Is Rossi the new Biaggi?

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by sgmarshall

My take on everything (for what it's worth), is the difference is in engineering. Furusawa is an aeronautic engineer, and understands multi axis dymanics and the relationship between them all- he also listened to Valentino and Jeremy, and was able to make the data, and the human feedback work together to create a solution. Maybe Ducati engineering is stuck trying to make things work. From where I sit, I would say engine configuration, the balance point on the bike is not where it needs to be, and a 90 degree V may not allow the engine to sit at the optimum place without affecting rake, or swingarm length. Not sure what Suzuki was running, but Aprillia uses 60, and the rest are in line, which allows more fore/aft engine movement...

My memories of Ducatis are Loris Capriossi looking like a monkey strapped to a runaway rocket- the Duc would pump on traction control, and Casey Stoner hanging off Doohan style- with the bike is moving around like crazy underneath him. Rossi is a more controlled rider (for lack of a better term). I've read several comments that other riders don't understand Casey's lines....

And Furusawa told the Ducati engineers to listen to Rossi and Burgess.. I forgot where i read it, somewhere. But I did! Good points, here.

Also, Rossi ain't risking it for a bike that is not going to give him wins. He knows better.

[mdubya]

You could see Hayden was riding the snot out of the Duc at Qatar. For 6th place. Imagine what the bike might do if they could get some weight on the front wheel and it would actually drive forward?

[RaY YreKa]

$100 says Rossi is 4th or worse in 2013.

PM me.

[stevie88]

Originally Posted by RaY YreKa

$100 says Rossi is 4th or worse in 2013.

PM me.

I'm not quite ready to put the rookie ahead of him....yet.

[RedRocket]

Originally Posted by RaY YreKa

$100 says Rossi is 4th or worse in 2013.

PM me.

I'm in on that action.
I take PayPal

[Pecha72]

He's still a nine-times world champion. Remains to be seen, if the two nightmare years put out his fire, but I don't think so. He's probably not outright fastest any more, but he used to be the most complete racer of all the 'aliens'. Be interesting to see, how that is in -13.

[20valves]

Originally Posted by RaY YreKa

$100 says Rossi is 4th or worse in 2013.

Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Marquez, ????

Add Crutchlow, Bradl, et all in the mix, too. I doubt Hayden, Dovisioso or Spies will threaten but I'm too cheap to put money on Rossi to be higher than 4th.