2013 Silly Season?...maybe spoilers

[zooom]

How about raiding BMW's team both of Manager and designers 

If they had done something more original, rather than basically copying the other I4 superbikes, I might see a glimmer of hope in that.

But they didn't.

okay...how about Aprilia then...since they have experience with V4's and are hedging on the verge of GP with that RSV/ART bike anyway...LOL

[ducpainter]

I don't think they'll let Max back in. 

[duccarlos]

They might let him be The Turd's umbrella "girl".

Anyway, like Raux mentioned, Preziosi is not the answer. Ducati is the only factory that had to request a third party to build them a frame. Al the other manufacturers have build the engine and frame in conjunction. At this point you either go back to the frameless and wallow with the back markers for a few years until you get it right, go back to the trellis until you figure out something else, or simply bring in a guy that can redesign a whole bike from top to bottom.

Of course you can avoid this by making your own twin-spar frame around a decent engine.

[ducpainter]

No matter what, I still think Preziosi should go.

+1

Maybe what Ducati needs is an invasion of German engineers to handle the chassis and engine aspects. Ducati Corse seems to have a solid grasp of the ECU.

They might let him be The Turd's umbrella "girl".

Anyway, like Raux mentioned, Preziosi is not the answer. Ducati is the only factory that had to request a third party to build them a frame. Al the other manufacturers have build the engine and frame in conjunction. At this point you either go back to the frameless and wallow with the back markers for a few years until you get it right, go back to the trellis until you figure out something else, or simply bring in a guy that can redesign a whole bike from top to bottom.

Of course you can avoid this by making your own twin-spar frame around a decent engine.

Make up my mind...will ya?

[duccarlos]

Preziosi can't make a twin spar. The frameless is not the answer if you're looking to be competitive in the near future and you can't go back to trellis. So why keep Preziosi around?

[ducpainter]

Preziosi can't make a twin spar. The frameless is not the answer if you're looking to be competitive in the near future and you can't go back to trellis. So why keep Preziosi around?

Preziosi can't/shouldn't make anything.

He's an engineer.

Until you come up with a viable replacement it makes no sense to clean house.

Ducati has 0 experience with twin spar aluminum frames. It's unrealistic to expect them to be able to do it at this point.

Since everyone admits that Preziosi is a master at improving other people's work give him some time. The recent tests show some improvement.

[Raux]

They need a Taglioni, Tamburini or Terblanche. They need a visionary. Preziosi is not a visionary, at least not a great one.

Hell his name doesn't even start with the right letter.

[duccarlos]

They need a shake up and even he was willing to step down to make it happen.

[OT]

It might be as simple as he only knows engines, not frames...which he says was the focus of his conversations with Furusawa.

This latest iteration of the 'highly' adjustable frame and Rossi's 2nd place (and consistent lap times) at Misano suggests Ducati's main goal is to get as much test-pilot service out of Rossi as they can before he's gone.

[Triple J]

They need a Taglioni, Tamburini or Terblanche.

Because they have so much experience designing winning MotoGP bikes?

I think Preziosi is fine. The frameless concept was visionary, even if it didn't pan out. Not everything new works like it was planned, and the Bridgestones were a major curveball. Rossi's recent 2nd place gives hope, and it seems his struggles have at least demonstrated to Ducati that the bike is the problem, not the rider. That ego check may have been all that was needed.

[mitt]

Because they have so much experience designing winning MotoGP bikes?

I think Preziosi is fine. The frameless concept was visionary, even if it didn't pan out. Not everything new works like it was planned, and the Bridgestones were a major curveball. Rossi's recent 2nd place gives hope, and it seems his struggles have at least demonstrated to Ducati that the bike is the problem, not the rider. That ego check may have been all that was needed.

Well said, and a +1


mitt

[ducpainter]

Jonathan Rae confirmed with Ten Kate/Pata Honda for next year in SBK according to Eurosport announcers

[Speeddog]

Another year of vintage bike racing for Rea.

[fastwin]

I like Rea. I don't care what class he races in. He's not an alien in any class (not yet...) but he's a damn good rider and seems like a good guy with no shitty attitude. He'll hopefully make it to the big boy class full time someday. Regardless, I still think he's got a great future.

[duccarlos]

We will still see Barbera on the MotoGP grid, but on a CRT bike. He got picked up by Avintia.