OK, the end result was a bit predictable, but damn, the first half was good. Funny how everyone said Mugello would be a run-away for the Ducatis. Either the other teams have found power, or the track just isn't as long and fast as people think. Seeing Barros on the pole was very cool. Always likes that guy, and seeing him get a 2nd. level team up there was amazing. Not quite sure how Ducati will read that, but his team deserves it. Pedrosa was a bit fo a surprise. So much for Honda being down on power, or maybe it was an example of how important rider skill is. Either way, it didn't see it coming at such a track. Just wish that little robot would should a slither of emotion on the post race interviews. Almost painful to watch. I'd hate to say this, but all of those Hayden bashers from last year have just added fuel to their fire. I don't care how much people will blame the bike, Honda, Perdora's weight, the Wind, or whatever, Nicky is just not up the challenge this year. And thanks to Mr. Perdorsa, you just can't blame the bike. 30 pounds of rider weight isn't going to cut 10 seconds off your lap times; that was pure rider skill on Danny's part. I wonder how long Nicky has on his contract, for Lorenzo is guaranteed for a top spot in MotoGP for 08. And please, someone tell Alpinestars to get rid of that silly Hayden commercial. Pure tourture to watch. The 250 race was something out of a MadMax movie. First Lorenzo takes out the KTM bike, then he gets taken out by Bautista! Man, that was brutal! I just don't understand how race control doesn't see either one of those incidents as black-flag material? Both of them seemed deliberate and dangerous. Great to watch from a spectator's point, but man, what's next? Are going start seeing chains and clubs flying by the time to get to Phillip Island? Welcome to the Thunderdome!
I completly agree about Nicky. I figured he would at least make a showing and see the podium. From the distance he has been running Bautista should get some punishment for that risky move.
WOW half of that last message got lost in cyber world. Nicky can't find the paddock neverless the podium. The KTM was out of power and left the Aprilia in trouble...Bautista should have been flagged and not given the win. That pass was too agggggrrressssivve!
Rich, Mugello has a very fast section but its not so fast that the reast of the course isn't important enough to make a good lap time. In other words, handling still matters.
Yea, that was pretty obvious once the race started. My comment had more to do with the pre-race hype around the Ducatis. Apparently, the straights at Mugello are not really that straight, lots of high speed kinks that keeps everyone in check.
I find 'all' the press about the Ducati being 'superfast' in a straight line to be on the funny side. As if any monkey could hop on twist the throttle and go straight, wobble through the turn, wack the throttle open again ad infinitum and win a race. As if Stoner can't carry corner speed. Especially after this weekends race long battle at the front there can be no question about Casey Stoner's abilities. Did you see how much time he spends with his but off the seat? Rossi's Yamaha seemed faster this weekend too. I don't know if Rossi being better on the brakes isn't because of the Michelin front tire vs the Bridgestone.
you do have to admit that the Ducati was screaming down the front straight away. The rider is the key, but several times that duck flew up on Rossi half way through the straight. By far the tire guidlines have tightened up the front. They are running more like 125's.
Word from the Yamaha camp is that they're now on par with the Ducati's speed. Not sure if Honda has made the same claim, but Pedrosa's bike was no slouch at Barcelona. This year's manufacturer war is turning out to be much closer than predicted. Both Suzuki and Kawasaki has surprised a few of us as well. VERY good racing overall. I would say Laguna is going to an interesting race, considering that the top speed issue will be moot. I'm putting Suzuki/Yamaha on the front for that race. Biggest disapointment: Team KR. They got the nice Honda motors, just can't put it all together. Goes to show how every component in the team is essiential. A real shame considering that they finaly got sponsorship. Any word on KTM for 2008? I know Aprilia is expected back in 2009.
Is there going to be a change in the CC's for the 250s? Team KR has not had a good performance yet this year, maybe you are correct and the Lugana visit will scrub off the speed and give everyone else a chance. The suzuki was doing great in the start of the race and could not hold the speed all the way through. Is this a tire or engine issue?
There’s no question the Ducati was substantially faster down China’s long straight, my point is the press made it sound like that was the only reason Casey was doing so well. As if the corners didn’t matter. From the last race if Yamaha isn’t equal with Ducati they sure are close. Like a breath behind. Valentino and Casey passing back and forth over the end of the race in several spots was exciting and a breath of fresh air to some of the recent F1 type finishes and even complete races. Having a team and motorcycle behind and under you will add confidence and maturity. Look at what Gresini did for Toni Elias. As with the Team KR comment by Rich (antirich), it takes the whole package to make an improvement. But just like Honda (or for KR not just like Honda) where all their riders are complaining of front end issues, Honda makes little or no change/fix for them. As with Colin in WSBK my prediction is Honda will fix this in 3 years time. :roll:
Hello Brian, The simple fact is Stoner on the Ducati is winning races and leading the championship. There are other riders on Duck's that aren't and Rossi is the only other rider that has been consistent competition for him so far this year. All the theoretical rider and bike swapping is meaningless and does a disservice to Rossi. I don't think he needs, or would want, excuses or what might have beens. Rossi for example could get on the Ducati and not get along with it or the team at all and Stoner might climb on the Yamaha and find it a revelation.....or not, or Stoner and Burgess on almost anything might be almost unbeatable. So far this season Stoner has been solid, consistent, and quicker than Rossi but it could end at the next race or Rossi may have met his successor. That will take a year or two to see.
It took three years for HRC to give Colin Edwards the motorcycle he wanted in WSBK. When Colin left the Honda Factory WSBK team for MotoGP he said that he got off the motordycle he wanted after his first test ride on the VTR1000. HRC tells the riders what they want, they don’t listen to the riders needs. Rossi further demonstrated this as did Jeremy Burgess. If HRC would actually listen to him/them then the team would not have left for Yamaha. The result has made the past several years more entertaining for us and it seems to me that HRC has no learned a single thing from this experience. I put it down to arrogant engineers. So NO, I don’t expect Nicky to get anything done that he wants. I don’t feel Rossi would do better than Hopkins on the Suzuki. I feel John’s doing the best possible. Perhaps Valentino would set up the motorcycle different but John’s been just about in the middle of the fight for first place in some races. To me it looks like the Suzuki is down on power and John is making up for it under braking and with corner speed (still).
Is Rossi the best current rider out there? Probably. Is Rossi the cure for turning every turd into a winner? Probably not. All riders, great, near great or inept are suited better to some bikes than others. KR JR for example, won a championship on a Suzuki. The right combination of rider,bike, tires and team came together at the right time. Change one part of the combination and the results may have been different. Rossi instead of Roberts in that combination may have been better, worse or the same, for example.