Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
We have been privy to something utterly extraordinary.
Sepang MotoGP Test: Casey Stoner: Ducati’s fastest engineer
Read more at MotoGP News - Sepang MotoGP Test: Casey Stoner: Ducati?s fastest engineer
I think it deserves it's own thread.
As i reflect, i can only imagine how many titles Casey would have won had he, instead of Dani Pedrosa, been an HRC rider since 2006, or an M1 rider since 2007 for which Rossi vetoed, GP politics. And what about Ducati, had they been allowed to work with Bridgestone or Michelin exclusively after the series force fed the championship a spec tire? Today, i believe the question of GOAT would be an entirely different conversation.
If anyone has every doubted the effect of tires, look no further than the last two months. All the teams scrambling to re-adjust the machines because Michelin made a minor change to the front tire. Even prompting Yamaha to make a rear cowl fuel cell to address the bias of the Michelin rear tire. Imagine then in 2008, when the tire changed dramatically and detrimentally for Ducati, who because of the prototype nature of their chassis - engine system and later a rules change to limit engines, could not readily make the necessary adjustments.
Consider this, even though all the current riders are relatively new to the Michelin (though they tested it during the 2015 season) they certainly are absolutely familiar with their respective machines and crew personnel. The GP regulars had already started the testing and familiarization process with the new spec ECU back in Valencia. For perspective, Casey was unfamiliar with the GP15 (last time he rode a Ducati was 3 years ago) and that was on Bridgestones, add to this he was new to the crew, new to the ECU (at the time Stoner was still contracted with HRC) and new to the tires, add to it he was relegated to use the hard compound after the softs were withdrawn, that is to say, the first day at least the other riders could use the data for comparative analysis. The GP regulars are as physically fit as they have been given they have competed a full blown championship just a couple of months removed, while Stoner, only relegated to the odd testing duty, spent several months recovering from the injuries he sustained from a mechanical malfunction at the Suzuka 8 hours. Within the day Casey Stoner was the top Ducati rider, and in a 4 lap run posted the second fastest lap of day 2 of the official test (which I believe prompted others to post quick lap).
Casey Stoner ended the test top 5, faster than the factory and satellite riders using relatively the same machine (almost apples to apples comparison, except he was on the GP15). Despite this being a test, the GP regulars are well aware they must maintain their status within their teams, hence why teammates must beat their teammate. Its perhaps why Valentino Rossi felt compelled to defend himself by saying: he was "doing the dirty work" when asked about being behind Lorenzo, and he added, Lorenzo was concentrating on "performance" (see VR's post test comments). The point being, that despite it being a test, the GP regulars must also treat this as a contest at some level. Casey Stoner has no such motivation, I can only imagine if he did; yet for him to be within a half second of Rossi (the M1 clearly the most sorted overall package) and tenths within Marquez says volumes about Stoner's untold talent.
I find irony in the fact the most positive thing to come out of MotoGP in a sea of .... since October is the return of a once maligned and universally under appreciated Casey Stoner, to an off season test no less. As I reflect, it makes me wonder what might have been... if his 07 title wouldn't have been chalked up to a remote control bike with a hidden fuel reservoir, or the many detrimental rules changes Dorna have continued to this day to "fix" (no pun) the series, or the overwhelming fan reaction of villainizing him, even at a charity event, much like we still see today for rivals of Rossi, or the way the media and former racers spoke incredulously about his "mystery illness" where it seemed it was fashionable to question his intestinal fortitude, or the general hostility shown to him by the organizers, surely he was not privileged to favorable motorhome meetings, etc. etc. I digress, I welcome a respite from the Rossi created debacle of the last 3 months (a theme of the sport for over a decade).
I can only imagine if he had the motivation to compete for a championship. It seems that despite our hopes, Casey has enlisted himself in a new career, a new calling, an engineer for Gigi and Ducati's project of improving the bike to compete for the championship... without him! Its a nobel enough cause I suppose, but I wonder if it's realistic, will it attract a rider of a particular caliber enough to take this unique machine to a title? Casey was asked if he thought he could have been a contender in 2015 on a Ducati. He carefully considered the clever aim of the question, he replied 'he can't think of it in that way'; but did concede he thought the GP15 was "championship material". It begs the question, what more needs to improve then for a "championship" quality machine to 'contend for the championship'? My answer: for Casey Stoner to ride it. Unfortunately, I don't think that will ever happen.
Sepang MotoGP Test: Casey Stoner: Ducati’s fastest engineer
Read more at MotoGP News - Sepang MotoGP Test: Casey Stoner: Ducati?s fastest engineer
I think it deserves it's own thread.
As i reflect, i can only imagine how many titles Casey would have won had he, instead of Dani Pedrosa, been an HRC rider since 2006, or an M1 rider since 2007 for which Rossi vetoed, GP politics. And what about Ducati, had they been allowed to work with Bridgestone or Michelin exclusively after the series force fed the championship a spec tire? Today, i believe the question of GOAT would be an entirely different conversation.
If anyone has every doubted the effect of tires, look no further than the last two months. All the teams scrambling to re-adjust the machines because Michelin made a minor change to the front tire. Even prompting Yamaha to make a rear cowl fuel cell to address the bias of the Michelin rear tire. Imagine then in 2008, when the tire changed dramatically and detrimentally for Ducati, who because of the prototype nature of their chassis - engine system and later a rules change to limit engines, could not readily make the necessary adjustments.
Consider this, even though all the current riders are relatively new to the Michelin (though they tested it during the 2015 season) they certainly are absolutely familiar with their respective machines and crew personnel. The GP regulars had already started the testing and familiarization process with the new spec ECU back in Valencia. For perspective, Casey was unfamiliar with the GP15 (last time he rode a Ducati was 3 years ago) and that was on Bridgestones, add to this he was new to the crew, new to the ECU (at the time Stoner was still contracted with HRC) and new to the tires, add to it he was relegated to use the hard compound after the softs were withdrawn, that is to say, the first day at least the other riders could use the data for comparative analysis. The GP regulars are as physically fit as they have been given they have competed a full blown championship just a couple of months removed, while Stoner, only relegated to the odd testing duty, spent several months recovering from the injuries he sustained from a mechanical malfunction at the Suzuka 8 hours. Within the day Casey Stoner was the top Ducati rider, and in a 4 lap run posted the second fastest lap of day 2 of the official test (which I believe prompted others to post quick lap).
Casey Stoner ended the test top 5, faster than the factory and satellite riders using relatively the same machine (almost apples to apples comparison, except he was on the GP15). Despite this being a test, the GP regulars are well aware they must maintain their status within their teams, hence why teammates must beat their teammate. Its perhaps why Valentino Rossi felt compelled to defend himself by saying: he was "doing the dirty work" when asked about being behind Lorenzo, and he added, Lorenzo was concentrating on "performance" (see VR's post test comments). The point being, that despite it being a test, the GP regulars must also treat this as a contest at some level. Casey Stoner has no such motivation, I can only imagine if he did; yet for him to be within a half second of Rossi (the M1 clearly the most sorted overall package) and tenths within Marquez says volumes about Stoner's untold talent.
I find irony in the fact the most positive thing to come out of MotoGP in a sea of .... since October is the return of a once maligned and universally under appreciated Casey Stoner, to an off season test no less. As I reflect, it makes me wonder what might have been... if his 07 title wouldn't have been chalked up to a remote control bike with a hidden fuel reservoir, or the many detrimental rules changes Dorna have continued to this day to "fix" (no pun) the series, or the overwhelming fan reaction of villainizing him, even at a charity event, much like we still see today for rivals of Rossi, or the way the media and former racers spoke incredulously about his "mystery illness" where it seemed it was fashionable to question his intestinal fortitude, or the general hostility shown to him by the organizers, surely he was not privileged to favorable motorhome meetings, etc. etc. I digress, I welcome a respite from the Rossi created debacle of the last 3 months (a theme of the sport for over a decade).
I can only imagine if he had the motivation to compete for a championship. It seems that despite our hopes, Casey has enlisted himself in a new career, a new calling, an engineer for Gigi and Ducati's project of improving the bike to compete for the championship... without him! Its a nobel enough cause I suppose, but I wonder if it's realistic, will it attract a rider of a particular caliber enough to take this unique machine to a title? Casey was asked if he thought he could have been a contender in 2015 on a Ducati. He carefully considered the clever aim of the question, he replied 'he can't think of it in that way'; but did concede he thought the GP15 was "championship material". It begs the question, what more needs to improve then for a "championship" quality machine to 'contend for the championship'? My answer: for Casey Stoner to ride it. Unfortunately, I don't think that will ever happen.
Last edited:
