What's Wrong with the Ducati?

michaelm

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Yes, my point was that being less pert than the woman to whom she was being compared still leaves considerable  room for pertness.

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Agreed

A sneak pic of the new bike perhaps


 


 

is pedro going to Duc.!!!?

BarryMachine

3647731382350602

is pedro going to Duc.!!!?

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Have we ever heard of any interest in him from any other team?  the only time I can remember was when there was a rumour that Jorge was going to Honda, 

I was feeding the junkie and curve paranoia.

Guareschi is leaving Ducati, he will manage the Moto3 VR46 team next year.

"<span style="color:rgb(80,73,69);font-family:Georgia, 'Century gothic', Verdana, Helvitica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;Guareschi’s departure is part of the ongoing large-scale organizational shake up at Ducati. Guareschi had been with the team from the start, first as test rider helping to develop the bike, and then later as a team manager, but his role had been diminished at the start of the year, when Paolo Ciabatti was brought in as MotoGP Project Manager.


 


<span style="color:rgb(80,73,69);font-family:Georgia, 'Century gothic', Verdana, Helvitica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;There have been persistent rumors that Ducati is trying to persuade Davide Tardozzi to take over the role of team manager for Ducati’s MotoGP team, but so far, no official announcement has been made.


 


<span style="color:rgb(80,73,69);font-family:Georgia, 'Century gothic', Verdana, Helvitica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;Davide Tardozzi would be one member of the triumvirate that Ducati’s new owners Audi hope to bring in to reshape their MotoGP project. Along with Ciabatti and new Ducati Corse manager Gigi Dall’Igna<span style="color:rgb(80,73,69);font-family:Georgia, 'Century gothic', Verdana, Helvitica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;, Ducati are hoping that the influx of three forceful Italians will help put the project back on the road, and make it competitive again."

BarryMachine

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I was feeding the junkie and curve paranoia.

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Does that paranoia require any 'feeding'? It looks positively obese already, to me.

BarryMachine

3647731382350602

is pedro going to Duc.!!!?

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At his height he never has to duck under anything.


He could do the limbo underneath a toy poodle's testicles.

J4rn0

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Guareschi is leaving Ducati, he will manage the Moto3 VR46 team next year.

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Dumb ole Ducati


 


When I say its the VSG's .... I don't mean Vito Sideburns Guareschi !

Ducati could race in MotoGP only with bikes in 'open' configuration this year (Marelli-Dorna ECU, 24 liters, more engines, softer tires, more tests).


 


During tests at Jerez last year the GP13 in open configuration was really very close to the pure prototype version. Dall'Igna will take a final decision after the Sepang tests, when Dovi and Crutchlow will compare the two configurations. <span style="font-size:14px;The open formula could actually suit Ducati better; with more fuel, for example even the engine becomes more tractable. The softer tires are worth 5/6 tenths a lap for Ducati. More tests would of course suit Ducati's development needs. And, the Open formula could become the only MotoGP formula in one or two years time. <span style="font-size:14px;So it would make sense for Ducati to focus in that direction from now. The move would also weaken Honda's position that is opposing the open formula, threatening to quit MotoGP altogether if it is enforced.

A mate of mine was recently on holidays in Italy and claims to have seen this bike parked in a laneway beside a factory in Bologna. He said that the people nearby did not like it when he got the camera out


 


 

I'd find it quite cool if Ducati would follow the open route. though I believe that the only element in this configuration that they would really profit from would be the softer rear tire. and I don't see Honda letting that happen.

I think one main reason is the possibility to continue developing more engines throughout the season, something that would be impossible to do with the prototype regulations (all engines would have to be sealed in Qatar). The softer tire could help in qualification, but maybe not so much in the race. The additional testing time is the other strong reason of course. The main drawback is the standardized ECU, slower and with less channels; but nothing prevents the use of the factory ECU during the tests as well.

I heard about the sealed engines, but I didn't know about more testing possibilities for open entries. how much more testing are we talking about? I think Ducati needs to do loads of testing, although more on the chassis side rather than engine-wise.

Interesting that this would come out now before getting cal and dovi on the bike... I can not see this as being a winning formula for ducati (or even an improvement from last season).  almost seems to me that releasing this information now is more of a political ploy, threatening to pull out of the prototype class, making the prototype class a 2 horse race which might really damage the series.  

sewarion

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I heard about the sealed engines, but I didn't know about more testing possibilities for open entries. how much more testing are we talking about? I think Ducati needs to do loads of testing, although more on the chassis side rather than engine-wise.

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The engine (especially for Ducati) is a big part of any chassis problem; it was designed as a stressed member and still needs to be made more compact and lighter now that it lives in a twin spar frame.


Engine mount points in this process might need to be moved as well. Not to speak of the crankshaft weight and position. I doubt they have already sorted all this out, and having to seal engines at Qatar would hamper their development work too much. <span style="font-size:14px;On top of that, all Ducati riders (even Stoner) always complained about power delivery being rough, and that also affects the frame.

Hollywood

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Interesting that this would come out now before getting cal and dovi on the bike... I can not see this as being a winning formula for ducati (or even an improvement from last season).  almost seems to me that releasing this information now is more of a political ploy, threatening to pull out of the prototype class, making the prototype class a 2 horse race which might really damage the series.  

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At Ducati they know they cannot win this year, or even the next, so they consider what is best for them in their current situation. I don't think their motive is political. There might be an aspect of damage limitation image-wise though. In a way it's a coming to terms with reality: they were racing in the second tier already, better to make a new start from there acknowledging their current level. And it will not be easy because it's no more CRTs in the second tier now, but 'open' Yamahas and Honda PRs. Oh, and the new Aprilias of course that Dall'Igna must beat.

i think it is a brilliant plan, if it is indeed the plan.....


 


Ducati in the Open class fuel levels and with a rider like Cal could work well....It may also give them a leap on the future change of rules to everyone using spec ECU....


 


Honda and Yamaha open efforts are using inexperienced or 'has been' riders, so their input wont be as good as that of the Duc 'Factory' team....

Hollywood

3708221389288369

making the prototype class a 2 horse race which might really damage the series.  

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Uh, it is currently already a 2 horse race. Where have you been? I think Ducati has assessed their options and determined this is another avenue to try to help right the ship. If anything positive can come out of developing the bike in the 'open' classification, it would be worth it to them.