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Assen GP 2012: Predictions, Practice, Qual

Jumkie said:
We've already debated this to death. In a sport where every champion has said its mostly mental, deciding to retire during a championship run is going to produce some loss of focus in my honest/bias opinion. On top of that, add his cynical implication about the politics of the sport, its my opinion its got to affect the psyche of a rider who entertains those thoughts, again, enough to retire (rightly or wrongly). You disagree. I think we will have to agree to disagree.



Regarding tires, unless they all don't have the identical options, unless you can come up with a reasonable theory to propose they were designed for Lorenzo decidedly against Stoner (which would have been a neat trick by Bstone) with everybody else's blessing in form of a vote, coupled with HRC's inability to cope and adjust in terms of development resources to said tire (while magically not screwing up the M1's platform as you say it was introduced mid season), then again, we will have to agree to disagree that the tire situation is not an insurmountable obstacle.
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I have stated previously that I do not believe there was a premeditated plot to deprive Stoner of the tire of his choosing. That said, if the "powers that be" in fact wanted (for whatever reason) to screw with Stoner this be a perfect way to do it. The fact that tires which remain available suit Lorenzo who looks sure to win multiple championships in the next few years could continue to be a happy accident. Dorna as everybody has said so many times has put their eggs all in Rossi's basket for too long and it's not so far-fetched to think that maybe they've caught on to this and would want to take steps to create the next Rossi out of Lorenzo by giving him a little extra push. Not saying I believe this - but you and I have both accused Dorna of tactics equally Machiavellian. Wow! I spelled that last word right without spell-check.
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Keshav said:
Awww, c'mon mang! Don't get that started again. Where is it written that every rider must live up to the expectations of fans. Every individual in the world has the right to follow his own script and pursue happiness as he sees fit. Stoner's a quiet, very private guy who prefers to live out the balance of his life hunting, fishing, drinking beer and making babies. Personally I see that as a much more satisfying choice, as compared to Colin Edwards humiliatingly wangling around the track at the back on some piece of .... CRT bike just because he's addicted to the Peter Pan/Lost Boys GP Circus. But .... it ... if that's his vision of a fulfilling life, I say go for it. It's his life, not mine.
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That's the 2nd time you've done this my fine feather friend, the first time I wasn't bother enough to respond mang. Reread my post in context. I'm stating it as a fact. Are you going to dispute the fact? I'm not disputing the reasons he has chosen to quit/retire, so I hardly see why a response would be warranted to explain the right, want,s and desires of the retiree, mi amigo. I was stating it as fact (indisputable) to make the point it has affect him mentally. That is what I content, you may agree or disagree with my opinion (this is debatable). But its what I contend has affected his racing. Now, given today's events, something might have switched in the man. Perhaps the 2nd chance to focus and bring it home. He looked very happy today, something rare for the man. Given that we have a few races in succession, perhaps he can take this attitude and bring it into the next few races. But after La Mans, he didn't look to have the focus to match Lorenzo's.
 
Jums, I disagree about the 'mindset' of Stoner being affected by his decision to retire as personally I do not feel that he is of the manner of personality whereby it would affect him this early in the season - later in the season if all seems lost whoever I would say it is possible.



However, I would suggest that a number of riders struggle and have their performances drop off whilst trying to make 'big' decisions and that is one of the reasons why I totally admire the fact that Stoner has retired so early in the season. Now he does not need to worry about it so much, but just go out and ride.



That all said, I do see him as a lot more settled off the track and far more relaxed than he has ever seemed to be at the track (maybe Krop can provide some insight as to whether that is a reality on race weekends) and I see this because he has internal peace of mind.
 
Jumkie said:
That's the 2nd time you've done this my fine feather friend, the first time I wasn't bother enough to respond mang. Reread my post in context. I'm stating it as a fact. Are you going to dispute the fact? I'm not disputing the reasons he has chosen to quit/retire, so I hardly see why a response would be warranted to explain the right, want,s and desires of the retiree, mi amigo. I was stating it as fact (indisputable) to make the point it has affect him mentally. That is what I content, you may agree or disagree with my opinion (this is debatable). But its what I contend has affected his racing. Now, given today's events, something might have switched in the man. Perhaps the 2nd chance to focus and bring it home. He looked very happy today, something rare for the man. Given that we have a few races in succession, perhaps he can take this attitude and bring it into the next few races. But after La Mans, he didn't look to have the focus to match Lorenzo's.
Click to expand...



I've missed something here Compa. Which thing is a fact? I'm refuting the whole negative "throwing in the towel" thing which to me implies the guy is gutless, an assessment which can only come under the heading of opinion.
 
Keshav said:
I've missed something here Compa. Which thing is a fact? I'm refuting the whole negative "throwing in the towel" thing which to me implies the guy is gutless, an assessment which can only come under the heading of opinion.
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It also smacks of the whole 2009 thing to stoner fans, or this one anyway, although I am sure this is not jumkie's intention, when stoner was widely disbelieved when he said his physical condition was stopping him completing races at full pace.
 
Y'all know what the difference between a Neo bopper and a women is?





Women are only overly sensitive for about 5-7 days a month.
 
Keshav said:
I've missed something here Compa. Which thing is a fact? I'm refuting the whole negative "throwing in the towel" thing which to me implies the guy is gutless, an assessment which can only come under the heading of opinion.
Click to expand...



Its a FACT he has thrown in the towel, also known discontinuing, quitting, retiring, stopping competition, etc. You are projecting with the "gutless" part. I was making a boxing analogy. Hence why I said, "context" of my post. If you like, I will go back and edit my post and replace that wording with "retire."



It still doesn't change my opinion not popular with Stoner fans, that the human part of Stoner has been affected by deciding to "retire". That is my explanation for his defeated talk and look. Which wasn't present after today's win as he expressed some kind of renewed spirit. Maybe he has read this thread and has thought, "you know what, Jumkie is right, its all in my head. I have a great machine as Jumkie has argued with the great Arrabi in the poll thread, and I'm faster than Lorenzo. And this little "racing incident" by Bautista coupled with reading Jumkie's takes, has made me realize this. Its game on MFs."





http://www.powerslid...ndpost&p=320839
 
michaelm said:
It also smacks of the whole 2009 thing to stoner fans, or this one anyway, although I am sure this is not jumkie's intention, when stoner was widely disbelieved when he said his physical condition was stopping him completing races at full pace.
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My apology. I've edited my post.
 
Gaz said:
Jums, I disagree about the 'mindset' of Stoner being affected by his decision to retire as personally I do not feel that he is of the manner of personality whereby it would affect him this early in the season - later in the season if all seems lost whoever I would say it is possible.



However, I would suggest that a number of riders struggle and have their performances drop off whilst trying to make 'big' decisions and that is one of the reasons why I totally admire the fact that Stoner has retired so early in the season. Now he does not need to worry about it so much, but just go out and ride.



That all said, I do see him as a lot more settled off the track and far more relaxed than he has ever seemed to be at the track (maybe Krop can provide some insight as to whether that is a reality on race weekends) and I see this because he has internal peace of mind.
Click to expand...

Yeah, that's an observation I share. It's like the weight of the world has been taken from his shoulders. It appears it may well be the right decision, after all. I'm gonna miss watchin' him dominating that bike of his, though - it's a pure joy to watch.
 
Jumkie said:
My apology. I've edited my post.
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We are perhaps not far apart then.



I don't disagree that he could possibly be expected to lose some edge with his retirement decision or announcement and/or the birth of his child, that he may not be pushing as close to the edge in general as he was, or that he might be less motivated to develop the bike or to learn to adapt his riding.



My argument was that there were possibly other explanations for him being less competitive in the second half of races than him trying for the first half then deciding he can't be bothered, including the explanations he himself has given.
 
mad mick said:
Yeah, that's an observation I share. It's like the weight of the world has been taken from his shoulders. It appears it may well be the right decision, after all. I'm gonna miss watchin' him dominating that bike of his, though - it's a pure joy to watch.
Click to expand...

Uhm, I'm gonna guess that person who lift that weight was named Alvaro Bautista.
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MdubSTYLIE said:
Y'all know what the difference between a Neo bopper and a women is?





Women are only overly sensitive for about 5-7 days a month.
Click to expand...



You'd only be qualified to know the answer to this question if you actually had one (a woman).
 
Jumkie said:
Its a FACT he has thrown in the towel, also known discontinuing, quitting, retiring, stopping competition, etc. You are projecting with the "gutless" part. I was making a boxing analogy. Hence why I said, "context" of my post. If you like, I will go back and edit my post and replace that wording with "retire."



It still doesn't change my opinion not popular with Stoner fans, that the human part of Stoner has been affected by deciding to "retire". That is my explanation for his defeated talk and look. Which wasn't present after today's win as he expressed some kind of renewed spirit. Maybe he has read this thread and has thought, "you know what, Jumkie is right, its all in my head. I have a great machine as Jumkie has argued with the great Arrabi in the poll thread, and I'm faster than Lorenzo. And this little "racing incident" by Bautista coupled with reading Jumkie's takes, has made me realize this. Its game on MFs."





http://www.powerslid...ndpost&p=320839
Click to expand...



Apology accepted.
<
Seriously - I don't discount the idea that Stoner would have stayed around longer if a multiplicity of circumstances had not taken the pleasure out of racing. I'm sure he never projected in his early days that he would win

two or three championships and just call it quits. I don't for a second believe walking away from MGP was an easy decision

to make.
 

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