Stoner's huge step forward.

Shouldn't this be titled 'Ducati's Huge Step Forward'

what moaner is actually saying is thank goodness for technology because i would be stuffed without it

So, did the software used on the Ducati come from GNU or Microsoft? I suspect it's FreeBSD, which they could improve upon without revealing the changes made. Maybe Yamaha could do better with a service pack for the OS?

How does Ducati operate....are the two riders effectively on separate teams that don't share info, similar to the situation at HRC? Just curious if Marco has access to the same electronics and settings as Stoner.

Saturday looks very good for Stoner fans: and good for race fans.

oops....should have said not good for race fans

FreeBSD and GNU software is pretty robust and crash-proof, which must be the reason for Stoner's good form.

Why is it impossible for people to grasp that maybe Ducatis electronics were NOT AS GOOD as the other teams on the grid this year. These days in motorsport, especially in todays era of electronics you very much need equal (or better) machinery to compete, the rider cannot make the difference he used to. That's nothing against Stoners ability. It simply means he couldn't make the difference to compete with the other teams better electronics. It's nothing new really, how many times have champions won on inferior machinery?

I mean, why do you think Yams are sponsored by Fiat this year? Oh yeah, they own Magnetti Marreli...

I mean you could just as easily say "Why are Rossi and Pedrosa" leading the championship fight this year?"

Because their bikes have the best electronics. It's exactly the same thing. In todays motorsport you need everything to be the best to compete, or equal with the best. If any bit of the formula is missing, be it, tyres, rider, chasis, engine or electronics, your pretty much screwed.

How's this for an idea: Give Stoner a push bike. Actually, on second thoughts, since he'd stuff Rossi on that as well, the Rossettes would claim Stoner has an unfair advantage because Stoner wouldn't have to carry petrol, an engine, etc etc etc, no onboard computer, no traction control and then Rossi would throw his toys out, claim it's the tyres, again, and demand the same ultra narrow bicycle tyres for his Yammy Dodger.
GO Casey and Kick ASS

Good one fooatari, Yamaha grabbed fiat because they wanted to use the marelli system,man your dumb.....Motec from Australia best ECU in the world.

If I wanted to see a battle of technology, I'd watch F1 or I'd put spec robots on the bikes in place of the rider. I, like most of you want to see a display of talent. This is why I watch MotoGP over F1. Ban the electronics and go to a spec tire. This is why you have a different rider every week in world superbike. The machinery matters less, so Real Talent wins. Marco is having a hard time because he's an old school rider. He uses talent and not electronics. He can't adapt.

Hadn't Yamaha used Marelli several years before Fiat came on?

NICK: Motec from Australia best ECU in the world.
Well, why then are they not even capable of manufacturing motorcycles?

' ELECTRONICS ' is spoiling my sport !!

Robbie...

i think the argument is that all electronics shud be taken away to see who performs best, put ur dummy back in and pick ur toys up, we all know no one wud win a motogp race on a pushbike...

unless u was racing against elias or melandri maybe..

also most of us here want to see good close racing, im a rossi fan and i still find it rather dull when he wins a race by 5+ seconds, just a shame some of the idiotic rossi and stoner fans don't see it the same way..

Lets sort this Stoner/Rossi thing out first as last, put them all back on the 500's and then see who comes out on top

I agree. This blows, please bring back the 990s with minimal electronics (just for safety).

I neither like nor rate stoner but am not a rossi fan and feel left out, do you have to be one or the other? that seems to be the conclusion most are coming to...

Jimmy Masri, for it to be 'Ducati's Huge Step Forward', I think Melandri would have to do a little bit better then bottom of the timesheets

Melandri's wasted on that ducati andrew..

Guintoli has shown a little bit of promise..

but unlike the sharing of data at yamaha, im sure stoner
doesn't let any of his information get out to help the
other riders..

he seems to stuck up for that...mind you, he's got nothing to
lose, even if they had his data, i doubt they'd be as fast, and
if they did improve, he could just say its all thanks to him..

I have been follwoing motorcycle racing for many years but have still to find the clause that says because one rider does well on a bike, the bike crap because it doesn't work for the other rider..and this appears to me to be the entire argument as to why CS is the greatest racer of out time on cr4p kit and used tyres I think one poster said..