MOTOGP » Rossi wins - on four wheels.

Rossi is the greatest! I know may be a cliche but, ooh well. He's proven it over and over again. If you think I'm lying, ask Max, ask Sete, ask Nicki, ask Stoner. Yeah, yeah he lost to Nicki last year but, where was Nicki THIS year and where was Rossi? Yes, Stoner beat him but, who was that right behind him in points up to the last of the season this season? Hmmmmm could it be Rossi? I think so. On a bike that was 15-20kmph slower according to Rossi. I can understand people wanting to give Casey credit because he does in fact deserve it but, to call Rossi over the hill and say he doesn't have it anymore??? WOW! Continued below...

Give him a competitive package, I don't even think it has to be the best, just competitve and I'm willing to bet money that he'll be on top again. The guy is one of the greatest riders of all time and I don't feel that people can deny him that because he's had a couple of bad seasons. I've said this before and I'll say this again, the bikes those guys race get better and better every year, especially when it comes to electronics. With that being said, it's a little harder to simply "Override" a slower bike to victory like Rossi used to because alot of the old techniques used by the older riders are thrown out the door due to the electronics thus allowing------Continued below.............

everyone to just hold on and twist the throttle. That means, whoever has the best bike wins. I do agree that you have to be a good rider to be able to manuver it around a track but, if you are a "good" rider and catch a "better" rider on straights like Stoner did to Rossi in China, where is the race between riders? It's just a battle between machines. If that were the case, we should just make the bikes radio-controlled. In the old days some riders did have advantages machine-wise(Rossi) and this is why Rossi went to Yamaha. To prove that he could win on one of the slowest bikes on the grid. Put Stoner on the Yamaha and I think we all know what the result will be. Rossi is KING!

stoner wont get slower but others will get faster and once there is battle time - stoner will settle for whatever and after he gets passed. battling lessons - didn't graduate yet..he will, but after rossi retires and that might take a cpl years. and rossi is the one he can learn from - so lucky!

We shell see, I think Stoner is really good, and under estimated by the
Rossi fans. And if it is the bike and not Stoner then Melandri will be
really difficult for Rossi. About Hayden, well he had a crapy bike,
and had even a worse bike than Rossi this year. What is good for little
Dani is not necessary good for Hayden. I still think the chance that
Rossi will not take the title is bigger than winning the titel at 2008.

This is a prototype class, it means every year something new is built because every year it goes faster.
Even when people speak of a crappy bike, Rossi has been faster than last year on a 990cc.
Same goes for most of the other guys. That alone is a najor achievement from an engineering point of view.
Comparing is difficult, there are so many variables, who's best? It will be an eternal discussion.
I give Valentino Rossi high marks because he won on a variety of equipment, it shows his skill and versatility.
He had the (Michelin) rug pulled from under him this year so that may make him look silly to some,
I think he's still good and a championship contender

Yes Rossi is a good championship contender, bur his rates are not so absolute as it
used to be. I actually don't see Rossi as a better contender then Casey. Dani
is a bit behind as he is a crap on the wet, and seems to have some difficulties
on track were physical strength is needed. Then we have some warriors that can add to some
interesting results, Hayden, Melandri, Capirossi etc. The point is that the field
is so strong that even Rossi needs a perfect season to take the title!!

Hi Twissta,

I'm not sure if the chatter problems in '06 stemmed from too much stiffness in the frame, in an article on development of the M1 Yamaha described it as having to alter the subframe that connects to the engine to stop chatter.
The M1 has a 'bridge frame', two huge aluminum alloy members welded together to form roughly a diagonal line from handlebars to rear swingarm with the engine hanging under it. There has to be a little flex in the frame and especially the swingarm to give the rider 'feel' for the machine at full lean angle when the suspension 'doesn't work'.
Yamaha typically tests two frames options and three swingarms in wintertests to give riders something to choose from.

interesting article about rossis switch to bridgestine.. this might answer some of your questions..

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/mcn/2007/november/nov26-30/nov2607motogpvalentinorossibridgestoneswitchmajorlossmichelin/?&R=EPI-97228

..cont.

You saw Edwards riding around on an unpainted 'T' bike and a 'P' bike in Sepang as well as on his own '07 bike,
he is comparing chassis (and maybe engine) options and makes a choice. They choose a frame for the whole season and test three various swingarms (stiff-medium-soft) to go with it. Designing a new frame takes them months... so imagine what it means if they find out they got it wrong during a racing season (like '06). Vibration in a construction is often difficult to detect, it can come from wrong material choice, incorrect thickness, too long distances spanned that send things 'oscillating' at certain wavelenghts (engine revs or wheel revs) etc.