ok derby, I know you know everything about this stuff, but here is a surely impossible bit a trivia ...



what in the world is that "2" written on the front fairing below his windscreen?

how do you know it's not just the second bike?

Quote from: gm2 on August 06, 2008, 10:18:22 AM
how do you know it's not just the second bike?

that would be my first guess, but you usually see that indicated on the top triple.

here is a pic of his #1 bike:

That image only loads half way for me, but it sort of looks like there is a "1" on it.  If so, then you guys nailed it and it was an easy question.  I feel shame.

Quote from: sh on August 06, 2008, 11:15:06 AM
That image only loads half way for me, but it sort of looks like there is a "1" on it.  If so, then you guys nailed it and it was an easy question.  I feel shame.

fixed... i was having hosting/uploading issues.

if you right-clck > view image/picture, you can see the 1 more clearly.

Those fairing uppers are different, but that's obvious enough to not need numbers.

I'd go with bike#.

It's actually the latest in GP technology.  It tells the fans where the rider will finish in the championship before it even happens.  The bike in Derby's picture must've had some kind of technical glitch.  I believe if you zoom in on Marco's bike it says "DFL" right there.

Quote from: darylbowden on August 06, 2008, 02:21:15 PM
It's actually the latest in GP technology.  It tells the fans where the rider will finish in the championship before it even happens. 

i swear i was gonna say that   

Quote from: Speeddog on August 06, 2008, 01:27:37 PM
Those fairing uppers are different, but that's obvious enough to not need numbers.

I'd go with bike#.

Different fairings...makes me think of a couple of things about the GP bike...Two factors in the list (long list), of things that make this the best bike right now are the time Ducati spent on aerodynamic R&D, and the fact that they nailed the fuel management better than everyone else. (I'm too lazy to look up those facts but feel free, it's been discussed by more than one team manager over the past two seasons)
Could be further data collection going on in one or both of these photos. Could be different fairings to adjust not only overall shape but also air intake which of course is going to effect engine performance and fuel mapping.
They are not the only team to do it. Hayden went through several different shaped uppers to get better wind protection last year. When the new 800 was designed it was obviously designed for a small robot,"ahem". They started with fairings for Nicky before they messed with the chassis. (that definitely changed later)

So who knows. Maybe it's just a bike indicator, or maybe it is further R&D captured on film. The amount of data that these teams collect every time a bike turns a wheel is insane. Not to mention all the new parts being constantly tested. So, it's not out of the question.

Quote from: Speeddog on August 06, 2008, 01:27:37 PM
Those fairing uppers are different, but that's obvious enough to not need numbers.

I'd go with bike#.

it's the same (style) fairing. if you adjust the brightness up a tad on the first pic, you can see the air intake.

both of these pics were taken at the laguna round this year.

Quote from: fasterblkduc on August 06, 2008, 03:23:57 PM
Different fairings...makes me think of a couple of things about the GP bike...Two factors in the list (long list), of things that make this the best bike right now are the time Ducati spent on aerodynamic R&D, and the fact that they nailed the fuel management better than everyone else. (I'm too lazy to look up those facts but feel free, it's been discussed by more than one team manager over the past two seasons)

ducati was confident enough in their aero r&d from last year that, much to the dismay of their marketing department,  they didn't change much this year.

looks like the intake is in the windscreen on the 1st pic and on the fairing in the 2nd.  that's kind of interesting.  two different aero packages?

Quote from: sh on August 06, 2008, 09:25:42 PM
looks like the intake is in the windscreen on the 1st pic and on the fairing in the 2nd.  that's kind of interesting.  two different aero packages?

The intake is in the same place in both pics.  The only difference is there's tiny thing in the windscreen in the 1st and the fairing in the 2nd - I assume that's the camera, but I'm not sure.

Probably just a shadow...

Quote from: darylbowden on August 06, 2008, 09:53:38 PM
The intake is in the same place in both pics.  The only difference is there's tiny thing in the windscreen in the 1st and the fairing in the 2nd - I assume that's the camera, but I'm not sure.

oops, said "intake" but meant that black thing.  camera makes sense.

geez, my acuities are way off today.  don't do drugs kids.  or get old.