Who failed who?
If any of you had paid attention the last 10 years, you'd realize that Ducati engineering does whatever the hell they want then expect the rider/team to deal with it. This is how Ducati works. And you've seen it in all the riders' disappointed faces at the end of the day.
No rider develops anything. No team manager develops anything. The rider gives feedback. The team logs data. The team manager interprets that combination of information and gives it to engineering. Engineering comes up with solutions. Sometimes, engineering teams try something completely different from what the team manager asks for.
JB/Rossi knew what they were getting into. Countless interviews and articles said as much as soon as they confirmed being signed on.
When you're given a piece of equipment that isn't what you asked for and isn't up to par and are expected to make it shine, you finish at the back or you bin it.
Is that really considered failure when you are forced to ride an inferior machine that doesn't handle well where it's needed to? Is it considered failure when, after all the feedback and data and suggestions, the Ducati engineering department does whatever they want instead?
It is bad enough that Rossi isn't winning. It's worse that Ducati isn't providing equipment that can be won on. It's even worse still that Ducati engineering has an ego bigger than Rossi and it shows in the final product they design and force upon the team.
So, did Rossi really fail? Or did Ducati fail Rossi/Burgess? Yeah, their reputation is tarnished from this. Even I can see what happens is beyond their control. I have every feeling in my bones that the only reason JB is in Ducati's garage is because if they want Rossi, they had to take JB too. But it didn't mean Ducati had to listen to him.
Realising they will never get what they need out of Ducati and cutting their losses is not giving up at all. It's called being smart.
While Jorge has 2 recent years on the Yamaha whic feels completely different, sure Rossi will have to re-acclimate. But it won't be long before he fighting for the top step. He didn't lose his abilities overnight when he went to Ducati.
The trick with being back at Yamaha and Lin Jarvis is going to be if Burgess will have any influence at all. As Lorenzo is the #1 rider in the garage, will the # 2 side have any say?
My personal opinion is that Rossi will be more competitive and consistently so on the M1. But more importantly, I see Rossi as a tool in a big "money grab." Yamaha needs the sponsorship money and that's their end game, not making Rossi as competitive as Lorenzo. I personally think Rossi is being used. And if JB is allowed to come along for the ride, it might be a fomality/concession to Rossi just like it was a Ducati.
We'll know by the first race next season if they're happy with the switch or not.
