Ducati making progress?

[Mental Trousers]

At the pre-race conference at Aragon Rossi is saying:

...The front part of the bike is a bit different and is aluminum and not carbon fibre like it was before...

Looks like they're finally doing what I thought they should've - test exactly the same parts in alloy so they can figure out exactly how carbon fibre changes the feel. They should make a hell of a lot more progress now.

Using a different design with a material that isn't fully understood means it's difficult to figure out if the design is wrong or if the material is causing a problem. So by going to an extremely well understood material they're now able to start isolating problems with the design.

Seems they're not looking to move to an aluminium frame, which in my opinion is a good thing. After all, if you want to go as fast as everyone else do what they do.

http://www.ultimatemotorcycling.com/...ace-conference

Also, pic of the bike from Toby Moody (note the alloy bit disappearing under the tank cover)

http://twitpic.com/6lawv2

[RobGassit]

Well you can't say they are not getting factory support. They have tried just about everything but lease a Honda. I'm sure they will get closer. I'd hate to see them pack up and go home.

[DidJit]

Check out the shit fight fanboi-ism difference of opinion erupting in the comments section (if you have a half hour spare).

[Mental Trousers]

Moving to a twin spar frame is really disappointing. Ducati were really the only ones willing to innovate instead of being sheep.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Moving to a twin spar frame is really disappointing. Ducati were really the only ones willing to innovate instead of being sheep.

Yeah...but comes a time when the only important thing is results. Without them...sponsors etc soon abandon ship.

[SPman]

Vale's comments after the race....


"Looks like we don't fix a lot."


"Very difficult race... expect a bit better pace."


"I am not able to be fast."


And back again to "Looks like after a lot of races we don't fix nothing."


Oh dear.....

[tigertim20]

Moving to a twin spar frame is really disappointing. Ducati were really the only ones willing to innovate instead of being sheep.

i thought most of the other manufacturers had done some testing with carbon frames, and decided it wasnt really workable. Aluminium is the thing that seems to work for everyone else.
They say if it aint broke dont fix it, so, why fuck about with a design that s potentially holding you back?

[Mental Trousers]

i thought most of the other manufacturers had done some testing with carbon frames, and decided it wasnt really workable. Aluminium is the thing that seems to work for everyone else.
They say if it aint broke dont fix it, so, why fuck about with a design that s potentially holding you back?

Materials but not designs.

If you want to go as fast as everyone else do what they do. If you want to go faster, do something different. It's a gamble, but if you don't gamble you're almost always coming from behind and up against more money, more knowledge, more expertise etc.

[tigertim20]

Materials but not designs.

If you want to go as fast as everyone else do what they do. If you want to go faster, do something different. It's a gamble, but if you don't gamble you're almost always coming from behind and up against more money, more knowledge, more expertise etc.

yes, bt the more time they spend fucking around with an ill-fated material/design, the bigger that gap is going to get.Id like to see Hayden get an all alloy frame, and see how fast he goes on it compared to rossi. would be an interesting comparison.

[steve_t]

Isn't the carbon fibre making them slower?

[Mental Trousers]

They don't know how close they are to a solution though. That's the problem with not understanding a new design. They're trading a possible leap ahead of the competition to be as fast but not faster.

It's a shame they haven't been able to figure it out in the time they've had. Unfortunately all the money is going to dry up if they don't start getting results soon.

[steve_t]

So isn't the logical move to continue with the aluminium this season while they continue testing and improving the carbon off-track?

[bogan]

They don't know how close they are to a solution though. That's the problem with not understanding a new design. They're trading a possible leap ahead of the competition to be as fast but not faster.

It's a shame they haven't been able to figure it out in the time they've had. Unfortunately all the money is going to dry up if they don't start getting results soon.

More than that, is they could already have the solution. But all the riders are too used to the flex in ally that they need it to go fast.

[Mental Trousers]

Isn't the carbon fibre making them slower?

More than that, is they could already have the solution. But all the riders are too used to the flex in ally that they need it to go fast.

Both related questions.

The riders aren't able to interpret the feedback from both the chassis design and the carbon fibre. That's why they don't trust the front end, why they can't turn the thing as they'd like to, why they don't like having it at max lean for any length of time.

The design and material aren't inherently slower, it's just that the riders have been raised on the feel that metal frame designs provide and don't know how to interpret the feedback the monocoque frame and carbon fibre are providing (both individually and together)

[cowpoos]

So isn't the logical move to continue with the aluminium this season while they continue testing and improving the carbon off-track?

there is nothing that carbon fibre can not do that aluminium can....there are things that carbon fibre can do that aluminium can't....the main benefit of the change to carbon fibre is that they can rapidly change/modify it in hours. the fact that its made for carbon fibre has nothing to do with their issues...its just internet bullshit!!