Melandri....how long before he walks ?

[Furyous]

You wouldnt be able to face the weekly humiliations that he is currently enduring.

It must be soul destroying for him.

Ducati have already hinted they would "let him go", and I reckon Sete would then fill in.

Question is, who would then give him a ride ?

[LocoBlade]

He's had a shocking season but the one thing that's possibly helped is that the Alice satellite riders are having almost as many problems as he is, so at least some of it is certainly the bike thats difficult to ride/set up. Given that Melandri and Elias have both won on satellite machinery in the past (Melandri has won more races than Hayden!), obviously they can ride so I think people would still be interested in them. My guess would be on one of the satellite Honda teams again, maybe instead of someone like Nakano?

[Furyous]

Agreed, the Duc is almost a Stoner specific machine, even last years.

Im sure Marco could find a ride, its just finding space as I see it.

Shinya has got to be some sort of oriental pawn, rather than being truly worthy of a ride.

Id love to see Marco competitive again, and if Sete reckons he can walk straight back in and be on the pace......

Really cant see the Ducati/Melandri thing lasting very much longer though.

Not that anyone else is going to be any quicker on the bike though.

Its almost like the NSR days, when Honda only listened to Mick about what the bike needed.

[anonymous-user]

Thats what is needed to win championships sometimes, we saw it a lot with Schumacher in F1.

Marco will have to find another team, it isn't working for either of the parties at the moment and i cant see that improving.

[castrolcraig]

Furyous said:

and if Sete reckons he can walk straight back in and be on the pace......

hmmm, testing 2 weeks ago, sete faster first time in 2 years than all 3 other dukes, westy, nakano and de angelis......

[MrKipling43]

castrolcraig said:

Furyous said:

and if Sete reckons he can walk straight back in and be on the pace......

hmmm, testing 2 weeks ago, sete faster first time in 2 years than all 3 other dukes, westy, nakano and de angelis......

Crikey - I thought Sete had jacked it all in! I always felt a bit sorry for him, he was clearly a fantastic rider but Rossi was right at the top of his game when those two were racing and there was just no way he was ever going to compete properly: no one could.

As for the Dukes, I still reckon Hayden's going to be aboard a red bike next year - there's just no way he can carry on at Honda. That team makes Ferrari's relationship with Barrichello and Schumacher look positively neutral!

Also, I've never heard a worse 'will so and so be riding for you next year' rebuttal than the one offered by Ducati's boss this weekend: "So, will Hayden be riding for you next year?" "Er, erm... er... we'll, er... have to wait and see." The word unconvincing just doesn't come close.

[Furyous]

Sete was totally out psyched by Rossi, and left him mentally beaten after the Qatar incident.

I cant see Sete being a top 3 rider these days, the 800's are a very difficult animal to tame, and the game has moved on.

Even Rossi and Burgess are struggling to get to grips with the thing, regardless of new tyres.

Hayden to Duke ?

Maybe, but I wouldnt be rushing to jump on one after seeing so many people failing on them.....

Haden likes the bike fast and loose, the Duc is so electronic I reckon he'd hate it.All year he has been asking Honda to back the electronics off.

[StuB]

Furyous said:

Agreed, the Duc is almost a Stoner specific machine, even last years.

With all the data logging and information available, my only thought is that Melandri, on a works Ducati is slower (seconds at most circuits) than the sattelite boys.

I just don't buy the 'Stoner' bike thing at all.

Why should a slightly different riding style make 3 seconds difference per lap? A few tenths definitely, maybe half to even 1 second, but 3 is just a country mile away at this level.

Sorry, but IMHO, Melandri's gotta go and ride something he can ride quick and he needs to do it soon or he'll have such a poor reputation.

Capirossi wasn't that far off Stoner's pace last year!