Sepang - Predictions, Practice + Qualifications

BarryMachine said:

How? He hasn't changed his skill set has he? His skill set was never as rich as Stoners. Rossi is riding as he always did, its just so happens the Ducati needs more.

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You again.... You're basically just agreeing with what i said....the Ducati is ...., if the bike was better, it together with Rossi's ability would be higher up the standings. Aye, Stoner is amazing and quicker than Rossi.



If however, you seriously think that Rossi current position equals his ability then you're making Stoners 2008-2010 seasons out to be seriously average.

spooky said:

You again.... You're basically just agreeing with what i said....the Ducati is ...., if the bike was better, it together with Rossi's ability would be higher up the standings. Aye, Stoner is amazing and quicker than Rossi.



If however, you seriously think that Rossi current position equals his ability then you're making Stoners 2008-2010 seasons out to be seriously average.

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No Rossi is at just as much fault as Ducati, probably more as it would have been assumed that Rossi could develop a bike. ......... how false that as proved .

Mis-read your post... Maybe the Ducati does need a different skill set, but they dont have anyone on their books that has that skill set, do they? As long as freaks like Stoner dont appear Ducati are going to have to change their ways...it was never any use having 4 bikes on the grid that only 1 could ride, and even would bin it as much win it.

BarryMachine said:

No Rossi is at just as much fault as Ducati, probably more as it would have been assumed that Rossi could develop a bike. ......... how false that as proved .

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Dont agree with that at all. If you exclude Stoner. Noone could ride that bike, why? Because the fundamental design of the bike just doesnt work. Rossi and his crew can develop bikes, just as all the top riders/crews can but it doesnt matter a .... if the design of the bike is flawed, which it clearly is. If Ducati had sorted their bike a few years ago, Stoner may have been celebrating his 4th championship but no, he was ignored and forced to the ride heap.

Keshav said:

Hmmm, but relative to other riders nothing has changed, as the differences in climate are imposed upon all riders and machinery equally. No?

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Sorry, as Mr. Squig guessed I was assuming he was comparing outright times as akeizm implied...

Mr Squiggle said:

- in no way was I guaging performance relative to todays FP times as conditions are different and as you correctly point out times are irrelevant.

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Dude, please, at least be honest. Thats exactly what u wer doing. Otherwise, whats the Rossi comment about?

Mick D said:

Sorry, as Mr. Squig guessed I was assuming he was comparing outright times as akeizm implied...

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He was, until you called him out on it.

What is more sad is that a sattelite Ducati was in front of Nicky and Rossi.

As for Pedrosa, he was on a new soft rear and tested several compounds for race distance. He said he has some margin for improvement....he will either win the race or arrive in second....

Mick D said:

Sorry, as Mr. Squig guessed I was assuming he was comparing outright times as akeizm implied...

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As so... .

Arigato!

spooky said:

Dont agree with that at all. If you exclude Stoner. Noone could ride that bike, why? Because the fundamental design of the bike just doesnt work. Rossi and his crew can develop bikes, just as all the top riders/crews can but it doesnt matter a .... if the design of the bike is flawed, which it clearly is. If Ducati had sorted their bike a few years ago, Stoner may have been celebrating his 4th championship but no, he was ignored and forced to the ride heap.

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Not only flawed but stagnant in performance compared to Honda and Yam



Ducati



2007. 10 wins

2008. 8 wins

2009. 6 wins

2010. 3 wins

2011. 0 wins



....... ducati sux ... Its like Lawson on the Cagiva all over again

xx CURVE xx said:

Not only flawed but stagnant in performance compared to Honda and Yam



Ducati



2007. 10 wins

2008. 8 wins

2009. 6 wins

2010. 3 wins

2011. 0 wins

....... ducati sux ... Its like Lawson on the Cagiva all over again

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Where you getting those numbers.

povol said:

Where you getting those numbers.

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motogp site.. goes to show you the bike sucks The Doc and Co can only do so much..you cant bolt on wheels to a cinder, "carbon fiber" block and tell them make it go fast..

xx CURVE xx said:

motogp site.. goes to show you the bike sucks The Doc and Co can only do so much..you cant bolt on wheels to a cinder block and tell them make it go fast..

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But its a carbon fiber cinder block.

xx CURVE xx said:

motogp site.. goes to show you the bike sucks The Doc and Co can only do so much..you cant bolt on wheels to a cinder, "carbon fiber" block and tell them make it go fast..

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If that is supposed to be the number of wins Ducati had in those years, its wrong.

Jumkie said:

Dude, please, at least be honest. Thats exactly what u wer doing. Otherwise, whats the Rossi comment about?









He was, until you called him out on it.

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Again with the calling me a liar.....this is what I said.



Rossi seems to be right where he has been all year.....floundering at the back during qp/fp....



Notice I made zero reference to actual times but instead referenced Rossi's track position - the words "floundering at the back" were a dead give away.



Pay more attention next time

What's the chance Ducati bring a GP version of 1199 Panigale ?



There are tracks where Checa @ 1198 R was faster than Rossi @ Desmocrapici. Maybe if Ducati find a way to extract 240 HP from a 1200cc twin they surely will have much more chances with a 1199 GP.

Andy Roo said:

I heard that too and it only supports my otherwise totally unsupported theory that JB is headed back to Repsol Honda with a young Mr Stoner.



Just the vibe of the thing











I also wonder what JB's opinion really was (PR verbatim regurgitation aside) about the switch to Ducati?

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"Just the vibe of the thing" hehe.....classic movie that one (The Castle for those unfamiliar)



I reckon there is too much bad blood between JB and CS to see them join forces.....in fact Stoner has made the remark he was more upset about JB's 80 second quips as it implied his team were no good and CS took offence at that noting how hard they work....however I think Stoner has misinterpreted these comments as JB was clearly making reference to the other Ducati riders/teams.....not Stoners.



I also think JB's priorities lie with his wifes well being at the moment and that will be the major influence regarding any decisions he makes about his future.



I will say that JB has been far more complimentary about Stoner in the last few months and he seems to be extending an olive branch to Stoner not wanting to sour their relations any longer....especially with Doohan now firmly in Caseys corner.



Lastly with the success that the Stoner/Gabbarini partnership has garnered over the last few years and knowing that Stoner highly values loyalty I just cant see him ever dissolving this mutual respect/trust and unless something happens between the 2 that sours this relationship they will be together until one or the other retires from the sport....especially after they have both just secured thier second world championship together.



PS Hope all is going well with your recovery mate

povol said:

If that is supposed to be the number of wins Ducati had in those years, its wrong.

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Its the vibe of the thing



Technically incorrect but certainly shows the direction the Duc has been heading.

I have to say that Rossi this year has been ....... disappointing to the max. I'm no fan of the ..., but I wanted to see him do well on the Duc, at least.

spooky said:

Mis-read your post... Maybe the Ducati does need a different skill set, but they dont have anyone on their books that has that skill set, do they? As long as freaks like Stoner dont appear Ducati are going to have to change their ways...it was never any use having 4 bikes on the grid that only 1 could ride, and even would bin it as much win it.

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Very true....the Ducati requires a skill set that only one rider seems to possess.



None of the other aliens will be competitive on the Ducati due to its shortcomings....and that is NOT a blight on the other riders but more a testament to Stoners freakish abilities to ride around the issues with this bike.



I also think that Rossi/Pedro/Jorge can win on a Yamaha or Honda and at the least podium on the current zook.



But none of them will win a championship on a Suzuki or Ducati.....including Stoner.

Andy Roo said:

I heard that too and it only supports my otherwise totally unsupported theory that JB is headed back to Repsol Honda with a young Mr Stoner.



Just the vibe of the thing

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I simply can't see Burgess working with Stoner, or more pointedly Stoner wanting to work with Burgess.



Stoner has a team around him with whom he has great rapport and bought from Ducati (mostly) and he is comfortable. Burgess has been critical of Stoner on a few occasions and as we know, one thing Stoner does not do is forgive and he certainly does not and will not forget.



I think it is Kropotkin who has greatly hinted that there is more chance that Doohan will make a comeback then there is of Burgess working with Stoner.



But I do get the feeling that Burgess is totally unhappy and does not want to be either where he is or in the position and for that reason I can see him moving on, but likely retiring to the hills







Gaz