Suppose it was pretty obvious really that Ducati would change the frame.
Every man & his dog is talking about it, if they hadn't, people would have carried on blaming Ducati for the poor results.

by the way, are the photos in MCN convincing? (any chance you can scan the article ? ;o)

 

Check this out-

http://www.gpone.com/index.php/en/201109084799/Ducati-GP-12.1-con-Batta-la-prima-foto.html

Translated the site and got this-

Here's the first photo, taken by Mirko Lazzari, the new Ducati GP12.1 or "Evo", as defined by Sportmediaset. Riding of course there is the test Franco Battaini who yesterday made ​​a long run. From what little we can see that the frame seems to embrace the engine from above. I can not tell if it's an aluminum or carbon.
Anyway this morning, Valentino Rossi took a few laps with the GP12 to make a comparison test and stumbled into a slip without affecting the curve Scarborough. Right now the tests are continuing.
More news as available

 

Rossi binned it at Scarperia corner @ Mugello this morning. I can tell a difference by looking at the front end. It isn't jacked up like a chopper like the GP 11.1 to generate load onto the front.

 

i hope i have to send you $ by the end of the year. sepang? :sneaky

The funny thing is that the engineers at Honda probably already know why it doesn't work, and why it's not going to work, and are rolling their eyes while Ducati struggles with it.

rolling their eyes? they have to love it! i feel really bad for nicky

 

i don't see why ducati cares so much about that carbon frame they tried it and it didnt work:fact move on

 

The funny thing is that the engineers at Honda probably already know why it doesn't work, and why it's not going to work, and are rolling their eyes while Ducati struggles with it.

 

All the major manufacturers tried a CF frame at one time and all realized early on that it wasn't going to operate as well as AL. They all tried it when the Australian CF bike came out in the late 90's.

 

Well this is sooner than I expected, if it is true. Wonder what got the factory to make such changes, as they've always been stubborn. :dunno

 

i bet because they have two of the best riders in the world and they look like crap. cant be helping their sales or image. Vales prob pushing for it behind the scenes

 

Oh yeah. Quote of the week from him about limited testing. He said that you have mfr test riders testing the bike 3 or 4 seconds off the pace while the GP factory riders are paid to "sit at home."

 

I really hope this starts helping him get into the top5 more consistently. I just hate how the Ducati Factory are so stubborn about trying out new things.

 

It's not just about being stubborn, it's also about money, Ducati is a business when all said & done.

How do we know that their next range of road-bikes planned for release, are not built around the carbon chassis?

To admit they made a mistake with it on their motogp machine could have great repercussions on sales of those road bikes, which after all, is where Ducati get their money from in the first place.

 

I think carbon chassis on road bikes would put their prices in a way different range. Carbon i expensive material and manufacturing proceses cannot be automated and are very slow.

 

yep you're right!, I.m not saying my above statement is fact, just a possibility, and that most business decisions revolve around cost not stubbornness.

 

The 1199 frame is not carbon it's just over the top of the engine and works as airbox. Same way as zx12 had, so it's gonna be same nightmare to mechanics. You need to strip the bike to pieces for basic servicing. There is no access to engine. Good bye low maintenace ducatis, if there ever was a hope.

 

Never said it was going to use carbon, just the same concept as the motogp bike. It's going to supposedly use aluminum instead of carbon. As for all that other stuff and how the bike goes, we'll see when it comes out.

 

I don't know if you guys caught how much faster the bikes are going this year. Last race was substantially faster. Even the Duc. The problem is the fastest bikes are going radically faster... as posted on motomatter.com

 

They've got the front end jacked up high (hence my tractor comment) currently and this new revision seems much different. If you watch the Ducatis of Hayden and Rossi the front end looks awkward.

 

are they running this chassis at the next race?

 

They say it's for 2012 bike becouse testing on current bike is not allowed. I don't really know if they can race it this season becouse present bike was already next year bike with this year engine. Thats how I understand it from what I read but someone else maybe knows better.

About the tractor setup I agree it was noticable becouse they moved to extreems recently and this was the sign of their desperation not a setup run from begining. Now they have just another begining so we don't know where it's going to lead. Of course we and they believe it won't be neccesary.

 

World Champion 2012 baby...

 

If your saying Rossi wins in 2012, then I got $20 on it!

 

FTR, same co that's making colin's frame next year, right?

 

About Colin nothing is confirmed but he wishes that tech3 will build his bike but tech3 themselves didn't say they will. FTR is one of the three makers in moto2 now.
21 liter is what they have this year already and new engines will rev lower than 800 so fuel consumption and peak power is expected to be similiar to 800, and the smoother power delivery is going to reduce TC action and this can reduce fuel wasting coused by TC.
I'm curiuous how next season races will look like meaning there will be 2 quite different classes racing together. The second league with wsbk spec engines, privateer teams and slower riders than those in factory teams- these will be laped soon as in endurence races where a few defferent calsses race simultaneously.

 

21 liter is what they have this year already and new engines will rev lower than 800 so fuel consumption and peak power is expected to be similiar to 800, and the smoother power delivery is going to reduce TC action and this can reduce fuel wasting coused by TC.
I'm curiuous how next season races will look like meaning there will be 2 quite different classes racing together. The second league with wsbk spec engines, privateer teams and slower riders than those in factory teams- these will be laped soon as in endurence races where a few defferent calsses race simultaneously.

of all those words, you spelled "simultaneously" right? :crash

you think the bigger motor (880-900ish) is going to have LESS wheelspin than the 800? :crash :hammer:

two classes? i count four...

factory 900
factory 800
satellite 900
CRT 1000

 

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/s...sults/MotoGP/2011/September/sep0611-new-yamaha-potential-thrills-lorenzo-spies/

Jorge Lorenzo and Ben Spies both expressed their delight at the early potential of Yamaha’s new 1000cc MotoGP machine after they completed a second successful test on next year’s bike in Misano yesterday....
......Lorenzo told MCN: "I was quite impressed because we tried the 1000cc bike in a different track....

 

That's just what they're calling it. No way its exactly 1000cc. Its just theyre 1000cc class bike

 

I sure hope this works for Rossi. I wasn't that much of a fan previously, don't know why really. But he's shown much progress this season IMO even though he isn't winning. He could've just as easily pulled it in and parked it but there he is still in a solid points position even after all of the bad news that has came out of the Duc paddock this year. He may not practice or qualify well for whatever reason but his team finds a way to get him up towards the top 6-8 in most every race. Ducati, Yamaha, whatever it may be, the man is putting in the work and deserves to be up front as does Burgess.

 

I sure hope this works for Rossi. I wasn't that much of a fan previously, don't know why really. But he's shown much progress this season IMO even though he isn't winning. He could've just as easily pulled it in and parked it but there he is still in a solid points position even after all of the bad news that has came out of the Duc paddock this year. He may not practice or qualify well for whatever reason but his team finds a way to get him up towards the top 6-8 in most every race. Ducati, Yamaha, whatever it may be, the man is putting in the work and deserves to be up front as does Burgess.

I still disagree completely. I don't think he has shown any real progress. 6th in the points standings currently isn't very good,for him. Nicky is right behind him. So if there was a real improvement why isn't he able to do better than the last couple years?

 

You're not seeing it in the results but you only improve by constantly chipping away at the problems. Compare the previous years' lap times at the same tracks.

 

You're not seeing it in the results but you only improve by constantly chipping away at the problems. Compare the previous years' lap times at the same tracks.

I agree with that 100%. I truely don't think he is riding it nearly as hard as he could. Just a personal thought no way to "prove" it. Its almost like the big crash from last year has left an impression on him. Especially after seeing Casey biff so many times trying to wring the Duc's neck. Burgess and Val are incredibly knowledgable and talented maybe with some luck they will get this thing competetive for next year. I'm betting against it though.

 

I'm already betting Kmac. I'll take you guys depending on the last winter test.

 

just six months older then :no

 

When Stoner flew past on the straight like they were sitting still. :fact

 

yep. Both dookie riders are on their last motor, wonder if it was crashes or longevity issues?

 

trying to find casey sliding both front and back on a Duc.