Melandri IS done at Ducati.

Just heard from the commentators, not as NEWS, but more as a comment as Melandri was in the picture. "His last race for Ducati, very sad......"!

Maybe I got it wrong but I logged in 5 min out in the session and
it was as if they had a big anouncment earlier in the broadcast.

cool

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Jun 21 2008, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>cool

I'm speachless (at least for what I permit myself on a forum)

Sad news if it's true. He deserves to be at a team in contention for the championship.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Jun 21 2008, 01:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm speachless (at least for what I permit myself on a forum)
Why would anyone be happy if this is true? If it is true it is presumably by mutual consent, showing that marco has his pride and wishes to go to a more suitable bike on which he can display his undoubted talent again.

He deserves better than the .... treatment he is getting from Ducati. People say Nicky is treated bad, but Marco is treated worse for sure.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Jun 22 2008, 12:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He deserves better than the .... treatment he is getting from Ducati. People say Nicky is treated bad, but Marco is treated worse for sure.

It sucks that Marco hasn't gelled with the Gp8, but how have Ducati treated Marco badly?
Both rider and team have tried to make it work and it just isn't going to.
Best for both parties to move on.

I agree that its best for both parties to move in different directions. Melandri is a great rider (but not on the Ducati) and the Ducati is a world championship winning machine (not with Melandri on it). They have tried to work through the problems but without any success and there are no real signs of improvement. Things seem to be going from bad to worse.

I don't think Melandri deserves it but he could end up as Pedrosa's teammate with Hayden surely not going to be there for much longer?! Perhaps a swap could work between the riders and manufacturers though personally I would like to see good young riders rewarded with the opportunity - say Vermeulen or Dovi for example?

Good luck to him. Im interested to see where he could end up given his performance this year. Kawasaki, Tech 3 Yamaha and possibly Gresini (if they throw Nakano away). He hasn't done himself any favours with such a poor performance. Still, money talks.

Who'll be on the Ducati, Canepa or Gibernau?

Probably Gibbers given his experience and Canepa would take Guintoli or Elias' seat next year. Im all for it, I'd rather see another competitive Ducati, 3 slugs at the back is no good for racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Jun 21 2008, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He deserves better than the .... treatment he is getting from Ducati. People say Nicky is treated bad, but Marco is treated worse for sure.
Are you smokin the wacky weed? Ducati tried everything for him because they wanted an Italian rider to be successful even more so than Casey. They did so many different configurations and mappings that they just couldn't make it work for him. They went so far to get others to test the bike so they could get him in contention. Ducati treated him like gold and when he leaves they will still be wishing they could have found something to make the bike work for him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jun 21 2008, 10:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Are you smokin the wacky weed? Ducati tried everything for him because they wanted an Italian rider to be successful even more so than Casey. They did so many different configurations and mappings that they just couldn't make it work for him. They went so far to get others to test the bike so they could get him in contention. Ducati treated him like gold and when he leaves they will still be wishing they could have found something to make the bike work for him.

He's only 12 Rock..he don't know any better

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (xx CURVE xx @ Jun 21 2008, 03:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He's only 12 Rock..he don't know any better
So what? When I was 12 I wouldn't talk out of my ....

Wow, I'm also stunned if this is true. It almost seems like he put it out there in that previous interview. I'm no so sure why he is getting a pass here though. Stick it out one season would have been more honorable. Ducati treated him great, he just hasn't found a way to ride the bike.

Haga, you are dead wrong. And anybody else who thinks he got a bad deal. If anybody is getting a bad deal, its Ducati who put him on what everybody agreed was a competitive machine (hell, most said it was the very machine responsible for the title), and Marco was more than tickled to go to this team. He thought it would be a title in the bag. But then he realized the thing actually didn't ride itself (like many fans of another Italian thought).

I'm starting to change my mind about Marco in a way. I like grit and character and commitment. He started to make grumblings while at Honda then managed to get out (while announcing he would sandbag), now here he is doing the same thing. I don't particularly think this is honorable. Sure it’s racing and career advancement is the goal, but for me personally, character and a man's word go a long way. He absolutely has NOT been treated badly, and from all accounts, Ducati did everything in their power to make it work for him, even to the extent of getting a very reluctant retired rider like Sete, and even asking Biaggi (almost universally hated) to check out the bike and see what the .... is the problem. No to mention asking Bayliss, who has a great relationship with the factory to also look into it. So by all accounts, Ducati did what few factories do for a rider struggling as bad as him.

Haga, you compare him to Hayden's treatment by Honda, which is so ridiculous. Just in the latest round, lets not even talk about all the .... that happened in the last two years, but just now, they gave him stipulations and conditions to run the new engine, something he had wanted before, but they waited until his reason was down the drain. So he thanks them, and is that suppose to clear all the .... they've dragged their feet on because Nicky has some manners and gratitude? .... dude, Melandri had it cake, he just could NOT ride the thing and now it seems he is quitting.

I don't like quitters. You at least give the factory one season to work it out, then if it doesn't, everybody understands. Ducati is NOT kicking him out, because if they were, Melandri is the type of person that would cry foul from the mountain top to the world so people would feel sorry for him.

Disappointed in Melandri, he is a quitter.

(Sorry Bikergirl, but you defended him when he said he would stop trying when he couldn’t get the Honda to work (and lack of support). Even though, he announced that he would not take the risk for a position; but interestingly (rather peculiar) he did manage to do better, perhaps thinking this would impress Ducati. Which made me think, he tries only when he feels like it rather than for integrity. But now here with Ducati, he’s not sticking it out. I was on the fence, hoping to read what sure will be your redeeming defense, but I think I’ve made up my mind.)




<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jun 21 2008, 07:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Are you smokin the wacky weed? Ducati tried everything for him because they wanted an Italian rider to be successful even more so than Casey. They did so many different configurations and mappings that they just couldn't make it work for him. They went so far to get others to test the bike so they could get him in contention. Ducati treated him like gold and when he leaves they will still be wishing they could have found something to make the bike work for him.

That what I thought. What is he smoking?


Babel, I hope this isn't one of your phantom imaginary posts again.

Best of luck to him. Just not a good fit between rider and bike, as Melandri himself described it: "My style is the opposite of what this bike requires. I feel like I'm on the wet even when it's dry".

I tend to cheer for the bike more than the rider; being a mechanic will do that to you. If CS and MM are presently on identical bikes, is CS that much more talented than MM? If we move MM back to a Honda and compare again, what happens?. Don't mean to stir the pot, just asking.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ROCKGOD01 @ Jun 21 2008, 03:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>So what? When I was 12 I wouldn't talk out of my ....

Hahaha. Too funny.

Jumkie, I think you answered my questions. It appears that it's not so much a question of talent, but a question of integrity, character, and work ethic.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (whiteboxer @ Jun 21 2008, 08:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Jumkie, I think you answered my questions. It appears that it's not so much a question of talent, but a question of integrity, character, and work ethic.
Welcome to the forum.

I'm sure Melandri tried a bit. But some things takes time to work out. Perhaps he could get some top fives the rest of the season, he might think differently (if you follow the sport, he actually had some good results after his tantrum about leaving and not trying at Honda). But if he's getting out mid season, which to me means he may have gotten out mentally a few races ago, then that doesn't say much for a man's character. Now it may sound like I’m being harsh if it wasn't for some well documented history. He pretty much did the same the latter part of his stint with Honda. He aired his complaints, and then did what a competitor with integrity should never do--he announced he would NOT try (risk) for meaningless positions. I was willing to let it go to an extant (disclaimer, I was a fan enough to paint his livery on my personal bike which took almost a year, so I'm a little bias). But now, with this, as far as I'm concerned, its a bit cowardly. I’m hoping something comes out and makes me change my mind, like perhaps he wasn’t really given the opportunity to be successful at Ducati. But from reading Marco’s diary, the man never holds back and wears his motions and thought on his sleeve. So if he weren’t getting anything less than stellar treatment by the factory, the world would know about it from him.

Ducati have not mistreated Marco. Livio and Marco go way back and they did try to make it work.
However it isn't working. It is damaging to the company image and the rider image. Both indicated they want to leave on good terms. Marco will get a new ride and Ducati will get an American. Whether that is NH or Spies we'll see, but it is for the best.

I don't think Marco has ever slacked before. This is the guy that got podiums with broken body parts. I've never ever heard anything Marco having poor work ethics either. From the looks of it, that bike and ride is managing to do what HRC and a crapload of crashes never managed to do, and that is to fck up Marco.

no pointy flogging a dead horse, he is just riding around wasting petrol. melandri doesn't want to be last and ducati dont want to see there factory bike last. some here speak of how ducati gave him all the help he needed bla bla bla, maybe they did but you cant say thats a fact because we are not there behind the scenes. remember barros interview. getting riders likle biaggi sete ect is not nesserserely helpful to marco. so far stoner is the only man who has jelled with the bike over a whole season, capi and barros once.

i know what your saying about quitters jumkie and to a degree i agree but if something is so broke it can not be fixed you have no choice but to throw it away.

i wish marco luck in the future.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jun 21 2008, 09:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Welcome to the forum.

I'm sure Melandri tried a bit. But some things takes time to work out. Perhaps he could get some top fives the rest of the season, he might think differently (if you follow the sport, he actually had some good results after his tantrum about leaving and not trying at Honda). But if he's getting out mid season, which to me means he may have gotten out mentally a few races ago, then that doesn't say much for a man's character. Now it may sound like I'm being harsh if it wasn't for some well documented history. He pretty much did the same the latter part of his stint with Honda. He aired his complaints, and then did what a competitor with integrity should never do--he announced he would NOT try (risk) for meaningless positions. I was willing to let it go to an extant (disclaimer, I was a fan enough to paint his livery on my personal bike which took almost a year, so I'm a little bias). But now, with this, as far as I'm concerned, its a bit cowardly. I'm hoping something comes out and makes me change my mind, like perhaps he wasn't really given the opportunity to be successful at Ducati. But from reading Marco's diary, the man never holds back and wears his motions and thought on his sleeve. So if he weren't getting anything less than stellar treatment by the factory, the world would know about it from him.

Checa had a similar attitude and look where he found himself. Marco better be careful, show a little graciousness and be a little more humble.