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MotoGP 2018
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Agent_Smith
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Great ride from Brad, wow! A good fight in the main race... Pity about the result.
I wonder why Rea has not switch over from SBK to MotoGP yet. If he is really that good. But then you can not compare SBK to motoGP, 2 completely different leagues when it comes to the actual competition amongst the teams and riders.
thestaggy
Honorary Master
True. Former WSBK champs such as Bayliss, Edwards, Corser, Toseland, Hodgson, Spies and Foggy at one point or another tried their hand at MotoGP. Even the guys that didn't win a WSBK championship had a go at MotoGP - Haga, McCoy, Xaus.
None of them achieved the same highs in MotoGP as it is indeed another level, but a couple won a race or two (Bayliss, Spies) and a few others enjoyed a good few years in the category picking up regular points.
I guess he's just comfortable there. Similar to Kenan Sofuoglu, the king of the Supersport category. Holds just about every notable record in the 600cc category but couldn't cut it in WSBK and Moto2, although he at least had a go.
Agent_Smith
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Rather be a big fish in a small pond I guess...
I remember these guys. You are correct, Why change if you are the best where you are. But I can not see any rider beating Rea in the WSBK championship. Or maybe the Kawa is just a better all round bike than the other bikes.
Who is Ducati supporters here? I miss Casey Stoner on the Ducati bike. I know that he is currently their test rider but it might change coming next year. Interesting facts came out about 2 years ago where Casey tested the Ducati bike and was faster in testing than Dovi and Lorenzo. Casey even said that he believes that Dovi and Lorenzo can do better lap times than currently. See below 05 September 2018 article.
Casey Stoner: Ducati MotoGP team isn't using my feedback
Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner says he is unlikely to continue in his current test role with Ducati because it does not use his feedback.
Autosport reported last month that the 32-year-old, who walked away from a full-time MotoGP ride in 2012 and joined Ducati as a test rider and ambassador in '16, would not be extending his current deal with the Italian manufacturer.
Although works riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso now look unlikely to challenge Marc Marquez for the 2018 MotoGP title, Ducati's Desmosedici GP18 bike is among the strongest on the grid.
Stoner admitted in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that he probably will not stay in the programme as he felt Ducati was not making the most of his contributions.
"Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to celebrate another title with Ducati," Stoner said.
"But I feel I can't give anything more than what I already have, since it seems that they don't use the data and the feedback I give them.
"I've long suggested changes they seem reluctant to make. And if they don't use my data and my feedback, I don't feel like taking the risk of testing - because to get results you have to ride close to the limit."
Ducati was keen to keep Stoner in an ambassadorial role should he withdraw from his testing duties, but he made it clear he is not keen on such an arrangement.
"I came back to Ducati to work hard and help it win another world championship, not to just be a poster boy for the company," he said.
Stoner has not ridden the GP18 since testing at Sepang at the start of the year.
He sat out much of the campaign while recovering from an operation on his right shoulder.
"The shoulder is not an obstacle to testing with Ducati, I'm already training and doing motocross," Stoner explained.
"The recovery is in line with the timing planned with Ducati after the Sepang test."
Casey Stoner: Ducati MotoGP team isn't using my feedback
Two-time MotoGP champion Casey Stoner says he is unlikely to continue in his current test role with Ducati because it does not use his feedback.
Autosport reported last month that the 32-year-old, who walked away from a full-time MotoGP ride in 2012 and joined Ducati as a test rider and ambassador in '16, would not be extending his current deal with the Italian manufacturer.
Although works riders Jorge Lorenzo and Andrea Dovizioso now look unlikely to challenge Marc Marquez for the 2018 MotoGP title, Ducati's Desmosedici GP18 bike is among the strongest on the grid.
Stoner admitted in an interview with Gazzetta dello Sport that he probably will not stay in the programme as he felt Ducati was not making the most of his contributions.
"Nothing would give me greater satisfaction than to celebrate another title with Ducati," Stoner said.
"But I feel I can't give anything more than what I already have, since it seems that they don't use the data and the feedback I give them.
"I've long suggested changes they seem reluctant to make. And if they don't use my data and my feedback, I don't feel like taking the risk of testing - because to get results you have to ride close to the limit."
Ducati was keen to keep Stoner in an ambassadorial role should he withdraw from his testing duties, but he made it clear he is not keen on such an arrangement.
"I came back to Ducati to work hard and help it win another world championship, not to just be a poster boy for the company," he said.
Stoner has not ridden the GP18 since testing at Sepang at the start of the year.
He sat out much of the campaign while recovering from an operation on his right shoulder.
"The shoulder is not an obstacle to testing with Ducati, I'm already training and doing motocross," Stoner explained.
"The recovery is in line with the timing planned with Ducati after the Sepang test."
Agent_Smith
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Interesting. I'm a staunch Ducati fan and it hurts seeing them not realise their potential after they came so close last year. Would be keen to hear Ducati's reply to this...
It is silly and stupid mistakes that cost them the races. Imagine putting MM 93 on the Ducati. I don't wanna see this ever happen! I hate the man. But nobody can deny it, he is just brilliant on that Honda.
powermzii
Expert Member
Also a big Ducati fan and it would be interesting to hear what they have to say about these comments. You can clearly see that the bike is strong - i do think / feel its not as "easy" to ride as the Honda perhaps? I dunno, it just seems more heavy handed or maybe that's just AD04's riding style
In other news, Lorenzo doubled down on the accusation that his crash was caused by MM93 - next year is gonna be VERY interesting
In other news, Lorenzo doubled down on the accusation that his crash was caused by MM93 - next year is gonna be VERY interesting
Agent_Smith
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Lorenzo's crash (like Sebastian Vettel's at Monza) was all of his own making. Like Vettel, he had lost the corner but still tried to force his way through instead of slotting in behind and biding his time. As the saying goes, 'you can't win the race in the first corner but you can certainly lose it'.
I can't wait to see them go at it next year. It could be an intra-team rivalry to match the likes of Senna/Prost. HRC is going to have it's hands full trying to please both of them at the same time. BRING IT!
I can't wait to see them go at it next year. It could be an intra-team rivalry to match the likes of Senna/Prost. HRC is going to have it's hands full trying to please both of them at the same time. BRING IT!
The Ducati bike does look bigger and heavier than the Honda bike.
Lorenzo always blaimed Ducati and Dovi for his pour start as a Ducati rider. Who's side is Honda gonna take when things goes sour between MM 93 and JL 99. We will see next year.
Anybody looking forward to the MotoE series next year. All riders will have the exact same bike.
Energy firm Enel will sponsor the series with all competitors using the same Energica Ego bike supplied with Michelin tyres.
Energy firm Enel will sponsor the series with all competitors using the same Energica Ego bike supplied with Michelin tyres.
thestaggy
Honorary Master
The Ducati is no bigger or heavier than the other bikes, it has however historically been a difficult bike to ride, especially for smooth riders, Lorenzo being one of them.
In Lorenzo's case, the way to ride the Ducati is the exact opposite to the way he has ridden a bike his whole career, the above breaking issue being a fine example of one of the issues he has had to deal with.
Ducati bike demands "illogical" riding style - Lorenzo
Other historical traits that have made the Ducati difficult to master;
- Best in-class power
- Deadness at low speed
Couple all of the above and you have a bike that doesn't want to get through a corner, doesn't give you any feedback as to what it is doing in the corner and then tries to kill you on exit. This is exasperated at lower speeds. All this explains why the Ducati has been a monster on power tracks and tended to struggle on tighter tracks. Its more refined now, but the constant complaint from riders was that at low speed the bike gave you no feedback, you had no idea what it was doing or going to do - hence the lack of confidence Petrucci mentioned - and then suddenly you had a fire-breather under your right hand.
To master it you have to be somewhat aggressive and ready to grab it by the scruff of the neck when it inevitably tries to dump you on corner entry or fling you off on exit.
powermzii
Expert Member
Oh wow -thanks so much for this insight, it makes sense and provides the right context when seeing how "hard" it seems to be on corner entry and exit compared to say the Suzuki or Honda.
Agent_Smith
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Vinales leads Rossi in a Yamaha 1-2 in FP1 at the Thailand MotoGP. Who would've seen that coming. Dovi was 3rd and Marquez 5th. Lorenzo down in 17th, no doubt feeling the effects of the dislocated toe he suffered at Aragon two weeks ago.
Agent_Smith
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FP2 results. Things have closed up considerably. Top 17 covered by less than a second.
Agent_Smith
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Another big crash for Lorenzo (in FP2), high-siding and landing heavily. A trip to the hospital with x-rays revealed some bruising on his wrist and foot but nothing fractured. Still, the way he was hobbling before getting on the bike makes me wonder if he will even take to the track on Sunday.
thestaggy
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Sheesh, that was a big one.
These bike riders are another breed though. They'll probably jack him up on painkillers and send him on his way.
While in WSBK Troy Bayliss had his pinky finger amputated because rehabbing it would've kept him off the bike. Mick Doohan, after his horror crash that nearly took his leg, had to be carried on to his bike for the first few races after his return.
These bike riders are another breed though. They'll probably jack him up on painkillers and send him on his way.
While in WSBK Troy Bayliss had his pinky finger amputated because rehabbing it would've kept him off the bike. Mick Doohan, after his horror crash that nearly took his leg, had to be carried on to his bike for the first few races after his return.