MotoGP 2012

[bogan]

"I won one race and got on the podium twice!!"

Ummmm...Stoner won 10 races. The only comparison you can do it this. Stoner got off the Ducati after the last race in Valencia, and did lap record pace on the Honda day after. Rossi got on the very same Ducati Stoner just climbed off...and was 1 & 1/2 seconds if not 2 full seconds off the pace. Kinda sums it up.

Hondas are much easier to set up and ride than Ducatis?

Rossi's been around a while, and maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks when racing at that level, or maybe he's just been around long enough. We'll find out next year There are so many factors determining the success of a rider/manufacturer/team combination, the rider skill is only one; but speculation is good for seat filling.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Rossi's been around a while, and maybe you can't teach an old dog new tricks .

After breaking his leg I'm sure he decided early in the piece that trying too hard on that pile of shit could well result in more hospital visits. Stupid he ain't.

[Mental Trousers]

Who do you reckon will take who out first? Lorenzo or Rossi?

VR to take out JL. Lorenzo is the faster rider and he's been on the Yam for the last 2 years.

[tail_end_charlie]

With as much success Rossi has had in the GP racing (9x WC) I would think that he is looking more at maintaining his legacy rather then winning races just to win races. He knows that Lorenzo is his closest match (probably doesn't think that Lorenzo is any better then himself, cause these guys have that much self confidence) and will know that it will be a out and out brawl to see which one o them could win a championship while both healthy and on the same bike. Rossi's legacy would be better served by sticking with the ugly Duckling and trying to build a competative MotoGP race bike out of it. If he could come out next year (lets face it, ain't gonna happen this year) and really challange Honda/Yamaha for the Championship, that would do more for his reputation than admitting defeat and running back to Yamaha. Even now that Ben is leaving (rather disappointing, hope he keeps racing somewhere) and an open Yamaha factory seat, I would surmise that Rossi is going to stay with Ducati for at least one more year, hoping that with Audi leaning on the Ducati leadership, that changes will happen and things will get better.


Now of course since I've said this Rossi will probably jump ship and make me look like a..............well, an L-plate rider I guess.

Ok, so my earlier prediction was blatantly wrong. However, I stand by my reasoning in it. Obviously Rossi has decided that eating crow and jumping back to a competative bike is more important that sticking with the Duc. I can understand that, still kinda disappointed though. I would really like to see the Ducati competative again, to at least allow for more bikes fights for the lead. One thing that I hadn't thought about though, was the possible reaction that Ducati may have if (now when) Rossi left. The interview with Masao Furusawa http://www.motomatters.com/interview...iting_ita.html seemed to indicate that Ducati are getting pretty damn desperate now. Maybe Rossi's leaving will help to convince them that they really need to take a different approach to R&D as well as the development of the bike. I mean, if Rossi can't ride it ..............................that would be a good indication that maybe the WC with Stoner was due more to good luck and a great rider rather than a good rider and a great bike.

[Shaun]

I dunno on that one. If I had to guess I would say VR taking out JL first, cause I think he'll have to be pushing to get back his form and reputation, whereas JL should be pretty confident that he's the best now. Then again, they could be boring and not take each other out. I've been waiting all season to see who takes out who first between Cal and Andrea, but it ain't happened. Rather disappointed in that.

very very strange thing to say, go watch boxing if you want blood

[tail_end_charlie]

very very strange thing to say, go watch boxing if you want blood

Oh calm down, that comment was made tongue in cheek.

[Drew]

very very strange thing to say, go watch boxing if you want blood

Oh calm down, that comment was made tongue in cheek.

He's a ranga, calm's got nothing to do with it!

[pritch]

Thank fuck he's going back to Yamaha. Who do you reckon will take who out first? Lorenzo or Rossi?

Lyn Jarvis commented on this. I hope the "talk" did not extend to, "No more Catalunyas, no more Motegis".


"The risk of a competitive Valentino Rossi is that he could take valuable points from Jorge Lorenzo in the final stretch of the title race, as he had done in Motegi in 2010. Was that a risk? It was something they had talked about, Jarvis admitted. "In the process of discussion with Valentino, we have obviously taken the opportunity to talk about the past. (snip) We have clarified the previous issues and explained obviously that we don't want to see any situations where our riders will be, shall we say, endangering the results of the other one."

[ktm84mxc]

Who ever thinks that Audi will put up with Ducati's adherence to their own ideas is sadly mistaken the Germans will put the right people in charge and make the big calls budget won't be an issue look what they did with Lambo. Expect to see a few KTM RD guys jumping ship to the Ducati GP team.

[BMWST?]

Who ever thinks that Audi will put up with Ducati's adherence to their own ideas is sadly mistaken the Germans will put the right people in charge and make the big calls budget won't be an issue look what they did with Lambo. Expect to see a few KTM RD guys jumping ship to the Ducati GP team.

How many of Stoners crew will go back to Ducati??

[pritch]

How many of Stoners crew will go back to Ducati??

It looks as if there will be some vacancies at Ducati. Yamaha say Rossi can bring his "garage staff" but that the details are to be sorted.

Musical chairs? But serious musical chairs because livlihoods are at stake.

[roogazza]

Lyn Jarvis commented on this. I hope the "talk" did not extend to, "No more Catalunyas, no more Motegis".


"The risk of a competitive Valentino Rossi is that he could take valuable points from Jorge Lorenzo in the final stretch of the title race, as he had done in Motegi in 2010. Was that a risk? It was something they had talked about, Jarvis admitted. "In the process of discussion with Valentino, we have obviously taken the opportunity to talk about the past. (snip) We have clarified the previous issues and explained obviously that we don't want to see any situations where our riders will be, shall we say, endangering the results of the other one."

After Horhay was beaten to the title in 08 and 09 by Rossi and then turning the tables in 2010 (although an injured Rossi).
I'll bet Horhay wants to beat Rossi fair and square on the same bike.
Bugger, this means I will be travelling next year.

[merv]

Bugger, this means I will be travelling next year.

The pain some of us have to bear eh Gaz

[roogazza]

The pain some of us have to bear eh Gaz

I'm getting serious, have Italian for Dummys out of the Library !

[Crasherfromwayback]

After Horhay was beaten to the title in 08 and 09 by Rossi and then turning the tables in 2010 (although an injured Rossi).
I'll bet Horhay wants to beat Rossi fair and square on the same bike.
Bugger, this means I will be travelling next year.

When Lorenzo was still learning the ropes you mean? Shit Gaz...you're more one eyed than I am. Lorenzo was beating Rossi fair and square when Rossi binned it mate.