The Racing Thread - THIS THREAD CONTAINS RESULT INFO

Kwak....I would suggest that the eurosport comentators need to do their research with a little more dilligence. They are forever getting the info wrong on their web site also. It could be fair to say they are riding the 2006 EVO version of the RCV211 but not the 800cc machine.If so why would there have been a big mystery up to yesterday as to what the engine configuration of the 800cc bike would be?

Last weekend they were gushing at how fast Rossi was on the Friday compared with everyone else....err hello....Rossi sneaked some laps in on qualifying tyres!

The bikes that the two HRC guys are riding are VERY different, not only has Hayden been testing various parts as the season has progressed but he has been lumbered with the new clutch layout and Honda seem reluctant to back down from that.

Pedrosa's bike is almost custom made for him due to his size, the frame,footpeg and levers and even handlebar levers are different. If you ever get a close up shot you will see that Pedrosa's name is on his levers cos the poor mite has real tiny mitts.

They need to identify Hayden's test 800cc bike from Dani's, as Dani's is so "custom fit" and would I am sure feel all wrong to Nicky.

One of Nicky's biggest gripes has been that he more or less loses the first two free practice sessions at every race, simply trying to find a good working set up for the bike. Often only getting it somewhere near on race day warm up. Hence his lack of pushing for good grid positions and posting hot times.

Something that Sete GIbernau brought to Ducati this season was that he worked to find a"neutral" set up for the GP6 so that minimal adjustments would be required at each circuit. Very simple concept but Ducati had also been previously working from scratch each weekend.

Love him or hate him I think Sete's seat is safe for 2007, otherwise why would they have let him run the 800cc bike yesterday?

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

Pedrosa's bike is almost custom made for him due to his size, the frame,footpeg and levers and even handlebar levers are different. If you ever get a close up shot you will see that Pedrosa's name is on his levers cos the poor mite has real tiny mitts.

Ducati Corse unveil Dani Pedrosa's ride for next year

*Read all about it!*

I am still not convinced it will happen until the start of 2008 season, but Ducati are courting Marco Melandri right now to sign him for the start of the 800cc era. A full factory ride and to be loved like only as a Ducati rider can be( ) has got to be tempting as there is no chance now of a full HRC ride for him at the moment. Marco has now proved his value the past 2 seasons on a satellite Honda. Plus he presently has more wins than either of the two HRC riders in the present campaign.

It will happen but not altogether sure it will right now.

Reading between the lines of the diplomatic spin I will not be at all surprised if Valentino joins Ducati before he finally retires. Could be his next move at the end of his current Yamaha deal. Hey you might even get me then wearing Nº46 merchandise!

I don't pander to PH!

Just being honest where Capirex is concerned.

Loris is like a good wine......he simply gets better as he gets older! (A good red wine of course! )

We need him to stay around as long as possible so that we can keep seeing his lovely wife Ingrid in the Ducati garage!

thanks for the info randy oh sorry Peter H.

So you think Hayden is just blubbering cos his lead is slipping away? Wrong!

If there was no problem with the clutch on his bike then why would he have ridden 50 laps today at Motegi, when the real reason he was there was to test ride the new 800cc bike? He hasn't even ridden it yet due to working his ass off trying to sort his RC211V.

The reason the tank of the 800 bike had a big lump of foam taped to the tank yesterday was to stop little Dani falling throught the gap between the tank and the seat hump...strange but vey true!

Anyone interested why Nicky's clutch fries more than anyone else's? Apart from the new components and location of said item that he has been forced to try?

Originally Posted by Peter Henry

Anyone interested why Nicky's clutch fries more than anyone else's? Apart from the new components and location of said item that he has been forced to try?

Hamfisted with the throttle?

Or traction control applied to the clutch instead of engine mappings?

Felipe...Nice try but there is more to it than that.

New tyre regs for 2007.

To attract new tyre makers and to give more chance to new manufacturers like Dunlop, a rule change is to be used that sees each rider using tyres that have won more than 2 races, restricted to 31 tyres per race weekend. This will consist of 14 front and 17 rear tyres.

Wet tyres are subject to no limitations and the new makers teams also have unlimited numbers of dry tyres available to them.

This will create the more strategic use of qualifying tyres as they are a fast way,(literally!) of using up some of your allocation as they are normally spent after just one fast lap.

Each rider will have his weekend allocation marked by an official to prevent any tomfoolery!

A special rule applies if for say safety reasons any team has brought with them tyres that do not work on the specific track,(thus trying to avoid a situation like the F1 American race last year.)


Once a new team has managed 2 wins,they adopt the new regs from the third race after their second win.