Its not really like he can say anything else to some one paying him X millions to ride their mulit million dollar prototype race bike though is it, imagine if he said "I can't really be bothered today, just turned up to do my hours and then I just want the hell out of here" Everyone has an opinion I respect that, but Rossi got beat fair and square in 2010 by someone on the same bike and Stoner could win on that Desomsedici without all the effort Rossi has had poured into its development. I know many won't agree but I think we have unfortunately seen the best of Rossi. Its very rare for champions in any sport to get out when they are at the top of their game and I truly believe Rossi loves to race and maybe there is some race wins left in him and maybe he can turn the Desomsedici into a more balanced and complete race package but win another title ? sorry its not happening for me, although I genuinely hope I m wrong, not because I m a Rossi fan but for the racing to improve and the competition be closer.
You say in 2010 rossi was out classed by lorenzo on the same bike .yes in the first few races this was true but it also happened in 2009. But then rossi broke his leg. he also came back a little to early and was still capable of battling with stoner. yes i do think we have seen the best of rossi but has he totally lost it... no other wise he would be in f1 or rally driving by now. he still has the hunger and thats what gives you the edge not youth. a certain joey dunlop proved that a drcade ago
Pre season speculation/banter/expectations/hopes/opinions.......great innit? The only problem is, stoner is gonna piss it. There, now i've said it, fate Will intervene and it will be any one of 5, just to prove me wrong! (fingers crossed) lol
I think we are actually in agreement as I m not saying Rossi has totally lost it just as you say we have seen the best of him. Yes Rossi broke his leg badly but the fact is world champions are consistent and finish races with points. Rossi crashed as he was over his limit and that's because Lorenzo s constant pressure did that to him.
I think we are actually in agreement as I m not saying Rossi has totally lost it just as you say we have seen the best of him. Yes Rossi broke his leg badly but the fact is world champions are consistent and finish races with points. Rossi crashed as he was over his limit and that's because Lorenzo s constant pressure did that to him.
IMO it's still gonna be inconclusive, the point about rossi being past it, simply because he's riding the duke. If him, stoner, lorenzo and pedrosa were all on the same bikes for a season.......wait, now there's an idea to promote what could be a faltering series. The ducati, in comparison to honda and yamaha, is a new bike. Nobody enters motogp with a 'new' bike and expects to be seriously competetive, surely? So, IMO, its difficult to see one way or the other if rossi is past it. It's the old conundrum isn't it? Who's the GOAT? Who knows? Different machinery, tyres, eras......bit like asking if ali is better than tyson...etc
I'm a massive rossi fan! He's been a true game changer and the best talent we've ever seen on a bike, bar none! Throughout his career he has only had one main rival which he has dispatched with ease - think biaggi, gibenau However in recent years he has come up against a number of world class guys in stoner, Lorenzo and pedrosa (on his day) which obviously make it harder to win, yet on the whole, up until his leg he was there or there abouts challenging and winning races and titles... Of course he has slowed down, hes older, won everything and has nothing to prove... And these young guys are bloody good. But History will show each time he hasn't won the title he has been written off, a new Dawn of young talent, Hayden, stoner, Lorenzo and stoner again - yet he has come back stronger... Hunger desire and speed must be hard to maintain when you are on top and worth £100m but being hammered last year must put some fire back in the belly... Which is why if duke deliver I think he will be back up there with them... Let's face it, none of them like actually racing him do they. You can never write Rossi off, just this time it's going to be harder than ever!! And if it doesn't work out, think it'll be time to say thanks for the memories mr Rossi - it's been emotional.
Someone once asked me if I'd step into the ring with Tyson for a million pounds. And the answer was, of course I would. Why? Well, he wouldn't have to hit me too hard to put me down and he would only have to hit me the once. I've had worse concussion for a smaller paycheck. Anyway, Rossi. Like you Jimbo, I'm a huge fan but it'd be silly to try and work out what was going on inside the goat's head last year. He's got a much better race brain than me and even I could see there was little point of putting his neck on the line with the bike in the state it was in. Was he using the year as an expensive development programme? Who knows. I'm sure if the new bike does well that will be the claim. Did he just think 'sod it' I'm getting paid anyway, I'll cruise.'? I'd like to hope not, it's hardly the stuff of champions. But I'm certain it would have occurred to me were I in his boots. Was he trying as hard as he is capable on a bike that kept letting him down? Sometimes the body language said yes sometimes it said no. Usually it said yes after Ducati claimed a Eureka moment in the saga of the overstiff frame, and said no when they were admitting they were stumped. The damn bike has never rewarded smooth style such as Rossi's anyway. Stoner never tamed it but he did work out where it's corners were. Why? because he rides like a monkey on a rodeo bull. That's why he continues to moan about it even today when he doesn't have to do battle with the evil piece of misery. Nobody listened then because he was still winning races on it. Their mistake was not giving enough of that credit to his tree dwelling antipodean genes and refusing to make the bike fit for human habitation. The changing dynamic surrounding the Ducati pit was probably the most interesting bit of 2011 MotoGP One thing is absolutely certain we'll never know what was happening inside his head until he writes his autobiography after retirement. And then he'll lie about it. It is Vale after all.
Good post ken! One point about Rossi not trying - I read a comment somewhere that dianese were moaning as he had been through more sets of leathers in 2011 than he had in about the last ten! Sure there are some more accurate statistics, but hardly the actions of a guy who isn't trying or pushing his bike to the limit!
Thats true. I can't remember ever seeing him fall of quite so much, but it did seem to correlate to a comment on an improvement here and a statement on a breakthrough there. It was almost as if they were telling him 'It works now, rag it's tit's off' (it probably sounds cooler in Italian), then when he did it he fell off. But look how often he qualified badly but raced above expectation. That's the contribution of the racing brain, the battle as opposed to the simulator.
And a bit of rain levels the bikes - each time he put it in contention. Suggests to me he is still up for it and capable (although I except he isn't as good as what he was and his rivals are more talented and plentiful than befor) But given the bike - think he can't be written off. All else fails 2014 - goes to Honda for a fair fight with stoner??
I don't think Honda would want him back. They've got a dream team line up, Stoner does what he's told, Pedrosa's the best of the rest when he stay's on. (sorry Lorenzo fans, but it's just physics. Vino's lost more weight this last week than Pedrosa's bike has to carry) By 2014 there'll be loads of real talent climbing over the Moto2 fence to wipe away the has beens and the seat warmers currently residing in MotGP.
that is a very good point. the best thing to create a level playing field is rain. everytime it rained in 2010 rossi was back at the front setting fastest lap times and with the amount of electronics around in moto gp today wet weather riding is one of the few chances to see who has complete control over the bike. i think valentino showed he still had it. (apart from taking stoner out)
motogp.com · Behind the scenes: A sneak peek at the GP12 i cant wait for tuesday, its going to be very very interesting
Dont be daft... You wouldn't compare two strikers with each others goal record if one spent half the season out with a broken leg??
also out of the first 3 races that rossi was fit in 2010 rossi beat lorenzo at the first round then was only 0.8 seconds behind him at the second round, i wouldnt say he couldnt stay with lorenzo's pace at all, as already said isnt pre season banter brilliant
Oh dear Well I'm a stoner fan, and I really don't see what all the fuss is about and never had, I don't see the moaning, I see & hear a guy who speaks his mind that's all...He just dosnt wave at the camera to make all his fans feel 'special'..... So what .....Stoner is an absolute talent that the world hasn't seen for a good number of years, as Lorenzo said he's 'a supernaturally-talented rider'..... And that's coming from a world champ. Rossi, yes of course he's good, but all things come to an end and Rossi WILL end his career sooner rather than later.... But things carry on. Me, I just can't wait for the season to start, Who ever wins I just want the series to survive......
