| Author | Message | ||
     Trojan |
A very nice write-up of what Nicky's departure will/might mean: I would have to disagree with a few points made in this article. Doubtless Nicky helps sell some Ducatis in the US, but cannot be held responsible for the upsurge in sales that the company has experienced in recent years. This is model led and sales of the Diavel Cruiser and Multistrada are probably more likely to be attributed to high profile Hollywood appearances and winning at Pikes Peak than to a GP rider. Also the US viewing figures for MotoGP are not that high (attendance at Laguna was only 46000 apparently), so linking sales to racing is not as easy as it once was. Also, it really doesn't matter how nice your rider is or how respected he is by his peers if he isn't winning. Nicky has effectively wasted his best 5 years of his racing life by flogging the Ducati dead horse around for a best result of 3rd since 2008. That is a shocking record for a factory rider and a reflection of just how bad Ducati has been during that time. Colin Edwards had a better record at Yamaha (although still without a win) and is probably more popular than Nicky worldwide, yet he was given the heave ho by Yamaha along time ago. There is little room for sentiment when racing costs are so high, and I am surprised that Nicky has managed to hang onto his place at Ducati for as long as he has given his poor results , especially when other team members have been unceremonially dumped for similar performances. Will he be a great loss to MotoGP? No more than Melandri, Checa, Biaggi, Gibernau etc were that's for sure. However, I'm sure he will be successful once he gets from under the yoke of the Ducati GP machine though, so good luck to him. | ||
| Xb1125r |
Bads you can love Rossi all you want the thing is he is done. | ||
| Trojan |
Bads you can love Rossi all you want the thing is he is done. says the expert  4 podiums in recent races says otherwise  | ||
| Bads1 |
Bads you can love Rossi all you want the thing is he is done. This is not what I think. He may never win a Championship.... who knows?? Thing is hes the best there ever was and is till everything he has accomplished has been beaten. What it is to me?? I got to watch his career and witness it. Much like Jordan is to basketball. That what these guys bring to there sports. You are on the other hand to narrow minded to understand it. | ||
| Jaimec |
This is not what I think. He may never win ANOTHER Championship.... There... fixed it for you. | ||
| Bads1 |
Thanks Jaime | ||
| Trojan |
This is not what I think. He may never win ANOTHER MOTO GP Championship.... Who knows where he will go after he hangs up his MotoGP leathers...WSB, Touring cars, Endurance racing? I wouldn't bet against him winning more championships wherever he decides to go. | ||
| Jaimec |
Aussie V8 Supercars?  | ||
| Gaesati |
I'd like to see that! I might even attend a few events.. | ||
| Trojan |
Now that would be funny | ||
| Crusty |
Especially if he started winning! | ||
| Gaesati |
Car racers age much slower than motorcycle racers. Rossi would be winning within a season if he went to any level of car racing short of formula 1.. | ||
| Bads1 |
The new rules. http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/fim-grand-prix-commission-announces-2014-motogp-factory-and-non-factory-technical-rules/ (Message edited by bads1 on July 26, 2013) | ||
| Jaimec |
If DORNA is trying to lower the cost of racing, aren't they aware that everytime they change the rules it costs the factories MORE money to catch up?? I would've thought Suzuki's explanation of why they WON'T be joining the grid next year would've been a "wake up" call. | ||
| Trojan |
It wasn't DORNA but the MSMA that wanted the rules regarding engines and fuel capacity. It si these two things that will drive the ocst of racing up and the spectacle down in equal measure. GP racing should not be a test of engine endurance or fuel economy, but RACING. DORNA should let all teams use 12 engines and 24 litres of fuel, regardless of factory status or otherwise. The factory will supply customer bikes that are always tuned one level down from the factory racers anyway, so the perceived advantage of the private teams in terms of engines/fuel will effectively be negated straight away before the season starts (Honda will never build a customer bike that they think will be capable of beating their own factory racers in a straight fight, and neither will Yamaha!). | ||
| 46champ |
Matt I have to agree with everything you say about the future costs of racing. | ||
| Jaimec |
Well, it goes back to something I'd said a few years ago... the only reason factories race is to test and prove new engineering designs in extreme conditions. It's a way of profiting immediately on R&D (instead of developing and testing everything behind closed doors). Once the racing series owners take away a manufacturer's ability to test new technologies (like ECUs, traction control, etc) then the factories have really no reason to go racing at all. Maybe eliminating the factories will provide a better "show," but I think you'd also see the amount of new technology coming out every year slow down as well. Of course, on the flip side, I see no reason to develop technologies that we'll NEVER see on a production street bike either. For example: Carbon/Carbon brakes and GPS-based traction control. That adds costs to the series without ever providing any benefit to production level motorcycling. | ||
| Xb1125r |
bads before jordan there was Dr J he was the first true star | ||
| Bads1 |
Dr J isn't even on the same planet.... not close. Back to racing.lol | ||
| Blake |
>>> DORNA should let all teams use 12 engines and 24 litres of fuel, regardless of factory status or otherwise. If only we were in charge. >>> before jordan there was Dr J; he was the first true star BWAHAHAHA! Pistol Pete, Wilt the Stilt, Magic Johnson, and Larry Bird are all laughing too. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Blake you FORGET JERRY WEST ! | ||
| Xb1125r |
larry and majic came after Dr J. Dr J was flying before Jordan ever liftef off. | ||
| Trojan |
what about Lofty and Meadowlark Lemon then? Anyway stop trolling, this is a racing page | ||
| Bads1 |
Matt please... let him do this Blake. I'd love to see the outcome.lol | ||
| Davegess |
Connie Hawkins,Elgin Baylor | ||
| Xb1125r |
you guys forget karim abdul, the skyhook king , plus knew kung fu and could kick airjordans butt | ||
| Crusty |
"With a little study, you'll go a long way; and I wish you'd start now" | ||
| Xb1125r |
just Bing it | ||
| Simond |
Crutchlow to Ducati for the next two years. | ||
| Svh |
Saw that earlier today and I keep hoping that someone will squash the rumor. |
