MOTO GP ROUND 4 GRAND PRIX DE FRANCE SPOILERS

[triangleforge]

This race raises a question I've had for the last couple of years: Why is the Ducati a nearly unrideable handful in dry conditions, and competitive in the wet? The main complaints I've heard in public about the bike are: A) lack of front end feel, and B) it's difficult to get on the throttle as soon as the competition on corner exit - and often a combination of the two. I would have thought that wet conditions would make both of these characteristics radically worse and make for a pretty terrifying rainy day in the saddle.

I realize we're talking about good in the wet compared to the other bikes on the grid, but it still doesn't make sense to me. Is it something about the bike that just can't come to terms with the dry-conditions Bridgestones, but is on a more level playing field with the rain tires?

+1 about Spies.

[MadDuck]

This race raises a question I've had for the last couple of years: Why is the Ducati a nearly unrideable handful in dry conditions, and competitive in the wet? The main complaints I've heard in public about the bike are: A) lack of front end feel, and B) it's difficult to get on the throttle as soon as the competition on corner exit - and often a combination of the two. I would have thought that wet conditions would make both of these characteristics radically worse and make for a pretty terrifying rainy day in the saddle.

I realize we're talking about good in the wet compared to the other bikes on the grid, but it still doesn't make sense to me. Is it something about the bike that just can't come to terms with the dry-conditions Bridgestones, but is on a more level playing field with the rain tires?

+1 about Spies.

Maybe it's just because everyone is going just that bit slower in the wet. When it's dry and everyone is pushing to the max the Ducati is just weird enough that it can't be pushed enough to keep up.

[gm2]

yep.  it's about power delivery.  in the wet they can be much easier with the throttle and still be in the race.

that start for both ben and rdp was scary :/

so great to see rossi riding the bike again

[thought]

Yeah, I figure it's because the other bikes in the wet feel like the duc in the dry and since the duc riders are used to vague feedback from the front end and being gentle with the throttle they're basically being trained to ride in the wet all the time.

[Goat_Herder]

There were some great battles for 3rd and then for 2nd at the end.  I love how Rossi and Stoner traded punches thru a couple different chicanes.  It's brilliant!  I thought it was 2008 again.   

One thing that really bugged me was the commercial break on SPEED.  Mid-way thru the race, Rossi was fighting for 3rd Crutchlow and Dovizioso before commercial; comes back and Crutchlow (i thinkk) was gone.  No mention of what happened...  A couple of commercial breaks later, Dovi was gone...  WTF?

[derby]

One thing that really bugged me was the commercial break on SPEED.  Mid-way thru the race, Rossi was fighting for 3rd Crutchlow and Dovizioso before commercial; comes back and Crutchlow (i thinkk) was gone.  No mention of what happened...  A couple of commercial breaks later, Dovi was gone...  WTF?

motogp.com

[ngk12]

Speedtv and their announcer Greg Kramer are awful. Go back to the world feed only. Does anyone really want to hear Kramer butcher the riders names as he kills air time?

And Speedtv hasn't done anything right since nascar took over.

[OT]

At least, for this week, Speed toned down the background-engine-noise on the world feed so I could actually understand what the announcers were saying...

I realize we're talking about good in the wet compared to the other bikes on the grid, but it still doesn't make sense to me. Is it something about the bike that just can't come to terms with the dry-conditions Bridgestones, but is on a more level playing field with the rain tires?

FWIW - Rossi has always been 'untouchable' on wet/flooded/hurricane-ravaged tracks (except for the time he took out Stoner, but that was Stoner's fault   ) so it's not just that the 'other' bikes are slower under wet conditions.

[Drunken Monkey]

The parts of the performance envelope that the Ducati is having problems in aren't reached in the wet.

Basically, "vague front end feel" may not occur until you hit  > 45 degree lean angles and you don't see those sorts of lean angles in the wet (unless you're crashing)

Plus Rossi is a beast in the wet 

[duccarlos]

Apparently so is Lorenzo.

[derby]

The parts of the performance envelope that the Ducati is having problems in aren't reached in the wet.

in the immortal words of rob muzzy, "all slow bikes handle well..."

[fastwin]

Good one!

[derby]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/179954/1/rossi_stoner_joke_about_jerez_2011.html

[Novelo]

Wonder if Stoner's chatter was still happening in the rain if so that would have been one major concern for a high side while pushing the pace. To me, during the race it seemed like Stoner gave in a little and just settled for third rather than risk more and just catch Lorenzo later in the season on points which I'm sure he can do. 

[derby]

Wonder if Stoner's chatter was still happening in the rain if so that would have been one major concern for a high side while pushing the pace. To me, during the race it seemed like Stoner gave in a little and just settled for third rather than risk more and just catch Lorenzo later in the season on points which I'm sure he can do. 

speaking from experience, racing a motorcycle in the rain is not fun. 20 or 16 points is always better than zero.