Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/148526
VOL. 50 ISSUE 31 AUGUST 6, 2013 Ducati Woes Having been a Ducati owner since 1969, I have always followed this company. They have had their ups and downs in racing, but they have won more World Superbike races and titles than any other company in that series. Oh for the days of Troy Bayliss, Carl Fogarty and Casey Stoner again. When they first entered MotoGP they won some races in the first few years until Stoner came along. Then it all changed. Was it the rider or the bike? I know that after they changed his bike nothing has been good. Rossi couldn't make it work and now Nicky Hayden is the latest person to have his career end because of the Ducati. Again, is it the bike or the riders? Recent news of Hayden getting sacked was expected with many new riders and results that have gone stale. Don't get me wrong, Nicky has a heart and will to win that is gold. I suspect they have sacked the wrong people. Maybe they need to look at the designers of the MotoGP bike and World Superbike and fire them. MotoGP Ducatis can't even beat the CRT bikes. The same in World Superbike. Carlos Checa rides the tires off the new Ducati and is in the back of the pack. Ever since they stopped riding the 1098 their results have been terrible. I do not think Audi can fix this with changing riders. Maybe they should have listened to Stoner when he told Rossi he was going to have a hard time on that bike. We saw the results. It must be a real difficult time to know you are not going to be able to compete each time you go out on the bike. I own about 10 of these bikes now, ranging from 1964 to 2009. I want them to have success again and win! It is like Ferrari when Michael Schumacher left. We go from the best team to the numberthree team or even lower so no one cares. Audi… Ducati - wake up! Joe Edone Paso Robles, CA. In The Paddock Breakdown Bruno (In The Paddock, Issue 29, July 23) is very good, and the associated comic is brilliant! Jeff Lowen Via the Internet Laguna Memories Your article (Carruthers Says, Issue 28, July 16) brought memories rushing back as I read about the 1988 and 1989 races. At both events my wife and I watched from a little knoll above turn five. In 1989 I watched in horror as Lawson and Shobert rode side-by-side out of turn five, not seeing what was ahead of them. After Lawson's win in 1988 we rushed down to the Yamaha semi as the crew started tossing out Yamaha-branded long underwear. Bright red onepiece jumpsuits complete with the drop-down drawer in the back. That started a long string of Laguna races - AMA, World Superbike and MotoGP. I've attended as a fan, a volunteer worker and even in Race Control, yet I won't be going to Laguna Seca this year and haven't done so for the past few. The facility simply became too fan-unfriendly: Clear views through fences were blocked by advertising banners; VIP buildings and stands replaced free-travel zones; paddocks were closed; motorcycles were parked on grass-covered remote hillsides. I loved the environment, but going to the races increasingly meant being barely able to see the actual racers. Kevin Smith San Jose, CA Letters to the editor can be sent to voices@cyclenews.com. Published letters do not necessarily reflect the position of Cycle News. Letters should not exceed 150 words and are subject to editing. Anonymous letters won't be considered for publication and each letter should contain the writer's name, address and daytime phone number… Editor P21