News

[Blackout]

I look for Jackass to get a factory ride in 21.

[ducpainter]

I look for Jackass to get a factory ride in 21.

Unless Zarco sets the world on fire.

[koko64]

No ones ever secure at Ducati, even if they win them a world championship

Just saw Stoners health has deteriorated.

[ducpainter]

Got a link, Tony?

[koko64]

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=AwrgDd0_2utdFRQAq0J0g81Q;_ylu=X3oDMTByc3RzMXFjBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwM0BHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1575766719/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.autosport.com%2fmotogp%2fnews%2f147470%2fstoner-reveals-fresh-bout-of-chronic-fatigue/RK=2/RS=I6FF72hsMJsSFq0CaRSmz_3wSpc-

[koko64]

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=Awr9J.on2.tdwIEAhLR0g81Q;_ylu=X3oDMTByM3V1YTVuBGNvbG8DZ3ExBHBvcwMzBHZ0aWQDBHNlYwNzcg--/RV=2/RE=1575766952/RO=10/RU=https%3a%2f%2fwww.visordown.com%2fnews%2fracing%2fmotogp%2fmotogp-champion-casey-stoner-reveals-he-suffers-chronic-fatigue/RK=2/RS=pzzPCX4ydpBTlwo8Lr5s7wBfbHg-

Might work better.

[ducpainter]

Both worked. Thanks.

[duccarlos]

Neither worked for me, but I had seen an article on FB about Casey’s health issues.

Zarco was riding a year old Honda, not the bike MM or Lorenzo were riding, but he did show very good form. As DP mentions above, the Ducati is not the same bike it was even during the Rossi days. It might not turn as well as the Yamaha or Suzuki, but it’s likely on par or better than the Honda.

Again, as mentioned, no one is safe in the Ducati garage, but I think Jack is likely the safest of the riders, Danilo being the other side of that coin. They have a predicament with Dovi. He has been second in the championship the past few years, he is Italian and he’s always followed the party line. So when would be a good time to take a risk? Having Zarco waiting in the wings is a clear sign to Dovi that even he is replaceable, which is a bullshit move, but from the factory perspective they denied another manufacturer Zarco’s talent.

[kopfjäger]

Official announcement from Zarco.

https://www.crash.net/motogp/news/935090/1/zarco-officially-signs-avintia-ducati-updated

[kopfjäger]

[bdfinally]

https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/home/memorabilia

[koko64]

Imagine Jack turning up at your door with a case of beer and a bucket of KFC 

[koko64]

https://www.ducati.com/ww/en/home/memorabilia

A cheesy money grab, or a nice connection between the factory and the customer?

I was both impressed and surprised at how close to the workers and assembly lines we were during the factory tours. Also how hand built and team assembled each bike and motor still are. The atmosphere was intimate enough to feel bad about distracting the workers while they were concentrating on the task. The only robots in the assembly plant were small, encased units that applied Threebond.

I hope this signals a paradigm shift towards greater effort to connect with the customer at dealership level.

[stopintime]

I'm not very impressed ...  every bearing, almost every seal, the gearboxes, wheels and nearly all other sections come preassembled. The only part they make is the crank shafts. Nice experience, but not overwhelming. For me.

When the customer base becomes even more detached from mecanical stuff, Ducati might as well assemble the bikes elsewhere and show us the application of stickers and mounting of mirrors plus a historical multimedia (PP still "it"?)

This factory fan boy parts sale is a great idea for the few who care AND can afford them, but it's a patch.

The future is leasing, renting, racer for a day, deliver my bike to me, pick it up for repair when the diagnosis says so, at the same visit deliver another bike.

Sorry for the fever/cold triggered cynicism, but grown men look at me bewildered when I hand wash my bike and many get that detached look in their face if I mention spark plugs or a torque wrench.

 

[koko64]

We're a different generation Lars, for sure. The hipsters who want to recycle old bikes for the analogue experience, that's a good sign, they're looking for something.

I was trying to be hopeful about the factory.
20 years ago, I was converted by my experience with the Melbourne dealership that Brad worked at. It was run by real enthusiasts and the passion for the marque was infectious. The service was spectacular and the sense of community was strong.