MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

What we can’t do now is turn back the clock and put Casey on the factory Aprilia or Honda or toss a big budget at him to see if he would have dominated in the under classes. He never had it (big budget)whilst VR, DP and JL did, this is Casey’s first attempt on a factory bike and the first time he has played on a level playing field. The four riders VR, DP, JL & CS are all up there and I maintain that as godlike as Valentino is, he is a little older and this is the most competition he's had since motogp started. You remember Muhammad Ali’s last fights? He is and was the greatest however a few fighters got a victory against him on their cards because he got old and stayed in the game...

MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

I apologise for my delay. How do I know the other Ducati’s got it? It was in the media and on (I believe) Ducati's website - as soon as they sussed this improvement all the riders got it. I put the inverted commas around "average" in the previous post to signify ironic content. I don’t think Marco or Toni are average riders. Casey is just a hell of a rider, always was and always will be. Why do think there isn’t this hoopla between Dani and Valentino? He got championships on factory bikes while Casey got crumbs. This made Casey hungry and his first foray on a factory bike has got people paying attention. Casey is a true threat to Valentino.

MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

Really, you want the racing back then apply reverse grids rather than slowing the bikes down. One week the qualifying is fastest = pole, then reverse it for the following week and have no qualifying, just an additional free practice. You get overtaking, additional tactics and race craft and the best part is no matter what way they run the grid you get a team Ducati bike in pole position. I’ve been in this in motocross and it was fantastic. As a faster mid pack rider I could stretch a lead and won a few heats. It made it hard for the fast guys who break away like Casey to work their way through and get to the front by the time you crossed the line – just an idea...

MOTOGP » Stoner vs. Stoner, sympathy for Rossi.

An interesting question CA - I'm calling it a 7/8+ but that is sitting on the fence. If they go back to the 07 bike then they still have the second rider issue, although Loris did win a rain interrupted race (Motegi). Ducati are desperate to have a second rider not necessarily to win, but to run up the front and give an alternate data source for development but this isn’t happening – hence Sete arriving back on the scene. Also – Mick Doohan was quoted in this month’s AMCN when asked why Casey is so fast and he replied, “because he brakes later and gets on the gas earlier than anyone else” – I’ll take that analysis from Mick – it wasn’t the computer that everyone else has anyway...

MOTOGP » Stoner wins Dutch TT, Rossi falls.

When there are three Ducatis on the podium I will accept that the "package" is dominant. When they pick some fat Crash.net blogger out of the crowd and put him on Caseys bike and he (or she) wins against Valentino or even gets the podium then I will succumb to the dominance argument. Until then I'm sure the other ducati riders in motogp are sitting around right now basking in the effervescent glow of being on such a bike, really, they're sipping Pina Colidas, smoking Monte Cristos and congratulating themselves for picking the dominant bike - the one that makes the average rider look good, right?

MOTOGP » Stoner delighted with Assen pole.

I think that if we make the bikes less technical and, given a number of production bikes now have TC (this will only proliferate - safety measure) then what will happen is that superbikes will take over from motogp because. (a) Riders like safety and TC helps prevent bone breaking high sides (not for Loris or Lorenzo unfortunately) (b) The speeds and lap times will close - there will be little point to a prototype class. Once we wind it back to control tyres, no rider aids we may as well run an R1/R6 cup. Given Australia’s domination in low budget classes this would be even more unappealing to Europeans. Be careful for what you wish people - it may just come true.

MOTOGP » Stoner delighted with Assen pole.

The great uninformed masses have decreed yet again that Casey wins because of his computer. The problem with this idiotic theory is "therefore" Casey wins or goes fast because of his computer. Therefore it is the bike not the rider. The inference - because the bike is so fast, anyone with a modicum of skills will be able to ride it fast and win. THEREFORE any rider should win on it. Great theory until you look at Guintoli, Melandri and Elias. Everyone has TC – I would say given average results that Yamaha and Honda have much better TC than Ducati. This is so worn out you need to find a new bogeyman to blame like the Illuminati, Masons or the Catholics.

MOTOGP » Could Hayden be Ducati's solution?

Nicki is Ducati's solution for sure… But not to win races. Ducatis’s problem at the moment is twofold, there is no other rider on the team that can support Casey, Nicki may provide the essential second bike support role, BUT even when Nicki was on the best bike of the 990 era he could only manage a few wins, he was lucky and consistent. What Nicki can do however is endear himself to the fans. Whilst Casey can ride and win and has a better race craft that Nicki he needs a mentor like Nicki to build him up into a popular champion, because he is not that at the moment. I am Casey’s biggest fan but do admit he need to chill out a little and taking a few tips from someone like Nicki who is definitely calm and cool and that would be Nicki’s role.