[Ducati] What, no Stoner commentary?

[John Whiting]

Jerez is Stoner's worst GP track in the past, even on smaller bikes, and
his 800cc tests were pitiful there, also.  I see him bouncing back to
podium with consistency, FWIW.

-----Original Message-----
From: ducati-bounces at ducati.net [mailto:ducati-bounces at ducati.net] On
Behalf Of Peter Bonner
Sent: Sunday, April 06, 2008 7:59 PM
To: Ducati Owners Group
Subject: Re: [Ducati] What, no Stoner commentary?

Ok, as one of the chatterbox types, I barely got to see the race, much
less
comment. It was monday nite, late, on the computer, when I saw the
disaster.
Since that time, I have compleated helping the kids move to a new house,
which cost me more than a 1098R and my Hypermotard combined, and just
got
home a couple hours ago realizing that next weekend will be the first
one at
home in 5 weeks. (yay for a sunday ride coming up.....finally).

It was clear that Stoner just lost patience, and then I began to think
of an
analogy, how many times, talented race horses require a stablemate that
provides a calming effect. Then I reflected back on a phone conversation
that took place with a friend in OZ who told me that in local Aussie
news,
there had been a number of comments from Stoner on how Capirossi had
provided him with a great deal of useful knowledge. Yes, I know, a
number of
folks laughed at the idea that Stoner could learn anything from
Capirossi
who was slower, just like Keith Code obviously has nothing to teach fast
guys. But now, young Stoner is on his own, and Capirossi is showing a
continuing ability to adapt to the 800cc bikes.  Last year's team wasn't
broke, but they did "fix" it.  Will Stoner get back on track, or is this
the
preview to his reversion of fast or silly? Am hoping that Jerez will
merely
be the cold water in the face that gets him thinking back to what he
learned
from Capirossi last year.

Melandri and the others? Don't think they have quite figured out how to
use
the best electronics in the business, and so do not show speed yet.
Interesting that Marco had the fastest top speeds, but lousy lap times.
That
indicates to me that he may be using a harder setting that provides
ultimate
grip and power out of corners, instead of a softer setting that
sacrifices a
bit of top speed for better traction control out of the corners with
resulting increase in corner speed. I do believe Melandri will improve
by
the halfway point to where he will begin to climb into the top 5. Elias?
Sylvain?, not so likely to do anything like Alex Barros did on the
satelite,
but perhaps better than Hoffman?

Like many others, I thought Melandri would come along faster on the
bike,
but to his credit, he finished only one place behind Stoner at Jerez.
Don't
see that Ducati brass can piss too much about that :-)  Would like to
know
their thoughts on Capirossi's masterful ride............

Peter