HRC Sepang test

[zooom]

http://www.motomatters.com/results/2012/11/29/jerez_wsbk_and_ducati_motogp_test_day_4_.html

Pos No. Rider Bike Series Time Diff Previous
1 69 Nicky Hayden Ducati MotoGP 1:40.090     
2 33 Marco Melandri BMW WSBK 1:40.826 0.736 0.736
3 29 Andrea Iannone Ducati MotoGP 1:40.989 0.899 0.163
4 51 Michele Pirro Ducati MotoGP 1:41.265 1.175 0.276
5 7 Carlos Checa Ducati WSBK 1:41.840 1.750 0.575
6 7 Hiroshi Aoyama FTR Kawasaki MotoGP 1:41.975 1.885 0.135
7 8 Hector Barbera FTR Kawasaki MotoGP 1:42.507 2.417 0.532
8 19 Chaz Davies BMW WSBK 1:42.716 2.626 0.209
9 86 Ayrton Badovini Ducati WSBK 1:44.529 4.439 1.813

[duccarlos]

Nicky qualified third at Jerez with a 1'40.563. With the time posted he would have still qualified in third, but 0.5 behind Lorenzo. Still a pretty big margin, but making up half a second is a huge step forward.

[koko64]

Melandri's flyin'.
The P is 1.8 sec behing the GP13. I wonder how much development of the P will close the gap. The GP13 needs to keep progressing to avoid an embarrassing situation. Like many others I'd liketo see Nicky get a just reward for his loyalty and determination.

[duccarlos]

The GP program is already an embarrassment, but at least no one expects them to pull out miracles. Nicky could be an ambassador for Ducati, like Bayliss, but he has not been a winner on the thing.

[Raux]

At the risk of being naive/overly simplistic....if the Panigale is using something very similar to the GP "frame" then that must be the biggest constraint on performance, cause the GP engine is much more powerful than the Panigale engine.

The Panigale is using the previous generation GP frame, or frameless, design.
The new GP is a traditional Aluminum box/rail frame ala Japanese style.
The Panigale needs to dominate Superstock if not WSBK to prove the dedication to the technology that failed in GP.

Many feel the GP 90deg V is the problem. In the end, Ducati just can't make the front tire stick like Honda or Yamaha.

The new GP crew should, if all goes well, have enough data to produce a better frame say midyear or for next year at least. Audi is finally making changes that make sense, that Ducati never would, ie moving Prezioso off the program.

But if the Panigale fails, it all goes back to that man and his 'vision' of the Ducati GP/SBK.

[duccarlos]

I will give the Panigale the benefit of the doubt simply because it's radically different compared to the previous bike. Riders need to get accustomed to everything, but I do agree that if ultimately it fails then Prezioso will be held responsible.

[zooom]

I will give the Panigale the benefit of the doubt simply because it's radically different compared to the previous bike. Riders need to get accustomed to everything, but I do agree that if ultimately it fails then Prezioso will be held responsible.

holding Preziosi is all fine and dandy...in the end..what is the cost?...and to the WSBK program, that is huge!