MotoGP Jerez 2014 *** Spoilers ***

[koko64]

Let's imagine this, to solve all the IF and ELSE about riders, skills, bikes and tires.
One event a year, whose bike and tire sponsors are drafted among the one taking part to the MotoGP championship (and willing to participate, of course).
So, one bike, for everyone, which is allowed to be customized only for ergonomics.
The bike sponsor will have to provide bikes for the racers. It's $$$, but the marketing potential is high, and collectors would likely kill themselves to eventually own the bike used in the trophy by their favorite rider.
Few sets of different tires, among which the riders can chose depending of race conditions. One sponsor, or maybe many, since the riders will be free to chose the best tire for him.
One selected track where the event take place.
Race on Sunday, but the event starts the weekend before, with large media coverage and riders participating to the opening, and interacting with fans.
Sponsors have the chance to use that as advertising event for new bikes and gear, among the fans taking part to the opening.
A few wild cards might be given to riders of other categories, as long as they will qualify in terms of time on laps.
Monday to Thursday for the riders to test the bikes, and adjust the ergonomics. No engine changes whatsoever allowed.
Media coverage of the tests, with interviews with the riders all along the way.
Friday and Saturday it's laps timing for grid selection, and Sunday The Race.
Sunday night party with strippers and booze!   

I elect Phillip Island as the venue!
They party hard at the Island.

[koko64]

Unfortunately for the opposition, MM seems to have a combination of the strengths of Rossi and Stoner rolled into one, without the weaknesses.

MM has Rossi's joyful killer instinct, tactical judgement and mental toughness with Stoner's kinaesthetic touch.

[duccarlos]

Are we going to start a silly season thread? Cause the announcers were talking the possibility of Pedrosa going to Suzuki. HRC has made quite a few offers to Lorenzo in the past, but I doubt his ego would allow for MM to beat him on the same bike

[MadDuck]

Can Ducati just buy out Crutchlow's contract so he can go somewhere, anywhere, and we don't have to watch another agonizing downward inverted spiral like Spies?

[lazylightnin717]

I wish he had never signed that contract.

He is already pregnant doging about the lack of progress with the bike.

Then again he is having the bad luck curse that Spies had

[koko64]

Can Ducati just buy out Crutchlow's contract so he can go somewhere, anywhere, and we don't have to watch another agonizing downward inverted spiral like Spies?

+2
It's hard to watch a career get derailed. Even more so for a likable bloke.
I reckon Crusty would ride the wheels off a customer Honda. At least it's predictable. A good basic package, but underpowered, but he could really grab that thing and show everyone what he could do.
"Customer" Yamaha would have been even better. Right now a fringe team Yamaha must look peachy.

[thought]

+2
It's hard to watch a career get derailed. Even more so for a likable bloke.
I reckon Crusty would ride the wheels off a customer Honda. At least it's predictable. A good basic package, but underpowered, but he could really grab that thing and show everyone what he could do.
"Customer" Yamaha would have been even better. Right now a fringe team Yamaha must look peachy.

I think the problem with that is once you're off a factory bike it's pretty much impossible to get back onto one... and at least the Duc will be developed as the season goes.  With the satellites/production bikes... satellites might get hand me downs and production bikes will probably get a revision the next year. Remember, it's always been his and Dovi's goal to be a factory rider.

Factor that in with all the new talent coming up in Moto2/3... I think CC's best bet is to stick with the Duc and pray that Gigi can make some miracles happen... or if he could somehow go to Suzuki.

[koko64]

Yeah, you're right. Factory is where it's at if you have any ambition.
Hopefully Gigi can turn it around.

[duccarlos]

CC will pregnant dog either way. He's getting frustrated between the injury and some issue that came out of nowhere to completely ruin his race. The fact that the Ducs are regularly beating the satellites shows a lot of progress. Last year they were fighting for 8th and 9th places. Now they seem to be fighting for 5th and 6th. CC knew what he was getting into.

[MadDuck]

CC will pregnant dog either way. He's getting frustrated between the injury and some issue that came out of nowhere to completely ruin his race. The fact that the Ducs are regularly beating the satellites shows a lot of progress. Last year they were fighting for 8th and 9th places. Now they seem to be fighting for 5th and 6th. CC knew what he was getting into.

+1.      Gigi has got things turned but Cal isn't where he said he would be nor where we expected him to be. I don't think we thought he would be battling up front but geeez. I always said Dovi was a more solid rider than Cal, maybe not as brash or flashy, but results speak for themselves.

[Triple J]

We always knew Cal was going to be good for some quotes! 

[koko64]

CC knew what he was getting into.

Yep, you're right too. You guys are the voice of reason.
I also forget, there was the cigarette money.

[triangleforge]

+1.      Gigi has got things turned but Cal isn't where he said he would be nor where we expected him to be. I don't think we thought he would be battling up front but geeez. I always said Dovi was a more solid rider than Cal, maybe not as brash or flashy, but results speak for themselves.

I couldn't find the quote, but if Cal said the bike's not progressing, I think the results of the other Duc riders show that's not quite correct. And by progressing, I mean in relation to the likes of Lorenzo, Rossi & Pedrosa. Nobody's progressing relative to Marquez.

But his anger is entirely appropriate at the fact that he keeps lining up with a bike that craps out on him more weekends than not. It's probably even more frustrating that most of the problems seem to be one-off, weird snafus and things that aren't necessarily even under the control of his crew. And it's got to be absolutely maddening to miss one race and underperform qualifying for another with something that sounds as minor (but isn't) as a broken pinkie.

[thought]

I couldn't find the quote, but if Cal said the bike's not progressing, I think the results of the other Duc riders show that's not quite correct. And by progressing, I mean in relation to the likes of Lorenzo, Rossi & Pedrosa. Nobody's progressing relative to Marquez.

But his anger is entirely appropriate at the fact that he keeps lining up with a bike that craps out on him more weekends than not. It's probably even more frustrating that most of the problems seem to be one-off, weird snafus and things that aren't necessarily even under the control of his crew. And it's got to be absolutely maddening to miss one race and underperform qualifying for another with something that sounds as minor (but isn't) as a broken pinkie.

aka The Curse of the Spies

Sadly, it seems to be striking CC before he's won any kind of world championships.  I almost forget that less than a year ago CC was nipping at the heels of the lead pack and 2 years ago Dovi was a solid year long podium finisher. Pretty sad really.

Let hope they manage to roll out some real development pieces during the Mugello test... that should be the first real development under Gigi's reign.

[OT]

Well, it isn't like nobody knew the Duc's been a perennial problem, then Cal was fed the Red CoolAid and woke up surprised….or didn't he notice Rossi in his rear view mirror for the past two years?