Manhood and Philip Island - spoiler

[sondela]

All I can say is, the way he handled that Ducati yesterday gives him the right to be whatever he wanted to be after the race, he rode like a champion!

This time, he was great, and he was probably that hyped on adrenalin he wasn't even aware of what he was saying...

[FiBee]

I read a good article on top riders and how that very arrogance is part of what makes them so good. They need to have it to a point to win, that 100% self belief that they are the very best. Also, can you imagine trying to contain an ego after just completing one of the most adrenaline inducing acts on the planet (riding a motogp bike in a race).

The poor old modern racer has to be a stunning natural talent, a PR expert, Fitness Fanatic and have a degree in political science to navigate the bullshit. I could imagine nothing worse than having loads of reporters shoving a micro phone in your face and telling you to talk about yourself, especially if same said reporter had been constantly fucking your arse with their ignorant bullshit for months prior (stoners over training exhaustion, which incidentally, I believed him all the way)

I think a lot of fans are not quite aware of just how larger part psychological warfare plays in this game. It matters not that Stoner is not pressuring Rossi for the championship, Stoner is just thinking about the next race, and is reminding Rossi, there will be no seagulls to help him out next time.

Stoner is not my favourite rider by a long chalk, but motorcycle racing is not for mealy mouthed nancy boys/girls needing to be socially accepted either.

(btw Rossi is the best on all levels, and is a Pr maestro, and also a total freak, so he is excluded from the above!)

well put... although personally i love it if the quietly-confident competitors (any sport) kick arse over the arrogant ones

[saxet]

I thought Casey's attutude was pretty good and his post race interview was similar to many interviews by many other riders. Rossi has given interviews that were similar when he won.
Perhaps his comments were miscontrued or misinterperrted.
I see Foggy has been mentioned. He got right up my nose until I read his book and got to understand his mindset. E.G. if I can't win I don't want to play.
Lets not forget that Rossi is a master mind game player but more and more people are on to him.

[pritch]

I watched the interviews at lunchtime and didn't note any truculence or whining by any of the three. Pedrosa didn't smile, but he doesn't much.

[chrispy121]

I have to say rossi and stoner rode great and I did not think the interview was bad except for pedrossa I really dont like the guy he never smiles he hate every one else while rossi and stoner were shaking hands on the podium peds was over in the corner licking his wounds maybe some one should give him media coaching oh thats right he has.
On the attitude of Rossi no doubt he is an all time great but he is pissed off that Lorenso has been resigned because then he will have competition in his own team.

[BMWST?]

i think rossi is more respectful of stoner...i think everyone knows the duke is "special" but casey can still ride the wheels of it...I am not saying lorenzo is not a threat,but at least the bike is a known quantity to val...with stoner/ducati anything could happen next year

[crazyhorse]

Well, I enjoyed the race - Rossi gained on him, slipped back, gained on him, slipped back. Nearly took him a couple of times, but didn't. I thought it was great. Good on Stoner's win - good come back, although not a surprise on the home track.

[slowpoke]

Good on Stoner's win - good come back, although not a surprise on the home track.

It's not really Stoner's home track, Rossi has raced it more times than he has. Stoner's family took him to Europe at a very young age to further his career and I doubt he even raced it as a lil' tacker, let alone on anything like a MotoGP bike.

I'm not a big Stoner fan but it's pretty hard to fault that performance.

[James Deuce]

I was hoping Doohan would go mental and punch a transexual.

[James Deuce]

I watched the interviews at lunchtime and didn't note any truculence or whining by any of the three. Pedrosa didn't smile, but he doesn't much.

They forgot to turn his emotion chip on. Again.

[BMWST?]

the yanks reckon there are four aliens who race in motogp,the rest are human.

[jonbuoy]

nah
same interview but [note my disclaimer] we obviously picked up on different things

---------- f'rinstance - you missed the inference about the seagulls .... and also, in the Rossi interview, that Rossi SAID he was trying

I said nothing detrimental about Stoner's riding (am in ab solutely NO position to) only his attitude .........
once again, we saw things differently, YOU saw someone you could excuse as 'uncomfortable with the attention' - I saw a whining, whinging, self-agrandising poor-winner eager to put across the impression that the only reason Rossi was able to catch him was because of act-of-seagull.

it's not as though this is the first or only time he's displayed this attitude.

the only excuse i make for him is that he was born and brought up australian .... and whinging/feeling hard done by/being less than magnanimous in victory and playing the victim in defeat seems to be(from my own observation while living here) a national trait.

I can only hear one person whining

[george formby]

Yeah right!

For Rossi the choice was risking a bin to challenge Stoner for the race win, or to follow close and be in a position to win if Stoner binned or to pick up a safe twenty points for the championship in the event Stoner didn't bin.

Gee, tough choice.

Looked to me that Rossi was doing what he doe's best, being smart. For years now he has pressurised leading riders, watching their every move & either passing or learning their strengths & weaknesses for the next race. I think he would have learnt alot about Stoner & the Ducati on Sunday. Stoner had a huge point to make, Rossi did not. Bring on the next round & I bet we can see Stoner humble or making excuses in defeat.

[mstriumph]

I can only hear one person whining

You didn't catch the interview?

No matter - wait till next time - you'll get another opportunity for sure

[FROSTY:Me]

I heard it quite a bit different Ms T. I heard a guy that desperately wanted to shout --'FUCK YOU LOT--see I can go faster than anyone else in the world" and was deliberately downplaying it.
It sure puts paid to all the negative press from his critics.
It must seriously suck being at that level of the sport where not only your on track but also every word you say offtrack is sifted through by the media.