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

Oscar - I only raced in the dirt, Motocross enduro and flat track. I was a better enduro rider and I've raced (inter alio) against both Kirk Hutton and Shane Watts at different times (circa 1992 to 1994 - who both whooped me seriously). Shane got on a identical KTM300 to mine in 94, his was "out of the crate" and he did things with the bike I couldn’t understand let alone emulate. There is a higher level and any fool who think a computer will make you go at that level is soooo deluded - it takes some serious talent - and to ride a bike at that speed that is acknowledged as being designed to be “flighty” is a lot more than winding the loud handle and hanging on. Ahh that red is kicking in

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

Oscar - I’ll tell you about the red first – my wife (bless her) is a midwife and people have babies and give her either chocolate flowers or wine. They buy expensive chocolate but cheap wine and we have bucketloads of it. (Chateau d’ coolant) I don’t know whether to drink it or take my testicles out and wash them in it, it’s pretty rough. If Ducati gets another rider I think the background has to be dirt track – to suit the bike – Nicki would be great (I’ve said that too much right?) & Gazza would be unreal to watch on anything with two wheels – he’s developing the 675 at present and throwing his talent away at that level.

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

Oscar - I don't want to turn this into a mutual admiration society but I think your analysis (below) is pretty close to the money. "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" I read an article by Anthony Goebert who rode Casey’s bike after the '07 season and he said that Casey had his TC set at the absolute minimum setting, Goebert likewise waxed lyrical about the faith in the design aspect to go fast. I was only ever a B grader so I am left in awe of "faith at 300+km's". Damn!

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

And on top of that Kev - chuck Nicki (a frustrated flat tracker) on the Ducati where I think he will find his rhythm and be the ideal wingman for Casey. Personally I think Westy would go better on the Duc than he would on the Kwaka – He would be worth a test for Pramac D’Antin or like you say - he would reign supreme in WSS.

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

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. ???

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.

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

At the moment Sete is doing one thing. Proving to the world that someone else can ride the bike fast. I think the European MC press have killed the other Duc riders by telling them it is a bike for Casey. When they ride slow they don't try harder, they just sit back and cry that it wasn't built for them. In 2007 Casey was meant to be the "number 2" rider to LC and he just gelled with the bike. Casey rides to the Duc’s design philosophy i.e the way it was pre designed (NOT designed for Casey). The man for the no.2 spot on the Duc is Nicki. Casey is an accomplished flat tracker, as is Nicki. The loose sliding style suits the light front and need for the rear to hook up that the Duc has.

MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

Casey doesn’t have to do anything, he put up a good fight and was loyal to his team and tyres and has time on his side. The pressure is all on Valentino and Casey will be able to hold his head up with 2nd or 3rd in the championship as he hasn’t manoeuvred himself into a do or die situation like Valentino has. The reason I mentioned Muhammad Ali is because even the greatest of all time can have their day – Valentino will look foolish if he is beaten again after the tyre debacle, and if he then show’s the same lack of loyalty to Yamaha as he showed to Michelin then what will become of his reputation (already spoken only in the vilest terms by Michelin).

MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

I would argue the relevance question the other way and this is where Casey is a threat. Casey got on a bike that had never won a world championship (in recent history) on tyres that had never won a championship and won the championship. No one else did well on the same bike. Valentino had a hissy fit and demanded the tyres (and got them). He got a competitive bike – It was Colin Edwards standing on the podium at Assen on a satellite Yamaha remember (not Toni Elias). If Valentino doesn’t win this time he only has one more place to run to in order to beat Casey AND blame anything other than rider skill and that is the Ducati team.

MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

Aussies for courses - I've listed the 9 races run thus far with the winners (not in order) China – Valentino France – Valentino Italy – Valentino Qatar – Casey Britain – Casey Netherlands – Casey Spain – Dani Catalunya – Dani Portugal – Jorge Now I accept I could be wrong but Valentino has three, as does Casey. If I've stuffed up a result please advise me (and the motogp website as well that I just double checked on). No pearls, just the truth and the truth my friend will set you free... That said I would most humbly concede and apologise if counting to three is now beyond the skill set of my aging brain.