My post today is one that has been on my mind since the deal was announced last week. The deal I am talking about is of course Scott Redding's deal with the Octo Pramac Ducati Team for the 2016 MotoGP season. I am very excited about this deal and I cannot wait to see Scott on board the Ducati.
Scott first caught my attention during the 2013 Moto2 season. He put in some stellar results which included three race victories, three runner up positions, three pole positions and one third place finish. That year he finished runner up to Pol Espargaro in the championship. Personally I thought he had it in the bag with a ten point lead in the championship entering Philip Island until he fractured his wrist.
Since his arrival in MotoGP in 2014 on board the GO & FUN Gresini Honda expectations have been high of this young man. Other British riders such as Cal Crutchlow and Bradley Smith had similar expectations also so I think Scott knew the pressure was on. This together with his successes in Moto2, Scott had the world watching to see could he deliver the same results in the highly competitive MotoGP championship.
Scott Redding on board the Marc VDS Kalex - Honda during the 2013 Moto2 season
Alas, this was not to be. The Honda RCV1000r proved to be lacking of horsepower compared to the other Honda's, (this of course contradicted what Honda had previously said after Casey Stoner's test with the production racer!) With an under-powered Honda beneath him Redding salvaged a best finish of 7th position at both Qatar and Philip Island and finished runner-up in the Open class category.
For 2015 we saw Scott change teams and get factory backing for his Marc VDS team which resulted in him receiving a factory spec RC213V and achieving his first MotoGP podium when he scored third position at the hectic Misano GP. This for me was one of the most important events in his two years in MotoGP. After last season's results his confidence most definitely took a beating and even though he is on factory spec machinery this year Scott cannot adapt his riding style to the Honda RC213V. He needed that podium to boost his confidence.
~ Redding aboard the GO&FUN Gresini Honda in 2014
We all know how difficult the Ducati bikes can be to ride, there is a long list of victim's. Since the appointment of Gigi Dall'Inga though Ducati have had a major breakthrough with their bikes which is good news for Scott! Redding is a big lad for MotoGP, he's strong and most definitely talented, that combined with the improved GP15 which he will ride next year, is going to prove a lot of doubters wrong about Scott Redding.
This will not be Scott's first time riding a Ducati either, a private test conducted in 2012 is where the relationship started between Redding and Ducati. They tried to sign him at the end of the 2014 season but he chose to sign with the Marc VDS Racing team. I am not saying he will win the World Championship but do not be surprised to see him on the podium next season. This is still the same man that is the youngest rider to score a win in World Championship history and I firmly believe with the Octo Pramac and factory Ducati team behind him that Scott can be a consistent podium threat.
A firm favourite of mine below! I had the pleasure of being at Silverstone for this race. I was perched in the Vale stand watching it all unfold.
Anybody else there that day? Any comments or opinions or advice on my blog or any of my posts would be gratefully received!
~Scott Redding vs Marc Marquez ~ Silverstone 2012 ~ Moto2 Race~
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