Rossi ditching Ducati for Honda

**Brett** · 5th August 2011, 23:13

I think that this backs up the results...that Ducati have fundamental engineering issues with their machines and Rossi doesn't see a foreseeable future where they can sort this out. yes, Stoner had some wins on the Duc, that is only because he is a phenomenal rider, not because the Ducati was suddenly a great bike.
Love or hate Rossi, he is not a mid to tail end of the pack racer. He is a top 5 racer on any given day on a decent bike. He is getting on in the years now and if I was him I would also be looking to swap teams so that my last few seasons could be good ones.

**BMWST?** · 5th August 2011, 23:24

Originally Posted by Brett

I think that this backs up the results...that Ducati have fundamental engineering issues with their machines and Rossi doesn't see a foreseeable future where they can sort this out. yes, Stoner had some wins on the Duc, that is only because he is a phenomenal rider, not because the Ducati was suddenly a great bike.
Love or hate Rossi, he is not a mid to tail end of the pack racer. He is a top 5 racer on any given day on a decent bike. He is getting on in the years now and if I was him I would also be looking to swap teams so that my last few seasons could be good ones.

i think you are right on every count,but i think he will stay at Ducati until they get the bike to work.It will be a disaster for Rossi,Burgess and Ducati if they cant make the bike at least able to battle for the lead.

**White trash** · 6th August 2011, 07:50

Originally Posted by MIXONE

Tall poppy syndrome anyone?
Rossi is the goat and always will be.

Originally Posted by Deano

He's only the goat until someone better comes along. Never say never

Listen you two retards, Rossi is not the GOAT. Some fucken unimaginative commentator or reporter stole the nickname from it's rightful owner RICKY CARMICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Deano** · 6th August 2011, 07:55

Originally Posted by White trash

Listen you two retards, Rossi is not the GOAT. Some fucken unimaginative commentator or reporter stole the nickname from it's rightful owner RICKY CARMICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Your retarded for comparing apples and oranges. What has Ricky achieved on the asphalt ? In any case, I still think Mick is the Man.

**Deano** · 6th August 2011, 07:57

Originally Posted by White trash

Listen you two retards, Rossi is not the GOAT. Some fucken unimaginative commentator or reporter stole the nickname from it's rightful owner RICKY CARMICHAEL!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IIRC, Colin Edwards referred to Rossi as the GOAT in Faster 2.

**White trash** · 6th August 2011, 07:57

Originally Posted by Deano

Your retarded for comparing apples and oranges. What has Ricky achieved on the asphalt ? In any case, I still think Mick is the Man.

You miss my point. The GOAT was coined for Ricky Carmichael years before the asphalt poofters even thought of calling Rossi it.

**Deano** · 6th August 2011, 08:01

Originally Posted by White trash

You miss my point. The GOAT was coined for Ricky Carmichael years before the asphalt poofters even thought of calling Rossi it.

The term was probably coined well before that for someone somewhere not even associated with bike racing.

**Latte** · 6th August 2011, 08:01

Originally Posted by White trash

You miss my point. The GOAT was coined for Ricky Carmichael years before the asphalt poofters even thought of calling Rossi it.

+1 , it's like calling someone from MX the doctor, or the texas tornado.

**Dodgyiti** · 6th August 2011, 08:04

Originally Posted by onearmedbandit

Stoner proved that the Duc was capable of winning, in the right hands, namely his. No one else has had the same level of success on them.

Exactly. At the end of last season Stoner had a race winning, pole setting bike. Enter Rossi and suddenly the Ducati is shit

The entire season of Rossi on the Ducati has been very discouraging. Rossi got on the Yamaha and made it win, why can't he get on the Ducati and do the same when it was winning to begin with... could he not be such a great rider as we would imagine?
Could this also say something for Casey Stoner's skills?
No one has had the success he has on the Ducati, and Nicky Hayden is no slouch- and he can not get a podium unless a few guys crash out and he has been on that bike for years now.
Then Casey jumps straight on the Honda and wins races against Pedrosa (in full health) and Dovi who have both been on that bike for a few years.
As for a switch to Honda, if you have been following the financial crisis in Italy, you would steer clear of any Italian companies right now...

**Kiwi Graham:Me** · 6th August 2011, 08:38

Originally Posted by Deano

The term was probably coined well before that for someone somewhere not even associated with bike racing.

Yep, first time I heard the term was associated with Mohammed Ali

**Crasherfromwayback** · 6th August 2011, 09:53

Originally Posted by Dodgyiti

Exactly. At the end of last season Stoner had a race winning, pole setting bike. Enter Rossi and suddenly the Ducati is shit

The entire season of Rossi on the Ducati has been very discouraging. Rossi got on the Yamaha and made it win, why can't he get on the Ducati and do the same when it was winning to begin with... could he not be such a great rider as we would imagine?
Could this also say something for Casey Stoner's skills?
No one has had the success he has on the Ducati, and Nicky Hayden is no slouch- and he can not get a podium unless a few guys crash out and he has been on that bike for years now.
Then Casey jumps straight on the Honda and wins races against Pedrosa (in full health) and Dovi who have both been on that bike for a few years.
As for a switch to Honda, if you have been following the financial crisis in Italy, you would steer clear of any Italian companies right now...

Rossi can do no wrong...even if he whimps out and jumps ship. Hell, he did it with Michelin tyres a few years ago. It's like the silly old joke. How many gears did a 2nd world war Italian tank have? 5. I forward and four reverse.

**Mental Trousers** · 6th August 2011, 10:07

Originally Posted by Dodgyiti

As for a switch to Honda, if you have been following the financial crisis in Italy, you would steer clear of any Italian companies right now...

With Rossi at Ducati they have a good chance to do well through the current Italian financial problems. Without him, Ducati is dead. Italians are all about soul and emotion etc and if he leaves the Italian public would go suicidal. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if the Italian Government stepped in to ensure he stays with Ducati. This sort of shit is that important to Italians.

**Crasherfromwayback** · 6th August 2011, 10:15

Originally Posted by Mental Trousers

With Rossi at Ducati they have a good chance to do well through the current Italian financial problems. Without him, Ducati is dead. Italians are all about soul and emotion etc and if he leaves the Italian public would go suicidal. Hell, it wouldn't surprise me if the Italian Government stepped in to ensure he stays with Ducati. This sort of shit is that important to Italians.

He'd risk being shot if he left them!