I can't understand this

Crash · 11-17-2003, 2:36 PM

Today

'Ducati d’Antin have today announced that Spanish rider Ruben Xaus will partner Neil Hodgson in their team for the 2004 MotoGP World Championship. The pair formed a formidable alliance for Ducati in the World Superbike Championship last season, sweeping 20 wins from 24 races as Xaus finished runner-up and Hodgson took the title. Both riders make the step up to MotoGP in the only Ducati factory satellite team and will test the fearsome Desmosedici for the first time at Valencia from December 10th – 12th.'

More here

I mean he's good, but MotoGP?!? *Well at least next year will be fun to watch no-doubt!!!

I personally don't think either one will do well. Hodgson was given the title, he never really had to fight. Foggerty is right! Hodgson and Xaus are good, don't get me wrong, but I can think of better riders that are being released from current GP rides that are far better than these two IMHO.

dB · 11-17-2003, 2:56 PM

Xaus is Spanish, which counts for quite a lot in the political world of MotoGP. Spain being a huge MotoGP market, he can bring lots of sponsorship $$.

ccwilli3 · 11-17-2003, 3:11 PM

when xaus starts tossing the GP bike down the track, no one will be happy...

The dude has some skill I think, more so that hodgson, IMO.

I mean, a few times in 2002, hodgson fought bayliss and edwards, but it was Xaus that on occasion, and when he was 'on', would be leading from the front and in dominating like fashion, only to do something dumb. I do wonder about his concentration abilities...

He's bigger than most yes, but don't let that sway you, in wrestling these big bikes, its an asset! and in all but the most extreme cases, those bikes have more than enough stomp to equalize any additional weight he may be carrying...

QuikMike · 11-17-2003, 3:16 PM

I was really hoping to see Xaus come to the US and ride the factory Duc in AMA next year....oh well, it will be very entertaining to see him crash and burn in MotoGP....<not to wish ill will on the guy or anything >

I do hope though, that Hodgson gets humbled next year...he was handed the championship in WSBK this year so....let's see what kind of real skills the guy has...

Heavy-Dee · 11-17-2003, 3:27 PM

With Xaus out of the running looks like E.Boz will be getting the AMA Duck ride.

Proto · 11-17-2003, 3:33 PM

Have a listen to these. Spine tingling stuff. Turn the speakers up very loud. *

Ducati Desmosedici

tigerblade · 11-17-2003, 3:41 PM

You can't blame Hodgson for his 'easy' championship this year. Consistency is important, and Hodgson is consistent. I thought he was impressive last year on a year-old bike. Sure, Colin and Bayliss stole the show, but Hodgson is a damn good rider.

QuikMike · 11-17-2003, 3:41 PM

Quote:

Heavy-Dee : With Xaus out of the running looks like E.Boz will be getting the AMA Duck ride.

good for him! he deserves it after riding the 7RR for the past couple of seasons....maybe he'll get his just due and bitch slap Mladin in the process...

fl-929 · 11-17-2003, 3:47 PM

Quote:

Proto : Have a listen to these. Spine tingling stuff. Turn the speakers up very loud. *

Ducati Desmosedici

This is my favorite. The Ducati Orchestra

ccwilli3 · 11-17-2003, 3:59 PM

Quote:

tigerblade : You can't blame Hodgson for his 'easy' championship this year. *Consistency is important, and Hodgson is consistent. *I thought he was impressive last year on a year-old bike. *Sure, Colin and Bayliss stole the show, but Hodgson is a damn good rider.

yeah, blame it on honda, yamaha and aprilia for not making it a competition...

Crash · 11-17-2003, 4:02 PM

Quote:

tigerblade : You can't blame Hodgson for his 'easy' championship this year. *Consistency is important, and Hodgson is consistent. *I thought he was impressive last year on a year-old bike. *Sure, Colin and Bayliss stole the show, but Hodgson is a damn good rider.

Hodgson is very consistant, but last year he was consistant on a bike that hands down the best. I'm not including Lavila's GSXR 1000 because he was fighting a two handed battle with one hand behind his back. Unristrict the GSXR and Lavila wouldv'e given Hodgson more than he could handle.

I just don't think that he's right for MotoGP. Xaus is a draw, he has fans everywhere, and definatly the Spanish are going to love to see him, but more than Sete? More than Barros? or any other Spanish/Latin Riders?

cabbage996 · 11-17-2003, 4:16 PM

He's more deserving of a motogp ride than nick the hick hayden was. *At least he's won some races at the world level.

Proto · 11-17-2003, 4:20 PM

Nah this is better

Start

or this one?

Briten

tigerblade · 11-17-2003, 4:29 PM

Quote:

Proto : Nah this is better *

Start

Crash · 11-17-2003, 6:41 PM

Quote:

cabbage996 : He's more deserving of a motogp ride than nick the hick hayden was. *At least he's won some races at the world level.

Against who and on what machinary? Hodgson and Xaus had the top bikes, everyone else was on 1-2 year old machines. Chili was able to ride past that on a few occasions, but fact is everyone (mostly) in that series was on the down side of their careers. It was like Rossi on the v5 when the two smokers were still running.

Granted Nicky didn't deserve it, I said that at the begining, as I did with Hopper. But Nicky has silenced the critics as he's shown he has top level potential. Sometimes you just have to trust people like Doohan to spot the talent.

But to feild a team just because you have the money?!? Why not give the spot to McCoy? Sure he's older but the man rode the piss out of that Kawi and put it on some respectable starts.

Proto · 11-17-2003, 6:44 PM

By the same token, why doesn't someone give McWillimas a decent ride. Politics, sposorship, nationality, age, marketing etc etc.

Crash · 11-17-2003, 7:01 PM

Quote:

Proto : By the same token, why doesn't someone give McWillimas a decent ride. Politics, sposorship, nationality, age, marketing etc etc.

Exactly!!! There are riders who are proven winners, looking for a ride when Hodgson and Xaus got a ride just because...

deez · 11-17-2003, 7:04 PM

I say give that ride to McCoy, and let him slide that phucker all around the track Ruben will just cost them dollars dollars in repair bills.

But hey look at the bright side, it's better than Mladin getting the ride

luvtolean · 11-17-2003, 7:05 PM

Quote:

booth23 : I say give that ride to McCoy, and let him slide that phucker all around the track *Ruben will just cost them dollars dollars in repair bills.

But hey look at the bright side, it's better than Mladin getting the ride *

Yeah, we'd hate to see him embarass Colin

deez · 11-17-2003, 7:08 PM