MotoGP News
Date: 24/August/2011
Ducati's dare-to-be-different approach to its MotoGP prototype is being punished by the single tyre rule.
That's the view of factory rider Nicky Hayden who, like superstar team-mate Valentino Rossi, is working flat-out to extract Ducati from its current struggles, as rumours of a major chassis change continue.
Eleven rounds into the 2011 season and the pair have taken just one podium each, with their fourth (Rossi) and seventh (Hayden) places in the standings masking the sizable performance gap between Ducati and the best of the Japanese bikes.
Since its race-winning 2003 MotoGP debut, Ducati has taken a range of calculated risks - an early switch from Michelin to Bridgestone tyres and subsequent signing of Casey Stoner (after a crash-packed debut season) contributing greatly to its 2007 world championship triumph.
That approach was largely aimed at the need to defeat Rossi as a rival - Ducati concluding that to do so on similar equipment was not feasible.
But now they have the seven-time world champion, Ducati is facing the prospect of flipping its tactics and building a more conventional motorcycle that allows Rossi - currently struggling with a lack of feel - to unleash his talents.
"It’s definitely a different bike," Hayden said of the Ducati. "All of the Japanese bikes kind of have more of a similar feel and similar DNA. Where the Ducati, it’s its own bike, it’s its own brand."
A modified version of the 2011 Desmosedici, the GP11.1, was introduced for Rossi at round seven - Hayden will race it for the first time this weekend at Indianapolis - but all indications are that it isn’t the magic bullet needed.
Instead, rumours are circling that the company will abandon it carbon fibre chassis - and perhaps even its F1-style stressed-engine concept - and adopt a traditional twin-spar aluminium chassis, as used by all its MotoGP rivals.
Hayden feels that MotoGP's move to a single-tyre format for 2009, which ended the possibility of made-to-fit tyres to suit each individual bike, has hurt Ducati's adventurous approach.
"When you have the Ducati working well, it’s an absolute weapon. But we went to spec tyres, which I don’t think has helped the Ducati situation," explained Hayden, the 2006 world champion for Honda.
"When they had more tyre options, a higher-level tyre, it was probably better for our bike and that chassis."
Ever the team player, Hayden is refusing to publically weigh-in on the aluminium debate, but the signs are that Ducati is at least developing a parallel chassis project for 2012.
"We’re learning a lot at Ducati this year," said Hayden. "I’m definitely kicking around ideas for the future. We haven’t got the results we have hoped for. I think the bike certainly is capable of more."
Despite the tough season, Hayden - 15 points behind Rossi - is buoyed by the performance of former Ducati team-mate Stoner, currently leading the world championship for Repsol Honda.
"I’ve always known Casey has the talent," said Hayden. "But also that gives me motivation. Last year at Indy, I outqualified him and was in front of him in the race until my knee slider came off and still led him for a few laps. I’ve got to find hope in that.
"The level is high this year. All of the guys are extremely quick. At the right time, they all impress you… But that front group, Stoner, Pedrosa and Lorenzo, they’re the guys on Sundays really setting the bar. They’re the guys doing it."
First practice for the Indianapolis MotoGP takes place on Friday morning.
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