Hayden interviews

levigarrett · May 17, 2011

I coud be misinterpreting things, but at the conclusion of this weekends events I couldn't help but notice a different although somewhat nuanced change in Nicky's typically upbeat interview demeanor. In years past, he's generally been encouraging and confident when discussing his team, his bike and his sincere belief that things will improve and that progress is being made. So far this season, I'm not seeing that in any of his MotoGP press encounters. He looks tired and dare I say...... defeated! I apologize in advance for those who aren't following me. I'm speaking specifically in reference to the short interviews found on the MotoGP website.

I think years of struggling on the machine are beginning to take a toll on him and he's having difficulty hiding it. A cursory examination of the results from the other Ducati riders (save Rossi) so far are also proving to be staggeringly poor. RdP looks fairly disgusted while Loris begins to discuss his evacuation from the series. We don't get to see much from Abraham but I'm sure if his father wasn't funding his adventure, he'd also be looking for his pink slip. The other riders who've failed on the machine and were subsequently ejected from the series (Kallio, Canepa) are an unfortunate reminder of the Ducati's recent history.

Anyone else reading the tea leaves this way? Nicky looks unhappy to me. He doesn't look like a guy who believes in the product anymore.

Mental Anarchist · May 17, 2011

levigarrett said:
I coud be misinterpreting things, but at the conclusion of this weekends events I couldn't help but notice a different although somewhat nuanced change in Nicky's typically upbeat interview demeanor. In years past, he's generally been encouraging and confident when discussing his team, his bike and his sincere belief that things will improve and that progress is being made. So far this season, I'm not seeing that in any of his MotoGP press encounters. He looks tired and dare I say...... defeated! I apologize in advance for those who aren't following me. I'm speaking specifically in reference to the short interviews found on the MotoGP website.

I think years of struggling on the machine are beginning to take a toll on him and he's having difficulty hiding it. A cursory examination of the results from the other Ducati riders (save Rossi) so far are also proving to be staggeringly poor. RdP looks fairly disgusted while Loris begins to discuss his evacuation from the series. We don't get to see much from Abraham but I'm sure if his father wasn't funding his adventure, he'd also be looking for his pink slip. The other riders who've failed on the machine and were subsequently ejected from the series (Kallio, Canepa) are an unfortunate reminder of the Ducati's recent history.

Anyone else reading the tea leaves this way? Nicky looks unhappy to me. He doesn't look like a guy who believes in the product anymore.

I agree. I think he realises that he is nothing more than someones test rider much the same way as Edwards was. I think his demeanour is also a result of knowing that he has no where better to go. Factory rides are sealed now for the next 5 years I reckon with the new spanish and italian blood that is coming through the lower ranks so the best he can hope for is a satellite ride or the New Factory Ducati Superbike in 2012.

Pigeon · May 18, 2011

Agree

not having a go at Nicky or others

its the sport msna etc there ideas / rules over the years have brought this sport to this ....

give a few elite riders the top kit any one else gets .... on publicly on the track with the junk there given

looks who bothered about motogp zaki suki aprillia bmw KRJR private teams etc no one

its a farce and its not long ago Ducati returned to the series

where would motogp be today if they didnt field there bikes in 2011

IT WOULD BE A NONE EVENT

they've pissed about so much

900cc 800cc fuel restrictions 1spec tire engine restrictions

and coming up is 1000cc still with 21 ltrs of piss to be used

and honda are talking fuel development to compete what utter ....

2012 is going no where

it wont be long before Rossi moves on

i say that because money coming to the sport and tv viewing figures will plummet

how will Dorna try and sell motogp then

Nicky and others need to think what there doing

is it the odd bit off tv coverage and small interview doing .... in motogp

or is it career satisfaction id much rather be a winner and podium regular in wsbk and bsb etc

than touch motogp with a 20ft barge pole these days

god i get better satisfaction watching 40 riders in superstock 1000/600 in the Italian sbk series

going into a turn one on any given track it makes the hair on your back stand up

than watch anything that happens on a whole race day in motogp

and Dorna / tracks want to charge you top ££$$ to go near this comedy show

they really are muppets

the sooner its shoved off main stream tv to some obscure tv channels the better

one thing for sure i wont pay one penny to watch it

mylexicon · May 18, 2011

I think Nicky is finally coming to grips with the effect of the 800cc 21L era on his career, and I think he is giving up hope that the situation will change in MotoGP. I'm sure a lot of the riders were hopeful that the 21L rule would be done away with, but now that Nicky has tested the new bike, perhaps the continuity of the 21L rule is setting in.

Nicky is a much better rider than people think he is, but now he is confronted with a couple more years of midpack circulation or a jump to WSBK which has an uncertain future with all of the manufacturer meetings and now the announcement that Pirelli will not be supplying after 2013.

Motorcycle racing is so up-in-the-air these days, it's hard not to look disheveled and burned out. I can't think of anyone in the paddock who is happy. I would have said Pedrosa before this weekend, but now he's more stressed than ever. The hell of this formula is stripping MotoGP of the spirit of competition that powered the paddock during the 990 era. What could be worse for a rider than losing races b/c fuel capacity is insufficient? Why bother?

They are all getting there. They just need to band together and strike until they get another 3L.

Talpa · May 18, 2011

Too true lex, Stoner was even pushing the Honda into the pits after the race on Sunday.

So when will somebody dismantle the msma? You would think that 2012 is a nice opportunity for a fresh start on this fuel reg.

cliche guevara · May 18, 2011

mylexicon said:
I think Nicky is finally coming to grips with the effect of the 800cc 21L era on his career, and I think he is giving up hope that the situation will change in MotoGP. I'm sure a lot of the riders were hopeful that the 21L rule would be done away with, but now that Nicky has tested the new bike, perhaps the continuity of the 21L rule is setting in.

Nicky is a much better rider than people think he is, but now he is confronted with a couple more years of midpack circulation or a jump to WSBK which has an uncertain future with all of the manufacturer meetings and now the announcement that Pirelli will not be supplying after 2013.

Motorcycle racing is so up-in-the-air these days, it's hard not to look disheveled and burned out. I can't think of anyone in the paddock who is happy. I would have said Pedrosa before this weekend, but now he's more stressed than ever. The hell of this formula is stripping MotoGP of the spirit of competition that powered the paddock during the 990 era. What could be worse for a rider than losing races b/c fuel capacity is insufficient? Why bother?

They are all getting there. They just need to band together and strike until they get another 3L.

looking at 2006 ,all they need is one more liter...

povol · May 18, 2011

Nicky knew Stoner was fast, but like many people, probably questioned his development skills. When it was announced that JB and Rossi were coming, im sure Nicky got a little excited. Being a test ..... for the number 1 rider is something he has gotten used to,so being Rossi's ..... [again] was not anything new, plus he would be on a title contending bike. Now that reality has set in on the fact that not even JB and Rossi can wave a magic wand and fix the Duc, im sure the reality of his future may be setting in. Of course, Ducati might finally realize that its their quirky machine, and not the ever growing list of ex riders is the problem, and keep him around.You might have differing opinions on Nicky's skills as a rider, but one thing that almost everyone can agree on, he is a great teammate, he will be a great spokesman for your product, and he is genuinely liked around the globe.If Ducati doesnt figure out something fast, they might find it hard to draw a top rider to the team, even a young rider who is itching to have a factory ride with that factory salary.

ptk50 · May 18, 2011

povol said:
Nicky knew Stoner was fast, but like many people, probably questioned his development skills. When it was announced that JB and Rossi were coming, im sure Nicky got a little excited. Being a test ..... for the number 1 rider is something he has gotten used to,so being Rossi's ..... [again] was not anything new, plus he would be on a title contending bike. Now that reality has set in on the fact that not even JB and Rossi can wave a magic wand and fix the Duc, im sure the reality of his future may be setting in. Of course, Ducati might finally realize that its their quirky machine, and not the ever growing list of ex riders is the problem, and keep him around.You might have differing opinions on Nicky's skills as a rider, but one thing that almost everyone can agree on, he is a great teammate, he will be a great spokesman for your product, and he is genuinely liked around the globe.If Ducati doesnt figure out something fast, they might find it hard to draw a top rider to the team, even a young rider who is itching to have a factory ride with that factory salary.

It is truly sad what a bunch of bureaucrats are doing to what used to be the most exciting engine driven sport. Who gives a .... about 10 to 15% fuel economy. Just about everybody knows that ICE's are basically inefficient and will die out - fortunately not in my lifetime - and when it does, then with a BANG and not a whimper -(Conrad, Joseph - thx - before I'm accused of plagiarism)

It's time to return MotoGP to the true circus it should be - define formulas with capacity limits, weight of machine, 2 wheels, any # cylinders, bore and stroke free choice - the rest is innovation and racing. Ducati is in a crazy position with over a third of the bikes on the grid and competing (despite VR/JB) primarily in the 2nd division of MotoGP - Crap what would it look like if Duc pulled a KawaSuzi - we'd be left with 6 Hondas and 4 Yams - the sport will soon need cheerleaders to fill in the gaps between circulating riders. Give the teams the 24 liters or more - it's up to them to pay for lesser early race handling vs more fuel on board.

Jumkie · May 18, 2011

levigarrett said:
I coud be misinterpreting things, but at the conclusion of this weekends events I couldn't help but notice a different although somewhat nuanced change in Nicky's typically upbeat interview demeanor. In years past, he's generally been encouraging and confident when discussing his team, his bike and his sincere belief that things will improve and that progress is being made. So far this season, I'm not seeing that in any of his MotoGP press encounters. He looks tired and dare I say...... defeated! I apologize in advance for those who aren't following me. I'm speaking specifically in reference to the short interviews found on the MotoGP website.

I think years of struggling on the machine are beginning to take a toll on him and he's having difficulty hiding it. A cursory examination of the results from the other Ducati riders (save Rossi) so far are also proving to be staggeringly poor. RdP looks fairly disgusted while Loris begins to discuss his evacuation from the series. We don't get to see much from Abraham but I'm sure if his father wasn't funding his adventure, he'd also be looking for his pink slip. The other riders who've failed on the machine and were subsequently ejected from the series (Kallio, Canepa) are an unfortunate reminder of the Ducati's recent history.

Anyone else reading the tea leaves this way? Nicky looks unhappy to me. He doesn't look like a guy who believes in the product anymore.

JohnnyKnockdown · May 18, 2011

I used to read every press release, watch every practice and QP. I subscribed to MGP.com and would wake up in the middle of the night to see the race live on a blurry 16 inch computer screen.

I feel that Nickys mood is an extension of my own. I don't find myself caring much at all anymore. The lack of good racing and the downward spiral of Nickys career have taken their toll. Jumkie texted me on sunday morn and asked if I watched the race. My 1st thought was "what race?"

If you are not satisfied as a consumer than I would not purchase the MGP subscription. I have been without it for 3 years now. I saw the writing on the wall and it was enough for me

Pigeon · May 18, 2011

this thread sums it up how many fell about the sport and where its going.

if motogp was a Major football team the Board and Manager would have been ousted a long time ago.

stiefel · May 18, 2011

Grumpy old lot.

Sure, the fuel restrictions suck. Yes, there are not enough bikes on the grid.

Meanwhile, we're having a great season so far. Nice battles on track. One guy that seems to be a cut above the rest, yet is not championship leader. Unpredictable outcomes. Aggressive riding.

I'd say enjoy it, or go watch NASCAR or something.

Rant over.

povol · May 18, 2011

stiefel said:
Grumpy old lot.

Sure, the fuel restrictions suck. Yes, there are not enough bikes on the grid.

Meanwhile, we're having a great season so far. Nice battles on track. One guy that seems to be a cut above the rest, yet is not championship leader. Unpredictable outcomes. Aggressive riding.

I'd say enjoy it, or go watch NASCAR or something.

Rant over.

This past weekend had plenty of action. Crazy finish, people apologizing for .... they didnt even do, and a lot of good sportsmanship.

http://youtu.be/Q_fqcOHiO2M

levigarrett · May 18, 2011

stiefel said:
Grumpy old lot.

Sure, the fuel restrictions suck. Yes, there are not enough bikes on the grid.

Meanwhile, we're having a great season so far. Nice battles on track. One guy that seems to be a cut above the rest, yet is not championship leader. Unpredictable outcomes. Aggressive riding.

I'd say enjoy it, or go watch NASCAR or something.

Rant over.

I'm no particular fan of NASCAR (even though I live minutes from Daytona) but if MotoGP had 1/2th the entertainment value of the average NASCAR race, we'd all be quite thrilled with the series and it's organizers. I assure you that NASCAR has more going for it than most believe. I'll occasionally catch a race if I have nothing better to do and I'm generally pleased with the spectacle that unfolds. The same cannot be said for MotoGP or F1.

Kropotkin · May 18, 2011

levigarrett said:
I coud be misinterpreting things, but at the conclusion of this weekends events I couldn't help but notice a different although somewhat nuanced change in Nicky's typically upbeat interview demeanor. In years past, he's generally been encouraging and confident when discussing his team, his bike and his sincere belief that things will improve and that progress is being made. So far this season, I'm not seeing that in any of his MotoGP press encounters. He looks tired and dare I say...... defeated! I apologize in advance for those who aren't following me. I'm speaking specifically in reference to the short interviews found on the MotoGP website.

I think years of struggling on the machine are beginning to take a toll on him and he's having difficulty hiding it. A cursory examination of the results from the other Ducati riders (save Rossi) so far are also proving to be staggeringly poor. RdP looks fairly disgusted while Loris begins to discuss his evacuation from the series. We don't get to see much from Abraham but I'm sure if his father wasn't funding his adventure, he'd also be looking for his pink slip. The other riders who've failed on the machine and were subsequently ejected from the series (Kallio, Canepa) are an unfortunate reminder of the Ducati's recent history.

Anyone else reading the tea leaves this way? Nicky looks unhappy to me. He doesn't look like a guy who believes in the product anymore.

I get the same sense from talking to him. There's something going on, but you're never going to find out.

JohnnyKnockdown · May 18, 2011

I don't think Ducati or Honda really care or cared what he means to the sport here in America. Nicky doesn't influence people in spain or italy to turn on their Tv's. He's nothing but a mule and a good company man. Its a shame because I have never seen an American rider that is so beloved by American race fans

levigarrett · May 18, 2011

Kropotkin said:
I get the same sense from talking to him. There's something going on, but you're never going to find out.

I was hoping you'd respond to this thread. The fact that you seem to agree means things are probably worse than even I had thought. That's really unfortunate.

mylexicon · May 18, 2011

stiefel said:
Grumpy old lot.

Sure, the fuel restrictions suck. Yes, there are not enough bikes on the grid.

Meanwhile, we're having a great season so far. Nice battles on track. One guy that seems to be a cut above the rest, yet is not championship leader. Unpredictable outcomes. Aggressive riding.

I'd say enjoy it, or go watch NASCAR or something.

Rant over.

You watch the sport crumble around you, but you urge people not to contemplate the possibility of improvement?

I like to garden so I can't enjoy the flowers if they have root rot in fallow soil. The show still looks pretty, but the root system that keeps motorcycle racing alive and well is rotting away. It's not just MotoGP. If you are content to smell the flowers, be my guest, but you need to realize that you will soon be watching NASCAR with the rest of us if the sports underlying problems are not addressed.

Motorcycle racing, in general, is dying on the vine. The MSMA laid out some really bad plans for motorcycle racing back in 2002-2003. The Flammini's wouldn't take it lying down though, they replaced the awful MSMA rules (basically Superstock) with an equally horrible rules set of their own (looked fantastic for a while though).

hawkdriver · May 18, 2011

Nicky could easily control his own destiny in the motorcycle world if he would just leave GP, he's the rider who can win on Sunday and give you a sales boost on monday. I could see him having a Mladin like career if he would have stuck to superbikes, big paychecks and lots of winning. After Honda .... on him, he should have left and made it his life mission to kick their ... on a superbike. In a way I see him just like CE, happy to be on the big world stage even if he really has no chance at winning. It has to be hard watching Casey ride the piss out of that Honda and knowing your Duc is so far behind. Nicky rides for Ducati but in his home garage he has a CBR1000rr if that tells you anything. I won't be watching GP as much when he leaves or is demoted to satalite rider.

BHarvey · May 18, 2011

Without an American team behind him, he stands NO chance, like Edwards before him.

Makes you wonder what will happen to Spies....

Hayden interviews

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