Monstermob
 

If the comic web site is to believed, then Monstermob are not renewing Emmett's contract next year (no surprise), and they are likely to run Fireblades. Running Honda's is more surprising, as it's only one bad year and is probably due to the rider rather than the bike. And Ducati GAVE the bikes to the team this year, a bit of loyalty would have been nice!!! :(
Give the bikes to John Hacket Next Year:)

As usual a big pinch of salt is required with MCN.

Erm - Smart on a Ducati, that's got a familiar sound to it.:burn:

I honestly think that if John Reynolds was on the 999 then it would be leading the championship.

Personally I think the 999 needs a 'looser' rider, such as the likes of Xaus, and Laconi.
It's the smoother, corner speed type riders who seem to struggle most.
On that basis, I think Scotty would probably do well on it.
However, I for one think it would be a real shame if he jumped off that Kawasaki right now when he has a very realistic chance to do the business in the championship on it next year.

1. unlike Emmett, JR is very consistent.

2. I was thinking along the lines of if he had never left Ducati to ride the Suzuki, but he would be on the pace pretty quick.

3. JR is a " if it's round and black, it will do" type of rider with tyres.

4. I think that the vague feelings are made much worse, if not caused by the Pirelli's. Look at Hodgsons lap times from last year, I know he wasn't totally happy with the front but he still lapped quicker than on his 998.

Niffty little signature you got there, more debates tomorrow, bye for now.:)

I believe it's a racing evolution thing - the way the rules have evolved or been manipulated, and the way the Jap 4's have come on over the last couple of years, the Ducati is no longer the class of the field. It's been coming in BSB for a couple of years now, and with Vermuelen it's coming in WSB, and whilst I like the Ducati's, it's good for the championships to have a variety of bikes winning races.

I don't blame monstermob for moving to a Blade or whatever - they're a seriously professional team who want to win the championship, so they need to run the most competitive bike, which sadly, the 999 isn't under the current regulations.

1 - I still think JR is the most consistent. Rutter always seems to have a slump in form at some piont in the season, and Kagayama seems to be blisteringly fast or a bit lost.

3 - tyres, what I mean is that JR can ride with any make of tyre, unlike some. In the same way Hodgson made the switch from Dunlop to Michelin. Of course they still have to be the best of whatever make the are using to allow the rider to win.

4 - The situation in WSB this year is a bit 1998 when no one could put a really good run together - Hodgson, Bayliss or Edwards would have destroyed the field by now.

5 - Are you still going to watch at Mallory on Sunday? though I might give it a miss if it's still chucking it down, (getting a bit fed up with getting wet every time I sit on the bike this year) but if it's decent I'll be there. We can carry on with this over a pint - my round.

Racing discusions - dontcha just love em!

I think you're right Steve. Michelin must have pulled out all the stops in 2003 to help Hodgy get over the lack of feel from the front of the 999. Pirelli can't do that for Ducati this year, however, Haga is proving that you can make it work. Emmett and Monstermob have the same problems but being on Dunlops no data to work with - perhaps Paul Bird should have put loyalty to one side and tried to got Michelins (and their data for the 999) this year.

STEVE M

As you know i'm a big Ducati race fan,but i have to agree with Urban996,i think the glory days are over!! Dukes are just too expensive for teams to run,look what Ten Kate are doing on a tiny budget(compaired to Fila)!! They are matching & beating Fila Ducati at most tracks now!! As much as it hurts to say.i think Chris V could lift the championship this year!! The same is true in the UK,why should Birdy run 999's when he could get better results for less money? iI agree giving the works bikes to John Hackett is not a bad idea,but he's got a business to run,he can't give all his time up to run a race team! I've spoken to him about the supersport team,he says he didn't realise how much things have moved on since his time with GSE!

good on yer.:)

no pint for you then :lol:

Monstermob didn't have to pay for the bikes this year.

Yes the days of Ducati dominace in SBK racing are over, but thats no bad thing as it's no good for the sport when one bike is doing all the winning. But Ducati are far from finished.

As for the Monstermob results - Emmett or the bike?
for me it's Emmett - same results as every year - win at Brands, then finish who knows where at all the other circuits.

BB - you on for Mallory this Sunday if the monsoons have stopped?

weeksy

James Haydon consistent,who are you trying a kid? That boy can crash for England!:P
Lets face it,thesr 999's are just not up to the job! Everyone that rides one complains about the front end feel!!
STEVE M
Although Birdy didn't pay for the bikes,it still cost more to run a factory Duke than a fireblade,surely?
PS Can't make Sunday,she's got plans for me!!:flame:

Have to agree about Haydon - Mr highside - I've never seen anyone in the air so often.

Does Birdy have to pay the running costs of the bikes or just the team? which would be the same for any bikes. Does seem like the days of the midfield teams running dukes are over though.



Sunday - and I was going to buy breakfast at McDonalds:roll:

[Edited on 17-8-2004 by STEVE M]

[quote]Originally posted by weeksy
JR is consistent ? Well ..... lets be honest.... he can be.... then he can't be.... which in my books says, he isn't. He's MORE consistent than Emmett for example, but less than Kaga/Rutter at times. Then again, at times, they are less than him.

What??? :puzzled:

But Haydon seems to have turned the corner, was reading the new edition of Superbike over weekend, Haydon's interview makes for an interesting read. I'm sure he'll end up with a good ride next year. Sure Emmett is out, and i don't think he'll find a good ride. Can't see Scott moving teams, yet. To much of a good time right now. And if Monstermob move to Hondas, I'm sure Ducati will find another team for their 999's. Lets hope next year the 999 is a better package, and they move from Dunlops.

As for WSB, sure they will sort the front end issues out, this year has been made more obvious the problem, with the tyres, as mentioned above.

I think it is so good to see various teams and bikes win races, it's good for the sport. As for WSB finished, bollox. Infact i believe the tyre rule has opened up the championship far better than anyone would have thought. No more is one team so dominant, and so many other riders and teams winning.

Well the 999 is having to compete against 1000cc for a start not like the 996/8 gimme V the 750's!! :D

Add to that a bit of foggy/Corser/bayliss, compared to toseland/laconi/emmett, does paint a picture.

Weeksy are you sponsored by AJR? oh yeah.... Dean Thomas has had one or two moments of fame but, serious contender??

Ducati in BSB has only gone wrong when they started using them ugly bikes!!

The 998 won with Shakey on board against the 1000cc 4s in 2003
and Hizzy did the same in 2002.

The main factors are the ongoing development progress that the IL4 mob are making, the well documented probs with the 999 and the lack of a fully confident consistent rider on board a Ducati.

A company as small as Ducati is gonna struggle to keep pouring the resources in that are needed to keep all its bike racing plates spinning.

Ducati's are expensive to buy and run in BSB, people don't mind paying up when they are winning but when they' re not...................

Ray

:lol: