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CHR..

It's pretty common knowledge that Honda had big problems with the handling of their bike into 2010. They brought a low-loader full of frames and swing arms to Qatar and made Pedrosa test them all,  because they were fed up with him just saying.." I don't like it and prefer the old one"

Personally, I think Dovizioso's efforts to sort that bike are underestimated. He was the muel racing with new stuff and was hot from the start of 2010. Pedrosa had a good run through the mid-season then got injured and Jorge ran away with it.

Honda threw everything at the bike 2011 and it was head and shoulders above the Yamaha, who didn't really make any progress until 2012 and the new class. Why change a proven championship winning 800 formula that was gonna change the following year? They tried to make what they had last as it was 2011, the last season of 800. Their development program was concentrated on the 1000cc bike.

Sure the Japs got caught on the hop 2007 which is why Stoner won. They caught up with pneumatic valves 2008, but the big step was getting the Bridgestone tyre 2009.

Stoner winning pressure free races at the end of 2010, by reverting to his shit or bust method, does not constitute a competitive championship contending bike. It just shows that he had to ride the bike beyond it's limits. You don't win championships pushing at 110%, as he illustrated. He had a different agenda at that point and it wasn't riding for a title.

Rossi's agenda was different. He wasn't interested in employing the same win or bin method to mount a title challenge. Breaking his neck to mask Ducati's engineering woes was not part of the plan. He told them that and gave them new direction but they we too slow on the uptake. The bike DID improve as Hayden says, just not as fast as the others through 2011 & 2012 which has been the big step up period for the Japs.

First with Honda, then Yamaha and from mid 2012, Honda again. Ducati doing fuck all over the winter and likely as not starting Qatar with the bike they finished with at Valencia will mean the gap to their MSMA competition grows again, while The ART bikes get closer to them.

Hugelean, I've come to like you..

..so in this instance I'm not gonna rip you a new a' hole, but mate, I almost had myself an aneurism with that last post. Every sentence you write appears to be a pre cursor to contradict the next. It's hard going me old China and despite your best intentions, as a reader, I'm left in a constant state of confusion.. In future, a one or two word answer will suffice. x

Perfect timing.

I'm with you my friend..time to move forward.

I've been thinking the same for a while now. I'm glad you've made the call. You are a brave man.

C'mon Shag, take my hand..let us step forth into the bright winter sunshine unburdened by the past, heads held high, eyes fixed positively on the coming season..and as our pace quickens we start to skip, joy in our hearts, our feet barely touching the ground....

..Which is all good because it means I won't have to polish the DM's again, to give Pacey a good arse kicking when Vale starts winning.

More back flipping from the anti-Rossi brigade..

No smackhead..we don't all agree, which is fine, each to their own.

BUT..a good few prominent members of your insidious little club have staked their credibility as regular MCN posters, that Rossi is washed up and didn't deserve his previous titles because he can only win on the best bike, which he always had until moving to Ducati.

That he doesn't deserve his seat next to Lorenzo..is only there because he controls MotoGP and takes it up the starfish from Uncle Carmelo.

The Ducati is a shit bike, despite his efforts. Nobody would be mounting a title challenge on it the way it sits in the Sepang pit lane as we speak..and I mean NOBODY.

The problem your blinkered little fools have, is confusing the circumstances of certain winning rides on the bike three seasons ago with the situation now, and pointing to those circumstances as proof that Rossi is vastly over rated.

Well, we're about to find out if the muppets are right or..because of the injustice and hurt felt in certain quarters for whatever, they're full of shit..or in your case, full of drugs which are probably LSD.

Indeed doohanfan..Marquez being so close is deeply impressive on his first real examination against the opposition.

Rossi on the Spaniard: "I understood today that Marquez will try to win the MotoGP title this year."

Your analysis also seems to hold water..The top three set their fastest times at the death, whereas Rossi's best lap was posted before lunch.

Shall we roll out the flag of agreement?