The Smell Of Fear

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Apr 19 2009, 01:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>repeat it enough times and i'm sure it will become true


Pinky, I don't think that Jarn0 is insinuating anything disparaging towards CS with his comment as it has been said many a time that the feedback provided by CS often stumped the Ducati engineers as it was so 'outside of the expected'. But they also found that when they followed the route he suggested he nearly always was faster and/or more consistent yet they (the engineers) could not figure out just why as it made no engineering sense at the time.

If memory serves correct (and at my age I often forget) there was a story at one time where CS returned to the pits and asked for a change to one of the settings to correct an issue he experienced. He requested one way, the engineers felt that the suggestion would have the opposite effect to that required but they followed CS' suggestion and he went quicker, yet they do not know why.

Basically the Australian understanding of crazy may not be the meaning as used in Jarn0's comment (working on the common assumption that you are an Aussie)






Gaz

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Apr 19 2009, 02:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pinky, I don't think that Jarn0 is insinuating anything disparaging towards CS with his comment as it has been said many a time that the feedback provided by CS often stumped the Ducati engineers as it was so 'outside of the expected'. But they also found that when they followed the route he suggested he nearly always was faster and/or more consistent yet they (the engineers) could not figure out just why as it made no engineering sense at the time.

If memory serves correct (and at my age I often forget) there was a story at one time where CS returned to the pits and asked for a change to one of the settings to correct an issue he experienced. He requested one way, the engineers felt that the suggestion would have the opposite effect to that required but they followed CS' suggestion and he went quicker, yet they do not know why.

Basically the Australian understanding of crazy may not be the meaning as used in Jarn0's comment (working on the common assumption that you are an Aussie)






Gaz
I think it is a compliment to stoner, implying he could see the way to go with the bike when the engineers and other riders couldn't. I have a clear recollection of something along these lines being said early in 2007, but I can't name a source, so it is hard to be sure pinky is definitely wrong and that we are not all reinforcing something made up.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Apr 19 2009, 12:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And that Jarn0 I suspect is the big million dollar plus question.

They have two real choices.

1. Continue down the path of development led by Stoner and risk alienating even more riders from the ability to ride the beast, yet probably continuing on the winning path.

2. Go down a development path that makest he bike more rideable, but with actual race results unknown.

IMO, choice 1 is the correct one as there will be riders who can ride the bike (as CS proves), they just need to find them (IMO - Kallio was impressive but time will tell, and Hayden still has time).

This game is about winning and I suspect that whilst ever Stoner wants to ride a Ducati, and whilst they want him there will be no great changes to the bikes design (what factory would?).




By the way, keep the posts coming as they are always interesting for this dumb duck.





Garry

They have found the holy grail as far as they and all other teams not affiliated with rossi's are concerned, a bike/rider combination with a chance of beating rossi most times they line up and which has now won races against him 17 times. If they switched to an alternate line of development it is much more likely than not that they would end up with something which might be useable by a broader spectrum of riders but would not be rossi-beating.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Apr 19 2009, 04:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>They have found the holy grail as far as they and all other teams not affiliated with rossi's are concerned, a bike/rider combination with a chance of beating rossi most times they line up and which has now won races against him 17 times. If they switched to an alternate line of development it is much more likely than not that they would end up with something which might be useable by a broader spectrum of riders but would not be rossi-beating.

That's it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Apr 19 2009, 04:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>They have found the holy grail as far as they and all other teams not affiliated with rossi's are concerned, a bike/rider combination with a chance of beating rossi most times they line up and which has now won races against him 17 times. If they switched to an alternate line of development it is much more likely than not that they would end up with something which might be useable by a broader spectrum of riders but would not be rossi-beating.

Yea, i guessed they'd rather be 1st and 12th than 3rd and 4th.

My guess is that the "adjustment" was something to do with turn in. His transition times from braking to full lean are almost instant. Accelerating out of the corners the beast is an animal, at least until the new frame came along, and he seemed to be happy letting TC deal with that. If he has some great weight transfer adjustment or maybe engine placement advantage and the new frame helps along that line with more stabilized corner exit under power he can dial back the TC and bingo he is flying.

All of us wonder why Ducati is fast with Stoner only, but imagine Yamaha without Rossi--the most rider-friendly bike out there, maybe, still it would not have won much without him. The rider is still a main factor in MotoGP, and we should thank god for that

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Apr 21 2009, 09:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>All of us wonder why Ducati is fast with Stoner only, but imagine Yamaha without Rossi--the most rider-friendly bike out there, maybe, still it would not have won much without him. The rider is still a main factor in MotoGP, and we should thank god for that
Which is why I agree with you about the ducati. If 3 riders on actual yamahas, at least one of whom in jorge lorenzo would appear to possess significant talent, can't beat rossi on a yamaha then ducati designing an ersatz yamaha would seem unlikely to be a winning strategy.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Apr 21 2009, 10:11 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>All of us wonder why Ducati is fast with Stoner only, but imagine Yamaha without Rossi--the most rider-friendly bike out there, maybe, still it would not have won much without him. The rider is still a main factor in MotoGP, and we should thank god for that

What would honda have in the 800 era without Dani? Basically nothing. Each of the teams with the three big hitting riders in has suffered relatively poor results from their second rider. Yamaha have put a stop to that now by making the most complete bike on the grid, but as mentioned, its the winner that really counts so they most likely will be relying on Rossi once more just as Ducati depend on Casey.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Apr 23 2009, 03:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What would honda have in the 800 era without Dani? Basically nothing.
And what's he delivered in the way of championships during the 800cc era Tom? - basically nothing.
I respect Pedrosa for his guile, finesse and he's very very quick. But he can't race anymore, and his once wily racebrain is scrambled.

What would Honda have in the 800cc era without Dani? - er, that might be Andrea Dovizioso...

As a career long HRC acolyte he's as loyal and respected as Nicky, consistent, stunning on the brakes, one of the most intelligent riders in the class, and above all very highly regarded by HRC. Pedrosa wasthe grand plan after the tragic demise of Kato...Dovi's been patiently waiting in the wings. Finally attention is turning towards him, and he has the chance to deliver what Dani has not. When Pedrosa gets relegated to Elias's ride, watch Puig sever his strings, and start coreographing his other minature marionette Mark Marquez.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ Apr 23 2009, 05:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And what's he delivered in the way of championships during the 800cc era Tom? - basically nothing.
I respect Pedrosa for his guile, finesse and he's very very quick. But he can't race anymore, and his once wily racebrain is scrambled.

What would Honda have in the 800cc era without Dani? - er, that might be Andrea Dovizioso...

I know Dani hasn'ty won the title, and i also agree that he may be surpassed by other riders in the future of Honda. But he has been the best Honda rider by a distance in both seasons of 800cc racing, similar to Rossi and Stoner on their respective machines. That is all i was getting at