Laguna - Spoiler!

**gav** · 22nd July 2008, 23:50

Originally Posted by svr

You lot are a bit quick putting the knife into Stoner. Even Rossi has said his comments are understandable. The young fella was speaking his mind which is better than the corporate PC lies we normally have to stomach from sportsmen who are thinking something else.
Rossi knew that all Stoner needed was 3 corners to get away - and showed all his incredible passing skill in denying him. About half the passes (from each rider) were pretty desperate - not a worry if you're watching or happen to win... Rossi will have to keep qualifying / starting with Stoner to keep pulling this trick off, of course.
What a treat though! Bit of a worry that Stoner can crash and still finish second comfortably - motoGP (and Michelin) needs a fit Pedrosa, Lorenzo (traction control my arse) & a Dovisioso with another year's experience. And another 15 bikes on the grid.

I think Laguna really suited Rossi for his plan of spoiling Stoner's lines and the Ducati still isnt as agile as the nimble Yamaha, can't see him doing the same at Brno though. The long straight and big wide smooth corners is going to be a different environment to the tight, bumpy, dirty off the main line setup that is Laguna.
Interesting to see another Yamaha/Ducati dice in WSBK though, this time the Ducati came out on top.

**Cleve** · 23rd July 2008, 00:39

watched that Laguna race 3 times now and can't get enough (as an aside the Eurosport commentary guys were so much more passionate than the BBC guys, so think when I download from racingunderground again will always so the Eurosport version).
Yes that race is up there with the Biaggi and Gibernau battles with Rossi. Except I think Stoner is someone who is actually up to the challenge more than those other 2 ever were.

**merv** · 24th July 2008, 13:36

Always love the stuff on Soup like this picture http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image...2/_BEE1433.htm

'Ya know, I rode a Ninja once, too...in Top Gun. I wheelied it. Didn?t end up on crutches, though.'

**merv** · 24th July 2008, 13:38

Then this one http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image...2/_BEE2125.htm

Stoner got some unexpected curling exercises in on Sunday.

**merv** · 24th July 2008, 13:40

This one is probably the funniest http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image...2/_BEE2324.htm

A 'that's just racing' slap on the butt from Rossi probably didn't do much to quell Stoner's ire.

**NinjaBoy** · 24th July 2008, 14:43

Originally Posted by denill

Stoner tho should have just grinned. And thought silently about pay-back. He didn't and now Rossi knows he's got to him.

Yep... the mind games have begun

**Cleve** · 24th July 2008, 22:58

Originally Posted by Cleve

I have enormous respect for both men as racers but lost A LOT of respect for Casey as a man after the race with his comments.

In retrospect I think I may have been a bit hard on the young fella.
He is 21 ffs. What did I say at that age that I now think was plain stupid and dumb...?

**Crasherfromwayback** · 25th July 2008, 08:04

Originally Posted by merv

This one is probably the funniest http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image...2/_BEE2324.htm

A 'that's just racing' slap on the butt from Rossi probably didn't do much to quell Stoner's ire.

Yeah...check this though...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jul/080724a.htm

**merv** · 25th July 2008, 08:43

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Yeah...check this though...

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jul/080724a.htm

Yeah cute, he likes to play all the cards

**denill** · 25th July 2008, 10:41

Those who have commented that Stoner should just 'harden up' may be interested to read:

Rossi said - last April. "I'm also quite unhappy with Elias today because I think he was quite dangerous - more than once he passed me on the inside and then altered his line. This is not a correct way to race."

**"D" FZ1** · 25th July 2008, 10:56

Originally Posted by Crasherfromwayback

Was a race and a half! Hats off to the winner!!

Yip. Best race I have watched in ages. Go Rossi.

**skaz** · 25th July 2008, 11:22

Originally Posted by denill

Those who have commented that Stoner should just 'harden up' may be interested to read:

Rossi said - last April. "I'm also quite unhappy with Elias today because I think he was quite dangerous - more than once he passed me on the inside and then altered his line. This is not a correct way to race."

I think he was pissed about Elias changing line while stuffing it up the inside, not the actual act of passing itself. Rossi stated in response to Casey's complaints that he never went off line or ran wide while going through.

**NZsarge** · 25th July 2008, 16:39

Originally Posted by skaz

I think he was pissed about Elias changing line while stuffing it up the inside, not the actual act of passing itself. Rossi stated in response to Casey's complaints that he never went off line or ran wide while going through.

....

**orangeback** · 25th July 2008, 18:00

Laguna Seca
There is no doubt Stoner is talented but he is still a bit prissy considering his complaints about the passing. Rossi is the only rider in the field with the balls to pull moves like this even when his bike isn't setup perfectly. If Stoner doesn't like being challenged then pull out of racing. Or, balls up and take the fight to Rossi. If Stoner had been competing in WSBK in the 90s he'd have had a lot more to complain about.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiEJzgv0lzg

**gav** · 27th July 2008, 18:51

Originally Posted by skaz

I think he was pissed about Elias changing line while stuffing it up the inside, not the actual act of passing itself. Rossi stated in response to Casey's complaints that he never went off line or ran wide while going through.

Never went off line or ran wide?

http://www.mcnews.com.au/MotorcycleR...oner/index.htm