Joined Feb 2007
6K Posts | 58+
Rovrum S,Yorks Eng
Alarm bells for MotoGP
Mon Feb 15 09:03AM
No, no, no, no!
It was Vitto Guareschi that started a few alarm bells ringing over the past week.
The Ducati MotoGP team manager was going through the big changes to the bike that Ducati are putting out in this year's championship. He was very proud about the development of the machine as he pointed out that the engine, forks, rear, swingarm and electronics were new.
This, he was at pains to point out, was virtually an all-new bike. Reading between the lines it all sounds like a manager who is at length to point out the amount of work they need to do in not much time.
Then there are the comments of Dani Pedrosa's chief mechanic Mike Leitner, who said that the Honda is getting new suspension for this year and is still chasing the balance issue that dogged Dani last year.
He said: "The biggest difference from the 2009 bike is the change in suspension. We will use Öhlins suspension this year so we have to work hard to find the correct setting for that.
"We have to improve the general performance of the bike. We have a handicap in braking and turning so we need to try and find a better balance in the bike with the chassis set-up. We are modifying our engine control so we're working hard on this.
"The tests have started so it will be a very busy workload to manage and fix everything in the six test days before the first race in Qatar."
Doesn't sound very happy with his lot there, does he?
Then we hear that Nicky Hayden has had to go under the knife to remove scar tissue build up after an earlier operation to try and help him get over arm-pump issues. Oh yes, the team assured us that this wasn't a big deal and that Nicky would be back at the Sepang test at the end of this month, but it's still another operation on his right arm. His throttle arm.
But at least Nicky will make the test, how he'll deal with the psychological effects of two pretty big operations on his arm over the winter remains to be seen though.
Jorge Lorenzo will have more to worry about now though because he's fallen off a bike during a motocross session near his place in Montmelo. Reports suggest that Lorenzo was only doing about 20mph when he fell but that in the spill he fractured the base of the first metacarpal and 'displaced' his thumb.
He's had to have a titanium plate put into his hand. His right hand. His throttle hand. More problems for the Spaniard and another psychological problem for one of the top men to overcome as the season edges nearer.
So in the past week we've heard about the radical changes to the Ducati and all the work that Casey Stoner will have to do with it, the problems still facing the Honda and Dani Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden's arm surgery and Jorge Lorenzo's smashed up hand which is going to force him to miss the next test.
And what about Valentino Rossi and his Yamaha? How's he feeling right now?
We only have to look at the Sepang test where he bossed everyone from the top of the timesheets. Vale said: "Even the second day was been very good as well, even though we lost a few hours to the rain, and by the end we were still able to finish all our work. We worked on the new bike to find a better setting and I was happy to be the fastest overall - even though this is just testing, this is important for me!"
And now he's off for an award in Dubai (probably).
Blimey, just when it looks like everyone is gearing up for a really good season in MotoGP, with five or six riders strong from the off, they all suddenly look like they're tripping over themselves in their rush to hand Rossi another psychological advantage.
Casey was fast at the Sepang test after all, so let's hope that some of the changes have already been sorted on the Ducati.
But right now, this is a bit of a worry as far as the start of the season goes.
Let's hope they are all back soon and as strong as ever. Let's not have our MotoGP fun spoiled by these mechanical and physical issues.
Fingers crossed for a brilliantly hectic and close start to the MotoGP season
clicky
some good points.lets see what pans out
Mon Feb 15 09:03AM
No, no, no, no!
It was Vitto Guareschi that started a few alarm bells ringing over the past week.
The Ducati MotoGP team manager was going through the big changes to the bike that Ducati are putting out in this year's championship. He was very proud about the development of the machine as he pointed out that the engine, forks, rear, swingarm and electronics were new.
This, he was at pains to point out, was virtually an all-new bike. Reading between the lines it all sounds like a manager who is at length to point out the amount of work they need to do in not much time.
Then there are the comments of Dani Pedrosa's chief mechanic Mike Leitner, who said that the Honda is getting new suspension for this year and is still chasing the balance issue that dogged Dani last year.
He said: "The biggest difference from the 2009 bike is the change in suspension. We will use Öhlins suspension this year so we have to work hard to find the correct setting for that.
"We have to improve the general performance of the bike. We have a handicap in braking and turning so we need to try and find a better balance in the bike with the chassis set-up. We are modifying our engine control so we're working hard on this.
"The tests have started so it will be a very busy workload to manage and fix everything in the six test days before the first race in Qatar."
Doesn't sound very happy with his lot there, does he?
Then we hear that Nicky Hayden has had to go under the knife to remove scar tissue build up after an earlier operation to try and help him get over arm-pump issues. Oh yes, the team assured us that this wasn't a big deal and that Nicky would be back at the Sepang test at the end of this month, but it's still another operation on his right arm. His throttle arm.
But at least Nicky will make the test, how he'll deal with the psychological effects of two pretty big operations on his arm over the winter remains to be seen though.
Jorge Lorenzo will have more to worry about now though because he's fallen off a bike during a motocross session near his place in Montmelo. Reports suggest that Lorenzo was only doing about 20mph when he fell but that in the spill he fractured the base of the first metacarpal and 'displaced' his thumb.
He's had to have a titanium plate put into his hand. His right hand. His throttle hand. More problems for the Spaniard and another psychological problem for one of the top men to overcome as the season edges nearer.
So in the past week we've heard about the radical changes to the Ducati and all the work that Casey Stoner will have to do with it, the problems still facing the Honda and Dani Pedrosa, Nicky Hayden's arm surgery and Jorge Lorenzo's smashed up hand which is going to force him to miss the next test.
And what about Valentino Rossi and his Yamaha? How's he feeling right now?
We only have to look at the Sepang test where he bossed everyone from the top of the timesheets. Vale said: "Even the second day was been very good as well, even though we lost a few hours to the rain, and by the end we were still able to finish all our work. We worked on the new bike to find a better setting and I was happy to be the fastest overall - even though this is just testing, this is important for me!"
And now he's off for an award in Dubai (probably).
Blimey, just when it looks like everyone is gearing up for a really good season in MotoGP, with five or six riders strong from the off, they all suddenly look like they're tripping over themselves in their rush to hand Rossi another psychological advantage.
Casey was fast at the Sepang test after all, so let's hope that some of the changes have already been sorted on the Ducati.
But right now, this is a bit of a worry as far as the start of the season goes.
Let's hope they are all back soon and as strong as ever. Let's not have our MotoGP fun spoiled by these mechanical and physical issues.
Fingers crossed for a brilliantly hectic and close start to the MotoGP season
clicky
some good points.lets see what pans out
