I think in the short term it's a good move the Ducs are fighting with the Honda/Yamahas and neither Andrea is as good as Marquez/Lorenzo/Rossi or Pedro when he is on his game.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
I thought Crutchlow pretty much rode the same after the announcement about moving to Ducati...
And MCN publishing something doesn't necessary mean proof positive, but I did pick up a copy yesterday just for some in-flight reading material....
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
It is a good thing....it also means the Andreas will do whatever they can to beat each other to keep their seat, and beat JLo before he arrives in team red just to show they can.....
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Yeah - I was being sarcastic Migs...the self styled Daily Star of the motorcycling world.
Look again at Cal's results at Tech 3 post Sachsenring. Whatever anyone claims, prior to that he had become a top five runner on the M1 and a podium contender.
I'm bemused by Lorenzo's switch. I appreciate how improved the package is under Gigi and since the Audi acquisition, but that motorcycle and rider are still a complete mismatch. To some extent, the Ducati still likes to be crossed up. If Lorenzo gets so much of a millimetre out of shape it slows him down. Ducati still seem to have a very favourable mapping in the wet on the Michelin's and I'd speculate after Qatar and Argentina, it also still likes diminished adhesion. Interesting to see whether any Yam personnel move with him. Forcada and Zeelenberg in particular.
Joined Jul 2007
5K Posts | 1K+
unda cheese
Joined Jul 2007
5K Posts | 1K+
unda cheese
Fitting since Migs is The Daily Star of the Powerslide world
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Is it possible that this entire move is planned for a Lorenzo return after Rossi retires. If what we think is true, " that marketing overruled any idea of not resigning Rossi for 2 mores years" could Lorenzo have told Jarvis, you know what, this toxic environment just isnt fun anymore. I will take Ducatis 30-40 million and see you in 2019. Like Jumkie said, i dont care who you are, and how mentally tough you are, dreading going to work every day makes you lose focus and hinders your performance. In this job, losing focus can kill you. Like Rossi, he will know very quickly if he believes he can contend on the Ducati. If he doesnt, we will see another rider cruising around in 6-7th place, riding out his contract trying to stay healthy
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
So you think going to ducati to learn to ride a .... but getting better bike is more fun than beating you rival regularly? On one hand you already win, on the other hand he has a high chance of struggling. To me this is for the love of money and I don't see how his style can fit the Duc. He'd be smarter going to zuki or even ktm.
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Not that it would happen, but could you imagine if the 2017 Ducati lineup turned out to be Lorenzo and Stoner?
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
I knew that would give you a rager. I call that team JPS gay .....
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
If you are miserable in your current situation and someone is willing to pay you 20 million dollars more, yes.
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Maybe we should put him on suicide watch then. 20 million to possible throw away his career? I would want way more. You don't have to like your teammate thats racing. If he leaves that just proves what kind of drama queen he is.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
I wouldn't call him a drama queen necessarily.
But what it does highlight is that Rossi's ........ finally got to him. I'm kind of shocked by that since he seemed disinclined to be affected by it, but that the combination of Rossi plus Yamaha Racing management was enough to drive him out of the team maybe says a bit more about his mental toughness.
I get wanting to be happy in what you do at your job, and I can fully appreciate that on a personal level. But to give up what was a significant advantage in riding for one of two teams that control GP beyond a doubt makes you wonder about the tenuous logic that had to be deployed to make this decision. Certainly out in the real world, the Ducati name means far more than either Honda or Yamaha, but the real world doesn't apply to GP. Given the goal, or at least the goal I understood with Lorenzo, was to win races and championships. I don't see championships happening at Ducati. Race wins certainly are a possibility, but I'm not ready to even cede that minimum to Lorenzo as it's been 5 1/2 years since a Ducati even won a grand prix. So I don't see it being a foregone conclusion, especially given the type of rider he is with regards to needing that perfect balance and feel. It's also why I don't view Lorenzo as an alien. He's an immensely talented dry weather rider, but he lacks in the mixed conditions...enough that it removes any alien label.
Who knows maybe he will win a title with Ducati and prove us all wrong, but I'm skeptical about it.
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Good post brotha. This isn't "team" sports though. I'd love to beat my main competitor on a bike built for him over and over. I can't think of a better way to tell yamaha and Vale to eat a .....
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
That's why I was so sure he would stay. Instead he pussied out.
Marc Marquez is the only one who can prevent another Rossi title now.
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