Ducati MOTO GP

[st ryder]

 

Yes I know it's only 1 race, but,  , a Ducati (!) blowing away a Yamaha, and all other Japanese bikes on the straights and winning the first ever 800cc class MotoGP race. How cool is that?! Record lap time on last lap to boot, plus speeds greater than 324kph. WOW!! Let the whining begin.  

[marc11]

I think more important, Stoner didn't CRASH!!!!  

[bizarro]

I think more important, Stoner didn't CRASH!!!!  

Bingo. That's where the greatest Ducati improvement lies.

[st ryder]

Bingo. That's where the greatest Ducati improvement lies.

I'd say Ducati's biggest improvement was the wake Stoner left Rossi in as he freaking blew by him on the straights.  What an engine!!  GP7   If that's a sign of things to trickle down in the near future, current Ducati owners will have a lot to look forward to come trade time in a few years.  

[bizarro]

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=19126&championship_id=3§ion=1

In fairness to Ducati they had the fastest bike period. In fairness to Stoner, he rode the best race period.

[st ryder]

Head games by the master:

http://www.eurosport.com/motorcycling/qatar-gp/2007/sport_sto1114281.shtml

[scott-sts]

Ducati always had the fastest bike.  What's so surprising?
Their new one seems to turn better which is way more important than top speed.

[st ryder]

Ducati always had the fastest bike.  What's so surprising?
Their new one seems to turn better which is way more important than top speed.

That's true. The GP4 was clocked at 347/kph IIRC. But I can't remember it blowing by the competition on the straights like they were standing still like the GP7 did with 190 less ccs. Nor can I remember Rossi ever stating another bike will win the next race, but I don't follow MotoGP that closely, maybe he does this type of thing regularly.  

[scott-sts]

That's true. The GP4 was clocked at 347/kph IIRC. But I can't remember it blowing by the competition on the straights like they were standing still like the GP7 did with 190 less ccs. Nor can I remember Rossi ever stating another bike will win the next race, but I don't follow MotoGP that closely, maybe he does this type of thing regularly.  

Well, based on that one race and based on what I saw, Rossi's Yamaha actually appeared to turn in quicker and hold a very tight line.  Plus, Both bikes are running two different tire brands which is a huge factor when comparing handling.  It is possible that Yamaha's engine development went in a different direction than Ducati's.
What I find even more interesting than Ducati's speed is Honda's lack of speed.
Pedrosa was as outgunned on the front straight as Rossi.
All that being said, that Ducati is really f*cking fast!

[falcofred]

What's just as interesting as the battle between Ducati, Yamaha, Honda and Suzuki is the tire battle. Stoner sets the fastest lap of the race on the last lap, while Rossi stated that on the last lap his tires were sliding around. The Ducati site even states that Stoner broke the track record on the last lap, I don't know if that is true. What is amazing is the gap Stoner pulled on Rossi on the last lap, almost 2 seconds in one lap. Whats also amazing is he didn't crash, and in Rossi's words, rode a perfect race.

[Ninja]

Here's the race highlights.  http://youtube.com/watch?v=yhBDRUrKvhs

The Duc was clearly faster on the straights.  Rossi is still amazing though. He looks like he was staring down at the ground on most turns. I guess when you're that good you can afford to do so.  

[Nugroho]

I love to see Stoner keep the close distance to Rosi in every turn after being passed by him. He also manage to stay cool and not making mistake with Rosi keep pushing and tightly close to him. That would be sufficient for Stoner to win. The tyre also do very well. Ducati Engine is no question. The rest is just a matter of consistency. I am with Stoner this year....Go Stoner.. GO..GO..GO...

[jed]

I'm hoping Stoner keeps it up, but Rossi was outbraking him in every turn by a huge margin.  Rossi must have kept his speed 20 meters past Stoner on some corners.  It'll be fun to see what happens on a tighter track.

[bizarro]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict Rossi will crash again this year at least once.

[st ryder]

Spoiler:
























Yes, I know that it's only 3 races, but, 3 out of the top 4,(!) including 1st and 3rd. GP7  

[st ryder]

Spoiler:


















Can't blame the tires again after starting from the pole after setting a lap record:

"Stoner again made maximum use of the Desmosedici GP07, reaching a top speed of 333.5 km/h - 7.8 km/h quicker than Rossi - on the track with the longest straight on the MotoGP calendar, and finishing the 22 lap race with a 3.036s lead."

207+mph from 800 ccs is pretty freaking good. GP7  

[marc11]

The truth about Stoner will playout during the rest of the season on tighter tracks.  I am amazed at his skill level this year compared to last.  He seems more patient and far more in control than ever.  Good for Ducati for grabbing him.

[garry]

I'm going to go out on a limb and predict Rossi will crash again this year at least once.

I think so too. Rossi is very consistent, but if he doesn't shrink the points gap, he'll push too hard on bad tires somewhere and end up in the gravel pit. Gotta say I'm impressed with Stoner this year.

[st ryder]

The truth about Stoner will playout during the rest of the season on tighter tracks.  I am amazed at his skill level this year compared to last.  He seems more patient and far more in control than ever.  Good for Ducati for grabbing him.

Might it be the bike/set-up?  

Ducati does put emphasis on developing the bike with the technology/telemetry etc, and not so much on the rider's feedback re set-up/development etc, otherwise, Rossi may have signed with them, but as his philosophy is the rider develops the bike, he went with Yamaha who to him seemed more rider friendly, at least that what he said in his book.

I feel Ducati has the best race bikes in wsbk as they've made champions out of just about every rider that's been on their team, whatever the engine displacement.   Moto GP may not be much different, ie most will say that Honda's success was/is about the bike, again getting back to one of the reasons Rossi went to Yamaha. Mind you, he is a big exception, but IMO last year proved that unless you got the right bike and the bike right, it doesn't matter even if you have the best rider, you're not going to win, and this year continues to prove the same, ie Nicky Hayden does not have (nowhere near) the best bike.

That Stoner is riding like mad may be a testament to the awesome GP7, at least it is in my mind, and yes, the tires are part of the bike/development/set-up, so I don't put much stock in bad tire arguements as Michy and all their teams had an equal chance to get the right tire and set-up.  

[bizarro]

Europe will be the test for Stoner. I think he can do it though. That he didn't crack under Rossi's pressure speaks volumes.