Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Just imagine, we could be seeing another Rossi P2 in the championship minimum if the RCV has nothing to offer.
Just imagine, we could be seeing another Rossi P2 in the championship minimum if the RCV has nothing to offer.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
I still can't believe HRC kowtowed to Marc's chickenshit crew to ......... Stoner's request to ride in place of Pedrosa at Austin. Today Ducati Corse will deliver one of the most anticipated events GP fans have hoped for, having the top riders on a track simultaneously along side Casey Stoner. I hope HRC's struggle highlights their poor decision to lose Stoner to a ..... move by Marc's crew. They tried to avoid the PR from Stoner possibly arriving in front of Marquez on an RCV, now they risk Stoner arriving in front on a Ducati. Ah...
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Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
https://www.facebook.com/MotoGP/videos/10154161160595769/
Video of Lorenzo braking with the Michelins. He's not loading up heavily on the front, and the rear end chatter is minimal, so I think this bodes very well for a title defense.
Video of Lorenzo braking with the Michelins. He's not loading up heavily on the front, and the rear end chatter is minimal, so I think this bodes very well for a title defense.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
That's going to go down a colossally bad move if it turns out the RCV has as many problems as it did last season. Makes you wonder if Suppo and Nakamoto are the right guys to be running things at HRC.
Joined Jul 2015
812 Posts | 336+
Hurricane, WV
I am not a Stoner fan at all, but I am even getting a Stoner Boner thinking about him running with the big dogs today!!
Okay, maybe not the full Stoner Boner, but at least a little Casey Chubby.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
I think they're the right men, but let's not lose sight of the fact they've caved twice to external political pressure, 1. Denying Stoner a wildcard to protect their rider's crew fragile self confidence--despite their outward arrogance. 2. Caved to Dorna's/FIM's influence to insulate the League's interests in Rossi by stifling the release of data (with the blessings of the sport media who have astonishingly argued in favor of the censorship of information, imagine that!)
Its understandable that HRC didn't want to agitate their #1 rider's entourage, but i don't believe they considered or imagined the possible price. But to spectacularly kowtow to the organizers after they had scheduled a press conference to specifically release the data on offer is sensational, I'd say nothing short of scandalous. Surely there must have been something on offer. What? Will remain to be seen.
However, I cannot understate the media's startlingly position in favor of the decision to frustrate information. Its turned their supposed mission on its head. Imagine a reporter turning up to an investigation, raising his hand like a stop sign, saying, no no, let's not release that information because we have calculated and argued (no less) that no real conclusions can be made from the data, plus it will just get people taking sides again. I would think it unbelievable if I wasn't reading this position by journalists in black and white.
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Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
This is how Loris Baz put it:
Loris baz @lorisbaz
my birthday present??? to ride the same track at the same time in the same category of Casey tomorrow
– merveilleusement bien
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Well that's why I wonder if they are the right guys since they've caved twice under pressure on things they should not have caved in on imo. Though perhaps they will change their minds on the telemetry data if Rossi continues the narrative as is, and then attempts to get some sort of on-track revenge on MM, which I don't feel is out of the realm of possibility.
The third thing was HRC's immediate denial of Stoner's throttle sticking at the 8 Hours of Suzuka which they had to walk back on. I believe that was the straw that broke the camel's back.
Joined Oct 2015
329 Posts | 196+
UK
I'm beginning to think the F1 engineers and motogp engineers in the Honda factory should job swap for a couple of months. The motogp boys have shown they can make an engine with a lot of grunt and the f1 boys look like they can rid any unit of aggression effortlessly.
Disclaimer: I expect both to get things right eventually. It's the Honda way.
Joined Jul 2015
812 Posts | 336+
Hurricane, WV
This is how Loris Baz put it:
Loris baz @lorisbaz
my birthday present??? to ride the same track at the same time in the same category of Casey tomorrow
So Jumkie..
Will Stoner be the fastest Duc on the track by day's end?
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
That's an interesting proposition Deefer. HRC were able to tame the 2015 engine with the 2014 chassis. Yesterday, Marquez was on the 2016 engine with the same old 2014 chassis. That's got to be a bit worrying. But as you say, they'll figure it out sooner rather than later.
(I don't know much about F1 except that it's amusing to see Alfanso struggle).
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
I say no, but close enough to where you could say that come the test at PI, not only would he be fastest Duc, but maybe even on top of the time sheet. If he is the fastest Ducati today, Ianoone and Dovi should be embarrassed.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
I think he is going to hold back for two reasons. One is because if the Ducati has an advantage, he will know, and probably does not want them getting hit with some ........ 11th hour performance leveler. Two is that if he is faster than the factory riders, it's going to raise too many questions that you don't want being asked.
Everyone really continues to underestimate how ungodly fast Casey is, and that he hasn't lost any of his speed. The 8 Hours of Suzuka should have been a notice to everyone.
Joined Jul 2015
812 Posts | 336+
Hurricane, WV
Yeah... There should be some damn nervous Duc Teams if a dude that has not been on a Duc in years, (other than two or three days of testing last week), comes out and lays down the fastest lap of the day for that MFG.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Agree with the reasoning, he might hold back.
'So Ducati, how do you feel that your test rider is faster than your two factory riders?'
I don't know if they will publish sector times, but it's somewhere he could hide the potential of the Duc. 1 fast sector, 2 relaxed sectors=moderate lap time.
I predict the other riders will be thinking about it, the lap times will have a hurry-up element when Casey is on track. Peeps will step up their game.
What approach Stoner will take will be interesting. His stated goal is to "help" Ducati, which doesn't necessarily mean throw down a blistering lap time. I got very worked up for Suzuka and we were all stuck at the altar with our dicks in our hand. But potentially, we might known what's up in 10 hours.
'So Ducati, how do you feel that your test rider is faster than your two factory riders?'
I don't know if they will publish sector times, but it's somewhere he could hide the potential of the Duc. 1 fast sector, 2 relaxed sectors=moderate lap time.
I predict the other riders will be thinking about it, the lap times will have a hurry-up element when Casey is on track. Peeps will step up their game.
What approach Stoner will take will be interesting. His stated goal is to "help" Ducati, which doesn't necessarily mean throw down a blistering lap time. I got very worked up for Suzuka and we were all stuck at the altar with our dicks in our hand. But potentially, we might known what's up in 10 hours.
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Joined Oct 2015
2K Posts | 827+
Texas
I don't think any other riders are worried about Stoner. Even the Duc riders can't be very concerned because Stoner's settings are just that... Stoner's settings. He is not going to be much help for riders with a different style. Also, it's a test... not qualifying... there's so much to work on besides setting the fastest lap time. Good PR move by Ducati to have Stoner there, but I don't think he's there for anything other than the publicity.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Moto voodoo, I don't think anybody is "worried" about Stoner either, people are going to go about their business. Thing is, these dudes are all very competitive, it's in their nature. That's why Marquez showed up with an army of techs to Rossi's MX ranch. Its why Loris Baz candidly admitted his excitement to occupy the same track with Casey. I think that excitement will have an affect.
If you think Ducati signed Stoner as a publicity stunt, I'd have to question your understanding of the sport (to put it nicely) and the critical aspect of development.
If you think Ducati signed Stoner as a publicity stunt, I'd have to question your understanding of the sport (to put it nicely) and the critical aspect of development.
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Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
Stoner is being talked about now more than he was when he was racing, and most of it is positive. I think he is enjoying his new found love fest And will try and do enough to stay in the conversation. The news that he wanted to race in Pedrosa's place says a lot. No matter what he says publicly, his desire to race is still boiling .
