Is it possible to have this thread sticky or something?

I just realised that I'm going on about the ducati in KC's thread, Marco's thread, Sete's thread... possibly Tosserlands thread... it's all over the place. I think I was talking about the Kawa and Suzuki probs in Tosserland's thread...

Anyway, I wanted this thread to be about the other teams... not sure if better to separate them like the rider section is separated... you know, Ducati thread, or Marlboro Ducati and an Alice Ducati thread... just seems a bit too much...

But anyway...

I want to know why Marco is struggling with the ducati. ANd I want to know what is going on with ducati's tc at the moment...
I've raved in rider's threads about what makes the ducati fine for KC to ride, bad for Marco to ride. Too much tc, too little, the ducati's handling... there is evidence to suggest that perhaps dirtbiking is the advantage in riding the desmosedici... the euros don't have that background, so struggle... those who know something about it, please share!

I want to know what's happening with suzuki and kawasaki... they were both doing pretty good last year... this year has been a total wasteland. Anyone got any theories? Is it their tyres, their race set ups, the engine of the bikes?

Their press releases never give anything away... and if you listened to them every weeke end, you'd think they were capable of winning every race... they never say... mmm, I think we will start okay, but then fade away towards the end. They never admit that!

This is one of my rants in the Sete thread... anyone got any opinions about this?

Thinking about this.... ok, not tonnes of thought, more like a flash behind the eyes... that Jorge has managed to ride a gp bike quite well with hardly any use of his legs/ankles/feet. Now, one would think that legs for steering etc would be paramount. I'm wondering if the euro riders learn to use their upper bodies more in racing and controlling the bike, and this is where those with a dirtbiker background learn to use their hips and legs more.

Hicky, with that background, struggles on the same bike wee little Dani doesn't. Marco and Loris struggle on a bike that wee KC (who comes from a dirtbiking beginning) doesn't.

So I'm wondering if the ducati just requires a lot more use of the rider's legs... that it's lack of handling on corners (unless they've fixed that massively or something in recent times) means the rider has to use more of his whole body to steer the bike... this could be where Marco (from road racing background) struggles.

This argument means that unless Simoncelli went and grew up with Hicky in the OWB, or on KC's farm in wherever it was... NSW somewhere?, he will face similar probs as Marco.

Again, though, being young and not having established a successful career on the 125s and 250s, perhaps he's more open to adapting his riding style. (Like KC seems to have been.)

Other thing to back this up is the way KC has been sliding his rear tyre in recent races... hardly saw any of that last year... I think they may have geared the bike to do that in order to increase it's cornering speed. Classic dirtbiker move! That Hicky seems to be joining that bandwagon lately (nice work, Hicky!), again, dirtbiking move!

I dont' ride bikes... a few goes on a minibike when I was little don't count, methinks! So for those who have had a crack on a road bike and done some dirtbiking... is there any merit to this?

well the hoff says
the reason kc does so well on the ducati is all about the rear brake

kc controles the ducati with the rear brake...
he learned to controle a bike with the rearbreak in dirtbiking

marco on the other hand comes form street racing
he as all the other streetracers nearly not use the rearbreak at all
they do it all with the front brake

that is why there are rumores ducati wants hayden
cause he comes from dirtbiking too
so he could get along better with the duce than poor marco

^^ Good post.I was going to bring up use of the rear brake.

wow, wow, wow Nicky in Ducati ???? That`s a bit of a shock, never heard such rumours.....
I can imagine Marco on Nicky`s place in Honda though!


That`s a good point and explains a lot. thx staind

haha yes
but the question is... after what happent to loris last year and marco this year
DOES anyone but kc want to ride the duce at all???
I mean who ever goes there knows how great riders marco and loris are..... and it was a catashtrophy for them + at ducati... it is ALL about kc

so who ever goes there he needs LOTS of selfconfidence and GOOD LUCK

Is that all it bloody is? The rear brake? Holy f**k... c'mon Marco, pull your finger out!

Well, at least I was on the right track... for completely wrong reasons... but right track!

So all the other bikes don't rely on the rear brake.... that doesn't make sense... or is it that the rear brake is controlled with the foot, not the hand? No... rear brake controlled by the foot on all bikes...

So, Staind, purveyor of all the good answers - how does the ducati differ in it's braking system from other bikes? Or cb... if you know, chip in! We're onto answers here! It's a productive week!

this makes Nicky the perfect candidate, he`s not doing very well, so if HRC decide it`s time for him to go, he`ll take any chance
you got me excited about that move
+ there`s always a possibility that he`ll outperform KC, I`d prefer to see him doing that, if he`s accustomed to this riding type
fingers crossed for Marco in Honda soon

In the spirit of the thread...

motogp.com had an interview with the Kawasaki Racing Team's crew chief, talking about "chatter".

He outlined what it is generally, what a bore it is to hear a rider come in and say "the front or back end is chattering", etc. But he also added that the biggest feedback they get at Kawa is the rear end chattering. So... a clue to their probs at Kawasaki.


Still waiting for someone smart to tell us how the ducati rear braking system differs from the other bikes... anyone? Anyone?

Oh, and also, during the race, the commentators were talking about ducati letting Marco go at the summer break. Two more races he gets generously because they are tracks he likes...

The big question that followed was who would replace him if he goes at half time?

Sete's name obviously thrown into the ring... and some dude who does the testing for them... Italian name... didn't catch it... but that him and KC are the only ones who seem to handle the desmosedici at all well.

Wonder if HRC would let Hickster out of his contract early? Go on, we wanna see what Hickster is like on the duc! And as Honda are treating him like someone with the plague... they may as well.


If Repsol pick up Andrea, anyone think JiT Scot will pick up Marco? Gresini don't seem to have room for him at the moment... Shinya and Alex looking pretty good... maybe LCR? Randy's adventures in kitty litter might be driving them nuts...

well I think the ducati rearbrake works the same as all the other bikes rearbreak
only KC uses it MORE

(I'll look for the aritcle not sure if the hoff said a percentage, but if I'll post)


the streetracers just neglect the rearbrake... rather brakin hart with the frontbrake
kc stabilises the whole bike by using the rearbrake

why marco can't just go and do the same...
I don't know