If Stoner had started the season In Iannone's place....

[308mate]

...how different might the season look now?

I robbed this question from over at Crash.net after reading about his imminent Misano test but its a nice point to ponder.

I don't believe Ducati would have been suddenly all-conquering necessarily but I think we would have Stoner above Rossi and maybe even Lorenzo in the standings.

[srob]

Yeah but what if Hailwood was still on the Honda

[John D.]

boxxob said:

Ducati are in disarray. If things remain the same for the rest of the season, they should ditch Dovi for Laverty, for 2017.

You think? They look in better shape than they have for a few years to me (since Stoner retired).

Hear you on bringing Laverty on, but they're always going to want an Italian on the team. Dovi is a solid rider.

[snorky782]

boxxob said:

Ducati are in disarray. If things remain the same for the rest of the season, they should ditch Dovi for Laverty, for 2017.

Dovi was on pole for this race.

I always love the approach of us Brits to promote the local (ish) riders.

[snorky782]

boxxob said:

The team and rider performances are not where the bike should be. The last time that the highest factory Ducati rider was 8th in the championship was Dovi in 2013. He had far more points after eight races than Iannone does now. Barbera is top Ducati and Laverty only one Iannone brain-fail away from being the second.
If that happens then with half the season gone, there will new factory Ducatis behind satellite-team GP 14.2 machinery.

Lies, damn lies and statistics. If Iannone wasn't so obsessed with knocking him self and others (including his team mate) off then the table would look very different. A bad bike is not the issue here.

Putting Laclveryy on it won't solve any of the other issues, not least as the team is set for next season and his year is transitional now.

[hebegb]

If my Uncle Bob had tits..... etc..

[graeme4130]

The team mechanics would be less stressed not having to constantly rebuild crashed bikes, that's for sure
Perhaps that'd be a boost for team morale

I'd hate to be one of Crutchlows team. They must just now assume that every race means another bike crashed

[sjtscott]

Its fairly certain Stoner would be doing better that Iannone.

I think they've written off much hope this year and I'd suggest Ducati are looking to their saviour stepping in next year.
If the bike is as good as it seems/could be and they have riders that stop binning it/crash into each other then Jorge will be wiping the floor with everyone else right? (as long as it not wet though)

[FourWheelDrift]

They should have promoted Petrucci, I think his early season injury has been costly for that reason.

[spareparts]

I wonder if the Desmo will be as competitive compared to the M1 or RCV without them wings next year. The Desmo was the first bike which needed them.

[FourWheelDrift]

spareparts said:

I wonder if the Desmo will be as competitive compared to the M1 or RCV without them wings next year. The Desmo was the first bike which needed them.

Petrucci wasn't using wings at Assen, in fact I think he's only had them on the bike at the first round in Qatar. I have seen photos at Barcelona and Mugello with no wings too. Not slowed him down much from where you would expect a 2015 bike to be.

Ps. Laverty, Barbera, Hernandez too. Redding has been using them but not every round I think.

[John D.]

boxxob said:

I didn't say a bad bike was the issue. The opposite, in fact.

I misunderstood your 'disarray' comment then. I thought you were referring to Ducati team rather than the riders.

RE the wings. I don't think they make a big difference except on mega long/fast straights like Mugello (keeps nose down over bumps/braking stability) . It's not like a car where it gives downforce through fast bends. Happy to see them go.