Rossi complains....

[rac3r]

https://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/201204086580/Rossi-questa-non-e-la-Ducati-che-volevo.html

Uh oh
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Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Mikey3]

cor, uh oh indeed!
To be fair to him, you know this was all going to come out eventually. Even I was watching it last night and the first thing I thought when he was running 10th 11th, even after quali was, 'even on the 'worst' orignal version of this bike he was way closer than this, running 5th/6th, and this was meant to be an improvement.
It was only a matter of time, and i'm not suprised. I think MCN mentioned the main reason he'd never complained so openly like he did at Honda/Yamaha, was that the guys at Ducati put so much work into it, it simply would be out of order to start critisising them.
Finally the pot has boiled over, and if something doesn't change, I can't see him staying next year. And with Honda with Pedrosa & Stoner, and Marquez right in their line of sight, Yamaha eyeing Dovi or maybe crutchlow, providing Spies doesn't deliver, Tech 3 keeping Dovi/Crutchlow and having promised smith a ride, it'd all be down to whether Gresini keep Bautista. Options really are tight, but it is Vale, so I don't doubt the wiley fox he is getting his way into some big team, even if a factory do put aside a ride for him.
Time'll tell, and it'd be a big thing to watch.


Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[miss.metallica]

Rossi's my favourite rider & I feel really sorry for him at the moment. We all know is he a race winner, its just a shame this bike/team hasn't worked in his favour. It has to be very frustrating for him

[robbieguy2003]

It's not looking good to be honest. I've seen Vale looking totally pissed off throughout testing and throughout most of last season.

I think the bike has sapped the confidence he has had, and they've designed this from the ground up. He's asked for a bike that rides on the front wheel, they've not done it, Hayden has went better but it's still 6th behind two Satellite bikes, and imo I think Hayden is riding well, because the pressure is off him, it's on Vale to perform, and if Nicky just beats Vale, he's done a good job.

All respect to Nicky though, he's kept riding that bike for years and years despite the situation largely being shite.

I personally think, as do many others, that the biggest issue is the fact that Ducati seem to want to hold onto the L4 lump they've got and not go for a normal V4.

If they had a normal V4, they could position the engine better which would help. The Honda V4 is in a better place, the Yamaha IL4 leans forward and that rocks on corner entry, simples really, but with a set of cylinders aiming for the riders nads, that simply has to throw out the weight distribution that much, that you cant get the weight on the front as you'd like.

I simply dont think the job is possible for Rossi and Co, I think the job is gone and I reckon he'll either go for a Satellite/CRT ride depending on how the rules go, or just walk at the end of this year.

This is the first major slagging he's given Ducati, so lets see how they respond, the seasons shot to shit, because they needed the bike this weekend, not in a few months, but anyway, thats that.

I think they're trying to stick to principles which do work in superbikes, but dont work in a Japanese led, GP tournament, until they realise that GP racing has sod all to do with the road, they simply wont do well. Honda have a V4 in their GP machine, does their road going sportsbike have one? no, will the next iteration? certainly not, is it hurting sales and stopping people buying Repsol blades? not a jot!

The closest is Yamaha with the crossplane crank R1, and still then, that motor is a million miles away from an M1 engine.

I know lots of people are writing this relationship off but, I think apart their both weaker. If Vale walks, at best, Ducati will promote Hector, I cant see any other top riders wanting to jump on a Ducati, it's simply killed far too many riders careers, so If Vale leaves they get Hector. He's hungry and will ride it and, might at a push get a few podiums, but I doubt that bike can win a race right now.

And Vale, without Ducati, cant go to Honda, they've got Casey/Dani and they've got Bradl, Marquez and a host of other options open to them. Yamaha have Lorenzo, Spies, Cal and Dovi, their not short either, that leaves CRT and at the minute thats out of the pan and into the fire.

Together though, if they actually make a bike that doesn't oversteer (hint, a V4 will do it, an L4 wont) - short of putting vale on the tank they wont get the weight on the front) then they will i think win races.

Vale hasn't lost his talent, but he has lost his fire and confidence, if the bike is right, I think it'll come back, it might take time but I reckon he can do it. Shit, he hasn't had a dip since '96, so having a 'dip' when riding a bike that's well out of the ballpark isn't so bad.

I think Vale and Ducati are stronger together, my heart hopes they get through it and sort it, but my head is saying the Ducati board are a bit to stuck in their ways and wont let them throw a V4 in and see what happens.

I'm starting to think this is the end of Vales GP career, it's been good, it's been fun, I hope he comes back, but it's going to be a lot more shit without him... I hope the Ducati board can at least give it a go, but i'm starting to doubt they will.
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Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Mikey3]

MCN have put up a watered down version of it up, from JB cause i think valentino was too angry

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2012/April/apr0912-burgess-nowhere-near-fast-enough/

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[binge]

Was at the BSB at brands today. And even though it was wet and cold, it made me realize how much better the lower class races are, compared to the GP.

I'm bored of the motoGP, so much so, that I watched about 6 laps on BBC last night, and fell asleep.

WSB, BSB, and the stocks are for interesting racing.
The GP is full of moaners now. Too much like F1.



Ben

[Mikey3]

[Clanger]

[Al]

I can't see him being on a different bike next season. I think that if things don't work with Ducati he will take a year out a bit like Biaggi did when he'd fallen out with almost every manufacture. Although I doubt he go to WSBK as Biaggi is in top form.
It really is in the interest of Ducati and Rossi to turn things around though as Rossi has few options to move on and Ducati have little chance of landing another top level rider.
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Yamaha FZR400RR 3tj
My Instagram Thingy

[Mikey3]

[robbieguy2003]

mredhead, totally agree, i might have put my point across wrong. I know they've rolled it back but it's still at a 90deg angle, and I think that's the problem, trying to package two

My hope is they'll change that. But as Ducati have always been a 90deg company, I can see a massive conflict going on to actually get it punted through.

In all honesty, they've not done bad, being ~1 second down (ignoring quali) from HRC/Yam who have taken years to refine the concept isn't 'that' bad. If they sort the engine, put another generation of the chassis in - they must have learnings from it, swap the swinger (was at max adjustment for Jerez test), then they might be a damn site closer.

With Rossi so far off, he just doesn't seem interested, but if he smells blood I think it'll be a different kettle of fish.

I was at BSB for Friday and Saturday, but conditions looked shite for today so opted to watch it on telly, fair play to anyone that went out there though. I'd agree with most peoples opinions. MotoGP is largely a technical experiment. Watching three riders fight, then a block of two, then a block of four, and it's been deemed a success? Look how good Moto2 and Moto3 were to watch, stunning by comparison.

Watching how many bikes were running around at Brands Indy in BSB, it was tons of fun. I was at last years showdown and it was great, the atmosphere for the final race, and final few laps with Hill and Hopper was amazing.

I tend to watch GP, WSBK and BSB all for totally different reasons, but watching GP is getting harder at the minute.
____________________
Current Bikes: Honda CBR 600RR - '07, Suzuki GSX1250 FA ST '11
Old Bikes: Suzuki Intruder 125 LC - '2001, Honda CBR 600F - '92, Honda CBR 600RR - '03

[Mikey3]

Oh indeed credit to ducati for making a bike straight out the box is only just over a second off the pace, or in nicky's case, less than that.
I think that in a way, as much as I am a MASSIVE (no exaggeration) fan of Vale, he does need a perfectly set up these days to get near the front.
I so hope that later in the season as the bike develops and improves they can maybe manage to get some success, and for Vale to get a true podium, not like the gifted one last year.
The thing is, without some glimmer of success, Ducati will have left all their morals and beleifs, with the carbon frame, the 90 degree engine and all their trademarks, and Valentino will leave. I empathise for Ducati in that respect, but Valentino had a point when he said do you wanna be unique or do you want to win races.
Unfortunately Valentino and Jerry's expertise are with Japanese kit, and the transition from Honda to Yamaha in '04 was not all that hard, not to mention Rossi was 100% king of MotoGP and he was full of confidence and certainly in his prime.
I don't think he'll retire on a low. I think, like I said above, he'll find a way to get a ride on some Japanese machinery. Maybe he'll get a pay cut (lets not forget the reason he left yamaha after they said they'd lower Vale's pay, and up Lorenzo's, but Ducati offered him loads - £15mil) but I think he'd do it to get back to the front and put his name back on the board. Not to mention the fans would go crazy; I would!!

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[UrbanRacer]

Rossi has a GT Race next weekend in a Ferrari 458, i think if things don't improve that will be the next chapter of his racing career.

https://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2011/08/ferrari_458gt_1600.jpg

The race series spokesman has already publicly said he would love Rossi to compete in the GT Series

[rac3r]

I think the poor results are both a mixture of Rossi and Ducati flaws but one thing that's for sure is that the ball is now in ducati's court and what they choose to do next will have a massive effect on how things pan out
____________________
Bikes : 2006 CBR125R - 2004 Monster 620ie - 2004 ZX-6R B1H - 2005 Monster S2R 800 - 2011 Street Triple - 2009 Streetfighter 1098 - 2014 ZX-6R 636

[Mikey3]

I think Rossi would go for something a bit bigger than a GT series, I think he'd prefer F1 if the opportunity arose, he's always spoken of it, and at one stage considered it.

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[hornetmike]

ferria won't let him in F1 he is too old

I think he might but a factory bike and race that with uccio as manager( I think he owns a MOTO 2 team?) He should of been aloud to race Sic's bike at the end of last year to prove a point.
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[UrbanRacer]

[Mikey3]

I know he wouldn't go to SBK, but I remember reading something about Carlos Checa trying to get him to do a WSBK wildcard just to see how he goes.
I know it won't happen, but it'd be so good if it did. I recon he'd dominate it, we've all seen how generally back marker GP guys turn into SBK front runners.

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[hornetmike]

BAck marker?
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Mikey3]

Hiroshi Aoyama? generally ran at the back of the field.
Instantly was on the pace in SBK testing

Mike
____________________
'04 Yamaha WR450F
'99 SV650 Streetfighter Project - mid build
'Motorcycling is about what you do; not about what you own, or how much you spend on it'

[Frost]

He is angry, that's a good sign! It means he still cares. If it were me racing that bike by now i'd just be in the rut of going out on it and finding the bike crap, coming back with my input and being ignored, rinse repeat.
The Ducati is made to look worse by an absence of other bikes. If he were that far back but beating the Kawasakis, Suzukis and KTMs we'd consider it a good result.

I'd give:
Moto3 8/10
Moto 2 10/10
MotoGP 3/10

[hornetmike]

He is not a back marker , he is one of greatest ever racers .

Just because your 5 and only followed it for a year now you are off a ped.
____________________
87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Mikey3]

[hornetmike]

I thought you were talking about Rossi being a back marker
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87 Honda CG 125 - 97 ER5 - SR 50 -81 Z250- 96 CBR 600 F- 94 GPX600R 88- GPX 400R- 87 GS 125 - 2006 Honda CB600F- 2003 ER5 - Honda CBF 1000 2009 - Honda CBR 600 RR 2011
Current BMW R1200GS 2010

[Mikey3]