MOTOGP » Rossi vs Stoner - the aftermath

Jacko you hit the nail right on the head.
What all these Vale fans fail to see remember is that a certain Italian had a major problem with a fellow countryman and there were words of a similar nature said from both sides when Valentino first came in to the 500 GP's. A certain Mr Biaggi was accused of dirty tactics.
I think that all these Vale fans just don't like seeing Aussies do well in anything. Maybe they are all POMS if you know what I mean???

Well I'm no Rossi fan...in fact I like to think of myself as the anti-Rossi, I hate all that mincing around, but that was the most intelligent tactical race I've ever seen in 20 years watching racing.

I like Stoner, like his no nonsense head, but he was schooled today in how to win a race that you really shouldn't be able to win. Rossi knew what he had to do to beat Casey and did exacly that. Sure it was tough, but as a lifetime Doohan fan I've seen MUCH tougher. Both men today were in a league of 2, this is what makes our sport better than F1.

Casey is young and will learn not to show his cards and never ever show you've been rattled. Awesome race, even as a Casey fan!

Casey has spent too long lapping on his own with no serious competition, now Rossi has the speed to stick with him he can't hack it. Please Casey take your defeats on the chin, after all second is not bad when you've been in the gravel and enjoy your racing. There are many people that would give anything for a tenth of the opportunities you have.

What a race...It is sure to bring out spectators in droves for the first race of the second half of 2008.
In the mean time it may be a good idea if CS and Ducati get as much previous vision of the way VR passes and learn how to hang the other rider out to dry.
To do this Ducati would have to provide a bike in which CS has supreme confidence in the front end.
Does anyone know if VR ever raced Go Karts as his brilliant tactic of throwing his bike at a corner then basically pushing the other rider out of the way is quite common in Go Karts with high grip tyres.

The elbows out side by side riding we saw shows passion. Can't wait for the next round.

If ANY of the moves were as dangerous as Stoner was trying to make out do you not think Race Direction might have had something to say about them, either during or after the race? If he was that concerned about them why hasn't either he or Livio made a FORMAL complaint.. because they know they'd get blown out of the water.

Casey needs to learn to think before he opens that mouth of his, else like Shamilton in the F1 he will find his fanbase growing smaller and smaller while the haters get more and more.

I am a Yamaha man and I am anti Ducati, but just shows you that by the way he rode, that Rossi couldnt win the race, he had to block and be dirty. He wont be able to do that at Brno....Karma is coming!

He is a great rider, but that doesnt excuse his intent. Shame on you Val!!!

And to all those morons commenting about the riders from the 80's and 90's and finding Rossi's riding acceptable... times have changed and so has racing etiquette in ALL forms of racing. Rossi thats NOT ACCEPTABLE by todays standards!

Looking at the tracks ahead.....Casey here comes your second title.GO FOR IT KID!

Yes CA, Rossi actually started his youthful racing in karts but moved to bikes because it was easier this way for his family to support him financially.

Race direction will never penalise Rossi - he is too important to the sport. If they didn't disqualify him after the Gibernau incident a couple of years back, they will never touch him.
I agree with many of the comments here that tactically, it was a brilliant race from Rossi. A couple of the moves were very hard, and Casey perhaps has a right to feel a bit annoyed, but that is racing.
But I don't agree with those who think Rossi will have messed with his head - Stoner is mantally way stronger than Gibernau or Biaggi, and he will come back even more determined and focused to beat Rossi.
And I can expect him to be more aggressive too. In similar circumstances, he will probably run Rossi off.

Jacko was right.
Rossi never appears to be upset when he loses. All I hear is he wants close racing.
But he must have kicked up a right stink to get on Bridgestones this year. Isnt it also strange Bridgestones are dominating again, but I hear no threat from Dorna of a single tyre rule.

Now that the dust has settled I think of Stoner better after this race than before.
The kids got ball and only lacked experience in the race. VR will absolutely everything to win and that is what stands him out against the pack. The extra 5 points still isnt enough of a gap for VR to opt for 2nd places. Two more raves like this and yeah he should do it but with danny back in the mix this is probably gonna go to the wire. I just love it, GP rocks, jsut a shame the eurosport comintators aint going over to the bbc next year. Boo-who.
I've got a trackdays booked on the 4th and cant ucking wait.....