You are basing this solely on the assumption that Ducati had clear direction when Stoner was there, do you have proof that this is the case......? I'm sorry but the fact is, as yet, Stoner has no record of developing a consistent title winning motogp bike.
Do companies or banks give large chunks of cash to people with no business plan or strategy and without solid figures backing them? Well most don't outside the US anyway.......
When Ducati signed Rossi, the GOAT and most popular rider of the modern age, did you think they would not help him? Just take the bike that they and Stoner had successfully developed into a flawed machine and ride it
The point that most of the Anti-Rossi camp, of which exists, to deny this as above-especially being the spearhead/originator, only makes you look completely ridiculous.....I digress......anyhow the point that the Anti-Rossi camp fail to address time and time again is that Stoner was not successful on the 2010 Ducati, he finished a very distant 4th, nor was he successful on the 2009 Ducati, nor was he successful on the 2008 Ducati despite regularly being the fastest. Knowing all this, yet conveniently not admitting it, at what point do you think that Rossi would just get on a ride it flat out in a 'test' with surgery scheduled the following day....?
Ducati already moved heaven and earth for Stoner and Hayden with the introduction of the big-bang engine, and several complete front end re-designs/builds with ohilins, how many lira's do you think this cost? I would say plenty......
Ducati wanted a serious change, as did Stoner, this is clear. Both camps are very happy with their new arrangements, this only means one thing, that both had exhausted their options with each other trying to be consistent, which never happened.
You are using Burgess's comment in an attempt to prop your argument that Rossi and JB are being given extraordinary privileges to try to extract an unfair advantage. An argument which you brought about even before the signing was announced, something which hasn't yet happened despite your predictions that Ducati would move Heaven and Earth in the off-season, yet they still haven't, in fact they've done less than they did in last years pre-season!!!
This only proves that they have clear direction and are patiently waiting for crucial race data before making serious changes, this is how VR and Burgess have always worked. I remember clearly how many were also rubbishing their move to Bridgestone after Qatar 2008 when Jorge smacked them in his first race with Michies, including Gavin Emmett in live commentary.
One could say that at present the Ducati is one of the least modified of the top bikes from last season at Present, especially considering Honda's game changing development. Directly opposing your theories....not the first time your theories have been debunked.
So in fact, the 'Extreme' measures you keep mentioning, and falsely accusing Ducati of implementing, have actually being taken by 'another' manufacturer. I would love to see Honda's budgets for this year........
