http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080818-691.htm

Kinda what we were talking about at Sunday's race watch.

   Thanks for mining those racing articles !  You'd think Honda would be rolling heads over this !  I guess they are more into ATV & dirt now !

Love the title of this article - Duc Rumors may be my next screen name ! LOL ! 

I think that would be really cool if he came over to Ducati!  Gotta always root for the KY kid.  Ooohh my 1098 would look good in "69" skins

I bet if Hayden signs on w/ Ducati, the GP9 will be tough to beat.  Hayden's a worker and will put in the laps to wring the neck out of that bike and the settings.  It'll make Stoner and Hayden a tough combo to beat. 

Quote from: bryant8 on August 19, 2008, 12:15:32 PM
I bet if Hayden signs on w/ Ducati, the GP9 will be tough to beat.  Hayden's a worker and will put in the laps to wring the neck out of that bike and the settings.  It'll make Stoner and Hayden a tough combo to beat. 

+1

could not agree any less.  Hayden is sadly at or slightly past his peak, and he is not going to get any better.  Where he is at now is not what Ducati needs.  He's a mature #2 seat ( yawn ), and clearly has issues being in that role, vis-a-vis the rift with Honda over their development of Pedrosa....

If we are looking for a mature #2 seat, let's keep looking.  Haga?

I'll take a pass on pimp-daddy Hayden, as usual...

Quote from: The Svoloch on August 19, 2008, 02:15:30 PM
could not agree any less.  Hayden is sadly at or slightly past his peak, and he is not going to get any better.  Where he is at now is not what Ducati needs.  He's a mature #2 seat ( yawn ), and clearly has issues being in that role, vis-a-vis the rift with Honda over their development of Pedrosa....

If we are looking for a mature #2 seat, let's keep looking.  Haga?

I'll take a pass on pimp-daddy Hayden, as usual...

He's like 27 and you think he's past his peak? 

Maybe he has just lost his motivation with Honda as a result of the Pedrosa "thing" and a new ride would be just the thing he needs.

Quote from: Kevin848 on August 19, 2008, 02:50:38 PM
Maybe he has just lost his motivation with Honda as a result of the Pedrosa "thing" and a new ride would be just the thing he needs.

New ride, new team, new attitude

Could you imagine Suzuki telling Mladin 9 years ago......sorry, you're past your peak

Look what happened to Stoner. We was a walking crash fest the last year he was with the satellite Honda team. Jeez, could he put together two races in a row without pitching it down the track? Fast? Sure, but a living breathing destroyer of bikes. Now look at him. Sure great bike last year and finally this year after some struggles early on. But boy howdy was that ever a good change for him? Great move. But it can blow up too. Look at Melandri. Really good rider just having an awful time on the Ducati. Who knows about Nicky? Could be a great career change or a disaster of biblical proportions. I'm not a Nicky hater by any means. I agree with B8. In my eyes he's a trooper and works as hard or harder than anyone out there in testing. I find it hard to not like the kid. Hell, Rossi really likes him. Even said if anyone in the field were to beat him in the '06 championship he would want it to be Hayden. That says a lot.

Ducati could do a lot worse for sure. I think they would appreciate his work ethic and talent a lot more than Honda ever did. He could use a break from the red headed step child role he plays at Honda regardless who he goes with. I wish him luck.

you think he won't be the duc stepchild?  He will be.  Why?  Because Stoner is worth developing, and Nicki isn't.  Honda v2.

Melandri just confirmed his switch to Kawasaki for next year

Oh and here

http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motog-hayden-to-ducati-announcement-expected-soon/

Surely Nicky has tested with Ducati enough to show that his style suits their bike.  I doubt he wants to climb on another ride, or join another team, that won't work for him.  Ducati has obviously had problems finding other riders than can handle their machine, but maybe Nicky is the right one.  He's still very young.  Check out Colin Edwards and Troy Corser.  They've been around forever, and at their advanced ages have now found hardware that they can be pretty competitive on.  I'm anxious to see what he can do with another team.

Me too. Patrick, what did Nicky ever do to you? Stuck his finger in your tofu?? Just kidding!