Rossi's first ride on the Ducati

[UglyDogRacing]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U6ysA4zVZA&feature=share

[DucWise]

:bow:

[salsashark]

thank you youtube for the new ringtone...

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Interesting day all around for the MotoGP crew:
http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2010/11/09/lorenzo-leads-the-way-on-first-test-day-in-valencia

Actually, I like the black leathers. He's got a new helmet with a question mark on it. Probably because he's testing both screamer and big bang versions of the engine, and will make the decision which way Ducati takes with the engine. Interesting.

[Cap'n Crunch]

From CM's link above:
Tuesday MotoGP Test Times:
1. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:32.012
2. Casey Stoner (Honda) 1:32.775
3. Ben Spies (Yamaha) 1:32.878
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1:32.912
5. Marco Simoncelli (Honda) 1:32.919
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 1:33.190
7. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1:33.513
8. Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) 1:33.558
9. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 1:33.716
10. Valentino Rossi (Ducati) 1:33.882

Spies is looking good! Next year is going to be awesome.

[McVaaahhh]

Can't wait for next year...

[ChrisCBX]

Can't wait for next year...

+1 :)

We are already looking for Laguna motel reservations.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Next year is gonna be awesome, with 2012 being even better I think. going back to 1000cc should make it far more interesting, and I hope they ditch the TC and all the other rider's aids as well. the only TC should be organic......the riders right wrist! :)

[Sean]

From CM's link above:
Tuesday MotoGP Test Times:
1. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:32.012
2. Casey Stoner (Honda) 1:32.775
3. Ben Spies (Yamaha) 1:32.878
4. Dani Pedrosa (Honda) 1:32.912
5. Marco Simoncelli (Honda) 1:32.919
6. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 1:33.190
7. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1:33.513
8. Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki) 1:33.558
9. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 1:33.716
10. Valentino Rossi (Ducati) 1:33.882

Spies is looking good! Next year is going to be awesome.Already only 1.8 sec off the pace on a new bike, especially the Desmo, he'll be just fine. Took Nicky a lot longer to put up competitive times.

[PinkGixx26]

How exciting!!!!!!!

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Already only 1.8 sec off the pace on a new bike, especially the Desmo, he'll be just fine. Took Nicky a lot longer to put up competitive times.
Stoner's competitve right off the bat. I think the deal is that Rossi's shoulder is still injured, but, also, he's not out to set fast times right off the bat, they're instead trying to get feedback on which engine they should move forward with. That's going to have a much greater effect on next season than fast times now.

[R1-Laubinero]

man i love the new helmet scheme!

[Hack Job]

http://i55.tinypic.com/21ah2sx.jpg

[SOCAL4LIFE!!]

+1 :)

We are already looking for Laguna motel reservations.

+1

Next year is going to rock.

[vort3xr6]

I fucking love that suit. OMFG.

[konichd]

Is it just me or did the front canards (wings) on that Ducati get bigger? :dunno:

[R1-Laubinero]

they're callin it the whale shark!!!

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Is it just me or did the front canards (wings) on that Ducati get bigger? :dunno:
They look thge same size to me. My question is why are they there? I can't imagine they want downforce. Stability maybe?

[CaptGoodvibes]

I can't wait to see how the season plays out

[Repsol a095]

I think that Sean can take him on his KLR! (with knobbies)

[Sean]

I think that Sean can take him on his KLR! (with knobbies):lol: 38 hp of fury, baby!

[JustSomeDude]

My question is why are they there? I can't imagine they want downforce. Stability maybe?

The smart money is on cooling...

http://motomatters.com/opinion/2010/08/02/those_ducati_winglets_what_are_they_real.html

Pretty damn clever if that's the case.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

The smart money is on cooling...

http://motomatters.com/opinion/2010/08/02/those_ducati_winglets_what_are_they_real.html

Pretty damn clever if that's the case.
Actually, that makes a lot of sense, seeing that pic of the vertical element especially. In F1 at the height of all the winglets all over the place, they weren't there to create downforce per se, they were there to straighted out and guide the airflow to the radiators, and to the wings to create more efficient (less drag) airflow and downforce. Downforce really doesn't work on bikes because unlike cars the force doesn't remain perpendicular to the ground. So, I think for now bikes will simply be optimized for minimal drag.

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Update:
http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2010/11/10/stoner-fast-then-lorenzo-and-spies

Spies and Stoner continue to impress.