Let''s hope michelin can cary qualifying form into the race. I think it''s a bad idea to go one tyre rule at the top level of prototype motorcycle racing.
It's not Rossi, its the situation. Rossi himself has been in the same postion in 2006, world champion for the last 5 zillion years and all of a sudden his behind in the championship to a consistent finisher. It's the first time in his career he has been in that situation, and guess what he binned at Valencia. All he had to do is race behind Hayden, not even pass him, and he would have regained the trophy.
Stoner won the 2007 championship with no pressure, retaining it is always much harder. Rossi has been there, made the same mistakes in 2006 and 2007, and learnt from it. Next year Stoner will be wiser in race craft.
Now I know why Alice moved there sponsorship to the bottom of the Ducati! It's starting pay divedends.
It just highlights the fact that you have to stay on the bike to win a championship (aka Hayden in 2006). Rossi has only finished off the podium twice this year, Stoner has been the fastest basically all year, but cannot remain on the bike, thus no title defence.
At least this coverage showed racing back in the mid field, and about 5 seconds of the Kawasaki battle!
Maybe they should take a page out of the Suzuki "How to Design a Chassis for Motogp" book. Design the chassis for the Bridgestone tyres. Seems to have worked for Suzuki.
Stoner must be a moaner, because it takes one to know one! Thats all we read on this forum is everyone moaning, stoner fanboys moaning, rossi fanboys moaning, moaning about TC and electronics, the races are boring blah blah blah.
But as fans of the sport this is exactly what we want and need. Two riders just putting it out there and if they dont like something they stick it up each other.
Rivalry (and somtimes dislike and hatred) is what makes sport great. Everybody states that Stoner should respect Rossi more, WRONG. We as fans should respect Rossi, not the riders competing against him. They are also paid to win races and the championship. cont....
From a tam perspective your No.2 rider is there to help pick up enough points for contructors/team championship, and help the No.1. In all cases Melandri has failed.
So the next logical step, as TRR said, is to bring Gibernau up to speed and run as a blocker for Stoner. But saying that, will Gibernau take on that role? It may be too much for him to play second fiddle to Stoner.
How come these guys get a mid summer break? They earn crap loads more than everyone else, especially me, and all I get is a 4week break per 52 weeks, if staffing levels permit. I blame my parents for my lack of genetics.
At least one thing will be answered at Brno after the break, is Stoner mentally strong enough to take it on the chin and show up at brno?, or will he capitulate like Biaggi and Gibernau?
Well maybe Rossi did break check him. If Stoner did accuse him of it, it may be true.
You dont make strong accusations like that, even if you are a bit petulent like Stoner (or Rossi was when he first started in the premier class), without personally beleiving he did. Stoner had been following Rossi into the final corner for several laps to either set up a inside move into the corner or to get good drive onto the straight, and Rossi knew this. Stoner would have known Rossi's breaking point, and if Rossi did break early, Stoner would have known, and bingo, break check!
But I am sure Stoner said that the mistake was all his fault, he just come in far too hot, and did well to avoid Rossi
I reckon that Rossi had the new yamaha electronics package placed on for this race. Strengthened by the fact that the start Rossi got was the best I have ever seen him do recently. He usual starst are crap at best.
He has a history of gambling with his new parts (who can forget the pneumatic engine from last year). He was in the 1.21's alot in this race where he could not really get that low in all of the practices on race tyres. The other Yamahas were just to far behind in comparison.
But it was a masterful tactical race from Rossi. He had to do everything and anything to stay in front of Stoner, because he new if Stoner got in front he was gone.
I'm a big fan of both riders, but Stoner, in my opinion, started the hard overtaking coming out of turn six on to the back straight, where he went around Rossi and I am dead sure that he bumped Rossi. Then Rossi came straight back at the corkscrew.
I can undersatnd Stoners frustration at that pass, because it was very braisen, and had a high chance of bumping Stoner off (which I think Stoner recognised and thats why he was peeved), or knocking both riders out.
But as the saying goes "there is no red carpet in racing".
The comment from Stoner in the post race interview made me cringe a little, but I remember post race comments from Rossi over the years ohaving a similar theme. cont.
Big Lez Where Melandri in all this ? i hope back with his old team. Posted by SLOW JOE
Very sorry SLOW JOE, Yes I believe Melandri back to Gresini.
Honda - Pedrosa,De Angelis or Dovizioso. Sattelite - De Angelis or Dovizioso,Melandri, De Puniet (maybe gone)or a 250 rider (kallio, Bautista, Simoncelli?)
Since this is the Silly Season what will be the make up of the other teams? Who will come up from 250? and will there be any AMA/WSBK signings? or who in Motogp 2008 will be going?
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