MotoGP 2013

[Mental Trousers]

This thread hardly portains to mere mortals such as us though does it? Mounting the head stock to the front of the motor, and the rear half to the back was tried at GP level. It didn't work very well for whatever reason, so why would they take their superbike in that direction? Seems like a shit load of R&D they could do without.

GP is prototype racing. It takes a long time I'll grant you, but the tech filters down to our bikes. Be nice if it was just the best bits instead of the failures. Ride a BMW S1000R some time.

Ducati are boutique motorcycles I have always thought.

It's bold alright. And nearly everyone I know loves the thing. Except for one guy that owns one, and leaves it in the shed and takes his CBR out for spirited road rides, while commuting on the Duc.

Please don't think I'm being nasty Glen, but if Craig/Strouud/Choppa/Cole said they were great I'd believe it, since our superbike rules are very restrictive compared to WSB. So it's an indication how a road bike goes. But your success on a big block was a tad limited.

I would likely find the bike as you have, maybe better, you're a shit load faster than I am after all. But from the evidence of what the bike is doing at world level, I think as the speeds climb, it comes unstuck.

Back on topic...

I firmly believe, the only reason the Ducati ever got a top spot was Stoner. The other bike from the team got it's arse handed to it more often than not, and everyone else on it the same since. In those early years the bike was often 10+kph faster than everything else, and unrideable. Has anyone but Stoner ever one a race on a Ducati GP?

The more I think about it, the more I see what Pete has been getting at all this time. The guy really was several classes above the rest...Rossi included. Pity he's a dick.

The failure at GP level was mostly down to supplying riders with a bike that was way too aggressive in the engine department and had a low and rearward centre of gravity. Both of those were management decisions.

As for why they'd put the failed technology in their superbike the sales figures tell quite a story. Despite the down turn in the world wide motorcycle market the Panigale is one of Ducati's best selling bikes ever and is a key component of their best ever sales year.

[codgyoleracer]

Test pics: RdP on the Suzuki...

Good to see theve binned the fugly styling, any word on a primary sponsor ? - or is it a sole factory effort ?

[steveyb]

Man, I REALLY hope that bike works.
It looks nice.
The front air intake makes it look like it means business. Hope that extends to how it goes.

[DidJit]

... any word on a primary sponsor? — or is it a sole factory effort?

The new current... At the moment, MotoGP’s rules say that any incoming manufacturer has to partner up with an existing team — i.e. one of the privateer teams (satellite or CRT). Speculation is that Suzuki will team up with Aspar (hence RdP testing).

[ecko_nzed]

It's bold alright. And nearly everyone I know loves the thing. Except for one guy that owns one, and leaves it in the shed and takes his CBR out for spirited road rides, while commuting on the Duc.

pretty sure he still loves it, he just finds the CBR easier to ride for his skill level.

[Maido]

There is a pani sitting in the E hays shop at the moment. Quite nice indeed. Along with some great RS's TZ750s, RG500's i would suggest you check it out when you come down for NZSBK. oh wait...

[DidJit]

... Speculation ...

More on all of that.

[Reckless]

More on all of that.

Thanks mate good read

Here's a bit on the Honda of the shelf model for next year http://superbike-news.co.uk/index.ph...motegi-circuit

And some interesting stats on Pedro ( copy and pasted in case you don't have Moto GP membership). Quite interesting how his record is very up there.

Pedrosa: Racking up the numbers
Pedrosa career numbers
Thursday, 23 May 2013

Victory in France saw Dani Pedrosa hit the top of the Riders’ Championship for the first time in almost five years. Now in his eighth season of MotoGP™, the Repsol Honda Team rider is looking more threatening than ever as he strives to collect the coveted premier class title for a first time.

It was on 13th July 2008 that Pedrosa lost the championship lead, falling in the German rain and bouncing over the gravel trap. The accident lost him the race, resulted in all sorts of injuries and ruined the championship. It is perhaps ironic that the re-taking of the overall lead finally came in similarly wet conditions at Le Mans.

Sunday’s success marked the Spaniard’s first premier class win in France, having been affected more often than not by injury over the past handful of seasons; at least he can now boast that he is yet to be operated on since June 2011. In fact, only three venues remain on the calendar at which Pedrosa is yet to claim a win in any of the three categories: Losail, Circuit of the Americas and Silverstone.

Also at Le Mans, Pedrosa claimed his second consecutive race victory and his eighth from the last 12 MotoGP™ events. He has passed the 3,000-point mark; an amount bettered only in the famed careers of Loris Capirossi and Valentino Rossi.

Win number 24 in the top class puts Pedrosa equal with both current title holder Jorge Lorenzo and three-time champion Wayne Rainey, while that trio are just one behind Rainey’s great rival and 1993 world champion Kevin Schwantz, who recently questioned the abilities of Pedrosa and his lack of a MotoGP™ title.

Qualifying speed is certainly not in doubt; until Saturday, perhaps, when Pedrosa’s result of sixth marked the first time in 16 races that he had failed to start from the front row of the grid. Instead, he came from sixth – the lowest grid position he has ever converted into victory since joining the premier class. En route to his 47th MotoGP™ victory, he picked up his maiden fastest lap of 2013 (and his 36th since climbing to the top class seven years ago), his 115th career podium and his 74th in the uppermost tier, which takes him to five ahead of ex teammate Casey Stoner.

These facts appear to suggest that the only thing Pedrosa is yet to claim is the MotoGP™ world title. With 14 Grands Prix to go, the 2012 runner-up leads the way by six points. Will this be the year?

[codgyoleracer]

Good luck to the little mexican on securing a title, - i wonder if he will be like criville and be gone if /when No1 is under the belt ?

[DidJit]

Thanks mate good read Here's a bit on the Honda off-the-shelf model for next year...

No worries. Here’s a little more on the Honda production racer. Man, those bikes look horn with bare carbon fibre.

Good luck to the little mexican on securing a title, - i wonder if he will be like criville and be gone if/when No1 is under the belt?

Interesting question you pose. I would’ve thought he’d want to stick around as long as he was competitively fast, able to attract a competitive package and still had the hunger.

Found this this morning: a very good interview with Michael Laverty on, of all places, Crash.net — some very good insights.

[codgyoleracer]

Found this this morning: a very good interview with Michael Laverty on, of all places, Crash.net — some very good insights.[/QUOTE]


That is a good read, bit of talent swilling around in those genes aye.

[merv]

Regarding Dani Pedrosa, straight from the MotoGP site you can find all sorts of stats. Here is the list of those that have scored more than or equal to Dani in race wins in the 500/MotoGP class. Some big names ahead of him and he is equal with Jorge and Wayne Rainey so it says.

Results for:
1st place finishes in MotoGP at All tracks in All years, for riders from All countries

Times	Rider	Nation
79	Valentino Rossi	ITALY
68	Giacomo Agostini	ITALY
54	Mick Doohan	AUSTRALIA
38	Casey Stoner	AUSTRALIA
37	Mike Hailwood	GREAT BRITAIN
31	Eddie Lawson	UNITED STATES
25	Kevin Schwantz	UNITED STATES
24	Jorge Lorenzo	SPAIN
24	Wayne Rainey	UNITED STATES
24	Dani Pedrosa	SPAIN

Then if you look at all classes raced it looks like this. I've taken the list down to Biaggi for interest. This puts Dani above Jorge and Casey. Who will ever beat Ago? Won't be Rossi at the rate he's been going recently:

1st place finishes in All classes at All tracks in All years, for riders from All countries

Times	Rider	Nation
122	Giacomo Agostini	ITALY
105	Valentino Rossi	ITALY
90	Angel Nieto	SPAIN
76	Mike Hailwood	GREAT BRITAIN
54	Mick Doohan	AUSTRALIA
52	Phil Read	GREAT BRITAIN
47	Dani Pedrosa	SPAIN
45	Casey Stoner	AUSTRALIA
45	Jim Redman	RHODESIA
45	Jorge Lorenzo	SPAIN
42	Max Biaggi	ITALY

[merv]

Preview on Soup - the boys thinking about Mugello http://superbikeplanet.com/2013/May/130528a18.htm

[Cleve]

Found this this morning: a very good interview with Michael Laverty on, of all places, Crash.net — some very good insights.

That is a good read, bit of talent swilling around in those genes aye.[/QUOTE]

cheers - good find and a good read

[DidJit]

Had to chuckle at this line:

To win at Mugello is simple: it is merely a matter of being one of the very best riders in the world.

Simple.