They have already used 2 90 degree motors so if they build a 75 degree motor they only have 4 to use for the season and we are only 3 weeks from Jerez. Unless it's in the works it would be a huge engineering issue from scratch. New frame, new motor and probably new most things bolted to it also. Anything could happen though, there is plenty at stake for al concerned.
Though that would be consistent with what Rossi was told after the negative feedback of the Sepang test: new parts, but not until after the first 3 GPs.
That resurrects an old one started by Marco Melandri in the middle of last season: Valentino Rossi has asked for a Gresini Honda says Marco Melandri http://www.visordown.com/motorcycle-racing-news-moto-gp/rumour-rossi-wants-a-honda/18789.html
Its a shame to me that we cant go back to open tyre contracts and ditch the Bridgestone's. If only to show one way or the other whether they are the critical factor. Ducati will at least wait until the promised new fronts arrive. Vale is not too old by a long way but he will only carry on, highly motivated to win, if there is a good chance that he can.
Some interesting stats here for y'all, a comparison of race times on the 800 in 2011 and the 1000 in 2012, - meaning quicker and + slower: Cal Crutchlow Yamaha (11th) / Yamaha (4th) -11.780sec Dani Pedrosa Honda (3rd) / Honda (2nd) +1.446sec Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (2nd)/ Yamaha (1st) +2.205sec Hector Barbera Ducati (12th) / Ducati (9th) +2.200sec Nicky Hayden Ducati (9th) / Ducati (6th) +6.642sec Casey Stoner Honda (1st) / Honda (3rd) +8.553sec Andrea Dovizioso Honda (4th) / Yamaha (5th) +17.123sec Valentino Rossi Ducati (7th) / Ducati (10th) +22.879sec Colin Edwards Yamaha (8th) / Suter-BMW (12th) +37.440sec Ben Spies Yamaha (6th) / Yamaha (11th) +52.084sec The big point of interest is that the litre bikes haven't gone any quicker: Lorenzo and Stoner were both fractionally slower this year than last. And the stat underlines Cal "Yeah, what can I say, I'll do me best, yeah, dunno, what can I say, I'll give it me all, yeah, whatever, let's see what 'appens" Crutchlow's remarkable improvement. The Ducati element is that in 2012 an uninjured, Desmo-experienced Rossi was 23 seconds slower on the bigger, better, all-improved GP12 than the injured, Desmo-newbie Rossi was on the hopeless GP11...
maybe because that's what they did with Casey and ended up with a bike only 1 man could ride. The idea of JB and Rossi was to turn the bike into a package that could be leased and be competitive. Fast though the young guns are they have little development experience and would just be a full circle to the Casey story. Even Casey had less wins year on year he was there so it wasn't an improving package. Sadly Rossi hasn't reversed that trend or even got near
The Philip morris group (marlboro) payed VR the sum of money to get him on the duke! Do you really think VR will or stupid enough to walk away ? Phillip morris group will take him to every court possible for breach of contract. I expect Ducati have took the kick up the arse had a crisis meeting and now are working on the engine and electronics. One thing VR has not moaned about is the chassis. According to JB and the fact he's stayed up right unlike last year.
Ned, extra weight, new tyres etc will make them slower, plus the track temp was cooler than last year.
This bit sounds key to me: "It's very clear who makes our bike: [Filippo] Preziosi is the boss and the thinking brain behind everything. It's up to him to help us. "Our problems are very clear: what doesn't work at the rear, under acceleration, in my opinion comes from the front, and the cause is understeering. "At turn-entry, because of something we don't know, the front doesn't allow you to tighten the turn. This understeering is the biggest problem. "The incredible thing is that this characteristic is similar to all the Ducatis I've ridden since 2010: whether it's the version with no chassis, or the one with the carbon-fibre front, of the one with the aluminium front, or the one with the full chassis... it doesn't ever change, that's incredible. Sounds like he is saying they are ignoring what he tells them.
Sounds like someone at Ducati has said to him, 'the bike is fine, it's you'. That's why he's said what he said. Good job the italians aren't hotheads...
Didn't they same the same thing to Stoner? I wonder if Preziosi might get the boot at some point if he continously refuses to listen what his riders say.
I 100% back that about Stoner now! They ignored Him and he just won or binned it, But He was lucky to not seriously hurt himself. The times changed when Bridgestone had to supply others in 2008 and not just Ducati before. Preziosi may well get the boot over this, but i reckon he got a roasting from Torchio Tuesday Morning. We will see....................:smile:
Sorry, that first line again? You now take back everything you said about stoner binning it or moaning because now Rossi has said the same thing it's believable? Tell me it ain't so
Feck me, i had the stop watch going waiting for you to sniff that post out PMSL I didn't have the time to press start! :smile:
