Who dose Ducati fear in

I would say his fears are right on target.At the end of last year the Honda had made up the speed advantage that Ducati held and Pedrosa was showing signs of being a racer instead of a rider.As much as i hate to say it,Pedro could very well be your 2008 champion.

I guess the new Michelins will let us know how the season is going to run. I don't think there is any doubt 2007 could have been significantly different if Michelin had been better. I think the winner would have been the same though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Jan 16 2008, 12:45 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I guess the new Michelins will let us know how the season is going to run. I don't think there is any doubt 2007 could have been significantly different if Michelin had been better. I think the winner would have been the same though.
My theory is that Pedrosa weighs so little that this minimizes the deficiencies of tire durability for the Michelins. (Perhaps one reason why he didn't get the Bstones). Cetainly his style is different then Hayden's but it seems to me Hayden had much more tire issues than his teammate in the same races. Honda continues to put all their eggs in Pedrosa's basket.

Considering how Rossi and Yamaha put Honda to sleep... i can't see why Ducati cannot.

Honda have not been able to match Ducati's Engine for years now and now Ducati have made a much better chassis.

I'l throw into this some more thought ....... Stoner had Rossi to fear at the beginning of 07, and he overcame that by midseason and indeed seemed to be revelling in proving he was in charge, But his long time nemisis was allways Pedrosa ..... I kinda think he still views Pedrosa as his nemesis, as the Honda camp did not seem to have the package coordinated, as Yamaha did, in early 07. But Pedrosa came back well at the end of the season .... if he can keep the momentum then Stoner must more be worries about Pedrosa than specifically Honda. Whether Ducati is worried about Honda is a mute point to me unless we mention the riders. Take out Pedrosa and Stoner would we even be paying credence to whether Honda or Duc. were worried about each other?

ducati will fear honda more if and when rossi goes back there.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Jan 17 2008, 02:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> ducati will fear honda more if and when rossi goes back there.

?? Hows so?

Honda allready have Pedrosa...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Jan 17 2008, 03:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>?? Hows so?

Honda allready have Pedrosa...

whats your point Barry... Pedrosa has not convinced me he will win any titles while Rossi and Stoner are around there will be one too good for him. Then you got guys like Lorenzo coming up who will be good and aggressive.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (an4rew @ Jan 17 2008, 05:25 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>whats your point Barry... Pedrosa has not convinced me he will win any titles while Rossi and Stoner are around there will be one too good for him. Then you got guys like Lorenzo coming up who will be good and aggressive.

Back in 250's Stoner and Pedrosa were allways at each other, no love loss there ...... but after Pedrosa knocked off Hayden he kinda seemed to shrink into the background ....... but I'm thinking that he is getting over that and he will get some more of that old bravado ..... and will decide to try hard to stick it to Stoner ....... spells for a good 08 to me ... hope so.

Barry, I agree entirely.

I would say that aside from the top two (CS and VR) Pedrosa is the man most likely and given teh way he and Honda finished last year he could well enter the season as favourite.

I saw things in the last few races from Pedrosa that I had not seen before in MGP and as someone else said, he looked more a racer than a rider at last.

Here's hoping for an improved season from all riders/manufacturers.




Garry

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Gaz @ Jan 17 2008, 04:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I would say that aside from the top two (CS and VR) Pedrosa is the man most likely and given teh way he and Honda finished last year he could well enter the season as favourite.
Do you mean "favourite" at Honda, or do you mean "favourite" to win the championship?

Obviously he's the "favourite" at Honda. But to pick him as "favourite" for championship would mean that Casey and Valentino both have bad seasons (which is possible) but rather unlikely. Its obvious the championship will probably be decided between these three guys, after all, if you think about it, these are the only three really competitive factories, and each is the factory’s number one rider. So it seems rather obvious that these three guys would decide the championship. I think it may be a toss up if unfortunate circumstances like engine failures has to be absorbed by only one of them.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Jan 17 2008, 02:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Back in 250's Stoner and Pedrosa were allways at each other, no love loss there ...... but after Pedrosa knocked off Hayden he kinda seemed to shrink into the background ....... but I'm thinking that he is getting over that and he will get some more of that old bravado ..... and will decide to try hard to stick it to Stoner ....... spells for a good 08 to me ... hope so.

Quit trying to stir the pot. You know damn well Pedrosa has done no such thing. Nicky won the WC without a clutch, and he scored 8th in 2007 with 1/2 a bike and 2 half-tires. As the Michelins improve and the 2008 Honda lump gets enough power to tow normal sized riders around, Hayden will start to beat Pedrosa regularly again.

Pedro can't break. Stoner has got Dani covered by a factor of 5 on skill level and Hayden has got Dani covered by at least 2x. All the excuses, handouts, special tires, and electronics in the world won't cover that up. Pedro has a hell of a time getting around people and it's not going to get any better until he quits purging before every race.

Furthermore, Stoner didn't have to overcome Rossi, Hayden didn't have to overcome Rossi in 2006 either. THIS is the season Stoner will have to overcome Rossi. There is nothing like expectations to magnify the efforts of the competition. Last season was great from Stoner, but this season will tell us everything we need to know.

does ducati fear michelin bounce back on top
or HRC product improvement winter test ban through out

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Traverser @ Jan 16 2008, 07:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/new...honda_most.html

The only thing Ducati should really be afraid of, is losing Stoner... I think the competition will begin trying to lure Stoner out of Ducati before long, offering whatever it takes...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Jan 17 2008, 05:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Do you mean "favourite" at Honda, or do you mean "favourite" to win the championship?

Obviously he's the "favourite" at Honda. But to pick him as "favourite" for championship would mean that Casey and Valentino both have bad seasons (which is possible) but rather unlikely. Its obvious the championship will probably be decided between these three guys, after all, if you think about it, these are the only three really competitive factories, and each is the factory’s number one rider. So it seems rather obvious that these three guys would decide the championship. I think it may be a toss up if unfortunate circumstances like engine failures has to be absorbed by only one of them.


For the point I actually mean that he could well start the season as favourite for the championship (that does not mean I think him to be the favourite).

At this stage I reckon it (the favourite) is still very early to call but I say that DP may start the season as favourite depending on testing results etc.

I do not expect him however to actually start the favourite but certainly top 3.





Garry

I don't like the riders Honda have... theres not alot of potential there to develop a bike.

Melandri is gone imo their best rider... Hayden and Pedrosa trip over each other trying to go different directions the Honda could end up with a small front and a big rear