Schwantz puts the boot into Stoner.

[HenryDorsetCase]

nice.

http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/motorsp...goes-walkabout

Schwantz told a teleconference: ''As a rider, my gut feeling is Casey needs to be out there competing. For me, to have signed a contract … you're signing a contract to compete unless something is medically wrong with you. I'm out there doing the best I can. Whether I can give 100 per cent every weekend or not is kind of the question.

''But for me it's a real disappointment, and I think Casey is a great competitor, and I think maybe a little bit more of this has to do with something behind the scenes that maybe none of us quite yet know about.

''Maybe that's just some Stoner hard feelings towards Ducati or towards the series… But to just decide you're going to skip three races and see if you feel any better at the end of it, to me, is a little bit out of the norm.

''What I have heard and what I have seen is that Casey has been struggling with some type of an illness, whether it was a stomach bug or whatever, at a bunch of the earlier grand prixs I went to. In the Czech Republic, he wasn't there, and still with no form of illness that has been diagnosed by doctors, that I've heard, anyway.''

nice. not.

[MIXONE]

He's only saying what the rest of us are thinking though.

[Maha]

Gone from hero to zero inside a year? Could be hard to take for someone so young. Needs is mummy.

[HenryDorsetCase]

inferring he is a bgb* or scared of the speed or he is lazy or not committed is way over the top in my view. Maybe its reverse psychology designed to bring the mongrel out in casey.


*big girls blouse

[Benk]

inferring he is a bgb* or scared of the speed or he is lazy or not committed is way over the top in my view. Maybe its reverse psychology designed to bring the mongrel out in casey.


*big girls blouse

Your right. Factory riders should be allowed a little "me" time mid season. Everybody should stop being so MEAN

[HenryDorsetCase]

Your right. Factory riders should be allowed a little "me" time mid season. Everybody should stop being so MEAN

I dunno why everyone bags on him: he has spent seven odd years getting to where he is, battled thru the 125 and 250 ranks, and was World Champ: anybody who does that doesnt lack grit, stickability, or willingness to work. I think if he thought he could be there he would be, gut given he might have potentially another five or six or eight years in the top class (he is 23 and Rossi is 30, right) maybe he is taking a long view.

I dont know really, and its as pointless as talking about whats happening on Coronation Street (which is my yardstick for all that is pointless):

I think Kev went too far, my opinion.

[Benk]

I dunno why everyone bags on him:

Because its fun.

I dont know really, and its as pointless as talking about whats happening on Coronation Street (which is my yardstick for all that is pointless)

Cant comment on coro street. Flatmates have banned me

[Mort]

At the peak of his "illness" he could still get on the podium (can't remember what race it was).... god help him if he ever gets a serious injury (Like Doohan or Sheene).... He seems like a fragile character to me.... brilliant rider but weal otherwise.

Having said that, he may have looked at this season and thought if he was going to take the time off to get sorted he may as well get it done with whilst Rossi is on a roll.

I hope he comes back strong and gets stuck in again. He is too good to loose.

[HenryDorsetCase]

I had high hopes for Pedrosa and hRC and look how that turned out.

bring back Doohan I say, gammy leg and all.

[vifferman]

I was talking about Stoner with my wife, after reading the original Schwantz cooments (not your post). To me, Stoner is paid by Ducati to do well and make them look good. If he's off-colour, and not winning (but still getting high placings, apart from when he and Hayden went out on wets), then it's better than him sitting out races and someone like Kallio finishing further down the table. By sitting out 3 races, he's throwing away (potentially) 75 championship points for him and Ducati. If guys can ride with broken ankles, collarbones, fingers, etc. why can't he ride (even if it's not resulting in wins) with a tummy problem?
I don't know all the ins and outs of what's going on, but it seems like he needs to harden the fuck up and do what he's paid (quite handsomely!) to do. It makes him look like he's just being a sulky whining Aussie.

[HenryDorsetCase]

what he does have is Ducati by the balls... he is the only one who can ride their bike!

imagine having a significant other into racing! great effort. I have all my best racing conversations with my imaginary friends. They dont argue back like you bastards either. Unless you're all imaginary too........

[svr]

I'm a big Stoner fan - and you cannot question his `hardness', but if people can cycle the tour de france with broken collarbones...., and Doohan could race with a mangled leg...., etc, etc., Casey should be able to ride with a little virus!
And he was still going ok fer chrisakes.

[Benk]

And he was still going ok fer chrisakes.

And thats the key for me. If he was picking up 1 or 2 points a race, then yeah, its in their best interests to make sure hes 100%, but still scoring podiums is not exactly slow

[sAsLEX]

what he does have is Ducati by the balls... he is the only one who can ride their bike!

Rossi should swap for a race or two after he has clinched the title.....

No one was winning on Yamaha......

[Creeping Death]

Have been a Schwantz fan since he first entered 500GP's on the Pepsi Suzuki,even was a member of his official fan club,wore my prized Arai Lucky Strike replica with pride,pasted his sponsors stickers all over my GSXR back in the day and even though I wasn't there when he came to NZ earlier this year,had the utmost respect for the man.

That's out the window now.

The only person who know's if your up to it is YOU yourself.For Kev to question another riders desire to race is a complete "fuck you" moment to me.

Anyone remember when Wayne Rainey was paralysed in that accident at Misano which effectivley handed the Championship to Schwantz?And Kev himself said he might chuck it in at that time?

I'm still a Schwantz fan,but for him to sit in judgement not knowing the full story is absolute bullshit to me.