I love Ducati through and through, however as far as im concerned, i dont really care about their manufacturers (lack of) success in motogp> its great when they do well in WSBK, but even then im not really rooting for Ducati, but for the rider. Case in point...i dont give a monkeys about Hayden or Dovi particularly and am not bothered if they get pole irrespective of what theyre riding..like wise, im rooting for Rossi, Marquez, Edwards and several others..none of whom are Ducati boys..and i dont care what team they ride for.. It was the same in WSBK..i supported Bayliss, Edwards, Scott Russell, Corser, Crutchlow, Haga, Nagai (RIP) and was never really bothered what factory they rode for..i always despised Foggy, and i must admit i disliked the fact that he rode for Ducati as Duke riders became arrogant tossers by proxy. Does anyone else feel the same? Rider before factory?
50/50 really. I'd like to see ducati do well, but also want to see Rossi, cal and Marquez do well too. Don't really care about the other manufacturers. same for F1. Like seeing Ferrari do well, but also Jensen, Lewis and Di resta too.
Marque first for me. I couldn't give a toss who's riding it as long as the big red one finishes first. Don't get me wrong, it's nice to have a rider with a decent personality gushing rays of sunshine blah de blah, but again, I don't really care. I love Ducati, by default, I support them and he that doth winnith. :All: Hail Emperor Stoner That's me in trouble then :smile:
I support Ducati but the riders have to 'earn' my respect. Took me a while to come round to Capirosi and Hayden. Never loved Tosland but I will worship Dovi if he beats VR fair and square.
Rider first always. Watched Marquez from the early days and of course Cameron Lee if he ever gets his arse in gear and brings his good old dad some trophies home pmsl
the prospect im hoping will break through is scott redding. i like to see ducati win (of course), but i dont jump from my sofa screaming "Forza Italia", not unless Rossi is onboard or Simoncelli (RIP)... i remember that epic Rossi/Lorenzo battle at catalunya..yam vs yam..i didnt give a fekk about the machinery, i was cheering the lads on... if only the dream had come true for Rossi and Ducati eh? Back in the days of Sheene, Lawson, Hailwood etc, fans didnt get sucked into Suzy vs Wanda etc...its great when theres that rider/factory relationship, but theres no loyalty at the top.. if Barry had jumped onto a fkn Laverda i would still have cheered for HIM..(even though i was only 7 at the time)...Barry got me into bikes, not Heron Suzuki. best thing that ever happened for Cal was NOT getting the Ducati ride..for me, Ducati dont even get on my radar in motogp, much as i love the company... Riders first always for me..they are the true stars, even though some bikes have become genuine legends (NSR 500 and Ducati 916 spring to mind).. its the riders who make the bikes cool, not the other way around.
I guess this is akin to which football team do you support ... I mean if you followed Liverpool/ManUtd etc you'd have your favourite players. Keegan/Dalglish perhaps or Best/Cantona? But you still have a favourite Club. Players/Riders make history for the Club/Marque ... but ... no-one is bigger than the Club/Marque Ducati United.
agree with funky monkey... I couldnt care about the bike. its about the rider and how they battle on. was always a fan of melandri, rossi, hislop, plater, martin, chilli. haga
Thankfully there is room for both. Would love to see Ducatis performing well, but I also like to see the best racers win irespective of machinery. There are very few riders I don't like, so for me as long the racing is good, honest and true, I couldn't care less which rider wins Saying that, I do miss watching Stoner race. Thankfully thou, there is youtube and DVD
Another rider then brand here, altho sometimes (like Bayliss or Foggy) the brands has made me notice the rider. But Vale or Shakey can ride anything and I'll hope it wins.
Rider first for me, that's what I identify with. Bayliss, Rossi, Haga, even crazy Tony Elias that one race (in 2006?) when he went around the outside of everyone at Estoril. Brand comes a distant second in MotoGP, and a close second in WSBK and the other proddy events.
Rider for me but would be happy for a Ducati win regardless of who's piloting it . I was cheering Dovi on at Le Mans and was gutted he didin't get rewarded with a podium. Pedrosa is my man at the moment as I want him to get the title, (nice bloke just gets on with his racing) followed by Marquez (Stoner like) , but if my rider cant win I'd rather a Ducati finish in a podium position even if it meant my rider was fourth.
luckily i bleedin hate football.... does anyone remember garry mccoys rear wheel steering antics? there must be a thread on here somewhere for the great unsung heroes of motorbike racing. http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gun-b9lxpP0
Aye, twas a crap analogy, I do remember watching Karl Harris headbutt a low-flying Gsxr 1000 outatheway at Thruxton 4-5 years ago, massive respect for that. British Superbikes - Tom Sykes & Karl Harris Crash Thruxton 2008 - YouTube
The rider is it for me.Brit of course.Sheene got me into bikes I suppose.There will always be the odd Johnnie foreigner that has that something that makes you want him to win,or at least do well.Then there are those that despite how you feel about them ,you cant help but admire(C Stoner).
