Rea would be interesting. Impatient and aggressive, seems a trend coming back to MGP. And all the better for it
I was going to say the class needs some aggression now the bikes are so safe. But it seems that firing yourself into orbit is coming back into fashion these days:biggrin:
i am sure you are right about Cal finishing next season with less points next season than this. but the facts are that over a lap, Dovi has been quicker than Rossi is this year on his Yamaha and was last year on the Ducati. The qualifying shows this. He had a front row FFS. It's not his fault the bike fades as the race goes on, but for me Dovi is doing better than Rossi did at Ducati. we are discussing riders and their abilities, not the bikes abilities or issues, so looking at whole race is unfair on Dovi
aparantly , as the cog of the Ducati engine is further rearwards they cannot make the geometry as sharp as they would like. this gets tiresome on the riders and makes it harder to load the front and get the tire to heat up. that would be why a quick lap is possible but much harder over a race...
and when did Dovi saty in front for the race?! More Rossi hate, its more grating than Stoner hate. Facts are Ducati have struggled since the early days of being back with Stoner and only Stoner has been able to ride it. Lets hope the development this tyear and next will put Cal in a position to at least match this year in 2015. That would be a step forward.
We weren't discussing that at all, we're duscussing whether or not Cal's move to Ducati is good or bad for him. Looking at a whole race is unfair..? What are you saying, take each rider's best lap from the race and declare a winner from that, even if he crashed or came stone last?? Ridiculous.
Hang on a minute. YOU were the one who brought up Rossi, asking if Cal could do better than a 9 times world champion. i just pointed put that Dovis qualifying has been better than Rossis. Its not hate, that is just a fact. As much as you may not like it, it is true. Just as it is true that Rossis 2 years at Ducati were a disaster. But you will construe that as hate also. But it's not. It's just a fact. I don't hate Rossi. I just dont buy the hype on him. but in the interests of balance I think he was hard done by, by MM at Laguna. I am also beginning to wonder if Honda are using MM to needle Rossi a wee bit with some of the things he has been up to.
A decent article on Cal's decision to join Ducati; A Leap In The Dark? Why Cal Crutchlow's Move To Ducati May Be Smarter Than It Looks | MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks
Why does everyone think Kropotkin is a great motogp writer? His articles have been linked here on several occasions but they rarely reveal anything new or exciting, all the writing about Crutchlow there has already been said in this very thread by us lot. All he's said is that Crutchlow didn't have much of a choice, and that maybe Ducati will change the bike soon. No shit, Sherlock.
I honestly wish him well, but I think he's messed up big. I believe the bike can be made to handle but it ain't gonna happen over night, and good riders (arguably better riders) have tried and failed. The biggest problem he faces (aside from the obvious lack of competitive machinery underneath him) is that he's out of phase with most of the paddock on the two year signings. after the 2014 season I think there will be plenty of change, and cal will be halfway through the torture and watching all the factory rides change. I'm hoping he's been smart enough to get some kind of get out clause at the end of 2014 if the machinery still isn't competitive.
Nobody in their right mind would tie themselves to the Ducati for 2 years, you can bet your life both Cal and Dovi have got get-out clauses in their contracts.
God I hope so! If he's gonna bide his time for a year, then be in the big change around at the end of 2014 it could be the master stroke that gets him on a "proper" factory ride!
Still think he should have grabbed at Bradl's bike, and I still think money was the bigger factor in his final decision. I hope it doesn't hurt his career.
Anyone watch BsB today? Pal Bird saying Shakey can do what he wants next year and he will support him, then said 'whether he wants to stay here or go to Moto Gp, whatever...'
I agree, Bradl or Bautista's would have been more competitive. It's defo about the money and the "factory ride" anxiety. I fear it will do harm though, with the exception of stoner, that bike has been a career buster!
And why not. The guy's a great racer and his only showing in motogp was on the awful Aprilia Cube thing. There are new avenues opening up in motogp with the advent of CRT and the customer bikes/engines from Honda and Yamaha, and hey, the more on the grid, the merrier. Shakey's got nothing to lose really.
