Ducati MotoGP Riders.?

Moaner Stoner? I would say as things are right now in MotoGP everyone ending second or third becomes the moaner. Of course Stoner has been one of them, but when Valentino lost to Casey, he cried it was all about the tyres and the electronics, and last year he won in fantastic fashion, but his rubber was the same as Casey´s and I do believe the electronics department at Yamaha is as good as in Ducati. Of course Dani is the other moaner, as he has yet to be No.1

Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi had some similar and some different difficulties on the Desmosedici. Loris Capirossi suffered as the season started as a newcomer outpaced him right from the start. After four races in 2007 Casey had 86 points and Loris only 26, so development and adjustments were focused on Stoner´s style and needs.

Marco found the bike too harsh, in terms of power and frame stiffness. He was not able to modify his style as he rides better on a loose bike.

Nicky (and Nico, Mika and Sete) must learn from this to understand what they have to do in order to exploit properly the GP9 characteristics. The bike will be tuned as Stoner wants, and they must realise that regardless of the rideability, the bike is a winner.

It is a bit of weird one I must admit.

Moaner Stoner has taken to the Ducati like a duck to water. Not sure how really. I never rated him on the LCR Honda and never thought he was great on 125 / 250 stroker either.

I guess it does not help that Nicky, Capena & Mika are all new to the bike. Lets face it after 2007, Ducati started making that bike FOR casey.

We all know that. Marco could not ride either. He has done better on the " Light Breeze " [ read Hayate ] then he did on the Duke.

In a few more races, I hope to see Nicky up at the sharp end again.

I fully agree with Albert H and partially with wiggysan (sorry :p)

Before Stoner there were Capirossi, Bayliss, Checa and Gibernau who are all great riders but not so great on the Duc.

They got a few wins and podiums but never got enough points to win a championship. Stoner won the first championship for Ducati since they started in 2003. So who else is the man to develop the bike?

If manufacturers wanted every rider to develop the bike by their own style, they would have made a completely different bike for Lorenzo, Toseland and Edwards. But they don't so they mainly develop the bike around their best rider. Yamaha-Rossi, Honda-Pedrosa/Dovi and Ducati-Stoner which make a lot of sense to me.

Hi Richard, I was sure Nicky would be able to ride the red beast, Im still holding out and waiting in hope. Mika seeems to be able to ride it though as you say there is a big gap between these and Stoner.

Although Rossi took the first practice time, You have to think its not enough to stop Stoner going a bit quicker still.

I agree with you the Yamaha is probably the best package out there, with 3 out of 4 at Qatar. Stoner upsetting the clean sweep.

Nicky might still be a bit shaken up from his Qatar highside.

Im not sure why Canape isnt up there wih the front runners.

But i think its safe to say Stoner has that "something special" with the Ducati. which is good for us spectators.

Firstly, you seem to be prejudiced against "moaner"as you call him

Then you partly answer your own question by saying"why is it no other rider can ride the Duke as well as". Couldn't you believe he a better rider than you give him credit for,plus he should now be fully fit(wrist healed!)As for the development of the Yamaha ,well anybody worth their salt is going to go for the best if they can afford it and are prepared to give a free reign to innovative ideas.I admit to re-entering the sport very late,it means I have not been caught up in the V.R.bandwagon as you could say the same about him and his bike.Finally this is why just the odd rider turns out to have that "extra something"to set them apart from the rest. XxX

the bike's built for stoner and built around his riding style which it seems is complicated/awkward compared to other riders (since he signed for ducati anyway).

i say ditch the electronics, or at least traction control, before our beloved sport begins to get boring. its seems the only bikes to win nowadays are the ones with the most money thrown at them (once in a blue moon a non factory bike might win).

i think nicky, like others before him, is now thinking signing for ducati is probably the biggest mistake of his career. ducati need to give him more attention and made to measure parts to get the bike more the way he needs it to be.

rossi for the win @ motegi !!!

[ You know we hear of bikes being developed around one rider, usually the most experienced one

I think that Ducati may have taken that idea to the extreme in the case of Stoner.. so much that other riders find themselves hampered a bit to much, like Marco Melandri last year, now that he is on the 'light wind' with a bag of spanners to slow you down Kwakker, he is showing what a good rider he is.. that's my opinion anyway.....<^><..

just a further thought Casey can set up the bike and start putting in the fast laps quickly at each meeting...

which makes me think the Ducati so specific to him...

How can you call Casey the moaner? the guys behind him are doing all the moaning. We have a saying here in Australia.....winners are grinners and losers can please themselves.....Go Casey!!!!!!