Rossi, on a Factory prototype, outqualified by a CRT Maybe he should forget going back to Yamaha and go to WSB where would be guaranteed to get top 5 placings? Discuss.......
Well, whether the Ducati in its current form is capable of winning or not, at the moment it's not in his interest to do well on it. If he did, he'd be defeating his own point. So I guess we'll have to wait until next year to find out.
Good as he was can't see him getting any wins even on a Yam! Think he should have retired on top and not taken the risk of ending up with everyone feeling sorry for him.
Over the hill, my arse You don't become a 9 times world champion without knowing how to ride a bike very quickly. He's just had two miserable years hacking around on a bike that doesn't work for him. I'm sure that once he's back on his Yam he'll be fine. We got a taster of how good he still is during that wet race. Le Mans I think it was? He'll be back up there next season, I'm sure of it.
i'd love to agree with you - i've been a massive Rossi fan for years and think he has been the best thing for the sport and the biggest talent we have ever seen. In his prime, he would have spanked JL and CS, but he isnt in his prime, everyone slows down and others come through. Put Schumacher in the red bull, would he beat Vettel - No, who is the better driver - No debate!
Don't get me wrong, I'm a fan of all the top riders but surely a 9 times world champ should be able to figure the Duke out??? He's supposedly the goat isn't he? I actually hope he gets back to winning ways on the Yam so we can see some battles again but I fear that may not happen. There is only ONE Ducati Whisperer.....
also hard to compare against as imo the honda and yams are at a diff level to the duke today in comparison. it seems the duke has stood still whilst the others have improved making the gap even bigger. Taking nothing away from stoner though as he clearly is a special talent and can wrag the bike like no other. Just wish he was staying for next year, as i think the Honda and Yam are evenly matched and would have been a good settler - even if Rossi isnt in his prime - would have been interesting!
Definitely sad to see Stoner go. One of the most naturally gifted riders ever to walk the planet for sure. Just imagine if he'd been at Yamaha or Honda from 2006???
I've always been a big fan of Rossi but how many sportsmen have you known who try just once more never to attain the greatness they once had? No one wants to see him finish up like Schumacher or worst still the great joey! As with all great sportsmen his fans just can't accept when they get too old and the young guns come along and beat them. It's a shame to see him eating so much humble pie but once you make the comments you have to back them up, that goes for Burgess as well, fix the Ducati in 80 seconds, idiot.
Jerry Burgess is not an idiot and taking that quote out of context is doing him a dis-service. If you read the interview he gave at the time, he intimated that the Ducati *should* be fixable (predominantly since it won a championship) but they won't tell until they get their hands on it. He went on to elaborate that the bike is a tool and it should be honed at the track but not built at the track, i.e it's up to Ducati to provide at least a bike that has the potential to win races where Burgess and crew can hone it to Rossi's particular talents. If anything, he underestimated just how badly built the Ducati is for racing and the reticence by the honchos back in Bologna to make the wholesale changes to make it one. Ducati did relent on a few occasions but not enough for Rossi to risk his neck getting it onto the podium, and who can blame him? It's like Man United signing Robin van Persie and giving him a pair of clogs to play in. Yes he can adapt to a certain extent but a) not enough to keep up with the other players and b) why the hell should he?!
If you look back at the 2010 news it states that Rossi said it was impossible to assess the potential of the Ducati because Stoner wasn't pushing hard enough!!!! and Burgess said he would be able to dial out Ducati's persistent front-end chatter in 80 seconds, idiot.
You do realise that these statements are all just part of the mind-based combat that constantly goes on in this sport?
qualifying did it for me , Rossi had the rear step out a little on the corner where Stone Spies and Hayden had crashed , he shut the throttle rolled around the whole track then pulled in , his bottle has gone its sad to say but when he broke his leg it was the beginning of the end , he had crashed in the past but this was the first big one where he was hurt , Rossi may still be able to ride it to the limit but he cant go past the limit and to beat the current boy at the top its a must to be able to push beyond it . Did you watch moto 2? even the last few laps where Marquez was a mile in front he was sliding both the front and rear just about ever corner when you have a kid with this much talent and rides way beyond the limit , Rossi will never beat him as soon as Marquez get used to the way he needs to ride the moto gp bike he will spank Rossi as well , Lorenzo beat him when Rossi was on top , Rossi doesnt have a hope of beating him now . all we need is Ducati to temp Stoner to just ride 1 more year for a massive pay check and show what the Ducati can do :-}} be great watching thats for sure
Well it's all just speculation isn't it. Qualified, based on all of our opinions and experience, but until we see him ride the Yamaha it is just speculation. He just can't ride the Ducati and racing heart or no there must be a point where even the GOAT will say "I can't do this, what's the point of trying". Whatever the pundits or analysts say or surmise, in his head he can be champion again but on another bike. It may be, and I deeply hope it is, that he's right. It may just as easily be that his glory days are over and the acknowledged recalcitrant Ducati is getting the blame. We're none of us, and I expect Vale also, going to find out until next season. I'm willing to cut him the same slack that I am to the world class riders who step up into the premier class and just can't hack it. We're seeing Spies back out with his tail between his legs, despite his massive talent. The great Marco struggled to come to terms with MotoGP and was only just beginning to realise the way forward when he was taken from us. Toseland was a rabbit in the headlights on a MotoGP bike. Pedrosa succeeds mainly when disaster befalls the aliens around him. And now we await the next great white hope, Marquez. An incredible rider in the lower classes and now feted for greatness at the top of the pile. Like so many before him. Lets give Valentino the same benefit of the doubt we're extending to him, eh. At least until they can actually show us what they're capable of. Sometime early next year.
Totally agree Kpone, I just can't see him winning, hope he does, but doubtful. JM1 whats the problem with the late great Joey?
I've a feeling Audi are gonna make a massive offer to Stoner to ride the Duke again before the season's out - and I hope he takes it!
