Both is not an option because both are obviously influential. This is a <u>best</u> answer question.
At first glance, a lot of the changes appear to be a genuine change by the Ducati Corse management team. Ducati have taken a beating in the press and they are certainly having trouble finding people to ride for them next season based upon the team results in the first 5 rounds. Ducati are notoriously stubborn (last season they made Melandri see a sports psychologist b/c Ducati thought his troubles were not related to the bike), but their current predicament seems to be softening their hard line motorcycle design philosophy. Perhaps Ducati have been shamed by the media, the sponsors, and agents throughout the paddock.
Furthermore, Ducati know that Hayden is a renowned test rider so there is also the possibility that they were anxious to give him a spare parts bin to test before the practice sessions were restricted. Maybe hiring Hayden was part of the new management style.
On the other hand, I want to believe that Hayden's uber-optimism and his championship have won over Domenicali and perhaps even stimulated Preziosi's desire to redesign the Ducati GP concept. Nicky has worked for both of the world's most intransigent GP teams (if you believe Vale) and twice he has managed to convince the factories to dedicate substantial time and resources to his own pet projects. Admittedly though, Hayden's influence has been expanded after strategies blew up in 2007 at Honda and in 2008 at Ducati.
Before his departure, Hayden was able to persuade Honda to let him develop the pneumatic engine. Before the end of the season, HRC and Hayden had converted both bikes in the paddock to pneumatic spec. This year, after only 5 rounds, Hayden has managed to lobby Ducati for a new crew chief and Hayden has landed himself an "Evo" GP9.
I'm very interested to learn other people's perception of the Ducati/Hayden situation. I think we can all agree that the changes in the red garage are fascinating regardless of who's exerting the most influence.
At first glance, a lot of the changes appear to be a genuine change by the Ducati Corse management team. Ducati have taken a beating in the press and they are certainly having trouble finding people to ride for them next season based upon the team results in the first 5 rounds. Ducati are notoriously stubborn (last season they made Melandri see a sports psychologist b/c Ducati thought his troubles were not related to the bike), but their current predicament seems to be softening their hard line motorcycle design philosophy. Perhaps Ducati have been shamed by the media, the sponsors, and agents throughout the paddock.
Furthermore, Ducati know that Hayden is a renowned test rider so there is also the possibility that they were anxious to give him a spare parts bin to test before the practice sessions were restricted. Maybe hiring Hayden was part of the new management style.
On the other hand, I want to believe that Hayden's uber-optimism and his championship have won over Domenicali and perhaps even stimulated Preziosi's desire to redesign the Ducati GP concept. Nicky has worked for both of the world's most intransigent GP teams (if you believe Vale) and twice he has managed to convince the factories to dedicate substantial time and resources to his own pet projects. Admittedly though, Hayden's influence has been expanded after strategies blew up in 2007 at Honda and in 2008 at Ducati.
Before his departure, Hayden was able to persuade Honda to let him develop the pneumatic engine. Before the end of the season, HRC and Hayden had converted both bikes in the paddock to pneumatic spec. This year, after only 5 rounds, Hayden has managed to lobby Ducati for a new crew chief and Hayden has landed himself an "Evo" GP9.
I'm very interested to learn other people's perception of the Ducati/Hayden situation. I think we can all agree that the changes in the red garage are fascinating regardless of who's exerting the most influence.
