Ducati announce going open class

[rowdy]

As title, sepang test looked a little more promising, Gigi appears to be steering the ship in the right direction, good move IMO, what with the freeze on engine development, and Dovi putting a lap in only 0.05 slower than his quickest with factory software.

[ogden]

The open ECU code seems to have taken a massive jump, rumoured to be because a factory (Ducati?) made a massive contribution just prior to deciding to support Open class machines.

Indeed, Honda do not seem to happy and seem to think it goes against the whole principle idea for the open class. Regardless, it could make things more interested. Although one suspects once you go open it's hard to go back? Without personal software development what would be the reasons to go back to factory unless you invested significant time in a new electronics package.

I have to admit to not knowing the exact rules on the open class electronics, but still - exciting times in Moto GP perhaps.

[ogden]

Originally Posted by EssexDave

Without personal software development what would be the reasons to go back to factory unless you invested significant time in a new electronics package.

None. The only advantage of being Factory option is you can run your own software, and the ECU hardware is still the same as for the Open class.

Conversely, going Open gives you an extra 4 litres of fuel, more engines, and you're allowed to develop the engine over the season whereas the Factory rules prohibit any engine development after the first practice session at Qatar. It's all designed to make the Factory option as weak a proposition as possible, before everyone goes Open in a few years' time.

.......if ya listen to Honda, Yamaha aren't 'playing within the spirit of the class'.......Espargaro (open class Yamaha) ahead of the satellite Yams/Hondas/Ducatis. Race simulation confirmed Espagaro as equal to full factory bikes, open class Honda (Hayden/Redding) 'stood still' compared to equivalent Yamahas.......
Unless things change, Espagaro n Edwards should finish regular top 6...........
(no ones mentioned the 'soft' tyres allowed alongside extra fuel/engines in open class........if the 2 Yamahas pull out lead in the first 6 laps........an 'Open class' win on the cards??) (surely the 'Factorys' wouldn't "allow" this situation??)


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

[ogden]

By "The Factories" you really mean Honda. Where they lead, Yamaha will follow.

Ducati are an odd one, and I've just heard a Factory 2 option is being brought in to deal with them - if they win a race, come second twice, or third three times, they'll be limited to 9 engines rather than 12 and 22.5 litres of fuel rather than 24. Madness.

As to Yamaha, bear in mind that EsA's bike is a full M1 with the spec software, but should be an M1 engine in an FTR chassis, and will develop into that over time. That may lead to it getting slower, not faster, at least initially. And Honda will kick up a fuss whenever their interpretation of the rules leads to them being beaten - look what KTM have done to them in Moto3.

It's certainly an interesting situation of trying to balance up the fuel/engines & development vs Factory electronic software - I suppose getting that balance slightly wrong would make a huge difference.

It'll be interesting to see how long those soft tyres last, although it should at least allow people to qualify why.

[ogden]

Even more interestingly, Tito Rabat was quicker through sector 1 at Phillip Island this week on the MVDS Moto2 bike then Crotchless* was on a "factory" Ducati. Make of that what you will.

* autocorrect at work, but it made me laugh so I'm leaving it in.

Where did you find out about that Factory package deal?

[ogden]

https://mobile.twitter.com/motomatte...05652947828736
https://mobile.twitter.com/motomatte...06319854751744
https://mobile.twitter.com/motomatte...07363456286720