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[steved]

Didn't he also cop flack for changing from Honda to Yamaha and look what happened there. He is a thinker. let's see.

Cheers

I don't think you'll find too many people who would say that Rossi's first Yammie was better than the RC211V. The fact that the Yammie was slower just highlights how fantastic Rossi was riding those three seasons.

I think Rossi made an ego call with Bridgestone tires. He can't accept that Stoner beat him on rider ability so he blamed Michelin.

The Ducati isn't even very good. Look at what every other good rider has done on the 2007 and 2008 Ducati (so far). Watch everyone else ride a whole lot faster. Stoner has some magic with it that no-one else can figure out.

[Marknz]

The Ducati isn't even very good.

That's a huge statement! Can you explain how you come to that conclusion?

[ElCoyote]

I don't think you'll find too many people who would say that Rossi's first Yammie was better than the RC211V. The fact that the Yammie was slower just highlights how fantastic Rossi was riding those three seasons.

I think Rossi made an ego call with Bridgestone tires. He can't accept that Stoner beat him on rider ability so he blamed Michelin.

The Ducati isn't even very good. Look at what every other good rider has done on the 2007 and 2008 Ducati (so far). Watch everyone else ride a whole lot faster. Stoner has some magic with it that no-one else can figure out.

I think we are reading off the same page although I am assuming that after following Stoner for a season he would have seen a measureable difference. The year after joining Yamaha Rossi only lost to Haydn by falling in the last race of the year which indicates the fact that he was 10/10th and not on the fastest bike. Last year, the Ducati was clearly faster but had Rossi not had an engine blowup (Untried Pneumatic valve engine) and an off because he was on a slower bike (See previous) he would have taken the title.

This is not trying to deny Stoner his rightful title but I hope illustrates that Rossi is not afraid to make what others consider a backward move. Hopefully a move to Bridgestones will prove him right again.

I do not think the Qatar times are reflective of the potential of the better riders who are content to fox and test while the newbies are trying to set the world alight and make their mark. When the flag drops the bullshit stops.

I only hope for a safe series and a worthy champion, unlike F1 with it's spy allegations, a sulky Spaniard and Bernie's interference.

Cheers

Phil

[SlowHand]

That's what I thought, till I saw the bikes in action at Phillip Island.

I think that duc's a machine and a half. I can't quote the round etc, but when Capirossi stopped thinking about his lunch, and put the hammer down, he hauled. May even have been practice at PI..

I'm just grumpy hoppers joined the crappy gangreen gang.

[steved]

That's a huge statement! Can you explain how you come to that conclusion?

It's largely a feelings based statement so I admit to a large extent it is worthless.

I just can't understand what Stoner is doing on the Ducati to make it as fast as he makes it. No-one else can do anything with it. Other Ducati riders on identical equipment to Stoner, are absolutely miles off his pace. Further, they look hopeless and riding well short of the talent they had shown on previous bikes. I can't explain what Stoner is doing but whatever he is doing, it bloody works.

[denill]

I just can't understand what Stoner is doing on the Ducati to make it as fast as he makes it. No-one else can do anything with it. Other Ducati riders on identical equipment to Stoner, are absolutely miles off his pace. Further, they look hopeless and riding well short of the talent they had shown on previous bikes. I can't explain what Stoner is doing but whatever he is doing, it bloody works.

So is it going to be Stoner again in '08?

I think so. Poor Gaz is backin a loser.

[roogazza]

Not going by the poll sweet thing !!!! Gaz.

[madkeenandy]

It's largely a feelings based statement so I admit to a large extent it is worthless.

I just can't understand what Stoner is doing on the Ducati to make it as fast as he makes it. No-one else can do anything with it. Other Ducati riders on identical equipment to Stoner, are absolutely miles off his pace. Further, they look hopeless and riding well short of the talent they had shown on previous bikes. I can't explain what Stoner is doing but whatever he is doing, it bloody works.

i dunno maybe its an aussie thing.... way back at the final round of the 2006 season, Troy Bayliss rode the duke (990) and absolutely blitzed the field...
maybe Caparossi didn't suit it??? i dont know...(Melandri in this season = ???) what i do know is that it was still faster than the yamaha and often had the better tyres...

but changing the tyres won't nessecarily help rossi much, as he has no datat, blah blah blah, etc etc and michelin will have hopefully got their act together this year

should be a good season (as usual )

[BarryG]

I think Rossi's switch to Bridgestones was as much to keep him interested as anything else, a bit like going from Honda to Yamaha. I think he's at the stage where he needs a challenge, where he needs to make life a bit harder for himself, in a way. I'd think he's delighted at being a fly in the ointment of Yamaha/Michelin.
I suspect the Yam will still be a little down on speed on most of the others, but it's getting to be a pretty fine line between power and fuel consumption so there may be some trade-off at the end of a race. Mind you, nobody actually ran out of fuel last year, did they?
After looking at testing times, it's obvious that the tyre companies are working on compounds that will better suit anticipated temps and possible humidity of a night race, and we may not see that translate into other venues. A bit like Daytona - the teams reckon it's a one off race in a place that has no relevance to any other US tracks they go to. Qatar at night may be the same.
Roll on Saturday (or Sunday, really, they won't show the race till 6pm our time here).
Cheers
Barry

[denill]

I think Rossi's switch to Bridgestones was as much to keep him interested as anything else, a bit like going from Honda to Yamaha. I think he's at the stage where he needs a challenge, where he needs to make life a bit harder for himself, in a way. I'd think he's delighted at being a fly in the ointment of Yamaha/Michelin.

Normally agree with you Barrry, but not today. Val was totally pissed off to see Stoner running away from him every weekend.

His move to Bridgestone was his answer to getting parity with Mrs Stoner's husband.

[Matt Bleck]

Starts at 5.55am Monday 10th March Sky Sport 3..... might pay to pull a sick day!

[BarryG]

'totally pissed off to see Stoner running away' - as was everyone else!
I can see why Vale wants to be on the same tyres as Stoner, for sure, he probably felt that Michelin had been resting on their laurels a bit too long on relying on him to get them world championships, and he felt they no longer appreciated him when they didn't (wouldn't or couldn't?) produce tyres consistent enough to match Bridgestone.
Throwing his Michelins out of the pram might backfire on him still, if they do manage to step it up just the bit they were missing last year. I reckon Pedrosa and Hayden will be his main opposition this year, apart from Stoner. He'll be mightily pissed if they beat him regularly, especially if he thinks it's their tyres!
Maybe the real answer will be Vale's tax problems over, and the appearance of a new girlfriend - tyres are just a red herring
It's all good for us, at the end of the day.

Cheers
Barry

[SlowHand]

......
Maybe the real answer will be Vale's tax problems over, and the appearance of a new girlfriend - tyres are just a red herring
It's all good for us, at the end of the day.

Cheers
Barry

Poor Uccio. Who dumped who?

[denill]

Poor Uccio. Who dumped who?

Michellins, now Uccio??

[roogazza]

Michellins, now Uccio??

Monday morning mate, and if you hear laughing , it'll be coming from Kapiti !
( no excuses, but I still doubt this night race will be plain sailing).. Gaz.