Pretty ridiculous to expect either of them to engage in such a contest and let their other options go, to say nothing of personal sponsorships etc as MM said.
Maybe. People mostly didn’t exactly love Casey Stoner, and certainly Dorna didn’t, but he was my favourite ever rider even ahead of Mick Doohan (loved Nicky as well), snd rode like a god those 2 title winning seasons, and nearly every year at PI.
I once put a car into the ditch when I was pissed to!
My bad, all these years I had the wrong impression that Sheene had only taken 1. Makes me happy to know the truth. He was a big favorite of mine. His championship seasons were a few years before I started following the sport (in '79), but I used to buy Geoff Duke's VCR tapes shipped from the Isle of Man to watch races from Sheene's era, my favorite races were at Monza and Donnington Park, and of course the Atlantic Match Races. I always liked Stoner. Personality-wise, on the surface he was all about that kind of Bunyip/Calvanist modesty, but one always sensed the obsessive work ethic, the fire within, and a bit of temper that he strained to repress. I think a big part of the reason Stoner was not so well received was due to Rossi's huge presence and the way his personality grew the large crowds, who were so loyal to him. People in cults tend to be very one-dimensional, and incapable of appreciating anyone other than the object of their obsession. Glad you mentioned Nicky too. He was of course beloved by all. I believe he really was an aw shucks kind of guy, almost a little too nice, very much a Kentucky down home boy. I got to briefly meet his dad and two of his brothers at at t-shirt stand at Laguna and they too were no-........, salt-of-the-earth types. Nicky too, was totally present in interviews. Very much an open book.
Correct me if I’m wrong but isn’t Pecco an ex ranchero so he will be civil to Rossi whatever he really thinks. Besides would you tell Rossi to .... off just because he wants to blow smoke up your arse and get on his wrong side? Wouldn’t be sensible.
I really have very little problem with Bagnaia, I consider him to be a very good rider who may end up an all time great, perhaps in short order, and he can have whatever personality is natural for him as far as I am concerned.
I thought I was throwing you a bone with that post mon ami !
Sorry, I missed this earlier. I totally agree. Marc was silly trying to come back so soon and I think the fallout of that is some of the reason he changed his management team.
Rossi deserves great credit for the academy and the renaissance of Italian riders in the sport, Bagnaia being the most successful so far and one who has succeeded greatly, and I for one am very happy to give it to him.
And the final mask of the average valefan drops; if he finds himself without arguments, he starts with the personal attacks. Shitposter status: confirmed.
"Insults are the last resort of insecure people with a crumbling position trying to appear confident"
What mask? I’ve never hidden my shitposter badge lol
I'm sure the academy didn't hurt but I'm thinking the fact he is insanely talented at racing motorcycles played a wee part in him getting/having a career. One has to be pretty darn good to be invited to the academy or so I would think.
I concur. The odd part is you were actually being reasonable making decent posts earlier today.
