Quote from: koko64 on September 29, 2015, 02:05:55 PM
You reckon too long on the Honda to change this late in his career?

Im encouraged by his latest ride against Rossi, but maybe its asking too much. The Ducati can do your head in. Ask Melandri.

I would need to see Dani perform like that more than once before I'd chase him. Even then he's been on that Honda for how long and he finally felt good on the bike?

The Ducati that Melandri rode is different than the Duc today.

Maybe enough $$$ could make him think about his future. He's the second rider at Honda. He aint gonna retire and be a game show host or race commentator  so maybe one last chance to be no 1 team rider. No one else will move. Or steal Maverick and Alex?

At least the Duc turns now with more feel. Melandri was made to see a shrink. Gigi has a better respect for rider input.

Quote from: koko64 on September 29, 2015, 02:54:37 PM
Maybe enough $$$ could make him think about his future. He's the second rider at Honda. He aint gonna retire and be a game show host or race commentator  so maybe one last chance to be no 1 team rider. No one else will move. Or steal Maverick and Alex?

At least the Duc turns now with more feel. Melandri was made to see a shrink. Gigi has a better respect for rider input.

How can he be #1 when 'The Maniac' is faster?

You reckon Crazy Andrew is faster on the same bike? I'm a fan of nutty Andy and I hope you're right.

As I posted under News, I've neglected Moto2/3 so far this year, so I'm oblivious, but are there any young aliens-in-the-making that might be a prime candidate for a Duc seat next year?

Quote from: duccarlos on September 29, 2015, 06:18:24 AM
How many times did MM crash last year? I remember that it seemed it crashed in every FP, then was able to keep it together for the races. He seems to be going the opposite direction this year.

MM crashed 11 times in 2014, compared to 15 times in 2013. Bradley Smith crashed the most in 2014 with 16. MotoGP does a crash statistics summary for every season.

For those that think MM is going to crash himself out...he's having a tough year because the Honda isn't as good as it was in the last 2 years, and he isn't just taking what it will give him. That's what a young guy, who won the title in his first 2 years, does. I think he'll be fine as he mellows...just like JLo, who was a crashing machine when he showed up in GP. His riding style has already mellowed a bit. Any rider is just one crash away from retirement though. Ask Ben Spies.

Oh...excellent race for Pedro!!!

Quote from: 1.21GW on September 29, 2015, 04:09:46 PM
As I posted under News, I've neglected Moto2/3 so far this year, so I'm oblivious, but are there any young aliens-in-the-making that might be a prime candidate for a Duc seat next year?

Next year...no

Give it another...TSWHTF

I do think that if Rossi is in that situation again he'll push Pedro earlier and harder.  I think Rossi felt that if he got by Pedro then there wouldnt be a fight so he could hold off on the attempts till later.

Quote from: 1.21GW on September 29, 2015, 02:17:12 PM
This was just one race, folks.  Helluva ride by Dani, but let's not paint him as the bad-ass late-in-life I-don't-give-a-crap rebel at the start of a new ascendancy.  Let him repeat it a few times before we start crowning him the next big threat or giving him new rides.  Until then, he remains just one of 4 aliens, the rest of whom are less fragile and more consistent.

Yes, he is one of 4 aliens, who just so happens to be the least secure on a ride. This year he has not felt comfortable on the bike and maybe with next year's changes, it would be the best time for him to take a gamble and win on a Duc, until Yamaha and HRC catch up. He can then retire for all I care, but I still don't think Dovi is a good #1 rider. Perturbed Andres can have 1 more year to recover from his pension of falling like my 90 year old granny.

Well, I think we can agree that is would be great to have an alien---any alien---on a Duc that doesn't suck, which appears to be the case now.  They just need the alien.  And I agree with you, Dovi is none.

Ianonne is close. I suspect if he had been on a yamaha this year we would be saying that

Quote from: Raux on September 30, 2015, 11:10:00 AM
Ianonne is close. I suspect if he had been on a yamaha this year we would be saying that

Couldn't agree more! 

Question is; when his shoulder issue is taken care of, can he hang with the aliens on the Duc? 

I think he has the ability, he just needs the ride.  Come on Ducati!  Give him a bike to ride!!!

I think the bike's pretty good....

I'm wondering if Dovi and his crew have gone down a blind alley on setup.
Dovi's not a crasher by any means, but he's been doing a lot of it lately.

Quote from: Speeddog on September 30, 2015, 02:53:23 PM
I think the bike's pretty good....

I'm wondering if Dovi and his crew have gone down a blind alley on setup.
Dovi's not a crasher by any means, but he's been doing a lot of it lately.

If the bike does not fit the riding style he's been developing his whole career, then what can you do? How does Iannone ride that bike that much better?

Quote from: duccarlos on October 01, 2015, 09:38:15 AM
If the bike does not fit the riding style he's been developing his whole career, then what can you do? How does Iannone ride that bike that much better?

Dunno how Iannone is doing it.

Dovi finished ahead of him in 4 out of the first 5 races this year, yet has only beat him once in the 9 races since then.

That's why I was wondering if they were going a wrong direction on setup.