[alexs2]

Originally Posted by d0ct0r46

He could do with pulling some manners but boy he can ride a bike.

Rossi says he likes his new duc and although still a second behind (1.2) he's improving the bike where-as last year 'zis was no possibol'.

I really want vale to win the first race but realisticly he wont be challengeing for podiums until mid to late season

No question at all about Stoner.

He still has an enormous chip on his shoulder about how the press,and Australian press in particular,perceive him,but he can certainly ride.

He did exactly what I'd expected after his "day off"......came back,got on the bike and wasted the opposition,especially Pedrosa,who must be feeling pretty fed up by now.

The new Duke looks better,and seems to be going a lot better than last year's thing,even allowing for it being almost devoid of decent track time until now.

Stoner was exactly right when he said that MotoGP needs more than one team able to compete for wins,and if Yamaha and Ducati can get close,then it'll be a good year.

If Pedrosa comes 3rd or worse again this year,any bets on how long before he moves?

[bobflunkit]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

Ever tried putting on a made to measure suit over a back protector?
It's a nightmare, you either ask a mate to help or you try yourself and look like you're having someone kind of upright fit.
He could well have pulled something, apart from a hot wife.

Yep! And i agree.

But there is always something with him.

And yes he probably will be fast straight out of the box.

But will the arrival of baby stoner have that slowing affect on him or just more excuses

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by bobflunkit

Yep! And i agree.

But there is always something with him.

And yes he probably will be fast straight out of the box.

But will the arrival of baby stoner have that slowing affect on him or just more excuses

He was fast enough straight off at the testing.


I think he's a bit like Mansell was in F1...there's always something wrong,but he overcomes it all to win.

Baby Stoner.....no matter what you say about Stoner Sr,I can't see him slowing down.
He only knows one way to go and that's flat out.

[d0ct0r46]

Scotty boy Redding still fastest at the tests but will he turn it into a championship winning year ???

[KiLLiNG-TiME]

Nobody having a go this year !!? MCN Fantasy Road Race 2012 you haven't got long to register as WSB kicks off this weekend

Is anybodys doing an AVF Private League ?

[themilkman23]

Here you go, I've created a league called AVForums, the pin is 6181

[KiLLiNG-TiME]

Originally Posted by themilkman23

Here you go, I've created a league called AVForums, the pin is 6181

Nice thank you request sent

[Miss Chief]

Well that's messed up. I created my team and guess who's in my WSBK team? Hopper and Davies. Both were injured and didn't race!

[themilkman23]

Hopper was nailed on to be in my team until his injury.

Here is the link if anyone else wants to build a team and enter the Fantasy League MCN Fantasy Road Race 2012

[KiLLiNG-TiME]

I also had an injured rider so not the most auspicious of starts but hey its racing season again thank goodness, still i have to say though some of the paint schemes were a bit naff!!

[d0ct0r46]

well sepang II test has concluded and it's not looking good for ducati & the doctor

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by d0ct0r46

well sepang II test has concluded and it's not looking good for ducati & the doctor

No.....but once again looking very good for Honda and especially Stoner.

[d0ct0r46]

Originally Posted by alexs2

No.....but once again looking very good for Honda and especially Stoner.

I agree. It already looks like a fight for who's going to finish second !!!

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by d0ct0r46

I agree. It already looks like a fight for who's going to finish second !!!

Possibly.....but it should be a good one.

Pedrosa will want to show that he has it in him to win a championship,or settle for No.2 status to Stoner which would really hurt.

Dovi has something to prove and looks like he's trying hard,and who knows what Rossi can pull out over a race distance if he's reasonably close on pace.

Spies and Lorenzo have their own battle to fight,and Lorenzo is clearly the stuff of champions already.

The CRT teams look like a mess overall,and only Colin Edwards currently looks like being anywhere near the pace....I think they'll be mobile chicanes.

[MarkyPancake]

Yes, Ducati and Rossi are off the pace, I did expect better, but to be a second away from the Hondas and Yams that have been developed over at least a season, probably longer, compared to a bike that's three months old with a chassis they've never used before and only seen the track three times can't be all bad.

I don't think the factory Ducatis will be there at the start of the season, but with Rossi saying he can ride this GP12 the way he wants to compared to last year's bike, I hope we will see him dig in more without front end woes during the races this season, then as the year goes on I hope we'll see him near the front again.

[d0ct0r46]

Originally Posted by MarkyPancake

Yes, Ducati and Rossi are off the pace, I did expect better, but to be a second away from the Hondas and Yams that have been developed over at least a season, probably longer, compared to a bike that's three months old with a chassis they've never used before and only seen the track three times can't be all bad.

I don't think the factory Ducatis will be there at the start of the season, but with Rossi saying he can ride this GP12 the way he wants to compared to last year's bike, I hope we will see him dig in more without front end woes during the races this season, then as the year goes on I hope we'll see him near the front again.

I suppose at least Ducati have a 'direction' as they didn't seem to know which way to go last year. I would like to hear a bit more from JB. I'd like to know where he thinks they're at and what maybe possible. He's got masses of experience and is rarely wrong.

The more guys fighting for rostrums the better the specticle.

Rdp showed that maybe some of the crt's might not be too far off the satelite bikes.

More bikes on the grid and hopefully more riders fighting for podiums.............it's all good

[d0ct0r46]

Tweet from the texas tornado this morning from the last official test before the season kicks off !!!......

texastornado5: Good morning all!!! Let's get this circus started Just had breakfast in motor home & just heard a Ducati on track (1lap)

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by d0ct0r46

I would like to hear a bit more from JB. I'd like to know where he thinks they're at and what maybe possible. He's got masses of experience and is rarely wrong.

JB is the man who, very arrogantly it has to be said, stated it would take him '10 minutes' to sort out the Ducati.
Evidently, he can get it very wrong.

[d0ct0r46]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

JB is the man who, very arrogantly it has to be said, stated it would take him '10 minutes' to sort out the Ducati.
Evidently, he can get it very wrong.

Yes, true........i forgot about that one, oops

[MarkyPancake]

Now the Duc is using tried and tested material for the frame, lets see how development goes. Hopefully it will be more predictable for them to work with over the season.

[MarkyPancake]

Jerez Test Day 1: Both Rossi and Hayden struggling with corner speed and corner exit. Rossi concerned, because the bike has changed so much, yet they still have the same corner problem. Are we in for another long season?!

[d0ct0r46]

Originally Posted by MarkyPancake

Jerez Test Day 1: Both Rossi and Hayden struggling with corner speed and corner exit. Rossi concerned, because the bike has changed so much, yet they still have the same corner problem. Are we in for another long season?!

Looks like it, he's still complaining about lack of front end feel

[MarkyPancake]

Rossi is 1.5 off today. It seems that despite all the changes, they still can't get enough weight over the front. I can't see them being able to do much about it, because of the size and shape of the engine. I hope they prove me wrong as the season progresses though, because I want to see Rossi back at the front.

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by MarkyPancake

Rossi is 1.5 off today. It seems that despite all the changes, they still can't get enough weight over the front. I can't see them being able to do much about it, because of the size and shape of the engine. I hope they prove me wrong as the season progresses though, because I want to see Rossi back at the front.

So many people have commented on Ducati's unwillingness to do anything about the engine as a major problem.

The others have left them behind to an extent,but the season start beckons....

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by alexs2

So many people have commented on Ducati's unwillingness to do anything about the engine as a major problem.

To be fair, why should they abandon their tradition?
Large angle V-shaped engines are what Ducati are about.
The layout works fine in WSB.
The difference is the tyres.
Pirellis have nice flexi sidewalls, Bridgestones have mega-stiff ones that run as low as 9psi and could even run fine with 0psi.
It's a bit much to expect Ducati to design a whole new engine to suit a tyre.
A bit like rebuilding a room to suit new curtains.
I suppose this is where Ducati have a decision to make.
Abandon their beliefs/tradition to chase race wins, or abandon MotoGP altogether?

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

To be fair, why should they abandon their tradition?
Large angle V-shaped engines are what Ducati are about.
The layout works fine in WSB.
The difference is the tyres.
Pirellis have nice flexi sidewalls, Bridgestones have mega-stiff ones that run as low as 9psi and could even run fine with 0psi.
It's a bit much to expect Ducati to design a whole new engine to suit a tyre.
A bit like rebuilding a room to suit new curtains.
I suppose this is where Ducati have a decision to make.
Abandon their beliefs/tradition to chase race wins, or abandon MotoGP altogether?

All true....

But that's the thing isn't it.....do they stick with the current engine,or give in and adapt,like the others have.

To win in something as fast moving(pun intended and otherwise!) as top end motorsport,every manufacturer needs to adapt,and it took them an age to appreciate that last year.

Honda and Yamaha WANT to win,and the last of the Honda 800s was a superb example.

Any team that sticks with tradition in sportscars or F1 is immediately at a disadvantage.

[MarkyPancake]

I believe Honda and Yamaha have got much more resources than Ducati though. It took Honda five years to get the 800 right and they threw a lot of chassis at it along the way, whilst Ducati went the carbon fibre root that only really worked for one rider (or was it more that Stoner just didn't care and just gave it all he could and knew it was on/beyond the limit).

If powerhouses like Honda and Yamaha didn't see any benefit to a carbon fibre chassis, that's got to tell you something.

[alexs2]

Originally Posted by MarkyPancake

I believe Honda and Yamaha have got much more resources than Ducati though. It took Honda five years to get the 800 right and they threw a lot of chassis at it along the way, whilst Ducati went the carbon fibre root that only really worked for one rider (or was it more that Stoner just didn't care and just gave it all he could and knew it was on/beyond the limit).

If powerhouses like Honda and Yamaha didn't see any benefit to a carbon fibre chassis, that's got to tell you something.

I agree......theose two(Honda especially)have huge resources compared to Ducati,but what you say about Stoner and the carbon chassis does seem to be the case,as he ended up throwing himself off it quite a bit over the last few years.

Just too rigid and unforgiving,which is what you want in an LMP1 or F1 car,but doesn't seem to be the case with a bike.

[FZR400RRSP]

Originally Posted by alexs2

Honda and Yamaha WANT to win,and the last of the Honda 800s was a superb example.

That's got a lot to do with Japanese culture, where 'losing face' against the opposition is everything.
They'll spend whatever they can to get one over another Japanese factory.
Don't get me wrong, I'm sure Ducati want to win too, I'm not saying they don't.
But do they want it enough to give up on their traditional engine and spend millions on a new layout?
A layout that may never be allowed near a road bike?
Just to satisfy Rossi in his career twilight?
When his replacement might just manage fine the way it is?
I know Hayden is struggling too, but that doesn't mean someone else will.

[d0ct0r46]

Originally Posted by FZR400RRSP

I know Hayden is struggling too, but that doesn't mean someone else will.

No but all other duc riders apart from stoner couldn't ride it.

Edit: baylis won a race in valencia