So Colin,tell us what you think of your bike this year
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Who says its the 'easy way out'? I think he would be happy if i could be competitive and that's not likely to happen in motogp. In fact with the way things are at the moment it could be a good pre-emtive move. Get out of gp and into wsb before motogp folds up all together. Face it, Nicky aint likely to get another factory ride in gp again. He aint likely to get another gp championship again. Wsb is not an easy way out, the competition may not be at its peak right now but there are still some major challenges in the series . I don't think Nicky would be alone in switching to wsb either, that should give him more competition in that series.
The problem is that with Kwak gone and Suzuki racing lawnmowers, there are only 6 competitive seats. We don't even know what Dovi is going to do next year.
Nicky is a good rider, but he's just not an alien, he can't win races, and he's inconsistent in qualifying. He appears to have a great attitude, and he's certainly valuable for Ducati in the American market, so I'd imagine that's enough to keep him around. Consistent 4ths and 5ths is enough to be a solid #2 factory rider, especially when 5th means "best of the rest" considering how dominant the aliens are. His problem is he's just not a race winner; look at his championship season, he only won two races.
And although I really have no idea what his attitude is on motogp vs wsbk, I tend to agree with Mastodon that as long as motogp is undeniably the premier class with the best riders, I just have the feeling he would rather be 4th or 5th in motogp than a wsbk champ. But who can say really.
If all the satelite riders left MOTOGP then it would fold. I haven't been watching the series long enough, but hasn't it endured times like this before? I would love to see all the riders in a series like WSBK though.
Kinda agree, but now he has to hang out what the new rules bring into MotoGP and his carrier. With the kilos coming in again he may have a good chance again. If Ducati has a little sense, they keep him beside Rossi. Half of the present grid does not have any experience on a 1000 that may need totally different riding style again.
However I have my doubts, these top electronics will regulate the bike the same efficiency as on the 800.
However I have my doubts, these top electronics will regulate the bike the same efficiency as on the 800.
And who do you think would give up their huge business, the italians or the spanish? I can not see any possible compromise between them.
I think MotoGP will still have a hard time in the next years, if the quality of the WSBK-races does not get lower cause of more professional electronics or for whatever reason. For me WSBK (and WSSP) is already the No1, cause that is where I can cheer for my factory (with more or less success
). If Suzuki pulls out, only Yamaha, Honda and Ducati will stay...on the other hand, KTM may enter WSB next year or in 2012 for sure. Then hopefully we don't have to wait too long for Triumph to get their .... finally together and introduce that awesome 3cyl Daytona thou'...and enter WSB of course.
But back to the topic: I read on another forum that the CE - Xerox Ducati marriage is basically a done deal already cause Haga had his last chance in Brno. Now Nori wants to be back on an R1. I know it was just a comment without fact but it would make sense.
I think MotoGP will still have a hard time in the next years, if the quality of the WSBK-races does not get lower cause of more professional electronics or for whatever reason. For me WSBK (and WSSP) is already the No1, cause that is where I can cheer for my factory (with more or less success
But back to the topic: I read on another forum that the CE - Xerox Ducati marriage is basically a done deal already cause Haga had his last chance in Brno. Now Nori wants to be back on an R1. I know it was just a comment without fact but it would make sense.
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You mean thats how you would hope he feels. You talk like you know him personally.
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I know him personally, and Mastodon is right.
You mean you would like to know him intimately. .......... is stating an opinion, he and you can not possibly state what nicky is feeling as facts. Nobody likes losing and even worse is losing week in week out with no change in sight. Now look at Toni 'scud' Elias. Gp winner, tallented rider ect but now going backwards with few oportunity's being layed before him., So he went to what some may CALL A SMALLER POND AND STARTS WINNING AGAIN. Look at the joy on his face when he is standing on the podium. The feeling of being a winner again. Maybe he will again move up and keep the habit of winning. As schwantz said (i think) Winning is 98% in the head.
People forget that WSBK could actually be a smart play. If riders ride for BMW, Aprilia, or Kawasaki, they might find themselves on a factory BMW, Aprilia, or Kawasaki 1000cc MotoGP bike in 2012. Who knows what the future holds for the rules b/c the GPC have promised a finalized rules package since the beginning of 2010, but we know that both BMW and Aprilia are taking a look.
Imo, at least 6 people should be heading to WSBK: Hayden, Dovi, Edwards, Capirossi, Melandri, and DeAngelis. Those riders have either lost competitiveness on the 800s or they've fallen out of favor with the 3 manufacturers who are capable of producing a winning factory bike. WSBK is a good gig. Almost all of the factory bikes can win races, and the satellite teams win or score rostrums frequently.
I'm tired of watching world class talent waste away in MotoGP.
Imo, at least 6 people should be heading to WSBK: Hayden, Dovi, Edwards, Capirossi, Melandri, and DeAngelis. Those riders have either lost competitiveness on the 800s or they've fallen out of favor with the 3 manufacturers who are capable of producing a winning factory bike. WSBK is a good gig. Almost all of the factory bikes can win races, and the satellite teams win or score rostrums frequently.
I'm tired of watching world class talent waste away in MotoGP.
Hey, hey - so why should we believe he'd be the BIG fish
He would probably be at the sharper end, but there is no given that he'd be #1, 2 or 3.
That said - ImO WSBK or an upgraded version will be the future - MotoGP with it's 15 or maybe sometimes 16 starters with 80% of them there to fight for 4th place at best is starting to be very boring.
I'd like to see the whole field move to WSBK
If they did - there would be no guarantee that CE and NH would get factory rides beyond season 1, but they would have a way better chance than staying in MotoGP
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Unless someone has heard anything different, Hayden will be on the Ducati GP bike next season. Ducati is saying a contract for 2011 is imminent , and Kropotkin had a picture of the 69 Ducati with the caption that the number would be the same for 2011. I personally would love to see Nicky go to WSBK, except for the fact that GP is going back to 1000's. I believe he can be a sometime winner, and top 3-4 rider on that configuration.
you don't think the guys in the upper half of the field in the premier motorcycle racing series, especially the ones that have superbike experience (and were champions), would absolutely dominate the field? i love SBK, its my favorite series, but i'm not gonna kid myself by thinking its talent level is close to MotoGP.
