MOTOGP » Melandri set to ride on

VH MP like I said the winner always thinks it is good hard racing and the loser always think the other went too far. If stone one he would have been saying great race, best ever and if Rossi lost especially to a block past last corner move which is famous for and I really like he would be saying exactly what Stoner said.

I'd also like to see Melandri back at Honda but I would prefer to see Kallio or Simoncelli on the Ducati next year. Although what I would really like more than anything is three bike factory teams. That way we could have Simoncelli and Hayden joining Casey at Ducati, Melandri and Dovisioso joining Dani at Honda, Kallio joining Yamaha and so on. Giving more machines, more contenders, more action.

What about the “shoulder pushing” move from Stoner just one turn before? Didn't anybody see it? Why did Stoner not complain about that one?

Into subject, 5 wins (2006 Phillip Island, 2006 Le Mans, 2006 Istanbul, 2005 Ricardo Tormo, 2005 Istanbul) 19 Podiums (2 with Tech 3 Yamaha, the rest with Movistar, Fortuna or Gresini Hondas) best result as a rookie in 2003 was fifth (2003 Motegi). Maybe Melandri needs a “easier to ride” ride, so was the general opinion about Hondas when most riders wanted them and his best results. Maybe Hayden adapts better to Ducati, so Dovisioso to Repsol and Melandri back with satellite Honda would maybe help.

Matt, the pass Elias did on Rossi in 2006 (I think Portugal) is the one I think you are referring to was for the win. Those 5 points were exactly what Rossi lost the championship by. It was very similar to the pass Rossi made on Gib previously (although I think Elias's was cleaner). Rossi has also done the same pass to Cap in a final corner.

I think all these passes and the Rossi/Stoner pass where hard but far, maybe getting close to borderline. In every situation except Cap the loser (who was passed) criticised the winner for a dangerous move exactly the same way. Caper was the only one who handled it well.

Back on subject I hope Marco can continue to do better (at times was okay at Laguna and I hope Gib gets a third bike or some wild cards in the last half of the season. Those testing times deserve one.

Just seen Sete has finished the test at mugello a day early as he had a crash on the second day with no injury but they thought it enough to stop.

He ran consistant laps in & around 1'50.5 in much hotter conditions than the race, to put that into perspective Stoner finished second & bar 1 lap of a 1'50 flat he ran a couple in .3 and then crept up into the high 50's low 51's. So sete is pretty much on stoner's pace (melandri best was a 1'51.1 b4 crashing,next best elias 51.7 no-one other than Stoner got in2 the 50's all weekend marco did a 50.2 in QP).

Sete also used a QT & did a 48.9 which wud have put him 7th on the grid!! If dis does not prove what ducati need nothing will

Lets hope the sex god that is Marco can do well, what will i do without my fix of seeing his lovely pouting little face on the grid!

Rossi has several incidents with Elias. Remember he was shaking his fist at him/giving a pushing motion at Sachenring when Tony was getting lapped. At any rate, if I remember right Tony more or less pushed Rossi off the track a few years ago which caused him to complain about his riding. I don't think Rossi pushed Casey off the track at Laguna at any point in time, did he? But, what Elias did at that time was no different then what Rossi did to Gibernau... then again, one is for the win and one for 6th place or some such, so slightly different situations.

The Morgue.... so what if Rossi wished Elias well when Elias was in a hospital?? Casey would have wished Rossi well if Rossi was out due to injury, even if Casey tends to say load too much things without thinking about it.
Just because Rossi did do something good doesn't means he can't do wrong. Should one think as you Rossi.net folks, so Elias once helped an old lady across the road, then it is totally OK if he rides "dangerously" around Rossi.

I bought a Rossi T-shirt at Florence 5 years ago, so I'm totally permitted to say what ever I want!!
Well, any way, Melandri is going to be a back marker at Brno, "good for him" if he really wants that. Ducati should at least put n a third bike with Sete or Canepa on it to do some benchmarks and maybe learn more why all the other 3 riders are so slow. One thing is for sure Stoner is on his own against Rossi and the Yamaha squad.

Raw Dog, I totally agree mate.
You don't have to do it to enjoy it, but you should be carefull how you criticise cos as you say even the bloke who comes last deserves respect. Lorenzo and Hopkins will tell you that it isn't easy riding one of these things.
BTW I do ride myself.

@ Hillbilly

Of course you don't have to ride to enjoy this sport. It is a fabulous spectacle to behold. I just find it funny the so many people act like they know what it takes to be good or who is or isn't a good rider. Hell, I ride I don't know what it takes. I read all the time "blank rider needs to be sacked" or "blank is a ******". This isn't club racing - this is MotoGP. From where I'm sitting all of them deserves their rides and we are all just couch racers. I'm just not a fan of the continuing rider bashing.