MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

Oscar, I'm citing Australian MC News Vol 57 No. 22 (May 2008) that discusses the 2008 design similarities of Rossi's Yamaha and Stoners Ducati. "The front forks are pushed as far forward as possible...moving the weight backwards as far as possible...Doing this makes the front end flighty". The article also mentions shortened swing arms and rear axles moved as far forward as possible to get the weight over the rear, thus causing the bike to hook up. The accompanying photos show the protruding triple clamps at the front of each bike and the stunted swing arms etc. Both bikes dance around at the front making the steering very dependant on “body English” and utter confidence in the machine.

Hi Saltbush welcome back,, you'd been MIA for so long,, where had you been all this while? Did you run into Marty Cowan lately?

i hope sete doesnt come back as quick in a test dont mean he will be quick in a race and i would hate to see him come back and make a monkey of himself and run as a has been i would like to remember him for his many battles with rossi!!!!

You could compare Sete and Marco on the same bike when they ride for Gresini's. The different is Sete knows how to make his own direction of his bike development. At the moment only one rider has done that and he is chasing the championship title hard.

An inprovement has been seen on Guintoli and Canepa. Thats a good sign but not enough. Ducati really need an old and experienced rider take one of the seat and doesn't matter in factory or satellite team.

So what, if Sete is not no.1 rider? His development skills are much valuable than all young and inexperience riders wondering around if "the bike could run by itself" (Honda philosophy)or not.

Is it Sete who made Honda match Rossi?

Andy Roo, your extract from Australian MC News is spot on. The Ducati & Yamaha are both very dependant on body English" and utter confidence in the machine.

Casey moves all over it, and for a smallish bloke, really muscles the bike.

Add to that, the comments from Sete "The faster you go, the more obvious it becomes that this bike demands a real physical and mental effort, but when you manage to ride it well, the satisfaction is unique." which concurs with what Stoner's fans are saying.

So, it might be the best bike, but certainly takes much more of everything to get it to 'happen'. The Yamaha is clearly the best in it's user friendliness.

Nicky, would be CS best teammate.

Andy - thanks, hadn't seen that article, that makes sense I guess, Stoner can carry a hard tyre and it doesn't bite so hard then.. Sheesh, a front end 'flighty' at those speeds? don't know whether to just declare total admiration for the guys - Rossi and Stoner - or wonder whether either of them are paid enough... makes you wonder whether Ducati had the TC turned up to 'very invasive' earlier and the bike was perpetually transferring weight to the front end in little jerks which was biting and shaking the tail around.. Boy, that sort of cuts the ground from under the Stoner / more TC argument - Saltie, what you wrote makes good sense.

Check this site 354 pictures of the 07 Ducati and 08 Model early pre Donningham and present and post Donningham 08 model,, pic #12 is a very close up of the lastest swing arm with trailing end radiused,,, pre Donningham swing arm chamfered on trailing edge...07 model thin swinging arm moto.gpupdate.net/en/photolarge.php?photoID=101199&catID=2414

Wouldnt Marco's contract have a "performance clause".
These are normally put in a contract to protect the rider and the
team. If the bike isnt performing then you have a reason to leave and vica versa if the rider dosent perform.
If MM is hanging around for the money then I think no team will want him next season.

yes, it is simple as that. either him or canepa, but gibbers for sure.

Saltbush,

Good pictures - I have an insight into MM's problem (I'm drinking red wine - it's Friday night - everything is becoming insightful). MM rode a Honda with B'stones. The Honda was designed around the Michelin package. He rode the bike in a way that compensated for the different tyres (individual set up notwithstanding - the design brief was Michelin). He is now riding a bike built around B'stone characteristics. He cannot ride a “B'stone bike” like a B'stone bike: he rides it like a Michelin bike wearing B'stones, and so he fails, really only Rossi and Stoner have rode a bike built around that tyre to the tyres potential. The next B'stone rider is usually CV on the Suzuki. ???