Hayden WILL tame the beast it seems!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Oct 30 2008, 12:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah..they also didn't say anything good like they have with Nick off the bat...

they started out saying "Owe he just needs more time on the bike..or...he hasn't found his confidence on the GP8 yet" etc etc etc.
They also weren't coming off of a year a year of Marco sucking .... They were coming off of a year where they had won the championship, had both riders win races, had both riders on the podium multiple times, and had signed a hot rider that everyone was predicting would be a great choice for them. They didn't have the same reputation of being unridable except for Casey. Being "positive" in the same way that they were with Marco a year ago would be pretty clearly perceived as being negative, and no team is going to say negative things about itself mere days into offseason testing.

Jeez, it's happened again on this thread. Someone posting my exact thoughts at the same time!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Oct 30 2008, 12:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>They also weren't coming off of a year a year of Marco sucking .... They were coming off of a year where they had won the championship, had both riders win races, had both riders on the podium multiple times, and had signed a hot rider that everyone was predicting would be a great choice for them. They didn't have the same reputation of being unridable except for Casey. Being "positive" in the same way that they were with Marco a year ago would be pretty clearly perceived as being negative, and no team is going to say negative things about itself mere days into offseason testing.

i don't even know wtf we're debating at this point... you obviously know everything.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Oct 30 2008, 01:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i don't even know wtf we're debating at this point... you obviously know everything.
Just saying that Ducati has little choice but to say how awesome Nicky is and how much different he is from Marco at this point. Given everything that's come out from them over the last few weeks/months, anything else would pretty much be saying "Nicky sucks, we're screwed".

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Oct 30 2008, 01:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Just saying that Ducati has little choice but to say how awesome Nicky is and how much different he is from Marco at this point. Given everything that's come out from them over the last few weeks/months, anything else would pretty much be saying "Nicky sucks, we're screwed".

Well....what i meant is that Marco sucked .... day one on the Duc... Nick hasn't sucked (yet).

thats all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Oct 30 2008, 09:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The words pot, kettle, and black immediately spring to mind.

I'm not familiar with that figure of speech. European sophisticates like me don't touch pots or kettles or black things.

How qualified is Julian Ryder to say what he said,for those in the know.I can see where Ducati would have to act positive regardless of how they feel at this point.What prompted Ryder to say what he did as a matter of fact.Could he watch and tell that Nicky was going to be ok,or was he going of the press release and being a parrott,or did he talk to some one in private that has a real good idea that if the bike doesnt kill him,he will be fast because he has the balls to push the bike where it has to go to be fast.How qualified is Ryder to say ""Release that breath you've been holding, Hayden fans, he can ride it.".Even though he was 1 1/2 seconds behind Stoner,somebody saw something that peeked their interest.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Oct 29 2008, 10:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ducati's technical director Filippo Preziosi believes the team has made 'the right choice' by signing Nicky Hayden after the American completed a successful first test for the team at Valencia this week.

Hayden, who was fastest of all on the wet second day of the shortened test at the Spanish track, impressed the team with his bravery and his swift integration with the engineers.

"He certainly is very brave," Preziosi told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport. "With the telemetry you can see that in certain situations the bike wobbles in a scary way, even more than with [Casey] Stoner, but he doesn't get off the gas.

"I think we've made a good choice."

Speaking of Hayden's relationship with Stoner, Preziosi added: "It looks like from the first moment there's been great accord between the two of them, also helped by the fact that they speak the same language.

"I don't know whether it'll be the best rider pairing we've ever had, but for sure it will be very harmonious."

Preziosi also indicated that Ducati were happy with the first run of an evolution engine used in the carbon-fibre GP9.

"We were a bit afraid," he said. "Here we had an evolution - never gone on track, not even with test rider [Vittoriano] Guareschi - of what Casey tried in Barcelona.

"Even on the installation lap he did to prepare the bike for the riders, Vittoriano told us it was a good step forward. Most of all in smoothness and progression.

"Casey liked it very much too. The power is still the same, because that's practically imposed by the limitation on the amount of fuel. We've worked on the usual things: fluid dynamics and reduction of frictions. We'll see if it's enough."

And a quote from Julian Ryder

"Release that breath you've been holding, Hayden fans, he can ride it."
As have been said,he was about 1,5 sec slower than Stoner and on the first tests Marco was about 2 seconds slower.I guess Prezioso and the team was happy about Hayden not having a problem with the unique feature of the bike:That it's supposed to move around and has agressive power delivery.On the other hand the 09 engine is said to be more progressive and smooth ,so this probarbly makes the transition easier for Nicky.But still,the moving around,shaking,ride it like you stole it or what ever he managed.That's the big thing i think.It is also the first time on Bridgestones and eventhough it is not so certain how the new tire has been developed till November 26,i think he will do well eventually.
In the winter testing Marco did on it he still had the same problems in March at the IRTA test and was still just as slow and uncomfortable.I doubt Nicky will.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Oct 30 2008, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>How qualified is Julian Ryder to say what he said,for those in the know.I can see where Ducati would have to act positive regardless of how they feel at this point.What prompted Ryder to say what he did as a matter of fact.Could he watch and tell that Nicky was going to be ok,or was he going of the press release and being a parrott,or did he talk to some one in private that has a real good idea that if the bike doesnt kill him,he will be fast because he has the balls to push the bike where it has to go to be fast.How qualified is Ryder to say ""Release that breath you've been holding, Hayden fans, he can ride it.".Even though he was 1 1/2 seconds behind Stoner,somebody saw something that peeked their interest.
I was also wondering what he was basing that statement off of. Soup had the article up around 4 PM local time so I'm assuming Ducati were too busy to tell Jules whether or not Nicky could ride it. I'm guessing he watched him ride at various points throughout the track and was following with a stop watch pretty closely.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Oct 31 2008, 07:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>How qualified is Julian Ryder to say what he said,for those in the know.I can see where Ducati would have to act positive regardless of how they feel at this point.What prompted Ryder to say what he did as a matter of fact.Could he watch and tell that Nicky was going to be ok,or was he going of the press release and being a parrott,or did he talk to some one in private that has a real good idea that if the bike doesnt kill him,he will be fast because he has the balls to push the bike where it has to go to be fast.How qualified is Ryder to say ""Release that breath you've been holding, Hayden fans, he can ride it.".Even though he was 1 1/2 seconds behind Stoner,somebody saw something that peeked their interest.


Marco was more than 2 seconds slower than Casey on his first test.
Like I said it's early days but it looks promising. We all know he wont quit working at it either.
He is now in a better environment. He will be able to share data with the other Ducati riders too, so I think things are on the up for him.


1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team ( 1min 32.348 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team ( 1min 34.433 secs

Hayden is pushing it alot harder than Melandri was prepared to risk it... but hes not gonna be Stoner quick and apart from having a nicer atmosphere to work, can he beat his Honda results towards the end of this year on an harder to ride machine?

Nicky's goal for the first half of the year should be to win laguna. Second half to win PI (with stoner that will be pretty damn hard, but its good to have goals). Throw in a podium here and there and call it a year. Ducati didn't sign him to beat stoner, we all know that. Hayden might try to convince himself that he moved to reclaim the world championship but deep down he knows thats an insane stretch. I think his goal is or should be to win 1 or 2 races in 09, 2-3 in 2010, get some of his respect back so he can retire with stats that read something like 8 race wins, 1 championship.

The scary thought for hayden fans, or Americans like myself is for that to become reality he needs to ride better than he did in 2006. With all the new talent, that will be tall order.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yello13 @ Oct 30 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nicky's goal for the first half of the year should be to win laguna. Second half to win PI (with stoner that will be pretty damn hard, but its good to have goals). Throw in a podium here and there and call it a year. Ducati didn't sign him to beat stoner, we all know that. Hayden might try to convince himself that he moved to reclaim the world championship but deep down he knows thats an insane stretch. I think his goal is or should be to win 1 or 2 races in 09, 2-3 in 2010, get some of his respect back so he can retire with stats that read something like 8 race wins, 1 championship.

The scary thought for hayden fans, or Americans like myself is for that to become reality he needs to ride better than he did in 2006. With all the new talent, that will be tall order.

Which brings up the obvious question,what will constitute a good season for him next year.He was 6th this year in a season that was considered below par,or is that about where he falls in the pecking order now days.The 5 in front of him are not going anywhere i wouldnt think,so would anything better than 6th be a good year.Ducati would probably take a 5th or better and be happy i would think.If the 2 sattelite teams do better than last year,Ducati could be in a posistion to take the constructors championship.If GP is anything like F1,thats really more important thans the rider title since that is where the big money is.Anyone know what the payouts are for the constructors title in GP

It is not about the pay-out from Dorna, FIM whatever, it is the advertising you can do with it. Especially in the case of Ducati who can then give a massive middle finger to the Japanese.

As for Nicky's performance, it is a shame the testing got reduced this winter but I think it is safe to say that his times are better than Marco so far and he has more to get used to. I am just hoping it works out.

Oh and where exactly is Jules's quote. I looked on SOUP but can't find it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sally @ Oct 31 2008, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Oh and where exactly is Jules's quote. I looked on SOUP but can't find it.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081027c6.htm

Thanks, totally overlooked it

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sally @ Oct 31 2008, 04:37 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It is not about the pay-out from Dorna, FIM whatever, it is the advertising you can do with it. Especially in the case of Ducati who can then give a massive middle finger to the Japanese.

As for Nicky's performance, it is a shame the testing got reduced this winter but I think it is safe to say that his times are better than Marco so far and he has more to get used to. I am just hoping it works out.

Oh and where exactly is Jules's quote. I looked on SOUP but can't find it.

So is there not a big payday for winning the constructors title like in F1.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Reel Nauti @ Oct 29 2008, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'><u>"He certainly is very brave," Preziosi told Italian newspaper Gazetta dello Sport. "With the telemetry you can see that in certain situations the bike wobbles in a scary way, even more than with [Casey] Stoner, but he doesn't get off the gas.

"I think we've made a good choice."
</u>
I really like Marco and think he's one of the best in the field on his day. But this reminds me of his Yamaha days when Rossi told him to get a Honda ride since it would suit his riding style better (as in an easier bike to ride).


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Reel Nauti @ Oct 30 2008, 12:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm sure that's true but what does that say about Marco's telemetry? To be honest, what does it say about Marco?
I've always maintained that to make the Duc go you have to be one of 2 things - either very very brave or very very stupid. I never quite figured out which of the two Stoner is...maybe both.
When I say stupid I don't mean it in a bad way...I mean simply being the sort who doesn't question things but rather accepts them.
For that reason Marco and the Duc were never going to be a match made in heaven. Marco thinks too much and questions everything, most of all himself, sadly.
I think Nicky will be great on the Duc, and unlike some, I don't care if he beats his team mate. It's often been said that Nicky's and Stoner's riding styles are similar. Nicky's not short on bravery...he will make that machine go through sheer willpower if nothing else.
So ..point to ponder.....what's gonna happen when he starts taking points off Casey?? Does it really pay to have 2 bikes and riders up at the very pointy end when they might cost each other the championship. As the Italians say...tra due litiganti il terzo gode. I bet nobody's rooting harder for Nicky than Vale.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bikergirl @ Oct 31 2008, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>So ..point to ponder.....what's gonna happen when he starts taking points off Casey?? Does it really pay to have 2 bikes and riders up at the very pointy end when they might cost each other the championship. As the Italians say...tra due litiganti il terzo gode. I bet nobody's rooting harder for Nicky than Vale.
And, for the same reasons, no-one rooting for Lorenzo harder than Stoner.



Being part Aussie, typing that made me feel more than slightly sick

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Oct 30 2008, 04:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Oh c'mon man, we all know you're lying. Read your own posts buddy, all of them look for some angle to .... on Hayden. Now he looks to have a bit of promise and your gonna change your tune?

Here, let me remind you...he is an American. (You know, that nationality you hate).
Well you don't have to believe me.

I certianly won't cheering him on, but I don't be happy by his failures either, why? Cause he rides for my favorite team, bike maker, and is teammates to one of my favorite riders, racer and champion...

The worse thing that could happen is Nicky turns out to be another DucatiMarco, the best thing that could happen (in my view) he becomes a proper teammate that can contribute to the teams points, bike developement and when needed help Casey win races and then the title in 2009.