Cheers Nedd, That article is David Emmet at his best! Just to add!! The Suzuki! Maybe some truth in Kevin S running the suzuki motogp factory squad when they return (2013?) VR on a suzuki ? Ducati best pull a finger out!
Sure. He is peerlessly good eh. I've posted the link in the other, VR & Ducati, thread. (If Suzuki found a major backer it's an interesting blue-sky notion. Kevin was one of VR's idols.)
Speaking about Valentino Rossi’s seventh place at last weekend’s Grande Prémio de Portugal Circuito Estoril, he said: "I think the result yesterday is based mainly on the small steps taken between one practice session and the next, keeping the same basic bike set-up and just trying to solve the small problems that you have practice by practice. Of course the result is better than before, but it is not at the level we are expecting, so we know we have to close the gap." Both Ducati riders have made it clear that the Ducati engine is producing so much power, that it is in fact a deficit when trying to get the best handling out of the bike. Preziosi outlines Ducati’s plans to overcome this issue: "We are working on improving the driveability. One of these items is an engine that has more torque at low rpm and less power at high revs. Usually this kind of engine gives better driveability. For the engine we have now, we have a lot of torque even at low rpm, and in fact we are not opening the throttle body at low rpm, because the torque is more than the chassis is able to use. So for that reason there is a question mark that only our riders can answer - if it makes sense to add more torque and less top power, even with this kind of engine? So we are very interested to test this engine to get an answer to this question." He explains how the new engine characteristics should aid the riders out on-track: "We believe that the engine driveability will help when you are at full lean and you open the throttle. To have a smoother response could help in avoiding that, when you are on the edge, you start to spin up and the bike starts to understeer. But we are doing some other activities on the chassis side in order to reduce the understeer." With the post-race Estoril test cancelled on safety grounds due to adverse track conditions, timing is crucial for the Italian team. "We think that we will end up at Laguna Seca with a complete package. We have different items we think will be good, so we are optimistic about our three tests at Mugello in May, June and July. We will test this package and should be ready for Laguna. The plan is to test with Valentino in May, and Nicky in May, June and July. July is an after race test and May and June are private tests. The first test is after Le Mans. Unfortunately we cannot test it today. If the riders are happy with the changes, we are ready to supply the third engine for Silverstone with that spec." Not all the upgrades Preziosi and his team envisage will be ready for the first test however. "At the first Mugello test we will start to test something, but there are other things that will only arrive in June and July. At the Mugello race we will not have the total package because the engine driveability package is related to the use of the engine. The idea is to seal engine number three in Silverstone and engine number four in Laguna, according to the mileage, so will not have the total package at Mugello. This is unfortunate, because Valentino likes the race a lot and it is our home track." And despite a slow start to the season, Preziosi is adamant he places his full trust and confidence in Rossi and his Crew Chief Jeremy Burgess: "For sure this challenge is being done because we want to build a bike for Valentino, because we believe that a bike Valentino likes, is a good bike for all the riders. We are following the direction of what he suggests. Of course we are trying to do that at the best of our capability, which is not enough right now to be faster than Honda. But for sure we will try in the direction that Valentino shows us. We give Jeremy 100 per cent freedom to define with Valentino what the best set-up is. So as Ducati, our duty is just to supply material, and we believe that the crew chief is imperative in the box. The way of working is to put the right person in the right position and allow that person to do what he thinks is best. We can suggest what our ideas are, but the final decision, day by day, practice by practice, is made by Jeremy speaking with Valentino."
Are the GP12's lap times and race times an improvement over the GP11's laptime/race times? I am just scratching around to see if there has been any signifcant improvement in over 12 months. Or is the aparaent lack of the ducati currently caused by a significant improvement by both Honda and Yamaha above and beyond normal expectations?
Only the Ducati team have the GP12. The others are on the 11, do you can see a comparison every race. Not good is it?
My thoughts exactly, I think vales recent outburst against some of the tech & ducati engineers that was so well publicised has forced them all in to a 'pretend everything is happy campers' routine whilst the reality is now nobody wants to accept liability. Rossi & JB (although I've not seen a JB negative comment) say that Ducati aren't listening & now Ducati are saying 'we'll follow you exact lead VR' so it's all down on you. Its the way the games played
Reading the MCN Sport article this month, Neil Spalding says any GP bike should be developed around the tyres. That's a pretty sad indictment of a single tyre rule really.
You would Derek, Your word is gospel :wink: So they use ducati settings now! blah blah blah :biggrin:
Wrong! The others 2 are on GP12/0 test bikes, Development. Keep up and Mate i thought you were a duke fan ? You have gone all honda on us!! :wink:
A far as i know mike all the 1000's lap a little slower now because of weight and new tyres ? PS your cheque is in the post.
And there was me thinking they were on last years cast offs, parts bin specials. More like going Kawasaki. Thinking of getting one of those ZZR14s.
Honda World champs post VR 2006 2011 Lots and Lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ wasted in 6 years All development years ? Yes or No ??
Heard a rumour that Bridgestone will quit Motogp at the end of this season. That would throw a spanner in everyone's works.
A press related rumour someone really in the know. Would certainly rock the boat possibly for the better, not convinced the single make tyre rule really did what was intended at the outset.
So ducati are now right behind VR after the emergency meetings at estoril. They have promised VR a very competitive bike by laguna seca to persuade Him to sign for 2 more years. I guess Audi have alot to do with this as VR sells!
