Quote from: gm2 on August 06, 2009, 08:40:21 AM
"all of the mechanicals" - ?  running out of gas once is a technical screw up but not unique to yamaha at all.  a broken shifter is just.. a broken shifter.  shit happens.  so if you give them 1 fuk up, they've really only had 1 more: the clutch thing.  and they brought in new crew since then.

no argument that the duc is the most developed bike out there, has been for years.  but the guys in milan are doing pretty damn good for a year 1 bike.  ben is 1 win shy of twice as many as nori, even when you add in all the crashing/being taken out.


anyway, i have this sick little curiosity to see what ben would do on a GP10.  but mainly i hope he stays with yamaha in either series.

You read too much into "all of the mechanicals".   The broken shifter seems to be the only one that really isn't anyone's fault. Without the other 2 issues, Ben would most likely be in 1st though. I agree though...it hasn't been continual issue, and they've definitely gotten better. It likely won't be an issue at all next year.

How much do you guys think the R1 is a new bike? New engine for sure...but isn't most everything else just an evolution of the bike they had before? It definitely isn't as new as the Aprilia or BMW, right?

I'd also like to see him try to ride the GP10. Wonder if he could test it before he decided where to sign?

Quote from: Triple J on August 06, 2009, 09:17:34 AM
How much do you guys think the R1 is a new bike? New engine for sure...but isn't most everything else just an evolution of the bike they had before? It definitely isn't as new as the Aprilia or BMW, right?

sure, it's not brand new from the ground up like the Ape or BMW, but new (not updated) engine = redesign the bike around it.  and the milan R1 is significantly different from the showroom bike.

Quote from: Triple J on August 06, 2009, 09:17:34 AM
Wonder if he could test it before he decided where to sign?

usually no way jose.  that's why they still had folks dying to ride that bike for 2008...

So he isn't her meal ticket? So she represents other racers and doesn't depend on hom making money at all? I'm just trying to quantify my statement. I'll take it back if she's representing someone else. If she's not then she's 100% dependent on him being out there and making money. So how am I exactly off base? If I didn't have a job then my wife would be my meal ticket.

He is definitely one of the top riders in any series, but considering how many careers the GP** has destroyed, I would only wish that bike on the most hated riders. Stoner seems to be the only person in this worls with the unique riding style to actually be competitive on it.

Quote from: Jester on August 06, 2009, 09:14:37 AM
+1

No reason to hate on her just because she's family.  If you have a capable family member that can handle your management, its better than dropping your cash on a third party or management company.  Racer's families should be owed some of that money anyway, because many of them have to sacrifice a hell of a lot to support their kid's racing ambitions.

it's also sexism, frankly.  if his dad had lobbied that hard to get him the yosh ride and then lobbied that hard to get him paid what he deserved, we'd all be saying make the beast with two backs yeah pops!

Quote from: duccarlos on August 06, 2009, 09:31:43 AM
So he isn't her meal ticket? So she represents other racers and doesn't depend on hom making money at all? I'm just trying to quantify my statement. I'll take it back if she's representing someone else. If she's not then she's 100% dependent on him being out there and making money. So how am I exactly off base? If I didn't have a job then my wife would be my meal ticket.

she didn't need the money in the first place.

I have no issues with saying that he is his pop's meal ticket either. Again, if they have any other source of income I will take back any comments about being a meal ticket. I am my wife's meal ticket at the moment, until she a) finally gets hired or b) leaves me for a richer/better looking person, at which point he will become her meal ticket.

Quote from: gm2 on August 06, 2009, 09:34:35 AM

she didn't need the money in the first place.

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/150785/1/14_motogp_seats_up_for_grabs.html

The fun is just beginning.....

Opinions, if you please!  ---- if the Yamaha is considered (by many here) of being the best bike, and it was arguably the worst bike in 2003, then how much of that improvement can be attributed to the involvement of the (development) rider(s), such as Rossi?

Also, if only Stoner can successfully ride the Duc, then what does that say about Ducati's (and Stoner's) ability to develop a bike?

Quote from: OT on August 09, 2009, 09:33:18 AM

Opinions, if you please!  ---- if the Yamaha is considered (by many here) of being the best bike, and it was arguably the worst bike in 2003, then how much of that improvement can be attributed to the involvement of the (development) rider(s), such as Rossi?

two words: jeremy burgess.

Quote from: OT on August 09, 2009, 09:33:18 AM

Also, if only Stoner can successfully ride the Duc, then what does that say about Ducati's (and Stoner's) ability to develop a bike?

volumes.

Quote from: derby on August 09, 2009, 09:42:16 AM
two words: jeremy burgess.

+1

Don't forget how successful Jerry was prior to Rossi as well.  Its the rider, but a lot is Jerry too.  Chief Engineer to Rossi, Doohan, Gardner, and also wrenched for Spencer/Mamola/Haslem.

Quote from: derby on August 09, 2009, 09:42:16 AM



volumes.

how about the condensed version?

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/08/12/bautista_to_sign_two_year_deal_with_suzu.html

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Aug/090812jt.htm


.....more speculative articles that answer no questions...

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/08/12/hector_barbera_signs_aspar_motogp_deal_f.html

http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2009/08/13/honda_to_pen_new_deals_with_repsol_pedro.html

Dovi and Pedrosa have officially re-signed with Honda.