MOTOGP » Gibernau 'very fast', but will he race?

I was just taking it off, in name of the 'regulars'

Put the needle on the record.

It's just the old conspiracy theory that keeps being vomited up - again.
Does it ever cross your mind that it might be a difficult transition from a 250 to a heavier, more powerful bike that takes getting used to? Lorenzo knows what it's like now, he went at it with the same vigour, here's what he says now:

"I want to be more prudent. MotoGP bikes are taller and more powerful than the 250cc ones. If you fall you have massive momentum.
I'll be competitive again only at the end of the season. First I need to get more experience in MotoGP, to better understand the behaviour of these bikes and, most of all, find again confidence in myself."

I think we spend far too much time analysing what Casey did when he was on bikes that had the budget of JC's sausage sizzle - he rode LCR - he got second in the 250 championship on what was a satellite bike (Aprilia chipped in when their factory rider Lorenzo didn't challenge Pedrsosa) - He rode the LCR in the 990 gp era but really - how has LCR done after Casey - any podiums? Poll positions? A better position in the championship? I'm afraid not. Casey did well wherever he was and has only ever had 1 factory bike and got a world championship with it. Would Lorenzo, Pedrosa or Rossi have got so far on second rate machinery – Valentino would've but Casey gave it a bloody good shot as well

Ace - watched the 60 Minutes piece, it didn't seem to close the deal, as it were, but one thing I found interesting - there was a shot of the caravan they were in in the early days in the UK beside a Nissan hut - not exactly the 'Rock Star Tour Bus' one dismissive Stoner-hater claimed. Frankly I'm mystified as to why he's garnered so much vehement opposition: is it simply because he's not as socially capable as Valentino - who is fairly exceptional amongst ALL world sportspeople in that regard as well as his talent - and people feel some sort of psychological need to pull him down for that? Sod's teeth, Maxibags and Rossi exchanged punches...

Ace - thanks for that, I'd regard it as perhaps not 'independently verified' but since it's been out in the public arena and not denied I guess it's on the very believable list. I'm wondering then - when Casey moved to the LCR motoGp team I presume his old 250 team stayed with the 250 rather than took on the 990, so it was a new team to both him and the bike, basically?

Oscar, the regulars here are all familiar with it. You Tube Casey Stoner 60 Minutes and search CNN.com, CNN The Art of Life Casey Stoner and you'll see.
Yes there is restraint as Luccio fostered Casey on behalf of MotoGP or more precisly Carmelo Ezpeleta. Luccio made significant mistakes with Casey's bike but it must be acknowledge Luccio stepped up for Casey in his motogp career. Also Aberto Puige mentorered/fostered Casey in his Spanish championship days prior to Motogp.
It is well documented by the media as originated by Colin Stoner talking to Daryl Beatie in Germany 06 (off air) and later aired on RPM. Casey has said it publicly in 2 interviews mentioned above.

Ace - is that well documented? - I hadn't picked up on it. It would be good if there were independent verification i.e. not just his Dad, though. If it's correct, then (and without trying to inflame the fanboys debate) I think that Stoner has to be given some credit for NOT whingeing too hard - he alluded to problems with the LCR team in his extended ABC interview but didn't bag it unmercifully, which from what you say shows some restraint on his part for which people don't give him any credit. There are certainly times when I wish he'd button it up, for sure, but how much of what he says is just 'whingeing' and how much simply unguarded truth I feel remains unproven.

At the begiining of Casey LCR ride the team listened to Casey but soon started changing the bikes setting and not telling Casey, they would make their own "judgements" on what was best and change the bike completly ignoring Casey's instruction. The bike was being set up with ride height so low it would bottem out unloading the rear tyre instigating a highside. It took the teem most of there year to work this out. They wouldent listen to Casey. Casey's dad found out the team was doing this and soon enough Casey lost confidence in the team and left after a single year.
In no way was Casey responsible for all those crashes. He's in a proper team now and the results speak for themself.

Rico - yep, sorry I wasn't clear on that, I meant ' when in the premier class AND on the best bike' - the LCR was definately not equal to the factory Hondas although it's completely fair to suggest that a more mature Stoner would have done better on it than what we saw, I don't believe he used it to best potential - too many crashes. My point was that Rossi inherited the best bike and team and his first premier class year was also marked by way too many crashes: Doohan moved into the top team at the time and really didn't get it together in his first year. So EVEN the 'greats' have had to learn the premier class and by that measure, Stoner is on track for a very good career (so far).