So that is why they are so fast...HRC went full monty. Remember when Rossi switched to Yamaha and Gibbers was carrying the HRC flag with about 6 other Hondas in the field? They tripped themselves up more often than not and split the factory teams points up pretty badly. Rossi and Yamaha swooped in for the kill. I DON'T think that will be the case here. That many fast Hondas should make it hard for the Duc to come thru all the traffic. Not to mention 2 really fast Yamahas. And I dont think they have the magic to completely reinvent the Duc like Yamaha did for them after Max left. They will try but after seeing last years Desmo fuel consumption and handling issues I am not betting on it. Make it faster sure, make it fast enough to win poles and break away, no. Over race distance, no.

Just my 2 cents.

Mistake, or just itching for a shot at proving he can take a under-performing bike and make it a winner (again)? Tough call.

If I had to wager, I'd guess that riding a GP bike at race pace (especially the Duc) is a whole lot harder on his shoulder than either of those two events.

He might be sandbagging, but like y'all said, we'll see at the first race.

Yeah, Ducati actually has a fast bike. Of course Rossi ain't Stoner. He's a 9-timex world champion. Stoner is a one-shot-wonder.

If ford prefect were to describe the gp11, he'd say it looked like a fish moved like a fish steers like a cow. My comment was first pointed at the factory, you know that small, funds limited, shop with an adversion to change? The other half is at the rider, as I have serious doubts stick boy can muscle the bike around like stoner had to.

This comment on crash cracked me up

Stoners bike - 80%

Rossi's shoulder - 78.2345% (minute-by-minute update apparently)

JB's blood pressure 185/98

Suppo Livio's hard-on - 100%

Rossi's desperate grab for attention from mid-pack - 150%

Another Trophy in Stoners cabinet?

Priceless. Posted by Damo - Unregistered (50 minutes ago)

If "muscling" the bike around is all it took, then Nicky would have been winning.

Maybe Stoner wasn't good enough of a racer to convince Ducati to change, but Rossi seems to.

stoner didnt need the ducati changed. he was the only one who could win on it. he wont have to change the honda and should be twice as dangerous since he doesnt have to ride around the front end chatter

Denial ain't just a river in egypt bro

never count out Rossi.

Casey will dominate if he cant stay upright. that dude is fast and when his bike is right, nobody will touch him.

He won ONE season. Then Rossi proceeded to whip his ass for the next two and then Lorenzo whipped his ass last year.

Can't argue with that :catout:



But this year, Casey appears to be holding the belt :spank:


And BTW, not only will I be rooting for Stoner, I'm defending him :hss: