Not looking good from where I'm sitting. Latest testing for both classes hampered by rain, 2 MGP riders missed initial tests through surgery, D16.F13 not ready til Jerez and not much different to last years bike anyway.In Superbike last time out Carlos was 1.5 off the pace. Max Nuetkirkner who hasn't shown form since coming back from a bad off on the only satallite 1199. There's a tuning shop in Italy trying pretty radical chassis mods, hoping to find 'something'? Anyone heard any good news?
I hate to say so, but I dont think Ducati are going to win any 'major' trophies this year. The only Italian team with any chance are Aprilia
If it's the same test, Checa closed to .5 seconds, no? the long and winding road or the long and whining road )?
I dont think race success is at the top of the list at ducati. They used to only make race rep motorcyles and win at all costs was no1 as they sold bikes on that success. They build cruisers and all rounders at demand of the new to ducati owners nowadays sadly.
Ducati usa have just reported massive sales figures up on last year. That will be the diavel then? Ducati no longer need race success to sell bikes? Racing is no longer important.
If you get BMW in motogp expect it to become very important again. Audi - BMW big motorsport rivals, more than bike sales at stake.
from a sales point of view, it may not... the whole market has changed.. if you look at what they do then racing is very high up the list of Ducati / Audi priorities: 1. having done everything in their power to retain Vale 2. continuing the motogp efforts even they never had a better moment to get out. 3. maintaining the GP effert next to the more important WSBK effort. Racing is thè Ducati heritage. even Multis and diavel sell on the race derived engine+handling qualities... more over, should they quit now , it will be a losers end... that would change their winning pedigree for ever... so they will be around. It is juist that the effort has never been more difficult then now...
I'd be happy with a couple of wins, couple more podiums and a top 5 in WSBK, with 2014 being the year for challenge on the title. BSB crossing everything I have for the MR team to get closer to front with top 5s, but top 10 would be massive step forward from last year. But will the factory share their WSBK stuff where rules allow? Moto GP alas I reckon a couple of top 5's will probably be as good as it gets, and hat will be due to other DNF rather than Dovi or Spies or Haydon riding the wheels of a very difficult bike. Hope not but think it will. And Rossi will be front from the stat, top 4 but wont win much
I'm not sure wsbk is more important, moto GP is two wheeled formula 1 where wsbk is two wheeled touring cars. Also there are issues over tv rights. Bsb is given more tv airtime in the UK than wsbk, until every Superbike race is broadcast live in the same way moto GP is, it will always play second fiddle.
Is there going to be a 2nd rider in the Moto Rapido team? The only confirmed rider I know of is Matteo Baiocco and although he's won the Italian championship twice on 1198, he's got very little BSB knowledge, so will be track learning alongside setting up/developing the bike.(plus aclimatising to British weather!)
It will be tough for all next year in WSB looking at the proposed rule changes by dorna. but i agree with it, you can't have WSB's lapping quicker than Moto gp ducati's
Agree to a point but Audi want to make money not please race fans. They would of bent over backwards to keep VR as he sell's and is a huge marketing tool even if he didn't win a thing. I imagine Ducati would of signed him for life if he had stayed ?
i think winning races is still very important to Ducati. This year will be difficult. The pani is a totally new bike, it takes loads of time and testing to get it right. Its still 1 sec slower than the RSV4 on the straight. I really wonder why Ducati dont go down the V4 route, like Aprilia have. There have one in Motogp.
To be fair Skidoff Ducati have never failed before to win WSB race's and titles on a new bike 851 888 916 996 999 1098 :smile:
The pani is totally new bike engine frame etc. Thats the problem, it was rushed into production, no real testing. The 851, 888, 916. had nearly the same trellis frame, and suspension, it was a slow evolution. Nearly all ex racers that have tested the pani, say it isnt finished.
i hear that Alstare ( = belgian outfit ) sent the Pani back to the drawing board as the SSSA isn't stiff enough...
jury's still out I think! Don't think it's a pile of poop just yet, but I thought it was "unfinished" after the first ride. It has some brilliant features (engine) and some dreadful (electronic throttle control is nasty and crude), and some on which the jury is very much still out (chassis - or lack thereof). Lots of reports of "extremely agile" - good - not so much mention of "stable" or "good feedback" (which are lacking). But this needs a lot of riding and experimentation - and no-one is there yet. It's the handling which is hardest to sort - they are amazing engineers and will get that engine up to song in time. It just feels like it was rushed out, and needed another year of work. The stock engine is already a savage bit of kit for a twin, the WSB motor will be phenominal..... whether they can make it "rideable" or not is the issue (like in motogp - where they clearly couldn't). If Bayliss hadn't been so fast in testing, I think we would all think it was flawed. But he was genuinely (third party verified) 2 secs a lap quicker on the Panigale than his old 1098R...... so there is something in there.....
