit of a long shot and they're not likely to contend on a factory Ducati, but they're certainly not going to contend on a satellite Yamaha or Honda.  The factory teams won't let that happen.  If Ducati somehow strikes gold and brings forward a winning bike, Dovi and Cal will reap the rewards.  If Yamaha or Honda make a break through and produce a dominant bike, some of that will trickle down to the satellite bikes, but they will still always have scraps. At least with Ducati they get to sit at the the big boy's table.

[Speeddog]

What I really don't understand....

Both of those guys were riding satellite bikes, spanking two former world champions on factory bikes.

And they're signing up to walk into those propellers.

I hope they're getting big sacks'O'cash.

[Triple J]

Potomacduc nailed it.

On a Yamaha satellite ride they for sure won't win a championship due to politics, but will likely be in the top 5 every race.

On the factory Duc they probably won't win a championship, likely finishing in the 6-9 region. However, there is a chance they can win a championship if Ducati figures it out...and they're trying hard to do that.

As racers they don't see a real difference between 3rd and 6th place. What they want is to work for a team that is trying as hard as it can to get them a championship...something the satellite squads can't do.

[gm2]

also, cal for sure will not get a factory yamaha in the next 2 years.

he might get one at ducati in 1 year.

[thought]

Yeah, I agree... I think for them a chance at the championship is better than a guaranteed 4-6th place.

Depending on how 2013/14 goes this will be looked back on either as the dumbest move ever or a really well played bet.

[CDChase1981]

Just saw this:
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2012/Andrea+Dovizioso+and+Ducati+together+beginning+in+2013

Dovizioso officaly to Ducati 2013

[duccarlos]

Poor Dovi.

[ducpainter]

I hope it works out for him in the long run.

It is a factory ride after all, and I'm sure he's gambling on Ducati fixing the bike.

The next rule changes coming down the pike will do a lot to level the playing field, and hopefully Audi will remove Corse's head from it's ass.

[Raux]

Yeah I just read it too.
Guess he was looking for a paycheck and not a win

[gm2]

Yeah I just read it too.
Guess he was looking for a paycheck and not a win

he's for sure not getting on a factory yamaha or honda in the next 2 years, so...  worth the gamble maybe.

[thought]

he's for sure not getting on a factory yamaha or honda in the next 2 years, so...  worth the gamble maybe.

Thats what I'm thinking is his thought process and I'm sure Cal is thinking the same when it comes to getting onto the JV squad.

Tech 3 = 100% chance to be 3-6th place
Ducati = cross your fingers and a small chance that you might be able to podium and win... while getting a bigger paycheck.

It actually makes sense if you're willing to give up the chance of placing 3rd all the time... betting that you can make it to first.