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Audi's first error

gui22a
3586031376923889

Still no replacement for Preziosi.


The situation at Ducati seems very bad.


Audi management got to help push Ducati down even more.
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Audi is a mess. They sacked their head of R&D, a former BMW Motorrad guy, and have numerous approved designs for the next-generation models of current nameplates that are undergoing emergency redesigns. Considering how disorderly things are working there right now, coupled with the fact that the R&D chief who was a bike guy was just sacked, I'd imagine Ducati's woes aren't a high priority at the minute. There are larger fires to extinguish.


 
gui22a
3586481376939921

Audi is killing the red camp. .... germans.
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They haven't been doing themselves any favors for the past, well, essentially since they came into this series. (Anyone else remember the unceremonious sacking of Bayliss and hiring of Checa because, well, um, hmm...) Just because Audi bought Ducati and haven't immediately dumped truckloads of cash into the GP project doesn't mean Ingolstadt is the problem.
 
Austin
3586521376940754

Audi is a mess. They sacked their head of R&D, a former BMW Motorrad guy, and have numerous approved designs for the next-generation models of current nameplates that are undergoing emergency redesigns. Considering how disorderly things are working there right now, coupled with the fact that the R&D chief who was a bike guy was just sacked, I'd imagine Ducati's woes aren't a high priority at the minute. There are larger fires to extinguish.


 


 


They haven't been doing themselves any favors for the past, well, essentially since they came into this series. (Anyone else remember the unceremonious sacking of Bayliss and hiring of Checa because, well, um, hmm...) Just because Audi bought Ducati and haven't immediately dumped truckloads of cash into the GP project doesn't mean Ingolstadt is the problem.
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You're right. 


 


Well, better get used to a dual brand championship from here on. Maybe mono brand, if things keep going Honda way of doing rules.
 
gui22a
3586531376941029

Well, better get used to a dual brand championship from here on. Maybe mono brand, if things keep going Honda way of doing rules.
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Sadly, I fear this is the reality. I've wondered aloud how much longer Ducati, and, to an extent, Audi, will be willing to spend so lavishly with nothing but negative sentiments to show for it. Especially once Phillip Morris stops footing the bill.
 
Austin
3586551376941231

Sadly, I fear this is the reality. I've wondered aloud how much longer Ducati, and, to an extent, Audi, will be willing to spend so lavishly with nothing but negative sentiments to show for it. Especially once Phillip Morris stops footing the bill.
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I think Audi will keep trying to change tire rules, but since Dorna and Honda are the same entity, I think Ducati has no future in GP but leaving. Maybe re-hiring Preziosi, stealing some talents from Honda/Yamaha and injecting buttloads of money would give a relief...


 


Anyway, tobacco money won't last much longer, and I doubt for the next year the contract ($$) will remain the same.


 


Ducati and Audi have nothing to show up for 2014. Absolutely nothing. 
 
Thanks for ur insightful contributions Austin. Im thinking the situation is so dire and reached a boiling point where the white elephant in the room is detrimental to the League's vision that Dorna will step in witb some form of performance leveling as they did with CRTs. Dorna cant lose Ducati nor have have good riders with clout having poor results any longer. Things will change and improve. That "softer" tire is already being tooled as we speak.
 
Jumkie
3586661376945934

Thank for ur insightful contributions Austin. Im thinking the situation is so dire and reached a boiling point where the white elephant in the room is detrimental to the League's vision that Dorna will step in witb some form of performance leveling as they did with CRTs. Dorna cant lose Ducati nor have have good riders with clout having poor results any longer. Things will change and improve. That "softer" tire is already being tooled as we speak.
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Dorna is giving a .... for Ducati.


 


If they really want to help, they would do it back in 2011 with Rossi. If Dorna didn't move a bit to help Ducati even with Valentino, instead, move Rossi out from the brand, let alone now. Dorna won't help, and if Ducati leaves, it's ok because Honda will fill the the gap left with production RCV. That is the agenda. 


 


Also, the rules for 2014 are encouraging tiny brands like Aprillia to entry back as an semi-MSMA, so who cares with Ducati? That's the policy. 


 


The new tire was not made for Ducati, was made for everybody to help all riders in hot conditions. 


 


Really, thinks are very, very difficult for Ducati in MotoGP as an MSMA. 
 
gui22a
3586711376947039

Dorna is giving a .... for Ducati.


 


If they really want to help, they would do it back in 2011 with Rossi. If Dorna didn't move a bit to help Ducati even with Valentino, instead, move Rossi out from the brand, let alone now. Dorna won't help, and if Ducati leaves, it's ok because Honda will fill the the gap left with production RCV. That is the agenda. 


 


Also, the rules for 2014 are encouraging tiny brands like Aprillia to entry back as an semi-MSMA, so who cares with Ducati? That's the policy. 


 


The new tire was not made for Ducati, was made for everybody to help all riders in hot conditions. 


 


Really, thinks are very, very difficult for Ducati in MotoGP as an MSMA. 
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I'm not so sure Dorna truly knew what a POS the Duc was.


Come Rossi's 2nd year maybe they actually went to him and said "what do you need?"


His reply! "A fcuking Yamaha"


Hence the wage top up from Dorna.


Just my take!
 
lil red rocket pilot
3586781376950201

I'm not so sure Dorna truly knew what a POS the Duc was.


Come Rossi's 2nd year maybe they actually went to him and said "what do you need?"


His reply! "A fcuking Yamaha"


Hence the wage top up from Dorna.


Just my take!
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Dorna should have aided Ducati too, since them. Instead, Dorna aided Rossi and left Ducati for dead. Great.


 


They knew Honda would produce the so called "production RCV", and with or without Ducati, that doesn't matter, the show will continue. That's their way of seeing things. 


 


Once we have accessible production machines, the agenda is "save yourself if you can".


 


Honda controls the series as they want now. 
 
gui22a
3586811376950746

Dorna should have aided Ducati too, since them. Instead, Dorna aided Rossi and left Ducati for dead. Great.


 


They knew Honda would produce the so called "production RCV", and with or without Ducati, that doesn't matter, the show will continue. That's their way of seeing things. 


 


Once we have accessible production machines, the agenda is "save yourself if you can".


 


Honda controls the series as they want now. 
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How much help do you expect Dorna to give them, remember when Honda had to deal with the weight increase after they developed their bike. CS and DP had to deal with chatter for 3/4 of a season, what was all that about. Ducati is perfect for Audi considering they're the same over priced hey look at me transportation that gets it's ... kicked by cheaper rides. 
 
gui22a
3586811376950746

Dorna should have aided Ducati too, since them. Instead, Dorna aided Rossi and left Ducati for dead. Great.


 


They knew Honda would produce the so called "production RCV", and with or without Ducati, that doesn't matter, the show will continue. That's their way of seeing things. 


 


Once we have accessible production machines, the agenda is "save yourself if you can".


 


Honda controls the series as they want now. 
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I agree but maybe they did not pick up on how big the problem with the Duc was quick enough.


 


Not to mention Yam selling engines to teams.


 


I fear for Ducati. But could never support them.


Never liked any but one of there bikes.


Imagine the predicament been a Calothian!


 


If the last sentence come true.


God only knows! ;)
 
hawkdriver
3586851376951802

How much help do you expect Dorna to give them, remember when Honda had to deal with the weight increase after they developed their bike. CS and DP had to deal with chatter for 3/4 of a season, what was all that about. Ducati is perfect for Audi considering they're the same over priced hey look at me transportation that gets it's ... kicked by cheaper rides. 
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TBH I'd look at it as 3 manufacturers are better than 2.


FFS This is the premier in motorcycle racing!


I want to see 5 or 6 out there.


And all with an equal chance at some and less at others!


Yeah I know a dream world!


But hey it's good to have something to dream for ;)
 
hawkdriver
3586851376951802

How much help do you expect Dorna to give them, remember when Honda had to deal with the weight increase after they developed their bike. CS and DP had to deal with chatter for 3/4 of a season, what was all that about. Ducati is perfect for Audi considering they're the same over priced hey look at me transportation that gets it's ... kicked by cheaper rides. 
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The only help Ducati needs (and the sport itself) is the complete removal of the spec tire rule. 


 


Racing is 80% tire (if not more), what about some evolution in the main aspect of racing?


 


Oh, wait.. Honda doesn't want it... they want to continue spending hundreds of millions building a bike around a fixed flawed piece of rubber to keep calling this R&D. You know how embarrassing is the situation of a company as big as Honda being beat by a microbial company when we have tire development open.... 


 


Awesome.
 
lil red rocket pilot
3586861376952188

I agree but maybe they did not pick up on how big the problem with the Duc was quick enough.


 


Not to mention Yam selling engines to teams.


 


I fear for Ducati. But could never support them.


Never liked any but one of there bikes.


Imagine the predicament been a Calothian!


 


If the last sentence come true.


God only knows! ;)
Click to expand...


 


I'm not sure Dorna is much worried with Ducati right now. 
 
Austin
3586551376941231

Sadly, I fear this is the reality. I've wondered aloud how much longer Ducati, and, to an extent, Audi, will be willing to spend so lavishly with nothing but negative sentiments to show for it. Especially once Phillip Morris stops footing the bill.
Click to expand...
I've been hearing from people who should know that PM might drop Ducati. Their problem, however, is that they have nowhere else to go. They can't go and sponsor another team, as the EU Commission will see it as tobacco sponsorship and fine everyone in sight. So if they want to stay in MotoGP, they have to stay with Ducati. They do a lot of business at GPs, which is what they are there for.
 
Kropotkin
3586921376954129

I've been hearing from people who should know that PM might drop Ducati. Their problem, however, is that they have nowhere else to go. They can't go and sponsor another team, as the EU Commission will see it as tobacco sponsorship and fine everyone in sight. So if they want to stay in MotoGP, they have to stay with Ducati. They do a lot of business at GPs, which is what they are there for.
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Much probably PM will revise the contract for 2014 to pay a lot less. 
 
I overheard a conversation in Indianapolis involving a very well-connected personality in the paddock who said he has the impression Honda are becoming aware of the farcical appearance of the series and went so far as to suggest they may be offering advice and expertise to Ducati. Krop, have you hard anything like this?

Kropotkin
3586921376954129

I've been hearing from people who should know that PM might drop Ducati. Their problem, however, is that they have nowhere else to go. They can't go and sponsor another team, as the EU Commission will see it as tobacco sponsorship and fine everyone in sight. So if they want to stay in MotoGP, they have to stay with Ducati. They do a lot of business at GPs, which is what they are there for.
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Is every other cigarette brand in Europe really hurting that badly because they got out of racing? I mean, I haven't seen a cig sponsor outside of Marlboro in any form of racing for, what, four or five years? Smoking still seems to be the thing to do over there.
 
 Austin
3587111376967550

I overheard a conversation in Indianapolis involving a very well-connected personality in the paddock who said he has the impression Honda are becoming aware of the farcical appearance of the series and went so far as to suggest they may be offering advice and expertise to Ducati. Krop, have you hard anything like this?
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Well...Krops suggested from similar sources that Yamaha 'let' Honda win the last year of the previous formula in something like a gentlemen's agreement. (A suggestion I actually wouldn't dispel, and.... I'm supposed to be the tin foil bandit). So...nothing would surprise me man.


Austin
3587111376967550

Is every other cigarette brand in Europe really hurting that badly because they got out of racing? I mean, I haven't seen a cig sponsor outside of Marlboro in any form of racing for, what, four or five years? Smoking still seems to be the thing to do over there.
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Honda helping Ducati? Uhm, your question above might best be answered by your source, because it almost sounds like hes ben smoking something. Hahaha.
 
Austin
3587111376967550

I overheard a conversation in Indianapolis involving a very well-connected personality in the paddock who said he has the impression Honda are becoming aware of the farcical appearance of the series and went so far as to suggest they may be offering advice and expertise to Ducati. Krop, have you hard anything like this?

Is every other cigarette brand in Europe really hurting that badly because they got out of racing? I mean, I haven't seen a cig sponsor outside of Marlboro in any form of racing for, what, four or five years? Smoking still seems to be the thing to do over there.
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I highly doubt it as someone not much time ago raised this question and Nakamoto immediately denied "no help to big companies", he said with his ape face. Ducati is not an small company anymore.


Moreover, Ducati does not need any help from Honda, they only need a ....... tire from Bridgestone. If Honda really wants to help Ducati, then stoping acting like a dictator would be a great start.


Gobmeier asked for the tire, Guareschi and Pirro, both made loud and clear: 2 weeks of work from Bridgestone and Ducati magically could cut 8 tenths per lap without a quarter dollar wasted.


Where is the ....... tire? There is none. It won't be the new hard compound.


So, is there any really willing to help Ducati?
 
8 tenths, eh?


 


Of course, Yamaha and Honda would reap zero benefit from a open tyre rule?


 


 


 


To be clear, I do think a new tyre would help, however I also think that this is more Ducati closed thinking where their bike is fine, and tyres is all it needs.


 


After all, if they know exactly what the need from a tyre, it implies they know what's up with the bike - so why not fix that? Might need to spend money, eh? Audi not being as generous as expected?


 


Lastly, Ducati needs to help itself. Wonder how generous Honda would be after being made out to be the villian over the 4kg rule change for 2012?
 

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