2018 Gran Premio Motul de la Comunitat Valenciana Predictions and Race Chat
- Thread starter Keshav
- Start date
Joined Mar 2016
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FNQ
Joined Feb 2018
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Italy
Joined Feb 2007
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Tennessee
Joined Feb 2007
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Tennessee
It’s a general consensus throughout the paddock that the Duc is the best bike on the grid. I think Dovi himself said it, Marquez, Rossi, Vinales have as well.
Joined Aug 2007
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Pomona NY
So, ask yourself: Who doesn't agree that Marquez is by far the most talented rider in the paddock? Why hasn't Pedrosa on the same Honda hasn't been within spitting distance of the podium all season? Why has Marquez been beaten multiple times by older riders on the Ducati? How many other riders won races on a Honda this year? If it quacks like a Duc and walks like a Duc . . .
For some it beggars belief that the absurdly wonky and idiosyncratic 2006 era Ducati has morphed into the refined world beater of 2018.
Fact is; Marquez took the championship largely through sheer talent. No other Honda rider came close.
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The Michelin spec tyres have become increasingly difficult for Dani to heat up. Look at Cal - he's been crushing Dani, even though he never came close in any other years.
Cal. Had a few podiums too.
The Ducati is the best bike on the grid. Look at Bautista at PI. Dovi has never been anywhere near this strong on any other bike.
Gigi is awesome. As soon as he left, Aprilia went down the toilet. The first ground-up new Ducati was the GP15, and Dovi narrowly finished second in his first race with it.
Gigi is awesome. As soon as he left, Aprilia went down the toilet. The first ground-up new Ducati was the GP15, and Dovi narrowly finished second in his first race with it.
Joined Feb 2017
584 Posts | 370+
Acadiana
Lots of wishful thinking I see here.
The truth is Honda is great on brakes. Honda does not lose out of corners. Honda does not lack top speed. Honda is even better in fast turns than Ducati.
Dovi never had a top bike, that's why he didn't have top results.
When Ducati wins [almost] every rider says this is the bike. It can't be I'm slow, right? If I only had this Ducati ...
Remember, this was also what Rossi thought when he took over the bike from Stoner ...
No, I don't think Ducati is the best bike. Honda is right there, next to it.
The truth is Honda is great on brakes. Honda does not lose out of corners. Honda does not lack top speed. Honda is even better in fast turns than Ducati.
Dovi never had a top bike, that's why he didn't have top results.
When Ducati wins [almost] every rider says this is the bike. It can't be I'm slow, right? If I only had this Ducati ...
Remember, this was also what Rossi thought when he took over the bike from Stoner ...
No, I don't think Ducati is the best bike. Honda is right there, next to it.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Dovi rode the 2011 Factory Repsol Honda , the one that a guy named Stoner romped to the title on. This year he was handed the best bike and is close to 4 races down in points.
Yes, the Honda seems to be the best bike only with MM riding it, whereas 2 different riders have won multiple races on the Ducati, and Bautista who has been (perhaps unjustly) regarded as a perennial also ran, and doesn’t even have a ride in motogp next year, was immediately competitive on the factory bike.
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We should also not discount the influence of Cristian Gabbarini who returned to Ducat at the time Lorenzo arrived as well as there have been a lot of co-incidences that have made the Ducati what it has become (all IMO)
Joined Aug 2007
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Pomona NY
1st agree, tho remember, there was a time when the Honda was very much dominant and Dani was regularly atop the podium.
2nd - 1 podium at Argentina. Meh.
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Joined Feb 2017
584 Posts | 370+
Acadiana
There really is no way to tell - if you think of it.
Everybody is entitled their opinion, though.
What racers tell is not the holy truth, not at all. Rossi thought Ducati is the best bike, it takes 90 seconds to set it up [and start winning]. He was wrong then, why you think he is right now. Other racers are no gods who know best either.
Other top riders have admitted they tried to follow Stoner and learn from him, but they couldn't understand "how he does it". Stoner's telemetry data has been useless for everybody else because they "cannot ride like this". No, leave Stoner out from this one.
Everybody is entitled their opinion, though.
What racers tell is not the holy truth, not at all. Rossi thought Ducati is the best bike, it takes 90 seconds to set it up [and start winning]. He was wrong then, why you think he is right now. Other racers are no gods who know best either.
You really can't consider Stoner a regular rider, can you?
Other top riders have admitted they tried to follow Stoner and learn from him, but they couldn't understand "how he does it". Stoner's telemetry data has been useless for everybody else because they "cannot ride like this". No, leave Stoner out from this one.
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Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
While it's true everybody is entitled to their opinion, they are in the end constrained by reality and the shared reality in this case is borne out by actual results.
People asserting the superiority of the Duc are basing their belief based on actual race results: not opinions voiced by riders.
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Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
You said Dovi never had a top bike, the 2011 RCV finished 1-3-4 in the championship. That was the top bike without question, just like the Ducati is the best bike this year.
And Dovi was the guy who finished 3rd, albeit 122 points behind Stoner with no race wins, ahead of Dani who did miss races with a collar bone fracture after the Simoncelli clash.
