Is Ducati willing to try anything to win in MotoGP – even working with a twin-spar frame?
Ducati’s racetrack woes have been well-documented this season; ace rider Valentino Rossi has been unable to achieve any sort of success. The prevailing opinion is that his bike’s frame is to blame. Supposedly the carbon-fibre unit combined with the stressed engine doesn’t provide enough flex to get a feel for the track in the corners.
Ducati tried to remedy that by using an aluminum frame in the Aragon MotoGP round, but they didn’t fare any better. Now, MotorcycleDaily is reporting the boys in Bologna are so desparate for solutions they’re even considering a twin-spar aluminum frame, with the motor not stressed at all. Supposedly they’re testing one at Jerez this week.
That kind of move would be a big departure for the Italian manufacturer; that technology is very Japanese, and Ducati usually prides itself on being different. With this racing season pretty much a wash-out, though, they’ve got to have their eyes on next year’s 1000cc series, and by now, you can bet they’re thinking it’s time to do what they have to do to win.
