Stoner puts 2009 Ducati on top!

Unimpressive on time gap!...

Well done..

now put it on top in a race!

It IS impressive that the GP9 is quicker than the GP8 on race tyres after just one day of set-up time - and that they've done a 'first' in terms of the carbon fibre frame in motogp without any apparent problems.

That'll be something else for Honda to struggle to get their heads around in the near future...

So Ducati are testing their 09 bike and looking good: while Honda are just now ready to start testing their 08 package....well done boys

SO YOUR TELLING ME HE CAN ONLY GET THIS GP9 A FEW HUNDREDS OF A SECOND QUICKER THAN THIS YEARS BIKES??? HAHAHAH ID BE WORRIED IF I WAS STONER VERY WORRIED, IF THIS IS TRUE HE WILL GET TROUNCED NEXT SEASON.....

I HAVE AN IDEA FOR DUCATI GET RID OF THE CRBON FRAME COS THEY ARE BAD ON VIBRATIONS VERY BAD.... BEST THEY DESIGN A ALLOY ONE FOR NEXT YEAR........

What an idiot.
In almost every case when a new bike is launched, it is initially SLOWER than the previous year's model because the set-up is not there.
The fact that this very early prototype is already faster than the GP8 is highly encouraging for the riders, and shows there is much more to come.
Really, some of you bozzos know absolutely nothing about racing - why do you show yourselves up by posting?

With the Honda and Ducati already faster than the Yam they too could do with an upgrade, thought I heard about significant engine upgrade for yam couple of races back but all gone quiet..Yam need to keep up, which means working harder because they were so far behind..

I think Yamaha are working quietly. Just because they don't have a fancy carbon frame doesn't mean they aren't developing the bike. They did a fantastic job during the winter and I'm sure they won't ease off since competition is so stiff and so close.

This is as much about riders as bikes. Rossi is going to sign with Yamaha if he's guarranteed to get his **** kicked next year? No way! Yamaha have established riders and a plan. Stoner is the only one able to really ride the Ducati so who will partner him next year? Honda has built a bike for Pedrosa, so sorry Nicky. Suzuki and Kawasaki have both churned riders to achieve little, either their bikes are dogs or they choose the wrong riders, take your pick.

And as for top speed, well Rossi has won a lot of races where he was down to seventh through the speed trap. A bike isn't just an engine and a race isn't about top speed or even fastest qualifying.

Well done Casey and Ducati. Very impressive!

I wonder how quick Marco will go with the GP9 today, if they get to test it whether permitting..??

I think Kawasaki should try and follow Ducatis lead and start pressing towards 2009 right now, as the Kawak season is finished already.

As i mentioned on another thread, i wouldn't be surprised if they are racing the GP9 by the end of the year, if the WC is already determined by then, and if Marco takes more of a liking towards it then the GP8.

Already rolling in the GP9 was the thing to do, and setting up equal or better laps the day it's handed over to the rider(s) is more than a good sign !
I too bet the Gp9 will in fact see racing this year: Ducati and Casey know they lost the 08 championship and concentrate instead on developing a better bike.
I can smell victory ahead

If the GP9 is already as quick given a single days testing it would be a good move to get it racing ASAP

HAHAHAH

"I HAVE AN IDEA FOR DUCATI GET RID OF THE CRBON FRAME COS THEY ARE BAD ON VIBRATIONS VERY BAD.... BEST THEY DESIGN A ALLOY ONE FOR NEXT YEAR........"

Interesting point !

I had been quite excited by the prospect of carbon frames and the advantages I imagined them to yield.

Can you please let us have any reference points which have convinced you that this is the case

a carbon frame is a big step forwards for Ducati.
they passed one step of evolution by not trying the aluminum frames.
by being the first to use the carbon frames they will have to deal with lots of testing and problem solving.
and i don't think they have the right riders for development.
i hope I'm wrong BUT....

there were carbon frmaes in the 80s ... it s not the first time ...

first in the current MotoGP age,with so much power and grip available.

To Blubber. The honda faster than the Yamaha get real,the Yamahas are consistently faster than all the Hondas and have been all season.Only one with a slight chance is pedrosa with his jockey weight,other than that the rest of the Hondas cant hang with the Yamahas...Check out the fastest honda (pedrosa )against Rossi,Jorge in China,Estoril,Qatar etc....Only thing remotley helping Pedrosa is Hondas slight advantage in accleration over the Yamaha,but it falls flat at the top end where the Yam comes into play...Hondas faster than the Yamahas i dont think so,you should know this blubber.

His reference point is from the the Armstrong 250cc back in the 80's, when they experienced vibration problems. Guess what HAHAHAH, it's 2008. Computers dont take up an entire room any more

I really shouldn't be responding to his feeble minded opinion, but I figure you want a bit of history on CF frames.

Cant post the weblink anymore, but autosport have a short article about it.

Search around for stuff on Armstrong bikes.

Nick, in Spain in terms of top speed Loris put his Suzuki in 4th spot after 3 Dukes followed by the 4th Duke!!

RXRacer

Thanks for the info - good post !!

Shouldn't be too hard on HAHAHAH - it was only an opinion( though forcefully stated) - after all, that's what this message board is all about.

Haven't had the time to look at the references as yet, but take your point that things have moved on since the 80s - (Jeez, I have)

Thanks again !!!