Tomorrow’s Motegi MotoGP event will see Ducati’s Andrea Dovizioso on pole with a somewhat surprising duo joining him on the front row. Qualifying in second position was Johann Zarco (Yamaha), while Jack Miller (Ducati) qualified third.
Take a look here for full qualifying results. Stay tuned for race coverage on MD tomorrow.
When you absolutely, positively have to have the most obtuse comment imaginable, accept no substitutes….
joe b gonna joe b.
The Ducati has finally turned into a bike that many people can ride fast (not just Stoner)
It was a very long time coming. It is probably the best bike on the grid right now.
I wonder how those changes happen.
Could it be that they are intended (because they know the why’s and the results, hence the how) or it’s the result of experimentation?
Let’s say, “the new direction head has twice the carbon fiber plys but laid out in a different direction because it improves feel and traction”?
I think it is the result of many years of focus and improvement. Dovi has been with them a long time now, and I imagine it helps to have the same rider year after year working on bike development. You end up not only with a good bike but a rider that also understands its strengths and weaknesses completely.
Dont forget from 2008-2011 Dovi was a team Honda rider ( took Nicky Hayden’s spot on the team), before moving to Tech 3 Yamaha in 2012. He was very good on both those machines and in that time I imagine he learned what works and what doesn’t work on a MotoGP bike and in the years with Ducati has been pushing toward a development similar to those machines. I’d say it’s finally there.
Indeed, his experience on those bikes and the manner with which those teams go about solving problems and improving their machines have Dovi a valuable blueprint to take with him to Ducati.
The factory Ducati was still an ill-handling dog those first couple/few years that Dovi rode it. If you want to know how and why the Ducati suddenly become competitive, the answer is simple.
Gigi Dall’Igna. All of Ducati’s recent success can be traced directly back to Gigi’s hiring. He turned that program around.
The unsung hero of Factory Ducati and worthy of the praise.
Seems just not that long ago, when Rossi left Honda, over the dispute over money, and whether it was the bike or the rider was the reason for winning. Huh, I wonder why he just doesnt win with the Yamaha?
What the F***?!
Ri-ight, wtf… what happened to Yamaha this year… even the Suzuki’s look fast, Rins 3rd @ Motegi.
Nobody is winning on the Yamaha, so I think it is safe to say the bike has issues.