I think some fresh perspectives would be good for the team, they don't have anything to lose since the Rossi experiment failed.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
Very true, but then why keep Hayden?
4 years 3 podiums all 3rds, 2 years with Casey and 2 Years with Rossi....
Ducaudi should have cleaned house....including ALL new riders...
Audi's Mistake number 4 - keeping the KY Jelly Kid
Yeah, would've been interesting to see how Crutchlow would've faired on a Duc. But, I think Hayden doesn't demand an extravagant salary, he is a steady 2nd rider, and I think Duc like that he is marketable in terms of helping sell bikes in the U.S. so I'm not surprised he was retained.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
How can he demand an extravagant salary when he delivers the rubbish results he does?
I am sure he helps sell some bikes in the USA, a few t-shirts and jackets.....but enough to cover his salary? probably not....
He'll showing up on Audi TT (hairdressers car) adverts in the USA soon of that i am sure....
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
I don't really care either way whether Hayden is 'deserving' of the seat or not. I'm just speculating about some of the reason(s) that might have played in his favor. Whatever justifications, go ask Audi/Ducati.
Hayden will make for a nice baseline control in helping to determine results. Not a bad thing IMHO.
You quoted eltoro and it appeared you miss read his comment where he says "Hayden DOESN'T DEMAND an extravagant salary".
I was just correcting what appeared by your question, a misread.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
I guess Ducaudi can say that anything up from 9th place is an improvement in their performance.....however, with no Prezio and loads of money in the pipeline mr 'nice but dim' hayden should be able to develop a 2013 winning bike....i would expect Nicky to be in top 5 at Qatar!
Agreed, I wonder though if Spies goes well in the junior team whether he is being groomed as a US replacement for Hayden. Maybe he has eyes on a Aucati factory ride in the future when the bike actually turns corners...
Joined Jul 2008
2K Posts | 14+
Tweed Valley Australia
One can hardly cite results on the Ducati as a measure of anything. Valentino sucked on it and as much as it pains me he should be in the aliens not the grid-fill parade. Hayden is solid and is loyal, Ducati need loyal if they aren't going to win races. Which they aren't.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
So a former (and not to long ago) world champion of Nicky Hayden should be judged by lower standards of performance than the other former champions of Stoner and Rossi?
hmmm....sounds like bit of a copout....or perhaps we should judge Nicky by lower standards since he isnt up to the job of being anything more than a grid filling rider....
Waste of a MotoGP factory seat really in my view....
Regarding Spies being groomed....LOL...this is a guy that couldnt put one of the best bike on the grid onto the podium, while a Test rider and both the B-team riders could put it on the podium....
Spies would be a like for like replacement of Nicky......grid filler....
Yet another wasted seat in MotoGP....
Preziosi didnt do the job...that much is obvious....and he should have gone at the end of 2011....
Audi and Ducati will be in the woods for sometime to come now with no new lead engineer and a lead rider already known for being unable to give a good consistent development direction....
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Because he's a repository of all the things they did right or wrong. Who's more suitable for the job of sorting out the Ducati? He tried every ....... failed bandaid fix they've thrown at him and he has a longtime ongoing relationship with Ducati people from the top to the bottom. He can keep them from repeating past mistakes (assuming they listen to him) and more quickly recognize what is a genuine improvement. He's a great R&D resource.
Joined Sep 2006
3K Posts | 4+
Leading
It's a real question mark, if Preziosi has gone (I haven't seen official confirmation yet) & with the Germans in charge it will be interesting to find out if the approach changes.
Still no replacement for Preziosi.
The situation at Ducati seems very bad.
Audi management got to help push Ducati down even more.
The situation at Ducati seems very bad.
Audi management got to help push Ducati down even more.
Ducati needs to stop worrying about riders and just fix the bike... Nicky would have stayed even with a paycut... Ducati needs to use that money on chassis, engine & electronics... not on Cal.
In the past Honda has brought 5 different frames to a single test... Ducati bring out 1.5 a year... That WON'T cut it.
In the past Honda has brought 5 different frames to a single test... Ducati bring out 1.5 a year... That WON'T cut it.
Hollywood
Yep, but honestly I think nothing is going on. They seem stucked, hoping to hire someone, like Aprilia's Dall'igna. What the .... they want with such inexperienced guy I don't know. I thought Gobmeier was already the leader. Audi should be desperately trying to steal talents from Honda/Yamaha, especially in electronics and chassis, not a superbike technician with 0 experience at ultra high level competition. Hiring Dall'igna would be a joke, their second big mistake.
Ducati's future in Motogp seems very dark. Would not be surprised if they quit MotoGP in 2016 or even before. Phillip Morris must leave at the end of 2014, at most.
Audi is killing the red camp. .... germans.
Yep, but honestly I think nothing is going on. They seem stucked, hoping to hire someone, like Aprilia's Dall'igna. What the .... they want with such inexperienced guy I don't know. I thought Gobmeier was already the leader. Audi should be desperately trying to steal talents from Honda/Yamaha, especially in electronics and chassis, not a superbike technician with 0 experience at ultra high level competition. Hiring Dall'igna would be a joke, their second big mistake.
Ducati's future in Motogp seems very dark. Would not be surprised if they quit MotoGP in 2016 or even before. Phillip Morris must leave at the end of 2014, at most.
Audi is killing the red camp. .... germans.
