What's Wrong with the Ducati?

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HEISMAN said:
Good article, but my intention is not to say the 90 degree is the best option, just that it's capable of winning as the past has shown. Honda went into a different direction and it clearly works for them. Yamaha is winning with their inline four, but if they weren't, people would be saying they should switch to a V-Four. It's all relative to what success you have with it.



In other words, even though a particular layout or configuration is not used (whether due to rules, costs, etc) doesn't mean it can't be successful. I just don't believe Ducati needs to go the route of decreasing the angle on their engine in order to get better. The frame...ok, that needed to be done because of the rules, but I'm sure they still can be successful with the current engine layout.
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After throwing darts at carbon fiber, the twin-beam frame design, and elsewhere ( with little effect), Rossi has now singled out the engine as the next thing that "Must be changed!" The press repeats the meme, and soon everyone is bitching about that terrible 90 degree Flintstone-era lump.
<




I'm not at all convinced that reducing the V angle from 90 to 72 (or whatever) will magically transform the machine. From what I understand, an overall engine rework that will allow more flexible swingarm pivot placement is probably needed, but shifting one cylinder bank an inch is, in itself, unlikely to 'cure' anything.
 
Redding at Mugello on the Ducati, for the first time ever on a MotoGP bike, just below 1:50 on a hard tire.

The bike can't be that bad, or Redding maybe is the next Stoner.
 
Geonerd said:
After throwing darts at carbon fiber, the twin-beam frame design, and elsewhere ( with little effect), Rossi has now singled out the engine as the next thing that "Must be changed!" The press repeats the meme, and soon everyone is bitching about that terrible 90 degree Flintstone-era lump.
<




I'm not at all convinced that reducing the V angle from 90 to 72 (or whatever) will magically transform the machine. From what I understand, an overall engine rework that will allow more flexible swingarm pivot placement is probably needed, but shifting one cylinder bank an inch is, in itself, unlikely to 'cure' anything.
Click to expand...



You said it better than I could
 
J4rn0 said:
Redding at Mugello on the Ducati, for the first time ever on a MotoGP bike, just below 1:50 on a hard tire.

The bike can't be that bad, or Redding maybe is the next Stoner.
Click to expand...

2-2.5 seconds is an eternity. Im guessing there would be dozens of riders around the world who could match those times
 
Geonerd said:
After throwing darts at carbon fiber, the twin-beam frame design, and elsewhere ( with little effect), Rossi has now singled out the engine as the next thing that "Must be changed!" The press repeats the meme, and soon everyone is bitching about that terrible 90 degree Flintstone-era lump.
<




I'm not at all convinced that reducing the V angle from 90 to 72 (or whatever) will magically transform the machine. From what I understand, an overall engine rework that will allow more flexible swingarm pivot placement is probably needed, but shifting one cylinder bank an inch is, in itself, unlikely to 'cure' anything.
Click to expand...



You said it better than I could
 
Sorry...I looked to see if he had ridden the bike this week and haven't seen anything yet. You're not referring to last year's test with Pramac are you?
 
HEISMAN said:
Sorry...I looked to see if he had ridden the bike this week and haven't seen anything yet. You're not referring to last year's test with Pramac are you?
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Nope today's test. By afternoon his best time was a 1'51.1, don't know if he'd done better than that by end of day.





EDIT: he had. "mid to low 1'50s" said Ian Wheeler, who had spies at the test.
 
And Iannone had already tried the Ducati last year, it wasn't his first time.



Moreover Redding's time (below 1:50) has to be compared with the best times of the Ducatis, Rossi's best lap in the race was 1:48.8.



A little more than a second from Valentino Rossi on the same (difficult) bike, the very first time you test a MotoGP? Well, I find it quite remarkable.



Go Scott!
<
 
J4rn0 said:
And Iannone had already tried the Ducati last year, it wasn't his first time.



Moreover Redding's time (below 1:50) has to be compared with the best times of the Ducatis, Rossi's best lap in the race was 1:48.8.



A little more than a second from Valentino Rossi on the same (difficult) bike, the very first time you test a MotoGP? Well, I find it quite remarkable.



Go Scott!
<
Click to expand...

Testing is more like qualifying when it comes to setting fast time. You get the benefit of a low fuel load and new tires, Not only that, you get unofficial times that may or may not be accurate. Barbera was on the front row with a 1.47.5 andf Hayden on the second row with a 1.47.6 at Mugello
 
povol said:
Testing is more like qualifying when it comes to setting fast time. You get the benefit of a low fuel load and new tires, Not only that, you get unofficial times that may or may not be accurate. Barbera was on the front row with a 1.47.5 andf Hayden on the second row with a 1.47.6 at Mugello
Click to expand...



Pov, we are speaking of a 19 yrs old lad who had never ridden a MotoGP before. He did damn well and, for the sake of Ducati, I hope they offers him a contract straight away. I had said it before, but now I say it with ore confidence: Redding is going to do well in MotoGP,
 
J4rn0 said:
Pov, we are speaking of a 19 yrs old lad who had never ridden a MotoGP before. He did damn well and, for the sake of Ducati, I hope they offers him a contract straight away. I had said it before, but now I say it with ore confidence: Redding is going to do well in MotoGP,
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. He came on the scene 5 years ago with a roar and has done nothing since. 1 win in 5 years, and that was in his first year. Mediocre to bad finishes in the championship, Im not feeling it. It is a very rare occasion that a rider who doesnt contend in every category, all of a sudden becomes a good GP rider.
 
J4rn0 said:
Pov, we are speaking of a 19 yrs old lad who had never ridden a MotoGP before. He did damn well and, for the sake of Ducati, I hope they offers him a contract straight away. I had said it before, but now I say it with ore confidence: Redding is going to do well in MotoGP,
Click to expand...



He will have to ride against far better riders on a bike that is difficult to ride. It will be tough for him, but I wish him luck if he lands a ride.
 
stiefel said:
I honestly don't think that bike is as bad as many think. However, I also remember quite a few young guys looking promising when they first throw a leg over the thing...



http://moto-racing.s...marlboro-debut/

http://www.crash.net...encia_test.html



I could likely find similar things for Abraham and Espargaro. Sobering.
Click to expand...



Yea, i remember the words " Relax Hayden fans, he can ride it" as we held our breath before Nicks first ride on the Ducati. That was 4 years and many races ago. Yea, he can ride it, hell, i can ride it, just not good enough to win GP races.
 
povol said:
. He came on the scene 5 years ago with a roar and has done nothing since. 1 win in 5 years, and that was in his first year. Mediocre to bad finishes in the championship, Im not feeling it. It is a very rare occasion that a rider who doesnt contend in every category, all of a sudden becomes a good GP rider.
Click to expand...



He's a big guy, disadvantaged by his weight.

Tough life in the lower classes with underpowered bikes.MotoGp could be where he'll do his best.
 

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