What about Simoncelli or Fabrizio for the next Italian GP rider at Ducati?
What about Simoncelli or Fabrizio for the next Italian GP rider at Ducati?
Vermeulen might not have much of a choice in the matter. If politics mean that Suzuki run Capirossi and Spies next year, he might find himself booted out onto the street.
Ducati clearly face two problems at the same time - replacing Marco (as mentioned, from past years he's clearly got the talent but it's not working out) and replacing the irreplaceable Troy Bayliss next year.
Personally, I can't see any of the veterans (Sete, Max B) replacing Marco. It's a backward step to employ someone in the twilight of their career to do that job. It's also hard to see those same veterans (or Shakey Byrne, getting on a bit now at 34 years old) taking Troy B's ride next season.
It could, however, be realistic to see Sete on the bike for half a season to help with the Constructors' champ and then either Nicky Hayden - if the rumour mill is correct - or Niccolo Canepa be brought in for next season. Niccolo's been testing the bike but is also lined up for some WSB wildcards, so his future is unclear.
I bet Dovi's also a man in demand, though things are pointing to him staying with Honda.
As for Marco, I'd see him returning to Gresini where he did well - Fousto Gresini's patience with Alex de Angelis' repair bill may wear thin after this season despite flashes of speed.
shakey's only 32 years old and definitely in the prime of his career, or at least as comfortable on that ducati as ony rider, including troy bayliss.
i don't understand the fascination with youth anyway. bayliss is super quick, haga, the same. corser, despite not winning is still on pace. the only kid in wsbk that has really broken through this year is neukirchner.
as for motogp, marco melandri is getting the better of vermin, although it's getting closer. edwards is suddenly quick and zombie performed much better on a d'antin bike last year than marco is currently doing on a factory bike.
experienced riders bring with them a wealth of knowledge, and if they have the pace, i say go for it. race contracts are rarely more than 2 years anyway, and there's always some up and coming fast kid to ride the bike next year. if bayliss or sete were getting results, i gather ducati wouldn't find hiring them to be a backward step.
Yeah, another Marco who is now still at 250 cc deserves a mention.
Apparently Spanish radio and TV are reporting that Marco has been sacked and Sete will take his place for the rest of the year
according to Autosport, Kwack have expressed an interest in Marco for Germany to replace Hopper.
What do you mean replace Hopper, when the bike wasnt breaking down Hopper looked good.How long is he out injured for?
[quote="T-D"]
as for motogp, marco melandri is getting the better of vermin, although it's getting closer.
what?
hopper is out for germany and probably laguna seca. broken bones in feet and ankles.Quote:
Originally Posted by jim mcglinchey
I'm now beginning to wonder about the credibility of my source
Can't find any mention of Marco being sacked and replaced by Sete on any of the main Spanish sports sites and they would have been plastered with it
Quote:
Originally Posted by T-D
Ok, sorry but have to ask what you mean by this comment?
Current MotoGP Standings:
Chris Vermuelen - 9th on 57 points
Marco Melandri - 14th on 32 points
CV's 57 points is accumulated in 7 point scoring rounds
MM's 32 points is also from 7 point scoring rounds.
Each has one DNF and One finish out of the points (CV's being in Qatar where I think he was punted off by DePuniet, MM's was Donnington)
Broken down by event:
Round: Chris Vermuelen Marco Melandri
Qatar 17 (bike issue) 11
Spain 10 12
Portugal 8 13
China DNF 5
France 5 15
Italy 10 DNF
Catalunya 7 11
Donnington 8 16
Assen 7 13
So, year to date CV has MM's measure as it stands, but if it is career wise you mean than yes, MM is in front by lieu of the number of seasons etc.
Garry
I think T-D's post (#84) above should read 'Loris Capirossi is getting the better of Vermuelen...' in the context of the point he's making.
sorry, i meant loris capirossi. thanks, pat nicholls.
sorry to make you do all that research, garry. *blushes*
and before vermin fans get on me, i have to admit that chris has raised his game substantially the last few rounds, so now the teammates are much closer.
You mean since Loris injured himself and has not raced? In this time CV has out qualified and finished ahead of him each time.Quote:
Originally Posted by T-D
Chris has some work to do!
NOPE!Quote:
Originally Posted by Mach24
in the three qualifying sessions prior to the crash, (that is, including Catalunya) chris outqualified loris. In the 2 races prior to that, chris finished ahead of loris and additionally, at the time of his catalunya crash, chris was running ahead of loris.
that would be three straight races-- head to head-that chris had the better of loris.
We and Marco himself might have expected too much that he can deliver an amazing result at a Ducati. If not mistaken he won the titles on RdP not by significant margin. While at Gressini Sete outshone him and was able to give more attractive game against Rossi.
Sete might be an alternative temporarily until this season-end, but for the long term Duke might need to start giving an eye to another Marco 250cc rider, a Rossi look-alike, unless if Sete can perform positive progress in the rest of the season.
Quote:
Originally Posted by T-D
All cool, no probs was fun actually looking it all up.
As for CV, I will say now that I like the guy and do rate him but I also feel that he needs to start getting the results that (IMO) his skills deserve. Whether the problem is him, is equipment or a combination of both I do not know but given that Capirossi has also struggled somewhat on the Suzuki I lean towards the bike being the major factor.
Garry
Interesting...... My understanding is that Loris is signed for 09. Suzuki want Spies!Quote:
Originally Posted by T-D
CV on the outer?
Sete has completed the 3 days Mugello test
He apparently consistently lapped in low 1'51's with a best lap of 1'50.5 (on race tyres) which is only 0.4s off the lap record set by Casey at the circuit this year. His times would have apparently put him 5th at the Italian GP.
Seriously impressive I'd say considering the length of time he's been away from racing.
If I was Ducati it would be an easy decision. It might cost then to pay Marco off but that would be paid back by having another rider who might challenge and help support Casey
Certainly is :up: My one question would be if he could put in a similar performance in race conditions. It seems to me that he lost confidence once Rossi put his 'curse' on him and then put him in the gravel.Quote:
Originally Posted by neninja
He was always quick but once a rider starts worrying about falling off then they will struggle, IMO.
There weren't any better choice for Sete but fighting head to head against Rossi. There were not too much riders who rode at the front but them two, Biaggi has had the time since he was no longer riding two stroke of Yamaha. Generally climate of competitions weren't as tight as now. We can easily now find some riders alternately to get in the mix at the front, Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, or Edwards. I'd rather to put a bit aside his performance of last two seasons as he wasn't mentally on perfect form, besides technical problem of his bike.
The situation is probably different now, fighting head to head is just anyhow harder and it put more pressure to the riders, Rossi is probably an exception. I think Sete could be easier to ride in the group of race leader, unless if he has mentally destroyed and Rossi is a nightmare something at any rate he should avoid of.
Sete is an asset, no regret to give him another try.
I think if Sete took over from Marco he would do well. He had a lot of pressure on him to beat a dominant Rossi, but, the scenario has changed somewhat. Rossi is under pressure from Heehaw, Pedrosa, Stoner and Edwards every race these days. I think Sete would find it more enjoyable to race against some of these riders, and not always against Rossi.
Indeed, impressive times from Sete but as Jan Yeo alludes, how would this translate to a race?
I fully expect that Sete could return and be fully race fit within a few race meetings after which if he can repeat the performances under race conditions he would be the perfect foil for CS and Ducati. It must be recognised that he will not be hired to beat or takes points from CS but to get between CS and the chasing pack and take points that way.
As for the 'alleged curse' placed upon Sete by VR, I for one remain unconvinced as I felt that SG just lost the most crucial ingredient for a racer ............... the hunger to win. It also has to be remembered that his shoulder was severely injured in the coming together with VR and that for a while, every time he fell it was onto that shoulder further damaging it.
Should Sete return I am sure that he will perform well and complete much of the unfinished business.
Garry
Was Marco as close to Stoner in pre-race testing as Gibba's been recently?
If not, we have our #1 candidate for the Duc if Marco bails before the season's out.
Pre-season Marco was nowhere near. Of the four Dooks riders , Marco was nearly always slowest.
That voodo stuff don't mean nothing to me :D However it is certainly interesting that once Rossi said SG wouldn't win another race, he didn't. Even when Sete got a break and was leading something happened to ruin it (I'm think Estoril here). He had some shocking luck and as you say just kept injuring himself (Ducati had a real year of it with him and Loris, especially that nasty accident in Catalunya).Quote:
Originally Posted by gco0307
I think that he was still hungry for a win, just not confident enough (which seems to be George's problem at the minute. I certainly think that he'd do better that MArco on the Ducati and would probably be running with the second group behind the top three. As for winning a race, there is only one way to find out :D
No Voodoo involved IMO. Rossi just played mind games on the dude and broke his confidence. I think Marco could do a lot better, but he is convinced that he cannot ride the bike. Ducati don't want him, and He doesn't want to be with Ducati, but, they don't want to let him run off to Kawasaki and beat their bike, so they are making him stay.
The more I think about it, the more this makes sense to me which really is a shame after all the potential the Melandri - Ducati relationship promised after his signing. However, after half the season, things appear to somehow be getting worse than the rock bottom we thought they'd reached. Given Marco's regression of the last few races, I finally given in to the conclusion that his continuation is counter-productive for both parties. I think for the benefit of both parties that now is probably a good time to separate and let Sete one last hurrah. Even if Gibernau is only midpack, it is still a vast improvement on where they are at currently and is far more deserving for the people and sponsors behind the team. Who knows, maybe Marco would get some early 'pre-season' testing via wildcard/replacement rides with either Kawasaki or Suzuki. It really can't get any worse.
Maybe a Hayden/Melandri mid season swap?
That will never happen. Hayden will not leave Honda half way through the season, he is just starting to get the bike working. Pity the bike ran out of fuel though.Quote:
Originally Posted by FIA
You've gotta admit, that was quite funny :laugh: I've been waiting to see when that'd happen, from what the Beeb commentators say it's fairly tight at the end of most races. Feel sorry for the bloke but he was gifted a win by Colin in '06 (??) so it's kinda like karma :DQuote:
Originally Posted by maxu05
Whilst gutted for Nicky, I found it amusing after hearing that the bikes management systems will lean off fuel supply to guarantee they get to the finish. In fairness, Nicky did get to the finish. :)
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/68795
Ducati team boss Livio Suppo says it's 99 percent certain that Marco Melandri will stay at the team at least until the US Grand Prix.
The Italian's future in the team is in doubt after a dismal season, in which he has been completely overshadowed by teammate Casey Stoner.
Melandri's position has led to speculation about his immediate future, with former GP winner Sete Gibernau linked to the ride already for this season.
Gibernau tested for Ducati last month and is testing again this week, in what it is rumoured to be his preparation to return to MotoGP racing action following his retirement in 2006.
Suppo said, however, that no announcement will be made at the end of the test and that Melandri is likely to ride at Sachsenring and Laguna Seca, the two races before the Czech Grand Prix at Brno.
"It's 99% certain that Melandri will race at Sachsenring and in the USA," Suppo told Gazzetta dello Sport. "Do not expect announcements at the end of testing."
Melandri has been linked with a switch to the Kawasaki team, who could be looking for a replacement for the injured John Hopkins, likely to miss at least two races following his heavy crash at Assen.
The Japanese squad, who had failed to make an impression so far this year, have been rumoured to be considering fielding a third bike for Melandri if the Italian leaves Ducati.
I think Marco will just have another 2 miserable races on the Ducati. His mind is already made up IMO, he is out of there. I think this could be a great gain for Kawasaki, and it would be great for them and the championship to field 3 bikes for the rest of the year.
Plus the 2 US rounds are coming up and Nicky did a lot of PR work for the Indy GP. Honda wont waste all this positive PR by giving away the star American riderQuote:
Originally Posted by maxu05
Have read elsewhere a translated Italian article which alludes to the fact that the hod-up to the release is MM's wages demands.
Apparently he (through management) wants the remainder of 2008 salary and a percentage of 2009 as a minimum of he is to leave the team.
There are no facts to this demand, just a translation to an article posted into a forum (translation done by poster).
But, I have also heard somewhere that the financial issue is definitely the hold-up to MM's leaving as his rumoured salary has him on twice that of CS.
Garry
All I can add is that a change can't happen soon enough for Marco. It's sad to see such a talented rider struggle so badly with a machine - he was absolutely dreadful at Donington (which is almost his 'home' race - he lives in Derby about half an hour away). If the race had been two laps longer Casey would've lapped him, and Alex de Angelis who had an early off-track moment caught up about twenty seconds on him, passed and pulled away before shredding his tyres.
Afraid it is time for Sete to finish out the season before Ducati decide what they're going to do next re Nicky or anyone else. I don't think Sete is a long-term solution - his time has been and gone realistically - but it should at least spare any further embarrassment.
GCO0307 POST
"But, I have also heard somewhere that the financial issue is definitely the hold-up to MM's leaving as his rumoured salary has him on twice that of CS."
Crikey..........If that is correct then Ducati is really getting its money's worth out of Casey Stoner. :hot: