There is an interesting interview of Ducati’s MotoGP boss Gigi Dall’Igna over on the GP One website. In essence, Dall’Igna states Ducati has improved its bike, while trading some top speed for better “balance”.
Dall’Igna also says he is pleased with Jorge Lorenzo’s riding. Lorenzo finished fourth last weekend, while his teammate Andrea Dovizioso won, and Lorenzo was not far from the front at the checkered flag. Lorenzo also stormed away from the start to lead several laps early in the race.
If Lorenzo figures out how to make his tires last, he could be winning races very soon. Along with the confidence Dovizioso now has, Ducati will be a force to be reckoned with from this point forward in this season.
See more of MD’s great photography:
re: “Ducati will be a force to be reckoned with”
oops, don’t you mean to say…?
“Ducati will be a DOWN-FORCE to be reckoned with”
get it, see what i did there…? 🙂
No
It wasn’t that many years ago we were saying that Ducati needed a resurrection, and people were complaining because they had a few advantages as far as gas etc. That they are competing on a more level playing field is impressive, as was Suauzki’s rapid rise in the ranks, up until this year at least. Aprilia and KTM both have some positive things going on, there could be a quite a mix of manufacturers in our future.
Austria is a Ducati track. If there is a track that they are expected to win on, this was it. So I don’t take this win as a sign of dominance to come, but rather I would say the unexpected wins earlier in the season are a better indication. Let’s see if they win another one – there are no real “Ducati” tracks left this year.
All the above aside, it was one of the better races of the year. And yes, TDM in the last corner by MM.
re: “there are no real “Ducati” tracks left this year.”
that’s what HRC said…!!!
OMG, that race was almost worth admission for the entire season.
Norm, and others with wisdom on this subject: How close do MM’s actions in this last race come to breaking race rules? MM came with in about 12″ (or less) of taking himself and Dovi both out in the last turn. How do you cross IFO of another racer in the last turn and not crash?
Dang, that was breathless race action. MOAR PLEAZE!
Q: How close do MM’s actions in this last race come to breaking race rules?
A: no worries M&M’s actions adhere strictly to the LAW OF FIRST LOSER.
can’t speak for anyone else, but in my book nothing Murguez did in Austria even warrants discussion compared to some of the “criminally bad” passes i’ve seen over the past 25 years. i’m talking everything from CANSBK to FUSA to CCS/WERA to AMA/MOTAM to GP500/250/125 to WSBK/WSS to MGP/M2/M3 to BSB to AUSSBK. yeah, i’ve watched alot of crap (that’s crap as a noun not an adjective).
however (comma) that BS the kid attempted back in Sepang on Ross…? unlike this that was a TDM (Total Dick Move). same as Argentina that year, he messed with the bull so he got the horns, but i digress.
Agree, regarding Sepang. TDM.
In terms of his Argentina digger, the only issue I had with it was the fact that he complained and behaved like he was the slighted rider there, when he was clearly the rider who caused the contact. Rossi was ahead of him and on the normal racing line, and MM simply ran into him from behind.
100% your error, Marc. Own it. Don’t act like you were the wronged party and proceed to pout about it for half the season.
Dovi looked like he was on rails last Sunday, especially compared to MM. He looks so smooth…..the setup must be working for him.
They may be surging but they are certainly not dominating. Wins, and podiums are pretty evenly distributed between Honda, Yamaha and Ducati at this point. The motorcycles are more evenly matched now and the riders and their skills, daring and cunning are the difference between who stands on the box and who doesn’t.
It’s fun to watch. For those who screamed for more parity in MotoGP. This is the best of times. Now we need Suzuki, KTM and Aprilia to step it up. Soon I hope.
I don’t think “a force to be reckoned with” implies domination. Typically there have been “Ducati” tracks, but in the trade to obtain better balance they’re looking to be competitive everywhere.
I definitely agree that this is the best of times. The Moto 2 graduates are really upping the level of competition and entertainment.
More down force should cause less top speed and make going thru a corner different too on the front tire. Ducati now claims their `17 bike has less top speed than last years bike. Maybe this is why.
Tho Honda still couldn’t match the Ducati on top speed in this Austrian race, MM before the race suggested they could now. Love to see the Honda bikes not dominating like they used to so many times in the past.
I think MotoGP is in a similar place as F1 was some time ago, where they’ve run out of opportunity in terms of peak speed. The bikes make so much power that they’re not harnessing it, so they’ll trade aerodynamic drag for acceleration (keeping the front wheel down) and come out ahead.
Dovi gesticulating “the fairing we have in development is this wide, and provides so much downforce that I can brake up to 3g’s.”
I imagine it won’t be long that we will be pining for the look of the old non-downforce fairings. I wonder how long it will take for one of these to appear on a street model. – Gus
I believe he is saying “Hey, my gesticules are this big”.
Interestingly, it is Andrea Doviziozo who is the hardest on the brakes in MotoGP, according to Brembo, who supplies all but one of the bikes in the field.
re: “Andrea Doviziozo who is the hardest on the brakes in MotoGP”
just gotta text from Spies, he asks “the Dove” to call him when he starts “breaking beads” and spooning fronts off rims…? until then, he’s going to “hang onto this trophy a lil’ while longer thank you very much”. 🙂
re: “I wonder how long it will take for one of these to appear on a street model”
i hear/tell the windtunnel time for that didn’t come cheap so survey says…!!! *ding*boardflip*
“this November on the new V4, twas the #1 answer”. (ex-pat Dawson voice)
Actually, you’re right, and my memory failed me a little bit. The article cites “Ducati factory rider Andrea Dovizioso, universally considered one of the best on the brakes among current MotoGP riders…”, it also cites: “Ben was a very hard braker, the hardest of that time, as Cal Crutchlow is, according to Brembo, hardest today”
So best, but not necessarily hardest..
It’s a fascinating interview.:
http://www.cycleworld.com/2014/06/12/exclusive-interview-with-brembo-engineer-lorenzo-bortolozzo-ducati-factory-rider-andrea-dovizioso-on-motogp-braking#page-2
(I hope it’s ok to post a link..)
He should enjoy some ‘delicioso’ pizza now