Quote from: DanTheMan on July 02, 2010, 01:58:54 AM
I would venture to say yes their attitude has changed. At the time Ducati was a new player in the game. Their a little more established now and have an idea that the rider is important. Developing a bike for Nicky is proof. But otoh they didn't listen to Melandri.

And in essence have developed a bike no one seems able to win on.

Will they listen to Rossi and give him what he needs to win?

Assuming he goes red of course.

Quote from: ducpainter on July 02, 2010, 02:12:48 AM
And in essence have developed a bike no one seems able to win on.

Will they listen to Rossi and give him what he needs to win?

Assuming he goes red of course.

I would hope they would be smart enough to recognize his and his teams talent to develop a bike. but we shall see 

Quote from: zooom on July 01, 2010, 08:39:52 AM
yeah, but giving away the championship last year to the Ben and then being the suck this year I am sure doesn't exactly instill confidence in your employer to renew your contract...

Quote from: derby on July 01, 2010, 03:33:46 PM
giving away? seriously?

yes...giving away....he was 88 points ahead of Ben at one point...he crashed at Nurburgring in an uneventful fashion and seemed to not even make an effort to get that bike back up and try and get back in it to salvage a few points....granted at Nurburgring, his shoulder wasn't fully healed and whatnot, but still...and then getting edged out by Spies in Race 1 at Magny Cours...and then crashing in Race 1 at Portimao....so yeah...I say he gave it away.

He gave it away.  AND The Ben took it. 

In other silly season chat, Elias needs to be back in GP and on a consistent ride.  He's shown he belongs there (not that he hadn't before).   

Quote from: zooom on July 02, 2010, 03:02:31 AM
he crashed at Nurburgring in an uneventful fashion and seemed to not even make an effort to get that bike back up and try and get back in it to salvage a few points

the bike was broke, dude.

Quote from: gm2 on July 02, 2010, 07:59:08 AM
the bike was broke, dude.

I don't recall that...I recall it being turn 1 slow lowside and due to the angle of how it rested in the camber of that righthand downward turn, it looked like with his shoulder not fully healed, he just was not in the most optimal position to be able to get it flipped right back up quickly on his own...not that the bike was unrideable...

this is from memory of course...

Quote from: Spidey on July 02, 2010, 06:59:25 AM
In other silly season chat, Elias needs to be back in GP and on a consistent ride.  He's shown he belongs there (not that he hadn't before).   

with claiming rule teams coming and then Gresini having 2 years of experience running ~spec engines in prototype chassis, i bet we'll see him back on the grid then. 

Quote from: ducpainter on July 02, 2010, 02:12:48 AM
And in essence have developed a bike no one seems able to win on.

Will they listen to Rossi and give him what he needs to win?

Assuming he goes red of course.

Ducati needs to sell bikes....I don't think they even care if Rossi can win the championship in 2011 (although I'd like him to).  He and Nicky would be good as "teammates", too.....

Why would they let stoner go? He's the only one that can put the bike on the box? A stoner/Rossi combo would potentially put two bikes on the box every race. That would sell more than having Hayden on the team. 1) US is already the #1 market, 2) US doesn't watch Moto GP 3)2 bikes on the box, more sponsorship money.

Quote from: DanTheMan on July 05, 2010, 03:38:04 PM
Why would they let stoner go? He's the only one that can put the bike on the box? A stoner/Rossi combo would potentially put two bikes on the box every race. That would sell more than having Hayden on the team. 1) US is already the #1 market, 2) US doesn't watch Moto GP 3)2 bikes on the box, more sponsorship money.

Stoner's gone...straight to HRC and the waiting arms of Livio Suppo. And I doubt Rossi would share a team (much less a garage) with Stoner.

Quote from: DanTheMan on July 05, 2010, 03:38:04 PM
Why would they let stoner go? He's the only one that can put the bike on the box? A stoner/Rossi combo would potentially put two bikes on the box every race. That would sell more than having Hayden on the team. 1) US is already the #1 market, 2) US doesn't watch Moto GP 3)2 bikes on the box, more sponsorship money.

Why go and use logic with the fanboys?

Quote from: desmoquattro on July 05, 2010, 04:21:11 PM
<snip> And I doubt Rossi would share a team (much less a garage) with Stoner.

He has to share it with someone.

Quote from: ducpainter on July 05, 2010, 04:23:52 PM
He has to share it with someone.

But not one of the other aliens, who would command a larger portion of Marlboro's sponsorship money. Hayden's an easy choice to team with...been there, done that, and he's no longer a threat to Rossi.

Quote from: desmoquattro on July 05, 2010, 04:29:44 PM
But not one of the other aliens, who would command a larger portion of Marlboro's sponsorship money. Hayden's an easy choice to team with...been there, done that, and he's no longer a threat to Rossi.

Why would Rossi, the greatest of all time, be such a pussy about riding with another alien on the same equipment? I guess at the end of the day he just wants to win....

Quote from: desmoquattro on July 05, 2010, 04:29:44 PM
But not one of the other aliens, who would command a larger portion of Marlboro's sponsorship money. Hayden's an easy choice to team with...been there, done that, and he's no longer a threat to Rossi.

I'm thinking Rossi would prefer to embarrass Stoner on the same equipment...which he would in short order.