The Rossi/Ducati experiment is starting to look like a farce. I’m sure that, when the VR/JB duo signed on the line, they were thinking that it wouldn’t take too long for the magic to happen and that the woes that had befallen Casey Stoner in 2010 would be just a distant memory.
It hasn’t happened. Despite making wholesale, radical changes to the bike, the team seems to have only succeeded in completely confusing themselves as to where they should be heading. And, in qualifying for Silverstone last night (a circuit which, to be fair to Rossi, he’s never raced on), the nightmare just got worse. Not only did he qualify 13th (just two positions from last), but he struggled all weekend and his final time was nearly 3 seconds slower than the pole man, Casey Stoner. Stoner and his crew must be deriving some delicious pleasure in seeing Rossi struggle. After all, it has been Rossi who, all along, has maintained that there was nothing wrong with the bike, it was Stoner who wasn’t riding it properly. Oh how he must be ruing those comments now.
Ducati warned Rossi that they were not going to “build him another Yamaha” and, despite changing the bike almost fundamentally to try and suit it to Rossi’s riding style, the results have been appalling. Last night he was out-qualified by Karel Abraham, the youngest rider on the grid, riding a customer GP11. Rossi’s finishes in the the completed races so far have been dreadful by his own lofty standards and even his lone podium was an inherited one. Throw in a fit Pedrosa and Vale would actually be even further back.
In fact, the team seems to be going backwards,, and fast. Already there have been some thinly veiled ultimatums from the Rossi camp about “getting the bike right by….”. So far these have not been accompanied by the expected “or else” but you can’t help but think that the Ducati management HAVE been told what that is. 6 races in and it’s not looking like the GOAT will be the last 800cc World Champion. In fact, based on what we have seen so far, that honour is looking increasingly like going to the man who bore the brunt of Rossi’s sarcasm in 2010. My, how the worm has turned.
gearsau says
Phil,
Some interesting comments here as well.
http://motomatters.com/analysis/2011/06/11/2011_silverstone_motogp_saturday_round_u.html
Even though Rossi did not race at Silverstone last year due to his broken leg, he still can’t complaint about lack of circuit knowledge. As you mentioned, Rossi did some laps on a Ducati Superbike recently at the official opening of the new Silverstone complex( until it stopped), and then on a road bike. Besides, a MotoGP racer with Rossi’s experience will learn a track very fast.
Yes, the whole Rossi / Ducati show seems to turning in a farce. They have had new heavier crankshafts manufactured, and umpteen other changes. Ridiculous that Rossi qualified 13th last night.
According to a spreadsheet that I have compiled, Stoner has completed some 904 laps on the HONDA compared to 1,084 laps that Rossi has done on the DUCATI since they both moved to different bikes last November. Rossi certainly has done the laps.
Phil Hall says
Fascinating stats, Peter. And thanks for the link to mm.com. He is always pretty close to the money, isn’t he?