MOTOGP » Hayden '09 mirrors Melandri '08

The guys on Eurosport said (repeatly) this weekend that Casey has said he has switched back to last years electronics package because 'its simple' and he can ride with it.

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It's crazy to think that Nicky and Marco are having such a time riding this bike. But let's be realistic, the satellite ducati's don't do well either. They never have. Actually Elias did good from time to time, but again, In all three of the years we're talking about. Stoner has been at the top or thereabouts while the rest of the Desmos' have been at the bottom of the list. I for one can't wrap my mind around the fact that ONE rider is able to utilize this bike... Scary

And if we go back to the "Honda years"??
Marco won more races in fewer years.In fact more victories in NH's "big year" and Marco was never on a
"full works Honda".G.F.

Talking about electronics I suggest everybody to visit at 2D-DataReckording website. I am working on Formula Student project, and took ideas from their catalog. Their products are awesome, from GPS to TC. Yamaha and Suzuki has been using 2D parts for years, such as Kawa did. The only thing that is developed home is engine-mapping in which looks like Magneti Marelli (Yam) works better than Enel (Duke). And don't forget anti-wheelie system on the Yam's (Edwards spoke about that several weeks ago), which makes the bike absolutely stable on corner exit and accelerating. Ducati is in trouble, if Stoner gets hurt (sb knocks him out...), then they will be in the bottom of the field...

The 800cc Ducati is rapidly developing a reputation as a career killer. The only person who can ride it competitvely and consistently is Stoner (Barros, Capi, Elias all had podiums though). So in the future you might see the top riders avoid it like the plague. The only riders on it being Stoner and guys just happy to have a ride. Actually 2009 looks like that now...

For one thing Elias beats the others - it's his Ducati well riding. Also Alex Barros was good and probably they would got better results with earlier Luis D'antin throw himself out as team boss.
Hats of to Casey but when I saw his bike behaving on wet (like Le Mans, Mugello) it's purely simply what is their problem. The bike has too short range for any individual adjustements or the electronic is too intrusive. At the other hand some of riders maybe have personal problems with higher corner speed than 990cc has.

With that situation Casey Stoner is the man who can demand from Ducati the highest salary in the motogp paddock even doubled Rossi's salary.

i think it might be a good idea to withhold all judgment until after the first 'official' test next weekend in barcelona. during which nicky can exercise is 'excellent work ethic' and put in the kind of seat time he obviously needs to sort things out along with his new crew chief. if he still can't get the bike to 'plant' and give him the feeling he needs to push it to the edge, then feel free to start over with 'relegation talks'...
'nicky to wsbk' 'nicky to hayate' nicky to drive zamboni for sj sharks... yada yada yada
but if i were a betting man my guess is he'll still be there next year, and if he really is 'lucky' then maybe he will also be fast...
now let the disagreeing/hating start!

Did anyone watch the hockey game last night? How about those Penquins beating Detroit? As for Nicky, I hope he can turn things around, but I don't have a lot of faith that he will.

Some interesting comments but a lot of cr*p mixed in between them too.

I think a lot of you are missing a huge point here. It's not the rider that needs to *learn* how to ride it, the onus is on Ducati themselves to come up with a bike that's rideable by more than 1 person! I'm convinced that Stoner has *lucked* into being able to ride the Duke and although he's a good rider, he's not anything special. Those that have ridden the Ducati before and after him are just as good a rider as he is. (I expect a backlash but I couldn't care less)

Those comments by members about the electronics that Casey uses are 100% correct. Julian mentioned it umpteen times during the weekend. Was it not...