Could Sete Gibernau save Ducati’s 2009 MotoGP Season?
What will Ducati do if Casey Stoner decides he cannot race during the 2009 MotoGP season due to his continuing scaphoid problems? What indeed?
The issue will surely be exacerbated by the fact that Nicky Hayden is proving to be taking slowly to the new carbon fiber framed Ducati as evidenced by his disappointing 10th place during the recent Sepang tests. Can Ducati afford to have another Marco Melandri on their hands?
This might prove to be an ideal opportunity for Sete Gibernau. A 9 times MotoGP / 500GP winner, Gibernau retired at the end of 2006 citing injuries following a disastrous season on the factory Ducati where he never saw the podium and languished 13th in the points standings.
Many may have forgotten his 8 victories over the 2003/4 sessions where he was the only rider to regularly challenge Valentino Rossi and raced him hard to second place in the championship both years, along the way amassing the highest number of points ever for a second placed finisher.
For 2009, Gibernau is back, scheduled to be riding a Grupo Francisco Hernando satellite Ducati. At the Sepang tests he finished 12th, just 2/10ths off Nicky Hayden’s best time despite his potentially inferior machinery and lack of saddle time compared to the American rider.
The USA is an increasingly important market to Ducati and the signing of the popular Hayden was seen as a strategic move. However Ducati needs to re-assert itself and win again. Unfortunately the 2006 MotoGP World Champion doesn’t have the best form, having won only 3 races in his MotoGP career and seemingly still struggling on the notoriously difficult to master Ducati.
With Casey Stoner in doubt, and Hayden’s learning curve uncertain, this may be an opportunity for the more experienced Gibernau to step up to full factory equipment and increase the chances of the factory team being at the sharp end of the field in 2009.
A lot has changed since the 990cc monsters that Gibernau last raced in 2006. Principal amongst these are the vast advances in electronics and Sete acknowledges the challenge.
“Since I last raced, it is a whole new ball game. I need to learn in terms of what I need for engine braking, the idle in the middle of the corner, and on acceleration what amount of anti-spin I need.
Coming from the two-stroke 500 and 990cc four-stroke era, Gibernau said the biggest area he needs to improve is acceleration. Having honed his throttle control on bikes that needed finesse and precision, electronics sometimes are proving more of a hindrance than help.
link: Sete Gibernau still looking to master electronics – Motorcycle Sport
Although it remains to be seen whether Stoner will race in 2009, if he doesn’t there may still be some fireworks between Rossi and the Ducati team. Will Sete Gibernau be given another chance to renew his Rossi rivalry on factory machinery?
Try These Related Posts:
