Hayden announcement expected

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (johnnyKO @ Aug 21 2008, 03:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You know, when watching that interview with mladin, he claimed that at times he would ride the yosh suzuki without traction control because he could be faster. I think nicky may be able to ride that thing. Basically its like an ultralight 990 i presume but with nearly the same amount of power. If Ducati cooperates with Nicky and make the bike possible to ride without the on or off throttle style that Stoner uses, Nicky could be very competitive. Its the only bike on the paddock that he can use since he is too big to ride any of the other bikes.

The Yam carries 3 riders all larger than Nicky. At least I think Toseland is slightly larger than Nicky. Ginters did prove the Duc can be ridden without traction control. It will be an interesting to see what happens.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (johnnyKO @ Aug 21 2008, 10:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You know, when watching that interview with mladin, he claimed that at times he would ride the yosh suzuki without traction control because he could be faster. I think nicky may be able to ride that thing. Basically its like an ultralight 990 i presume but with nearly the same amount of power. If Ducati cooperates with Nicky and make the bike possible to ride without the on or off throttle style that Stoner uses, Nicky could be very competitive. Its the only bike on the paddock that he can use since he is too big to ride any of the other bikes.
WEll they're not signing him to lose I can tell you that.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Aug 21 2008, 07:07 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Or a teammate that won't give up if he's not instantly up to the speed of the defending champ. It sounds like Casey/Marco didn't get along very well and Ducati's looking for a better working relationship between their riders.

You think it's not appealing to pick up a motogp world champion with a reputation for working his ... off even if things aren't going well, especially when you've got a bike that's hard to ride (but contends for championships in one rider's hands so you can't change too much)?

A lot of what Suppo's saying reads like a ... at Melandri, more than anything.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L8Braker @ Aug 21 2008, 10:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Seems like I read somewhere that Stoner and Hayden actually pal around during race weekends, any truth to that?
Ducati knows signing Hadyen will get them a work horse, I mean hell Nick's gotta be better at developing a bike and figuring out what it needs by now after all the HRC .... he's dealt with? Bridgestones tires on the other hand will take some time IMO.

Casey's summer break interview with Daryl Beattie (Channel 10 aust) revealed the following. Casey apparently gets on like a house on fire with Nicki and they are fairly close already. Casey made mention of how much he would look forward to working with Nicki IF he was signed, he wouldn't make much of a poker player.

Marco and Casey didn’t get on and in the same interview Casey commented that Loris and he had one big garage and Marco threw the barrier up and they operated as separate teams.

It was a ... at Marco – at the risk of inspiring the ire of bikergirl Marco was bought into the team on higher pay than Casey and (IMO) was there to replace him, when he failed Ducati had a big rethink and are hanging onto Casey as their number one rider. He would have been there as the number 2 to Marco if the God hadn’t laughed at the feeble plans of men. Marco came with a sense of entitlement (IMO) and I’d say he is cured of that now.

You back and look at the stores surrounding the GP9 and associated footage – Ducati are tiptoeing around Casey at the moment in an effort to keep him happy. They have realised after 7 other riders were .... on the bike that Casey is the real deal.

Whoever goes to Ducati now gets a GP9 built to stoner who is a dirt tracker and a giant compared to Dani.

Really after watching Elias ride to second on it last week I felt a lot better about Nicki going there, I can see Nicki getting a win or two and a few podiums and for a guy like Nicki who is a team player (look at all the work he does for Honda) that will be pretty damn satisfying.

Also - they put my two favourite riders on the same team, I’ve written 2008 off, bring on ’09…

I haven't heard all that much about the seperation of Marco and Stoner until last night. I watched Melandri on motogp.com saying he wants to ride with a teammate and work together. Then I remembered the clip of Stoner passing Marco over the line in a q session shaking his head at him when he was around 4 seconds slower. So in no way were they working together because that was a real slap.

Personally, I can't wait to see the grin on that guys face when he steps out on his own and announces he has switched sitting beside Suppo. He needs a change. It will make for better racing all around with another strong front runner.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ Aug 22 2008, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I haven't heard all that much about the seperation of Marco and Stoner until last night. I watched Melandri on motogp.com saying he wants to ride with a teammate and work together. Then I remembered the clip of Stoner passing Marco over the line in a q session shaking his head at him when he was around 4 seconds slower. So in no way were they working together because that was a real slap.

Personally, I can't wait to see the grin on that guys face when he steps out on his own and announces he has switched sitting beside Suppo. He needs a change. It will make for better racing all around with another strong front runner.
As much as Stoner does for the younger guys comin up I can see how he and Nicky would get along. Plus similar backgrounds being youths should be a common ground for tech talk.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Aug 22 2008, 12:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As much as Stoner does for the younger guys comin up I can see how he and Nicky would get along. Plus similar backgrounds being youths should be a common ground for tech talk.
To have an idea of how Stoner and Hayden get alone, try and remember this race a year ago (Brno). Stoner won and Hayden podium, and went on to praise Stoner repeatedly in the post race interview. They have respect for each other and I think genuinely are both good guys. Plus they have the thing in common that when they won, a predominant amount of certain fans summarily credited everything else but the rider for wining the title. I'd say they will get alone just fine.

As far as their commitment; I think we will see them both trying to finish off the season strong. I bet we will see Stoner trying everything to win every race. Hayden will try to improve and honor his contract to Honda. It’s ride for pride time, and Rossi will try to make a statement about his championship. Even though I don’t expect for his fans to admit “luck” was on his side (as they cried the last two seasons) seeing that Casey had a no fault DNF forcing him to have to push the limit and thus making a mistake this last race. I’m hoping they all throw caution to the wind and give us a show like the one I was fortunate to witness at Laguna. But even if Rossi “cruises” to the title, I will still have respect for him since a championship is not just for him, but for all the no recognized workers in his team.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Aug 22 2008, 02:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Even though I don’t expect for his fans to admit “luck” was on his side (as they cried the last two seasons) seeing that Casey had a no fault DNF forcing him to have to push the limit and thus making a mistake this last race.

I'm with you. Rossi is only winning because Stoner was having problems with his tires early in the season. Plus Casey had the engine failure at LeMans and he has crashed at a couple of rounds.

And did you see Laguna, Jumk, Rossi only won b/c Casey crashed in the final bend.

We all know who's the faster rider. Casey has been consistently faster all season. Rossi is lucky to be ahead by 50 points.

Nice one boys!
Can't say we didn't ask for that!

Hayden got well together with Rossi in 2003, so why would Stoner be an issue? Rossi is a much bigger star than Stoner.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Aug 22 2008, 11:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm with you. Rossi is only winning because Stoner was having problems with his tires early in the season. Plus Casey had the engine failure at LeMans and he has crashed at a couple of rounds.

And did you see Laguna, Jumk, Rossi only won b/c Casey crashed in the final bend.

We all know who's the faster rider. Casey has been consistently faster all season. Rossi is lucky to be ahead by 50 points.
both have had there unlucky races. if you want to win championships you have to stay on your bike,

hate to nitpick but is was the last turn before the straight not the final bend. get ya facts straight lex

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Aug 22 2008, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm with you. Rossi is only winning because Stoner was having problems with his tires early in the season. Plus Casey had the engine failure at LeMans and he has crashed at a couple of rounds.

And did you see Laguna, Jumk, Rossi only won b/c Casey crashed in the final bend.

We all know who's the faster rider. Casey has been consistently faster all season. Rossi is lucky to be ahead by 50 points.

LMAO. Rossi only won this year because he was lucky. If Pedro wouldn't have binned it in then he would have easily won that race and been 14 points ahead of Rossi. Then Rossi would have to of played catch up and would have choked in the next race. Leaving the door open for Stoner to at least take second. Of course TIRES played a huge role as well. This championship definitely needs an next to it. Because it was all luck.

Rog, I think that you are having an off day

A stoner quartet and a Hayden trio.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Aug 22 2008, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm with you. Rossi is only winning because Stoner was having problems with his tires early in the season. Plus Casey had the engine failure at LeMans and he has crashed at a couple of rounds.

And did you see Laguna, Jumk, Rossi only won b/c Casey crashed in the final bend.

We all know who's the faster rider. Casey has been consistently faster all season. Rossi is lucky to be ahead by 50 points.

You know it. Actually, he was really really lucky for global warming, see below for explination.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rgvneil @ Aug 22 2008, 03:52 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nice one boys!
Can't say we didn't ask for that!
Actually Neil. Rossi was very LUCKY Anthony West had problems with his Kawasaki this year. It was down on power, poor electronics, and those tires were ..... Those crashes and mechanical DNFs really were in Rossi's favor but it would have been closer than you think. But I’m convinced it was this global warming thing that has really played into Rossi hand; being that had it rained every round, well Rossi would be playing catch up against West. I mean, look what happened at Brno, he had a wet weather set up during the practices, which really paid off in the race with that 5th place finish. Had it rained during the race, it would have been lights out on Rossi, and the rest of the grid. West would have coasted to a historic early title clinch.

Rossi is lucky global warming has screwed up West’s title run!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Aug 22 2008, 04:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>A stoner quartet and a Hayden trio.
And a Rossi boys choir, led by babel the conductor.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Aug 22 2008, 04:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Of course TIRES played a huge role as well. This championship definitely needs an next to it. Because it was all luck.

Rog, I think that you are having an off day
Had it not been for those ...... Michelins, Rossi would NOT have won.

I have said earlier that i think Hayden could have the most trouble to get the traction the Duc. is capable of.But as i come to think of it maybe the frame is the biggest difference.Ducati is surely going to develope power delivery of the engine it self.To make it smoother and with more torque at lower range,just like they did with the 990.First the peakpower then develope broader usable revrange.
And the big need for alot of TC is maybe going to be smaller.Already in Germany Guintoli switched it off and did well.OK, it was maybe under not so common circumstances but any way.
Ducati will most likely develope the frame too until the time when Hayden would ride it for the first winter test.But,It is still going to be a really stiff and rigid steel frame i bet compared to the more flexing Aluminium dito on the Honda.
And the frame could also be part of the reason why the other ducati riders have struggled.They don't have the confidence to push enough.
As the journalists,Randy Mamola and now Sete Gibernau who has tested the bike on different occations sais:It is unforgiving and you have to push really hard,then it starts to work and it works great.
Even the Desmosedici roadbike is like that according to journalists testing it.
On the other hand Hayden look alot like Stoner comming out of turns so maybe the Ducati could fit him like a glove.I sure hope so.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Aug 22 2008, 11:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm with you. Rossi is only winning because Stoner was having problems with his tires early in the season. Plus Casey had the engine failure at LeMans and he has crashed at a couple of rounds.

And did you see Laguna, Jumk, Rossi only won b/c Casey crashed in the final bend.

We all know who's the faster rider. Casey has been consistently faster all season. Rossi is lucky to be ahead by 50 points.
Maybe the standings would be just about even if there were no DNF's or crashes.This year Rossi has the 50 points lead,last year Stoner had about 50 points after Brno and Pedrosa has been injured too much in both years.
Concidering all things that has to work every weekend the top three has been quite even if they all have perfect weekends.

I guess its just over some peoples heads.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Anders GUZZI @ Aug 23 2008, 03:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I have said earlier that i think Hayden could have the most trouble to get the traction the Duc. is capable of.But as i come to think of it maybe the frame is the biggest difference.Ducati is surely going to develope power delivery of the engine it self.To make it smoother and with more torque at lower range,just like they did with the 990.First the peakpower then develope broader usable revrange. The duc allready have the best mid range in the class. Not nesessrily smoth and nice but it's at the start of the straights where the duck really shine.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Ducati will most likely develope the frame too until the time when Hayden would ride it for the first winter test.But,It is still going to be a really stiff and rigid steel frame i bet compared to the more flexing Aluminium dito on the Honda.
GP9 use a carbon fibre frame. And steel give a lot more flex than aluminium. Aluminium is a dead material, giving little flex and lots of damping. Steel are flexible and bend and recoil a lot more. I just heard in the olympics mountainbike race that carbon fibre frames flex more than aluminum and if it's true I guss that is to Ducati's advantage as they are used to handle the flex. However I thought CF was really stiff and dead so I don't know if that was correct.

Are people having trouble understanding sarcasm?

Anyway! Good luck for Hayden. It's going to be tough with Ducati for sure, but I think he has a shot at succeeding. I doubt he's going to win races right away though.