Crutchlow Signs For Ducati!

[Griff-SV]

He actually did it! :smt120

Still I guess it was his only option for a factory ride!

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/23536326

[Biker Biggles]

Somewhere Ive got a Rizla Suzuki shirt signed by Cal and the Stalker when they were team mates in BSB.I cant help thinking Cal is now going to make the same mistake Stalker did by going to the wrong team in GPs.Remember that Shell Advance dog Chris tried to ride?Nearly killed him.

[M65]

Worse mistake he'll make. He just signed his career away

[ogden]

I hope he enjoyed his MotoGP career while he had one.

Honestly can't think why, other than the pay packet, he thought a ride with Ducati was a better bet than staying put for 12 months (especially with Yamaha offering a factory package,, albeit in the Tech3 team) and waiting for the merry-go-round to begin.

[Geordie Mick]

Agree totally with all the above - why would you move from a rostrum bike, albeit semi-factory, to a back-of-the-top-six bike? I don't believe Hayden and Dovizioso (or Rossi before him) are the problem - not totally anyway. Cal's good, so maybe he can make it work, but only Stoner (and Bayliss :)) have managed.

Seems to be a bit of a Brit disease - moving to rubbish machinery just because it's in MotoGP. Arguably, this is worse cos he's already on f
good machinery.

Unless he knows something we don't about Yamaha, or his prospects of getting a ride, next year, of course...

MICK..

[The Basket]

This is a risky move but if this was the only move i dunno.

Dovi has done not much on the Duke and I expect not much either.

Shame.

[dkid]

Woah big decision! Hope he doesn't live to regret it. My gut tells me similar to above ie step backwards.
Surly he could bide his time on what is a very competitive bike/team and wait for something better. How much longer can Rossi keep going? Possible ride on a factory Yamaha? Suzuki back year after next?

[jambo]

This frustrates me

Jambo
Sent from my thingie

[littleoldman2]

Sad and a shame.

[DJ123]

I'm interested to see what happens. He *could* do a Stoner and turn it into a championship winning bike.

[savage86]

Surely he can see how much of a torrid time dovi is having this year. Real shame. Sure he'll be set for life but in my opinion he's taking the easy way out. I reckon dani won't be on a honda next year, if Cal had waited who knows what could of happened. Kinda glad bt is getting the rights now.

[chris8886]

This frustrates me

Jambo
Sent from my thingie

agreed!!

[Matt-EUC]

Well, he had a good run. Bye bye Cal!

[andrewsmith]

All I can say vorsprung durch technik
They want some results and are pumping money in, and want other tech off Ducati

sent from place where even the devil is afraid

[Griff-SV]

I'm interested to see what happens. He *could* do a Stoner and turn it into a championship winning bike.


If he could pull that off, it would be sensational!


I wonder if Ducati will give him a pair of those lovely red trainers to wear! :mrgreen:

[Pricey12]

Hate to say it as I love Ducati's, but bad move. Hope he proves me wrong...

[Popy Fresco]

I agree will all of you that is a bad move, but what else can he do? 4 hondas and 3 yamahas have already riders for next year, he was the only finishing his contract this year and its well known that tech 3 has been helding talks with Espargaró.
If he waits for honda to kick dani or valentino to leave, he may end without motorbike.

I think he didn't have many other options than take the ducati or pray for someone to be 'fired'...

[dyzio]

I'm interested to see what happens. He *could* do a Stoner and turn it into a championship winning bike.

What shape was the Ducati in what Stoner joined them?
Didn't watch MGP back then.

[ogden]

I agree will all of you that is a bad move, but what else can he do? 4 hondas and 3 yamahas have already riders for next year, he was the only finishing his contract this year and its well known that tech 3 has been helding talks with Espargaró.

The good bikes might be taken for 2014, but Yamaha were offering him a 12 month contract on a factory bike factory support, presumably happy to postpone either Espargaro's advance for a year or let him spend his rookie year on a proddy racer.

That would have seen Crutchlow through to 2015 when everyone'd be out of contract and the merry-go-round would be in full swing. He'd have still been fighting for wins and podiums and his name would have been in the frame for any decent ride available.

Instead, he's going off to the team where good riders watch their careers die. In 12 months time he'll have to hope he's judged by his performance in the previous season, rather than by his last finish.

Still, there's always WSBK.

[flymo]

What shape was the Ducati in what Stoner joined them?
Didn't watch MGP back then.

I believe that, compared to the level of the other bikes, it was much closer than it is today. You have to appreciate that small disadvantages with the bike translate into huge disadvantages against the competition in a race. Half a second, a second off the pace doesnt sound much until you see how far one of these bikes can travel in half a second.

Stoner was an incredible talent no doubt about that but I think on a par with the top level riders around him. He doesnt have super human powers, none of them do.

Bottom line in my opinion, the other bikes have just been improved by a greater amount that the Ducatis. They are still great bikes, just not as great as the others.

[rowdy]

Worse mistake he'll make. He just signed his career away
Depends what his options were.
The way I see it,
1. If HRC were to give Bradl the elbow, which may not have been an option given Bradls last result.
2. Tech3 to give Cal Bradleys ride, in which case Cal has said on his BBC blog he wouldn't consider this fair if that was the situation.
3. Ride the red pig, make shyte loads of money, and hope Audi provide enough money, support and commitment to turn things around.

So maybe he's just signed a contract to keep his career alive.

[ogden]

2007 was the year Stoner joined Ducati, and was also the year he won the championship. Crucially, it was the first year of the 800cc era and the Ducati had an power advantage that made up for any other deficiencies the bike might have had, to the point that there were jokes the Ducati was still running a 990 engine and all the factory had done was change the stickers. At the first race of the season, Losail, the Ducatis were passing other bikes down the straight like they were standing still.

By 2008 the other factories had caught up, and Ducati haven't had a sniff of the title since.

[squirrel_hunter]

I understand why he's made the decision but sitting back from it all it does look like a bad move. The Ducati isn't going to give him the results he's achiving at the moment in its current form.

However next year the Ducati might be better or it may signal the end of his MotoGP career. Either way I'm not going to be able to watch what happens thanks to BT.

[SIII]

I think he has made the right decision, Yamaha are putting their money on Espargaro coming thru' and doing a marquez next year or the year after.

Chances are they are looking at Pol as a better bet to replace Rossi on the Factory yamaha! He's a young guy with great prospects, Cal is 'getting on a bit' for a factory ride at yamaha.

He is no wonder kid, like Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez or Simoncelli and hit the GP circus with a bang. He got there thru the superbike back door and no one yet has won the GP crown from there ??? (Hayden did AMA, I suppose)

When offered the only factory bike and £7m (rumoured) at his age - the right decision for him, I think.:thumbsup: Well done Cal.

A Brit on a Factory Bike !!!!
:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041

[andrewsmith]

He is no wonder kid, like Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez or Simoncelli and hit the GP circus with a bang. He got there thru the superbike back door and no one yet has won the GP crown from there ???

When offered the only factory bike and £7m (rumoured) at his age - the right decision for him, I think.:thumbsup: Well done Cal.

A Brit on a Factory Bike !!!!
:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041:smt041

Hayden if you put AMA in the same category as WSB.
But its a brit on a factory bike :smt040

[The Basket]

In 2008 Casey Stoner was winning races on his Ducati.

In 2008 Marco Melandri was coming last on his Ducati.

Now...Melandri was once touted as a world champ....figure that. He was a 250 champ and came 2nd on the movistar Honda in 2005.

in 2008 Stoner won 6 races for Ducati
in 2009 Stoner won 4 races for Ducati
in 2010 Stoner won 3 races for Ducati

He was looking good in 2008 until Rossi and Laguna:) Stoner is the only one to make the Ducati work and if he werent winning races he got podiums to add to that list. I would wager that Crutchlow is no better than Melandri, Hayden, Dovi or Rossi and the big red pig will claim him as well. I am happy to be wrong though.

[ogden]

When Melandri tried to tell Ducati the bike was a dog, they sent him to a shrink.

Seriously.

[The Basket]

And when Rossi told em it was a dog......he knew it was all wrong on his first corner!

[Bluefish]

Problem is he will always be out of sync with the merry go round now, he should have taken another year contract ( if on offer) the seen whats what. Maybe ducati are going to put some more racing stripes on the bike for him? instant hp.

[rowdy]

Problem is he will always be out of sync with the merry go round now, he should have taken another year contract ( if on offer) the seen whats what. Maybe ducati are going to put some more racing stripes on the bike for him? instant hp.
He will be in sync with Espagaro, maybe he wants a few quid then would be happy to return to tech3 if they would have him back?
Although Yamaha will always be looking at Moto2 riders coming through, so unlikely.

Anywho, rumour has it that Ducati have a completely new bike lined up for next year, could be a Lewis Hamilton kind of decision (but I doubt it)

[DJ123]

Anywho, rumour has it that Ducati have a completely new bike lined up for next year, could be a Lewis Hamilton kind of decision (but I doubt it)

This is what I would like to see. A lucky break for him and Ducati back on track with the other Factory teams

[The Basket]

I bet Marquez would do well on the Ducati. He has Stoners skill, Simoncelli crazy and bounces better than Pedrosa.

Maybe Ducati were the only game in town. LCR was a possible but Bradl pulled out a good Laguna result so they kept him. The non appearance of Suzuki didnt help either. So if you see it as Ducati or WSB then makes good sense especially the £££££€€€€€ going his way.

I honestly believe Audi need to get on the phone to Stoner and ask how much he wants.

[Matt-EUC]

To be honest I think if stoner came back it would be a Schumacher replay. We look upon past heroes with rise tinted glasses, stoner is getting on a bit really to be a title contender. Rossi maybe not so much as he had to try and step his game up massively to try to keep some sort of pace on the bag of dog **** ducati.

[The Basket]

Stoner and Crutchlow are both 27 born October 1985.

[Sid Squid]

Stoner wouldn't win on a Ducati now as it presently is, and I seriously doubt he'd even entertain the thought of trying. The bike has a fundamental limitation that has prevented it's development. It was good enough in the earlier years but the other factories have progressed and the Ducati hasn't, simply because it can't in it's present form.

If the situation were different I sincerely doubt Cal would take the ride on the Ducati - but that's pie in the sky, the Ducati offer is - as things are - the most attractive, which is why he'll be on a red bike next year.

Hopefully the new influence on the factory will make a difference.

[Matt-EUC]

Or, cal will tell them the bikes sh!t and they say he's sh!t. But after 4(?) riders have said the bike's sh!t, surely they'd have realised that the bike may actually be sh!t?

[The Basket]

The gap between Ducati and the other bikes is roughly the same as it would be if you remove Stoner's results. Stoner was always underestimated and the bike overestimated. Thats why Melandri and Rossi moved to Ducati. Stoner was the strength and the weakness of the Ducati because he made the bike better than it was.

I am not sure if Cal can do much. Thing is Andrea Dovizioso is imho criminally ignored as he has the potential and he has done very little this year and he was arguably the better rider on the Tech3.

[Pricey12]

Found this an interesting read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/23550565

[jambo]

Found this an interesting read:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/motogp/23550565

A well written article.

The more competitive teams in MotoGP the better. I want Ducati to be up at the front, it helps the racing out no end. Crutchlow's no fool, but you have to imagine he's been awake at night before signing that contract wondering if he's doing the right thing...

Jambo

[andrewsmith]

A well written article.

The more competitive teams in MotoGP the better. I want Ducati to be up at the front, it helps the racing out no end. Crutchlow's no fool, but you have to imagine he's been awake at night before signing that contract wondering if he's doing the right thing...

Jambo

+1

When Stoner went to Honda, it proved how hard he was going to make that ducati stay at the front, as he was pretty much untouchable on a phenominal bike (the honda 800 had everything Honda could throw at it to win a 800cc title)

The airbox chassis concept that the Ducatis have had (up to the Twin spar) does work as the WSB bikes are doing okay for the lack of development they had up to the Panigale R was launched (The engines were the problem in them as kept expiring due to the WSB rules of the Twins having to run stock rods)

[The Basket]

Crutchlow is being well funded by Ducati for his concerns.

So he can always lend me a few quid.

[rowdy]

I am not sure if Cal can do much. Thing is Andrea Dovizioso is imho criminally ignored as he has the potential and he has done very little this year and he was arguably the better rider on the Tech3.Dovi has had his chance on the factory bike to be on, and achieved what?
I think, given the fact that Cal was only in his second year in motogp, and Dovi was what, in his fourth?, and having come up through the gp ranks was more familiar with all the tracks, should have been the better rider. But I do think the gap in the standings at the end of the year was exaggerated because Cal had a bad run in the latter part of the season and fell off a lot.
I know, to finish first, first you must finish and all that, but I think they will both be evenly matched.

[ogden]

Dovi on the Ducati:

"On this bike everybody have a problem. I don't think that this Ducati have one positive point right now. We have a few limits in every area and with a bike like this you cannot go fast."

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Aug/130801b.htm

[rowdy]

He will be in sync with Espagaro, maybe he wants a few quid then would be happy to return to tech3 if they would have him back?
And to quote Crutchlow in his first interview since signing for Ducati for MCN

"Of course Herve wanted me to ride for him again next year but the nice thing is he left the door open for the future and I appreciate that."

[Amadeus]

I wonder if the bike is flattering Crutchlow. Smith is very close to him in qualifying now and he's a couple of seasons behind Crutchlow. I have never considered Smith to be as talented as some of the others in MotoGP, more an "also ran".
I do like him but I think he's gonna have a couple of wilderness years now.

[The Idle Biker]

I hope not. I really hope Cal is hungry, determined and clever enough to get the Ducatti to work well for him.
My personal hope is that Stoner comes back in 2015.....................on the Suzuki??

[ogden]

I wonder if the bike is flattering Crutchlow. Smith is very close to him in qualifying now and he's a couple of seasons behind Crutchlow. I have never considered Smith to be as talented as some of the others in MotoGP, more an "also ran".

Two things make Smith look weaker than he is:

1. His performance on Moto2, on a bike that even his team acknowledged was basically crap. They were the only team using that chassis (it being their own work) and whereas riders on Kalex and Suter bikes were able to benefit from the huge amount of data being collected, Tech3 had to go it alone. The fact that Smith managed what he did on that bike is testament to his ability, rather than detracting from it.

2. Márquez. Rookies just don't do what he's doing. It's almost unheard of. Last time a rookie won the title? 1978. Compare Smith with Bradl, who moved up to the premier class after taking the Moto2 title, and suddenly his performance looks rather more respectable. And Bradl was on a factory bike, not a satellite lagging a year behind the bike in blue.

Crutchlow is quick. Proper quick. Make no bones about it. And Smith's performance for his first year is more than respectable. But that smiling Spanish wunderkind makes everyone else look rubbish in comparison.

As to his move to Ducati, that just took a step away from the brink of disaster with the departure of Gobmeier and the signing of Dall'Igna. Things might be about to look up in Bologna. And if they don't? Hell, a factory paycheque softens the pain.

[Pedrosa]

Personally I believe that Cal is such a talent that even if the Ducati continues to behave like a pig under braking with little front end feel etc, he could ride through it and surprise many.
I hope though that Audi now exert some pressure and insist that the fairly non existant frame they have been using does not work. Slip the donk in to a double cradle type a la Honda/Yamaha and allow that awesome power to be used again. In that lies any future success for Ducati.

[NTECUK]

I hope though that Audi now exert some pressure and insist that the fairly non existant frame they have been using does not work..
See
http://www.thecheckeredflag.co.uk/2013/11/crutchlow-shrugs-ducati-testing-crash/

[ogden]

I'm guessing you've not been keeping an eye on the current Valencia test, or what's going on at Ducati.

This might be of interest:

http://www.motomatters.com/analysis/2013/11/12/2013_valencia_post_race_test_day_1_round.html

Watching Crutchlow hard on the brakes for Turn 12, then flick the bike over and then on to Turn 13, he looked surprisingly confident. After having sat at the same spot in both 2010 and 2012 and watched Valentino Rossi and Andrea Dovizioso make their Ducati debuts, Crutchlow looked remarkably good. Where both Rossi and Dovizioso were tentative and cautious, Crutchlow was flinging the bike into the corner with the same abandon which he had displayed on the Yamaha.

Of course, conditions were very different: Rossi's debut came after a long season on an injured shoulder, while Dovizioso first rode the Ducati on a track which was cold and still had damp patches. Yet Crutchlow's body language and attitude looked different, something which came through during his media debrief as well. Instead of the informal chat with a few journalists sitting around a table, Crutchlow found himself sitting behind a table with row upon row of media in front of him. Visibly impressed by the experience, he carried himself with remarkable professionalism, yet retaining his characteristic wit, making the journalists laugh with a couple of entertaining quips.

Crutchlow emphasized the strong points of the bike, its stability in braking and strong acceleration. His first taste of a seamless gearbox had been surprising, coming in to complain that the bike kept leaping forward when he changed gear. That's what a seamless gearbox does for your acceleration, he was told. Yes, the bike was weak in turning, Crutchlow said, but that had sometimes been the case with his Tech 3 Yamaha - or rather the 'other manufacturer's bike' as he carefully phrased it. Crutchlow's attitude is overwhelmingly positive and open minded, and that will surely stand him in good stead.

When Casey Stoner was interviewed by the BBC ahead of Phillip Island, the retired world champion said that the most important part of riding a Ducati was the mental aspect, coming in without expectations of how the bike would behave. Crutchlow appears to have that part right, and has benefited, ending his first afternoon on the Ducati just a tenth of a second behind his teammate Andrea Dovizioso. Crutchlow faces a long and difficult path ahead, but he starts on his journey in the right frame of mind, at least.

The question is, how long will his positive attitude last? His patience will be sorely tested in the first year of his two-year contract with Ducati, as became clear when new Ducati Corse boss Gigi Dall'Igna spoke to the media. Dall'Igna was at pains to impress upon the media that he had only just arrived and had no clear strategy for changing the bike yet. He had much to learn, much to study, and much to think about before he could say anything sensible about the direction the bike may take, making it clear that while nothing was sacred - L4 layout, desmodromic valves, aluminium twin beam frame vs carbon frameless chassis - he was nowhere near making a decision on which direction to pursue.

His priority, Dall'Igna said, was first and foremost changing the organization. The race team and racing department were two completely separate entities, and that was his first priority to fix. Personnel from the race team could be sent to spend time in Ducati Corse, and vice versa, as one of the biggest problems was the communication between the two groups. Fixing the organization had his highest priority, he said. Asked whether Ducati's biggest problem was technical or organizational, Dall'Igna answered that they clearly had problems in both areas, but that he couldn't begin to fix the technical problems before he had sorted out the organizational issues.

Dall'Igna made it clear that he had come to Ducati to succeed. He had championships in every other class and series, but a championship in MotoGP eluded him. He had taken the job as the head of Ducati Corse because it was his best chance of winning in motorcycle racing's premier class. It would not be easy, but he believed that he would be able to build a bike capable of winning the championship within two years. Hopefully, Audi and Philip Morris are prepared to wait that long.

Though he would not be drawn on how and what he would change, there was some kind of timescale. The bike currently being ridden by Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow would be discarded in favor of a new bike currently being designed and built back in Bologna. This bike would make its debut at the Sepang test, Dall'Igna said. Only after that bike was on track would he start to work on a future version, though he said he had no idea what that might look like.

That Dall'Igna meant business was clear from his very first actions. He explained that he had both complete freedom and complete control at Ducati Corse, and was free to change what he wanted. His first move was to appoint Paolo Ciabatti, head of Ducati's MotoGP project, as sporting director of Ducati's MotoGP and Ducati's World Superbike projects. Though MotoGP was the priority, success in World Superbikes was crucial, he said. There would be the necessary focus to help make a success of Ducati's WSBK program, Dall'Igna promised.

Perhaps the most interesting part of Dall'Igna's answers concerned the Pramac Ducati being ridden by Yonny Hernandez. That machine is being entered under the Open rules, which mean it uses the spec Dorna software and is allowed 24 liters of fuel and extra engines in returned. What was Ducati's interest in this project? 'The Open class will the future of MotoGP,' Dall'Igna said. 'So it is important to start as early as possible with this project, to be ready when these are the only rules.'

Would Ducati vote with Honda to prevent spec software from being imposed on all MotoGP bikes? 'For sure we would like to develop our knowledge of racing motorcycles as much as possible, and electronics is one of the most important parts of that development,' Dall'Igna said. The knowledge gained would be used in both racing and in production bikes, Dall'Igna said, with electronics systems for road bikes being developed based on experience obtained in racing. But they were not opposed to only racing using spec software, the Ducati Corse boss said. 'This is not the best solution, but we have to play with the rules that will be in place.'

[ogden]

Incidentally, on the question of whether or not Smith is any good, he just got his first go on a factory M1, and this was the result:

https://twitter.com/CdnTom/status/400604168395583488/photo/1

[granty92]

^^ bl*ody amazing times! and shows that it wasnt the first laps he done well. backing him for a much better seaon next year :)

[EssexDave]

Even more impressive when you consider Marquez's pole this year was a 1.30.6

[andrewsmith]

Even more impressive when you consider Marquez's pole this year was a 1.30.6

Lets hope that Bradley gets first refusal of the Factory seat over Pol when it comes up!

[Amadeus]

Not all the big names are on here so I suspect it's not a true indication of what's what, however much I'd like it to be true.

[ogden]

Does it mean Smith is the second fastest guy in MotoGP? No. Does it mean he's quicker than people give him credit for? Yeah, I'd say so.

It was testing. Marquez will have been trying out settings and parts. Smith was having shot at the equivalent parts from the year before. Some other riders were sitting at home with their feet up.

I think the next one that'll be interesting will be Sepang. Qatar will be a bit of a write-off for comparison purposes, as the fast guys will be at PI testing tyres during Winter and aren't allowed to do both.

Should be an interesting season for the handful of BT customers able to see it.

[CharleyFarley]

As a newby on this forum, tis nice to see that testing is seen as just that......testing!!! Too many race forums have "idiots" that see testing as the world championship decider!!! "Pedrosa was fastest today so that means Lorenzo is finished as he only came in 3rd!!". Also you get too many Rossi haters (etc)........ Me.......I'm a moto gp fan, sure theres riders I like (Rossi-Cal) and riders I dislike (Lorenzo) (but I wouldn't dream of knocking them!!!!) they are the best in the world wether I like them or not!!!!! How can any true Race fan knock anyone who is at the top of Motorcycle racing world be it Moto GP/2/3, WSBK/WSS, BSB. Road racer?? Road racing is "were its at" fa me tho........Guy Martin/Hutchy etc blasting past at 190mph 12inch from ya nose.........WOW.......what a rush (that ya'll never get in World/British Championship races!!!! Glad to be onboard!!! 😜


"Gas it w###a".........

[ogden]

Guy Martin? Pah. I've lapped him at Cadwell. And I got video evidence. ;)

[CharleyFarley]

😝 Was Guy on his mountain bike by any chance?? 😝 (only joking!!) 😜


"Gas it w###a".........

[ogden]

😝 Was Guy on his mountain bike by any chance?? 😝

Not far off. An AR50. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wqviv4zbN48

Longer clip is http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3X8vsEIdW-Y

[CharleyFarley]

NICE........... What bike you on???? Glad ya can see the speedo........ Looks sooooo much slower than it actually is!!!!


"Gas it w###a".........

[ogden]

NICE........... What bike you on????

Gixer thou.

[Amadeus]

What are people's current thoughts on Crutchlow?
He seems to be slagging Ducati off big time - can't imagine they'll take kindly to that. And his team mate is getting better results then him.
Hope he doesn't blow it - he's an entertaining chap.

[andrewsmith]

What are people's current thoughts on Crutchlow?
He seems to be slagging Ducati off big time - can't imagine they'll take kindly to that. And his team mate is getting better results then him.
Hope he doesn't blow it - he's an entertaining chap.

I think he'll have green light from gigi. They want a rcv or rsv4 hence the mad Italian

written with a biro

[carelesschucca]

The bike deserves a slagging its been unreliable for him the whole season. Hes had electrical issues failing brakes and carp handling.

Have any Ducati riders not endded up slagging the thing off.

[rowdy]

As said the bike deserves being slagged off. There has not been a race yet this season where it has performed without a problem, the closest to being rideable he was behind Dovi so I would wait and see before writing him off just yet.

[Amadeus]

it's biting the hand that feeds you tho. He said he didn't need to work any more since he got this contract. I'd certainly not employ someone who behaved like that - it's just not professional.

[rowdy]

Yes, I can see your point, but like you say, he's an entertaining chap.
I like to hear riders tell it like it is, the world would be a boring place if it was full of yes men.

[Amadeus]

He's got some way to go before he's as entertaining as Colin Edwards but he's the closest there is I think so let's hope he starts getting a bit more coverage! :-)

[DJ123]

Yes, I can see your point, but like you say, he's an entertaining chap.
I like to hear riders tell it like it is, the world would be a boring place if it was full of yes men.


Definitely. You want honest people rather than nodding dogs saying everything is great when quite clearly it isn't . . .

[Amadeus]

Definitely. You want honest people rather than nodding dogs saying everything is great when quite clearly it isn't . . .


Could stoner win on it? Quite possibly. Thus I see an average rider who blames only the bike.
But I do still like him but think the tech 3 flatters him (and some others)

[DJ123]

An, as in singular? I am sure there have been many 'more than average riders' at Ducati the past few years that have blamed the bike. Including a multi title winning world championship rider . . . . . .

[kaivalagi]

I wouldn't say he's average, look at the things he did on his previous bike last year, and that wasn't a factory team...

He's got every right to be pi55ed, but then again I am not sure why he signed with Ducati in the first place, another year on the Kawasaki wouldn't have been a bad thing, he may have even gotten a ride with a better bike next year....now I am not sure if that would be feasible for next year and maybe that's really why he is so miffed right now....he's got lots to give but no vehicle to show off on

[rowdy]

I wouldn't say he's average, look at the things he did on his previous bike last year, and that wasn't a factory team...

He's got every right to be pi55ed, but then again I am not sure why he signed with Ducati in the first place, another year on the Kawasaki wouldn't have been a bad thing, he may have even gotten a ride with a better bike next year....now I am not sure if that would be feasible for next year and maybe that's really why he is so miffed right now....he's got lots to give but no vehicle to show off on

Pedantic hat on, Yamaha kaivalagi. . Yamaha. Pedantic hat off.

He certainly made a few of the teams sit up and take notice last year, and I'm not sure that an average rider would have done.
As for a better ride next year, well, I'm not so sure about that.
If we look at Honda, Marquez has just signed a contract extension. Will they retain Pedrosa or will he go to Suzuki, that's up for debate but if he did go I wouldn't mind betting that Honda go and sign the next young upstart from moto2 given how well Marquez has done.
Yamaha, Rossi has said that it hinges on the first six gp's of the season as to whether he will carry on next year, the noises coming from him and his last race result suggest he will. Jorge, and rumours he might jump ship to Ducati, well, it would be a brave or a foolish man to do that, but if he did then Pol Espagaro is nailed on to be next in line for the Factory Yam seat (and the reason Cal didn't stay at tech3 this year).
Which leaves LCR and Gresini Honda. Bautista, if he carries on as he has been, will get the boot, but I would like to think Redding would be next in line to jump from the Rcv1000 to the 213. Rumours suggesting Bradl could get the boot, which would be the only real option left of a known quantity, and LCR showed some sign of interest in Cal last season, but would it have been a step forward from the tech3 bike or more of a step sideways.
I have left out Suzuki, at the moment the bike is an unknown quantity, and rumours are linking the rides to Dovi and Pedro.

At the end of the day though, it's all ifs, buts and maybes.

[Biker Biggles]

"Crutchlow gets poor results on Ducati"
Isnt this what we all predicted?Next career move WSB?

[flymo]

Yep, anybody seeing a familiar pattern emerging here?

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/205674/1/crutchlow-calm-as-erratic-engine-ruins-race.html