Rossi: 'Great pity I couldn't be competitive'

"It's a great pity"

Just going to run this through the reverse PR filter...

"It was an absolute cluster fuck"

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 15:30

I think the massively frustrating thing is, if they (Ducati Corse) had actually listened in the first place. Things could've been SO much different.

Still, the GOAT has bolted (see what I did there) Ducati have shut the stable door.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 16:03

It is a pity. Don't know what the exact problem was but wish it had a better outcome.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 16:50

The EXACT problem was the same thing everyone else has been telling Ducati Corse for years. There's no front end feel. There never has been.

Also, the power delivery is FAR too aggressive. They were told what to do to fix it months ago. But Preziosi decided he didn't wanna hear it. Instead moving the motor in the frame, and adjusting it so it was a V4 instead of a L4. They sat there pissing about saying new parts were coming (that've STILL not materialised) and generally not addressing the real problems with it.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 17:34

You are right and wrong Pagic. They did move the engine, they tilted it back. But it's still an L4, 90 degrees between the cylinders. It's not a 'V'4 which implies less than 90 degrees between cylinders. Tilting it back allowed the engine to be moved further forward but not enough to make a noticeable difference. Note that all other engines in motogp are in line or less than 75 degree (honda)
Also by using the engine as a stressed member (the front and rear ends of the bike bolted to the engine) it made the engine heavier than necessary to take the stresses but then makes it very hard to move because it's not able to move around between frame rails for instance.
The bike is so nearly right and should be congratulated for doing something different from the norm, and but if they could close up the 'L' angle and package it so the weight is in the right place riders would get their confidence back in the front end.
They also need to work on power delivery to make it smoother to apply out of the corners, and traction control or not power delivery is key to corner exits.
Put the two together improving going into and out of corners and you will gain those vital few tenths that mean challenging at the front or steadily falling away.
It's a shame Rossi is moving on but I can't blame him with Ducatis stubbornness to make the changes necessary. Unfortunately they have a habit of not listening to the riders.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 18:18

Hi Ben

Exactly, there's a reason Honda use a 75 degrees between the cylinders. My entire point with this, as myself and Rob (on here) have done to death. Is that it's not the "Ducati way" to change the angle of the "V" or "L" if you will. And instead of making the V closer together to give better weight distribution, and moving the motor is a more conventional way. I.E not using the engine as a stressed member, they stuck their fingers in their ears. Because again, it's "not the Ducati way". You don't see Honda or Yamaha, or for that matter Suzuki bothered about the race bikes being the same config as the road bikes. Doesn't do their sales any harm. Anyway, it's done now. Doubtless Ducati Corse will carry on hoping that another Stoner comes along and "proves their bike works". Instead of actually thinking about it a little.

My entire gripe is that as you say, if they weren't so bloody stubborn it could have been an amazing partnership. Instead the Ducatisti are all blaming VR and all the VR fans are blaming Ducati. I'm sure the Ducatisti could make very valid points. But I'm not sure they'd be as valid as the point that they simply did not listen to what they were told.

But yes, it is a shame.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 18:42

Agree totally.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 18:47

Tech issues aside, seems STONER was the only guy who could ride a ducati.

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 22:23

Yeah, the GP07..... not so great after that. Maybe Hon/Yam development is faster, or was it lactose?

Posted: 14/08/2012 at 23:11

I think the problem with Ducati is Preziosi and his stubborn ego.
What did he say to marco melandri ? its not the bike you just need a psychiatrist ?

undoubtedly Stoner was amazing with the Duc, but you got to remember in 07, rule changes moved the goalposts, with the then new 800's and smaller fuel tanks the Duc made more power at high rpm with less fuel while Honda & Yamaha etc were still using springs to close the valves, also Michelin were suddenly out of the game.

There was diffenet flavours of BridgeStones in 07,, and Caseys' became the single one from 08.

Posted: 15/08/2012 at 01:32

Who gives a fuck, its just great that we get a second chance to see him race again. At the start of the year it was depressing because you knew it would stay that way, and we may never see rossi race again.

But now, NO, we get a second chance. thank fuck for that. Biggest shame is we didnt get to see him and stoner race as much as we should have.

Otherwise, i couldnt care less how or why it happened. Hope Ducati get it together, the sport needs them, big time.

Posted: 15/08/2012 at 02:47

Agreed pyndman. Anyway, enough with the sodding GP12. I'm looking forwards.

Posted: 15/08/2012 at 10:50

Tech issues aside, seems STONER was the only guy who could ride a duc.......

Personally I think they went off the rails in 08 with the new carbon frame. Stacey had criticsied the steel trellis frame in 07 for being inconsistent from bike to bike and too flexible. He demanded a new frame. Unfortunaterly Ducati only know how to weld scaffolding. So Ducati turn up in 08 with a frame tech and motors as stressed member they know almost nothing about. Having asked their neighbours Ferrari what to do.
Stoner fucks about and gets 4th * 2. Cannot admit his mistake then goes to Honda, whinges, whinges and retires. Leaving Ducati in a mess.
Clearly Burgess and Rossi did not understand the tech either or the fedback from a carbon frame.
Their solution was to make an L4 Ducati into a bike that behaves like an inline 4 with a shortened aluminium beam frame. Not that clever really.
Still a mess. Ducati I would guess do not want to reduce the angle because it would mean massive new tooling and an engine config they would not likely use elsewhere.

They need a pure and integrated engineering solution for this to work. Now it just looks like someone who has had too many cosmetic surgeries, rather than a teenager.

Stick it back in a steeel trellis, either bite the bullet, narrow the V angle (the lack of trickle down should not matter now because of Audi) or go Panigale on steriods and put a couple of good longterm prospects on the bike and get some input from Lamborghini about colours. Davidiosososo I reckon will be a good prospect for them. He can definitely ride.

As for Rossi and Burgess, huge fail for trying to make an M1 rather than a proper Ducati or even an RCV which is closer in DNA. And I do not reckon Rossi will do really well next year either. Big H will clearly try and screw that up, as will Ducati. Lorenzo will be on him each and every step and I do not thinbk will sucumb to Rossi's games.
Should be a more interesting season though.

Posted: 15/08/2012 at 12:33