Rossi. Fight the fight? or walk the walk?

On Sunday August 15th 2010, the worst kept secret in MotoGP history finally became official. 

9 times world champion Valentino Rossi signed for Ducati.

Ducati Corse Press Release:

VALENTINO ROSSI AND DUCATI TOGETHER FROM 2011

Ducati and Valentino Rossi have signed a two year agreement for the nine-times World Champion to race with the “Rossa” of Borgo Panigale in the Ducati Marlboro Team from 2011.

The arrival of Valentino in Ducati opens a new and exciting chapter in the Italian factory’s sporting history and, indeed, of the whole MotoGP Championship. The opportunity of lining-up such an extraordinary rider and character is considered by Ducati to be a huge value to the whole Ducati MotoGP project.

“We are delighted to announce that Valentino Rossi will be with us from 2011,” commented Gabriele Del Torchio, President of Ducati Motor Holding. “He is a paragon of excellence in the world of motorcycling, coherent with our Italian company which is a standard-bearer for “made in Italy” excellence. These are key values for success in technology, design and sportsmanship. In addition to the strong and passionate intent of both parties, this agreement has been made possible by the committed support of our shareholder Investindustrial and all the sponsors associated with the Ducati Marlboro Team, sponsors which have believed in this opportunity and share and support our choices.”

“Firstly, Valentino is a great fan of motorcycles and so it has always been a pleasure for me to listen his opinions,” said Filippo Preziosi, Ducati Corse General Director. “Until the Valencia GP he will remain a competitor, one so great that he has always given a special value to our victories, but as soon as he rides the Ducati for the first time, we will work together on every single detail that will develop a bike capable of showing his huge talent. Working with Valentino is one of the most exciting things for every Engineer and it’s good to know we will have this great opportunity next season.”

 Now, for Rossi fans the world over this was THE news they had been waiting for all year. The thought of Rossi going to Ducati was no longer speculation and had become a reality, or at least it would be early in 2011 when the testing ban would be lifted and the Italian could finally sling his leg over an Italian bike wearing an Italian crash helmet (AGV) and wearing Italian leathers, boots and gloves (Dainese). This was so obviously a marketing executives dream. 

What possibly could go wrong?

Fast forward to the 2011 season and it started as it was to go on, with Rossi finishing a lowly 7th place some 22 seconds off the eventual race winner Casey Stoner. Disappointing to say the least and left Jerry burgess and the team scratching their heads. Round 2 at Jerez wasn't any better with Rossi clashing with Stoner in the rain (which led to Stoner coming out with the classic line, ' your ambition outweighed your talent!') and remounting to finish 5th some 1 minute plus behind winner Jorge Lorenzo. you can kind of get the picture that was slowly beginning to emerge. So, what was the problem?

Rossi blamed it on the chassis, Chief Engineer Jerry Burgess wouldn't comment, and the racing fans began to think Rossi was done and it was time to move over and make way for the new young blood cos at 32 years of age he was now the 3rd oldest in the paddock behind Edwards and Capirossi (who was to retire at the end of the season). but he had signed for 2 years and wasn't going to give up easily. To be fair to the Ducati factory they didn't stop testing and building new parts, but whatever Rossi was given or however they altered the bike, he still couldn't ride it the way HE wanted to. Lets not forget, Stoner rode the bike to the championship in 2007 with 10 wins and 6 poles and finished 125 points clear of runner-up Dani Pedrosa, equivalent to 5 race wins. During his time on the bike Stoner rode it like he stole it and somehow rode around the lack of front end feel which plagued Rossi during the whole of  the 2011 season. Stoner got the nickname of moaner during that season and i'll admit i too got fed up with his constant whinging to the press during his time at Ducati but maybe now he is vindicated, cos one thing still remains, he won 23 times and had 13 further podiums on a bike with no front end feel!

2011 was a bad year for Rossi result wise and his worst season to date after 15 years in the paddock, but no-one could have foreseen what would unfold at Sepang on that fateful day in October. You all know what happened but it will go down as one of the darkest days in MotoGP history and made all the worse by the televison coverage and in full glare of the worlds audience. I with many millions of others saw the unthinkable happen and instantly knew it was serious. Marco Simoncelli was the shining light of the new MotoGP generation and was on his way to greatness when his young life was taken away in a freak accident involving Colin Edwards and Rossi himself. It was no secret that Rossi had taken Marco under his wing from an early age and had become good friends on and off the track. The race was cancelled out of respect to Marco's family and rightly so in my opinion.

So, the year ended badly for Rossi, but his season was overshadowed by the sudden death of Marco #58. But,there was no getting away from it though, finishing 5th overall in the championship on equal points with Marco on 139 and a massive 211 points behind champion Stoner was pretty poor even by Ducati standards. 2011 was a season to forget for Rossi but time doesn't stand still in the world of MotoGP prototype racing and big changes were afoot in the rules for 2012.

2012 the 800cc era was over, 1000cc are back with a bang(big).

pre-season testing revealed that Ducati had pumped millions into R&D and had given Rossi the Aluminium frame he so wished for, in the search for that elusive front end feel. The new chassis basically was a italian attempt at something the japanese have be doing for decades on the Honda, Yamaha and Suzuki. Ducati had ditched their trademark Trellis frame. Now, I can only imagine the conversation in the boardroom in Bologna, when the board are told that Mr Rossi wants a japanese style frame for his bike! 

So, 2011 ended and I can imagine Rossi was more than relieved to go home and reflect on what had happened and get his head right for 2012. let's not forget he was the most successful rider of the 990cc era on the Honda and Yamaha so he is no stranger to new bikes and new rules and lots of testing so i am sure he was looking forward to riding the all new Ducati Desmosedici GP12.

2012 pre-season testing didn't go to plan and he once again fell short in laptimes against those riders who were enjoying the best days of their careers, Stoner, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Spies. Surely the new chassis would improve things? It ceratinly didn't seem like it. one thing was sure though. through the speedtraps the Ducati once again was an animal with top speeds of over 330km/hr a mind boggling 208mph! All the engineeers had to do now was get it to turn in. But, havn't they been trying to get it to do that for 4 years? The head scratching continued in the garage and at Bologna all winter. Millions on R&D and they still have the same problem on a bike that is essentially all new. 1000cc not 800cc Aluminium rail frame not trellis. So, why does the problem remain? thats the million dollar or Euro in this case, question.

Engineers will give you technical answers, and some are now pointing at the engine itself. the angle of the Vee. I am not that mechanically minded but apparently it does affect the way the bike handles. If thats true then will Ducati re-design an engine that they have used for decades and that gives them the identity they have today? in my opinion, No. they won't. they'd rather see Rossi retire or jump ship and have another young rider on the factory bike than spend more Euros losing their identity.

fast forward to last weekend and Qatar, round 1 of the 2012 season. Rossi qualifies 12th fastest 2.179 seconds off pole time of Lorenzo and the slowest Motogp Prototype. in the top speed charts Rossi was quickest with 338km/hr, incidentally Lorenzo was 11th fastest out of 12, which does prove one thing and that is that the Ducati won't go round corners! During the race Rossi was pushed off track by Barbera and lost approx 6 seconds but he still finished 33 seconds behind Lorenzo the winner in 10th place, which over the course of the race is 1.5 seconds slower per lap. not good enough is it?

So, whats my point? whats the problem? Rossi or the bike?

Ok, i am not stupid here. there is obviously something fundamentally wrong with the bike, but somehow Stoner rode it and rode it well, but no-one else has been able to. Look at Marco melandri, it finished his motogp career. Sete gibernau couldnt ride it either. The satellite teams riders struggle too. only 3 Ducati podiums since Stoner left for Honda at the end of 2010 (Nicky Hayden 2 podiums, Rossi 1). Which again makes Stoners championship winning ride seem even more worthy of praise.

So, what does that leave, Rossi himself? 

Now, those of you that know me, also know that i am his number one fan, and it hurts me to say this, but i believe that Rossi himself is the problem. It started way back in 2010 at Mugello. compound fracture of the leg ring any bells? only one win since then and a handful of podiums. Sepang October 2011. How does one recover from having run over your best friend? i can't even begin to imagine how that must feel and would never wish to. Add to those things, a bike that isn't right and motivation must be difficult. me more than anyone would wish him to be at the front and winning by huge margins ala 2002 but it's never gonna happen on a Ducati.

The rumour mill has now begun as well. The best one yet is Rossi will jump ship to a Yamaha sponsored by coca-cola! where that started i've no idea but i love it! if it means Rossi is at the sharp end again and with a smile on his face and giving us something to laugh at with his post race win antics then i'd gladly pay to see it!

 All i want as a fan is Rossi back to his winning ways and MotoGP continuing its rise in viewing figures,gate receipts and TV coverage but with Rossi gone will all that decline and the huge pull that he generates, begin to dissipate as the world realises that it's king is about to relinquish his crown for a final time.