ALEX HOFMANN REPLACES SETE GIBERNAU!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Doc 79 @ Jun 21 2006, 10:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That brings up a good point Aussie....anyone know how or if the bikes are inspected prior to race...I'd imagine if they are like any other racing group, the bikes must pass a review to make sure its within regulations....
Otherwise I suspect you'd see a Ducati pulling out with the sound of a turbo...hahaha

The 800cc engine would be perfectly allowable under the current rules. It just seems that the Pramac Ducati is further off the pace this season than they were last year. Last season they used the '04 Ducati whereas this year they are using the current GP6 however they just are just slow, albeit on Dunlops.

Over a few beers the other week someone suggested they could be running the 800cc engine as a development test bed for next years Ducati engine. Seemed far fetched but was an interesting thought. I guess we'll know next season when we see the pace of the Pramac D'Antin Ducati.

Cheers
E

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (aussie_desmodue @ Jun 21 2006, 11:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The 800cc engine would be perfectly allowable under the current rules. It just seems that the Pramac Ducati is further off the pace this season than they were last year. Last season they used the '04 Ducati whereas this year they are using the current GP6 however they just are just slow, albeit on Dunlops.

Over a few beers the other week someone suggested they could be running the 800cc engine as a development test bed for next years Ducati engine. Seemed far fetched but was an interesting thought. I guess we'll know next season when we see the pace of the Pramac D'Antin Ducati.

Cheers
E

That's a good possibility aussie......that'd be pretty sly of them

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (aussie_desmodue @ Jun 22 2006, 10:47 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The 800cc engine would be perfectly allowable under the current rules. It just seems that the Pramac Ducati is further off the pace this season than they were last year. Last season they used the '04 Ducati whereas this year they are using the current GP6 however they just are just slow, albeit on Dunlops.

Over a few beers the other week someone suggested they could be running the 800cc engine as a development test bed for next years Ducati engine. Seemed far fetched but was an interesting thought. I guess we'll know next season when we see the pace of the Pramac D'Antin Ducati.

Cheers
E

I doubt it. Ducati and Yamaha don`t look after their Satellite teams as well as Honda do. Their relationship isn`t that good. For example, it was Dunlop, not Yamaha that pulled Tech 3 outta the .... this year. D'antin`s problem is money. Theyre racing on a budget. The evident signs are things like Dunlop and Cardoso. And they wouldnt be able to afford the best of the best when it comes to tools, parts and people. It all adds up. I'd be blaming the main lack of pace on the Dunlops, then the riders. Hofmann is no Capirossi, and moneybags is practically a joke. Then you gotta consider how the paddock has been reorganised this year. Team KR are doing better with Junior and the Honda lump, and WCM are gone altogether, so that only leaves D'antin at the back, finishing last, only really snapping at the heels of the similarly finacially deprived Tech 3 bikes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Doc 79 @ Jun 21 2006, 08:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That's a good possibility aussie......that'd be pretty sly of them
it would be nearly impossible to keep that under raps. there would be all the factory guys in the d'antin garage, the press & photograghers everywhere theres just no way. i don't think even honda could hide something like that. i read some far fechted rumor that hayden was actually running the new 800cc engine now. i thought "holy .... batman" then really thought about it a bit & decided there's just no way they could keep that under raps. no way!

HRC could keep the holocaust under wraps if they wanted to Frosty But I agree, it`s too hard to hide. Like I said, they`re not as close as HRC and Gresini anyway. I was even surprised that Gibernau`s ride went to Hofmann.
And as for Hayden using an 800. That`s gotta be ......... There`s no way he could be carrying the pace he`s got now on such an inferior engine, still beating most, if not all of the Hondas. If that were the case, after Catalunya they HRC bosses would put the 990 back in his bike and watch him .... all over Rossi. Hayden`s running the fastest Honda right now. No way it`s 200cc down on all the other bikes.

Hofmann To Again Replace Gibernau For Donington Park MotoGP


http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=26238

Not good. Gibernau`s contract renewal prospects are starting to look very shakey

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jun 28 2006, 12:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Not good. Gibernau`s contract renewal prospects are starting to look very shakey
the jury's still out on this 1. u might be jumpin the gun abit here.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jun 30 2006, 01:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>the jury's still out on this 1. u might be jumpin the gun abit here.

Rumours say they`re already looking for a replacement apparently. You know what Ducati are like, Frost. Look what they did to Checa? I mean, yeah they need new blood but Gibernau ain`t a young'un. I think they'll ditch him and try to take advantage of Honda`s talent factory. Hopper`s on the Suzi until 2008 isn`t he? I think they`d have another go at him but not if he`s in the middle of a contract. Theyll probably .... up again. Fire Gibernau to get a young gun, fail to attract a young gun with their difficult to ride bike and then end up with another older rider who has talent but is getting pushed out by a gang of young guys who want in. Colin Edwards fits that description.

I think Nakano is being seriously overlooked here. I mean, I`d hate to see him leave Kawa cuz he`s just about the best thing in the team green pit right now, but he`s got Bridgestone experience, Factory experience, he`s fast when the machine allows him to be and unlike this army of Michelin RCV rookies who could very well embarras themselves on the hard to ride Duke, Nakars has been on the harder to ride and slower Kawa for two years now, so he`s got experience with hard to ride bikes too. IMO he sounds like a perfect candidate to ride alongside and in the future succeed the great Ducati master, Capriex. Even better for the job than Hopper, maybe. I`d like to see what Nakars could do with that extra few dozen horsepower that could keep him at the front.

nakano.... hmmm that would be an interesting choice indeed. but i don't see him leaving kawasaki. i think he's contracted to the green team thru 08 not sure on that tho. i know hopper is thru 08 with suzuki. nakano is such a smooth rider tho & i'm not so sure his style would transfer over to the duc very well. could he adapt to ride the bull? hopper would do very well on the duc. he made a mistake not takin that ride when the chance was there. he best hope suzuki get their heads outa their ..... & come up with somethin good in 08.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jun 30 2006, 05:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i know hopper is thru 08 with suzuki. he made a mistake not takin that ride when the chance was there. he best hope suzuki get their heads outa their ..... & come up with somethin good in 08.
I believe he is contracted through 2007 and available for the 2008 season. Hopefully he doesn't make the same mistake for the third time at that point.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Jun 30 2006, 08:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I believe he is contracted through 2007 and available for the 2008 season. Hopefully he doesn't make the same mistake for the third time at that point.
oh man....... i meant 07!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Ooost @ Jun 30 2006, 02:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hopefully he doesn't make the same mistake for the third time at that point.
Lets hope! He has given them enough chances

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jun 30 2006, 09:51 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>nakano.... hmmm that would be an interesting choice indeed. but i don't see him leaving kawasaki. i think he's contracted to the green team thru 08 not sure on that tho. i know hopper is thru 08 with suzuki. nakano is such a smooth rider tho & i'm not so sure his style would transfer over to the duc very well. could he adapt to ride the bull? hopper would do very well on the duc. he made a mistake not takin that ride when the chance was there. he best hope suzuki get their heads outa their ..... & come up with somethin good in 08.

But the Kawa`s just as much of a ..... as the Duke, I reckon he could do it. But like I said I`d prefer him with Eckl and the boys in green.