http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_1011_ben_spies_interview_on_his_first_season_in_motogp/index.html
Check the interview out.
Check the interview out.
I just read it with no mention of payment. But Spies and many othe riders have made these comments about Stoner before, it's nothing ground breaking to read people being amazed by what Stoner can do
I cancelled the request for payment and was allowed to read it. Nothing new though as tom says, I think the interview has been excerpted on the forum previously.
Joined Feb 2007
6K Posts | 58+
Rovrum S,Yorks Eng
sportriders a fook up for me all ways it dont load i think its my popup blocker that stops .... and its staying on
from elsewhere http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60285
Ben Spies started playing down expectations from the minute it was announced he’d be moving to MotoGP. Winning the World Superbike Championship was great, but now it was time to play with the big boys, almost all of whom were world champions in their own right and several in MotoGP.
Whenever he was asked about his expectations, he’d say that “a podium would be a miracle, but it’s a miracle as in it would have to be a perfect race for me.†In order to get on the podium, one of the ‘aliens,’ Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa, wouldn’t finish the race. “Great start. I latch on. It would just have to be, everything would have to be perfect to get a podium. And one of the top four guys, I don’t think, would be in the race, if I’m going to be on the podium.â€
Spies, it turns out, would be right. At the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Spies earned his first podium by finishing behind Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda). Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) was fifth and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) eighth. Rossi was out after breaking his leg in Mugello. Six races later, Spies earned his first pole in Indianapolis, then finished second to Pedrosa with Lorenzo third and Rossi fourth, with Stoner tucking the front on the eighth lap. But, at the time, Spies was second and Stoner was 4.47 seconds back in sixth.
from elsewhere http://www.ninjette.org/forums/showthread.php?t=60285
Ben Spies started playing down expectations from the minute it was announced he’d be moving to MotoGP. Winning the World Superbike Championship was great, but now it was time to play with the big boys, almost all of whom were world champions in their own right and several in MotoGP.
Whenever he was asked about his expectations, he’d say that “a podium would be a miracle, but it’s a miracle as in it would have to be a perfect race for me.†In order to get on the podium, one of the ‘aliens,’ Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa, wouldn’t finish the race. “Great start. I latch on. It would just have to be, everything would have to be perfect to get a podium. And one of the top four guys, I don’t think, would be in the race, if I’m going to be on the podium.â€
Spies, it turns out, would be right. At the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Spies earned his first podium by finishing behind Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda). Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) was fifth and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) eighth. Rossi was out after breaking his leg in Mugello. Six races later, Spies earned his first pole in Indianapolis, then finished second to Pedrosa with Lorenzo third and Rossi fourth, with Stoner tucking the front on the eighth lap. But, at the time, Spies was second and Stoner was 4.47 seconds back in sixth.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
For those who can't read it on the site.
Ben Spies started playing down expectations from the minute it was announced he’d be moving to MotoGP. Winning the World Superbike Championship was great, but now it was time to play with the big boys, almost all of whom were world champions in their own right and several in MotoGP.
Whenever he was asked about his expectations, he’d say that “a podium would be a miracle, but it’s a miracle as in it would have to be a perfect race for me.” In order to get on the podium, one of the ‘aliens,’ Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa, wouldn’t finish the race. “Great start. I latch on. It would just have to be, everything would have to be perfect to get a podium. And one of the top four guys, I don’t think, would be in the race, if I’m going to be on the podium.”
Spies, it turns out, would be right. At the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Spies earned his first podium by finishing behind Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda). Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) was fifth and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) eighth. Rossi was out after breaking his leg in Mugello. Six races later, Spies earned his first pole in Indianapolis, then finished second to Pedrosa with Lorenzo third and Rossi fourth, with Stoner tucking the front on the eighth lap. But, at the time, Spies was second and Stoner was 4.47 seconds back in sixth.
The 2010 season ended last Sunday in Valencia with Spies charging to fourth at the end of the race, which placed him sixth overall for the season. He’d earlier clinched Rookie of the Year honors. The next day he traded his black and green Monster Yamaha Tech 3 clothing for the mostly blue Yamaha factory gear. Monday was spent meeting the team and engineers and on Tuesday he got down to work. By the end of the two-day test he was third fastest behind Stoner, now on the Honda, and the world champion Lorenzo. Not a bad way to start.
We caught up with Spies the day before he rode the factory bike to discuss the 2010 season.
I think it’s always easy to look back and you want more. But looking at it from what actually went on learning the third season we’ve been on a different bike in a different series. (Yoshimura Suzuki in AMA in 2008, World Superbike Yamaha in 2009, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in 2010). Learning half the tracks. Being on a satellite team and first year in MotoGP, I’m super-happy with it. We didn’t win a race, but we did everything besides that and I can’t ask for more. At the end of the day you always want more. It was a great season. and to look at the riders, the five that were ahead of me…obviously if Nicky (Hayden) would’ve beaten me yesterday and finished ahead or behind me, it doesn’t matter. He was the (2006) world champion, he’s on a factory bike. Being close to him in the first season and then the guys that were in front of me. We definitely need to make a step, but we’re not so far off. For the first year I definitely exceeded my expectations for sure.
What’s the next step?
As a rider, just improving everywhere, honestly. It’s easy to say that, but it’s true. In every single way we just need to be a little bit better. In saying that, I’m happy to move to the factory team, because I believe…the Tech 3 guys are awesome, it’s a great team, I learned a lot. But I do believe with some of the engineers with the factory team, the technicians, just everybody, even with the same package as this year we can get more out of it. next year obviously the factory bike it might not be a half second a lap, but it’s going to be the latest and greatest stuff you can have. So with being on the best bike that Yamaha can put out there, we’ve got a great engineer for next year, my data guy’s really good. If I can do better as a rider, a small percentage in every way, I’ve got better guys working on the bike and the best engineers and more engineers and hopefully the bike will be better too. So improvements in every area, I think we can be a lot closer to the front. Definitely it’s not like we’re saying the title, we’re going for the title, but I think we can ride up front more often than this year and a little bit of a dark horse for next year.
It seemed like the second half of the races you’d get stronger.
It’s one of those things, it’s a mental deal, too. And a lot of it stems back to racing Mat (Mladin), honestly. We didn’t get along super-great, obviously, but racing him did teach me a lot for the rest of my career just wanting to beat somebody so bad. So it’s always….i just have the feeling the last ten laps of the race, whoever’s in front of me is not going to beat me. It doesn’t always work like that. It’s not like you can sit there and say you’re going to beat that guy, but in the last five laps if I’ve got a guy within a second I’m just thinking that whatever it takes I’m going to beat him. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s the mindset you’ve got to have. So I think for next year that part of the race, the mental part of it, knowing how to race and finish a race, I don’t think we have much that I need to learn, but I think we need to be better in the beginning of the races. I think we need to be better with the set-up of the bike. But now I have a full year of how to set-up a GP bike. I think we have really good engineers again. This is going to be the first time now in a couple of years that I know every track I’m going to do. I don’t have a lot of data in the mind, but I know where I’m going. That’s a big, big thing. A lot of the Friday morning instead of wasting the morning learning the track, I’m already working on race set-up. It’s going to be a big deal. I think the end of the race, I just, I like racing hard and battling and just like yesterday. You get the bit between your teeth and you just go. So I think that’s an area where we don’t have to work so much on and that’s an important area that usually gets the race done. So if we can figure out a couple small areas in the beginning, I think we can be OK.
Nicky said it was this year that he felt like he gelled with his Ducati team, how everyone communicates. Do you feel that you’re still a ways from that as far as starting over with new guys? Are you going to have to work harder on it?
You know, this year I will say the team did all the support they could. I felt there was some sort of a missing link in there with a couple different things. For next year, just in the 30 minute meeting I’ve had with the engineer that’s overlooking my stuff next year, he understands a lot of how I like to ride. He knows what I want out of the bike, just speaking with him, I feel very confident. The data guy (Erkki Siukola) that I’m working with next year I spent two seasons with him in America. And he, again, knows how I like to ride. He knows a lot about me. He has a lot of GP experience and he’s very, very smart. So with those two guys in my corner, the suspension technician that we won the World Superbike title with is working with me next year. A lot of familiar faces. I know how they are they know how I am. And with the engineer that I’ve got, I’m really happy with it. And I feel already that it’s way more comfortable talking to everybody and I think we can get more out of the total package.
What can you see the riders ahead of you doing that you need to learn?
Just confidence in the bike. I would say that, for sure. Casey (Stoner) sometimes you see him do some things that are incredible, mind-blowing, pretty much. But then with Jorge (Lorenzo) and Valentino (Rossi), they’ve obviously been faster than me 90% of the season, but when I watch them and they come by, I don’t say ‘I can’t do that.’ I’m just like, ‘They’re doing really well, better than I’m doing it, but I don’t think it’s unattainable.’ It’s just, it looks to me like they just have more confidence in the bike. And with it being a little bit different machinery. Their bikes weren’t that much different. They’re a little different. That little bit there, again having the engineers that are helping set their bike up better. Is it there? Is it that just they’ve have more level seasons on the tracks, the bikes than me? I think it’s a combination of things, but really the gap from me to battling for the lead is, I would say, is being more confident with the bike, so I think that’s a positive thing.
Next year you’re on a new team, Valentino’s on a new team, Casey’s on a new team.
It’s great. I mean it’s good for the series. We finally saw the last few races there’s been good racing. It started back with me and Dovi (Andrea Dovizioso) in Spain. Ever since then there’s been a good battle in pretty much every race. Yesterday, (Sunday’s Valencia GP) there was a good battle for the lead half the race. As soon as that got dull, it got interesting with my battle. So it’s been good to watch. Next year I get to move to the factory, Valentino goes to Ducati, Casey to Honda. So it’s a big shake-up for the fans, for the media, everything. It’s interesting. The year after’s going to be 1000’s. That’s going to make it again interesting. So at least the next couple of years are going to be the most exciting years that MotoGP’s had in a good while.
You’re looking forward to the 1000’s.
Very much so. But I’m looking forward to next year too. At least knowing now what I know, I want to do better next year and I don’t think we did bad this year.
Ben Spies started playing down expectations from the minute it was announced he’d be moving to MotoGP. Winning the World Superbike Championship was great, but now it was time to play with the big boys, almost all of whom were world champions in their own right and several in MotoGP.
Whenever he was asked about his expectations, he’d say that “a podium would be a miracle, but it’s a miracle as in it would have to be a perfect race for me.” In order to get on the podium, one of the ‘aliens,’ Rossi, Stoner, Lorenzo, and Pedrosa, wouldn’t finish the race. “Great start. I latch on. It would just have to be, everything would have to be perfect to get a podium. And one of the top four guys, I don’t think, would be in the race, if I’m going to be on the podium.”
Spies, it turns out, would be right. At the British Grand Prix at Silverstone, Spies earned his first podium by finishing behind Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) and Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda). Casey Stoner (Ducati Marlboro) was fifth and Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda) eighth. Rossi was out after breaking his leg in Mugello. Six races later, Spies earned his first pole in Indianapolis, then finished second to Pedrosa with Lorenzo third and Rossi fourth, with Stoner tucking the front on the eighth lap. But, at the time, Spies was second and Stoner was 4.47 seconds back in sixth.
The 2010 season ended last Sunday in Valencia with Spies charging to fourth at the end of the race, which placed him sixth overall for the season. He’d earlier clinched Rookie of the Year honors. The next day he traded his black and green Monster Yamaha Tech 3 clothing for the mostly blue Yamaha factory gear. Monday was spent meeting the team and engineers and on Tuesday he got down to work. By the end of the two-day test he was third fastest behind Stoner, now on the Honda, and the world champion Lorenzo. Not a bad way to start.
We caught up with Spies the day before he rode the factory bike to discuss the 2010 season.
I think it’s always easy to look back and you want more. But looking at it from what actually went on learning the third season we’ve been on a different bike in a different series. (Yoshimura Suzuki in AMA in 2008, World Superbike Yamaha in 2009, Monster Yamaha Tech 3 in 2010). Learning half the tracks. Being on a satellite team and first year in MotoGP, I’m super-happy with it. We didn’t win a race, but we did everything besides that and I can’t ask for more. At the end of the day you always want more. It was a great season. and to look at the riders, the five that were ahead of me…obviously if Nicky (Hayden) would’ve beaten me yesterday and finished ahead or behind me, it doesn’t matter. He was the (2006) world champion, he’s on a factory bike. Being close to him in the first season and then the guys that were in front of me. We definitely need to make a step, but we’re not so far off. For the first year I definitely exceeded my expectations for sure.
What’s the next step?
As a rider, just improving everywhere, honestly. It’s easy to say that, but it’s true. In every single way we just need to be a little bit better. In saying that, I’m happy to move to the factory team, because I believe…the Tech 3 guys are awesome, it’s a great team, I learned a lot. But I do believe with some of the engineers with the factory team, the technicians, just everybody, even with the same package as this year we can get more out of it. next year obviously the factory bike it might not be a half second a lap, but it’s going to be the latest and greatest stuff you can have. So with being on the best bike that Yamaha can put out there, we’ve got a great engineer for next year, my data guy’s really good. If I can do better as a rider, a small percentage in every way, I’ve got better guys working on the bike and the best engineers and more engineers and hopefully the bike will be better too. So improvements in every area, I think we can be a lot closer to the front. Definitely it’s not like we’re saying the title, we’re going for the title, but I think we can ride up front more often than this year and a little bit of a dark horse for next year.
It seemed like the second half of the races you’d get stronger.
It’s one of those things, it’s a mental deal, too. And a lot of it stems back to racing Mat (Mladin), honestly. We didn’t get along super-great, obviously, but racing him did teach me a lot for the rest of my career just wanting to beat somebody so bad. So it’s always….i just have the feeling the last ten laps of the race, whoever’s in front of me is not going to beat me. It doesn’t always work like that. It’s not like you can sit there and say you’re going to beat that guy, but in the last five laps if I’ve got a guy within a second I’m just thinking that whatever it takes I’m going to beat him. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t, but that’s the mindset you’ve got to have. So I think for next year that part of the race, the mental part of it, knowing how to race and finish a race, I don’t think we have much that I need to learn, but I think we need to be better in the beginning of the races. I think we need to be better with the set-up of the bike. But now I have a full year of how to set-up a GP bike. I think we have really good engineers again. This is going to be the first time now in a couple of years that I know every track I’m going to do. I don’t have a lot of data in the mind, but I know where I’m going. That’s a big, big thing. A lot of the Friday morning instead of wasting the morning learning the track, I’m already working on race set-up. It’s going to be a big deal. I think the end of the race, I just, I like racing hard and battling and just like yesterday. You get the bit between your teeth and you just go. So I think that’s an area where we don’t have to work so much on and that’s an important area that usually gets the race done. So if we can figure out a couple small areas in the beginning, I think we can be OK.
Nicky said it was this year that he felt like he gelled with his Ducati team, how everyone communicates. Do you feel that you’re still a ways from that as far as starting over with new guys? Are you going to have to work harder on it?
You know, this year I will say the team did all the support they could. I felt there was some sort of a missing link in there with a couple different things. For next year, just in the 30 minute meeting I’ve had with the engineer that’s overlooking my stuff next year, he understands a lot of how I like to ride. He knows what I want out of the bike, just speaking with him, I feel very confident. The data guy (Erkki Siukola) that I’m working with next year I spent two seasons with him in America. And he, again, knows how I like to ride. He knows a lot about me. He has a lot of GP experience and he’s very, very smart. So with those two guys in my corner, the suspension technician that we won the World Superbike title with is working with me next year. A lot of familiar faces. I know how they are they know how I am. And with the engineer that I’ve got, I’m really happy with it. And I feel already that it’s way more comfortable talking to everybody and I think we can get more out of the total package.
What can you see the riders ahead of you doing that you need to learn?
Just confidence in the bike. I would say that, for sure. Casey (Stoner) sometimes you see him do some things that are incredible, mind-blowing, pretty much. But then with Jorge (Lorenzo) and Valentino (Rossi), they’ve obviously been faster than me 90% of the season, but when I watch them and they come by, I don’t say ‘I can’t do that.’ I’m just like, ‘They’re doing really well, better than I’m doing it, but I don’t think it’s unattainable.’ It’s just, it looks to me like they just have more confidence in the bike. And with it being a little bit different machinery. Their bikes weren’t that much different. They’re a little different. That little bit there, again having the engineers that are helping set their bike up better. Is it there? Is it that just they’ve have more level seasons on the tracks, the bikes than me? I think it’s a combination of things, but really the gap from me to battling for the lead is, I would say, is being more confident with the bike, so I think that’s a positive thing.
Next year you’re on a new team, Valentino’s on a new team, Casey’s on a new team.
It’s great. I mean it’s good for the series. We finally saw the last few races there’s been good racing. It started back with me and Dovi (Andrea Dovizioso) in Spain. Ever since then there’s been a good battle in pretty much every race. Yesterday, (Sunday’s Valencia GP) there was a good battle for the lead half the race. As soon as that got dull, it got interesting with my battle. So it’s been good to watch. Next year I get to move to the factory, Valentino goes to Ducati, Casey to Honda. So it’s a big shake-up for the fans, for the media, everything. It’s interesting. The year after’s going to be 1000’s. That’s going to make it again interesting. So at least the next couple of years are going to be the most exciting years that MotoGP’s had in a good while.
You’re looking forward to the 1000’s.
Very much so. But I’m looking forward to next year too. At least knowing now what I know, I want to do better next year and I don’t think we did bad this year.
I thought his two test days were great. He was just .133 off his teammate. What makes this more amazing was the fact that he was using this years motor, while Lorenzo's bike
was fitted with the 2011 powerplant. Will be nice to see 6-8 guys at the pointy end of the stick next year.
was fitted with the 2011 powerplant. Will be nice to see 6-8 guys at the pointy end of the stick next year.
Spies has made statements to this effect before, last year at Valencia. But after a year, he seems to be firm in that belief.
Simoncelli made a similar comment at Phillip Island.
"The wind was a bit of a problem today, especially when I was on my fast lap,” he said after qualifying.
“I was behind (Casey) Stoner at that point, and I honestly cannot understand how he manages to go so fast! "
Simoncelli made a similar comment at Phillip Island.
"The wind was a bit of a problem today, especially when I was on my fast lap,” he said after qualifying.
“I was behind (Casey) Stoner at that point, and I honestly cannot understand how he manages to go so fast! "
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
Spies comments about Stoner are the real things that make me believe Spies is a man to watch in 2011 onwards. I have said it before he is like a cat trying to understand his future prey. Wouldn't be surprised at all if the next few years becomes a new era with Stoner and Spies as the main protagonists and all other left in the wake. I don't think we have really seen fight unleashed in Spies yet in MGP but when we do it could be simillar to the drive we see in Stoner. He just needs a taste of victory first.
Lorenzo and Pedro will be close behind.
Rossi ....... his first showing on the Duc. is akin to Melandri ...... he will improve but I think the horse will have bolted by the time they are up to what the others are already doing. I really think Rossi to Ducati is a bad idea now. I hope he has an escape clause after a year.
i cant see where rossi will go if he leaves ducati.... no space at yamaha and most likey woundt go back ... to much pride.... and honda well 3 riders already.... only place left is a facotry suzuki and at his age i dont think he'll be interested in developing a bike from ground up which would take many years
most likey he will go pretty ...... on the 800 duc... and look forward to the 1000duc, which in 06 was very ridable and competitive with bayliss and loris dominating the last race
i dont expect much from rossi in 2011 really.
most likey he will go pretty ...... on the 800 duc... and look forward to the 1000duc, which in 06 was very ridable and competitive with bayliss and loris dominating the last race
i dont expect much from rossi in 2011 really.
dude's tied to ducati for the next two years at least..no need to speculate right now
and TRUST, you will eat crow once the season starts...dude will be challenging for the championship come hell or high water
and TRUST, you will eat crow once the season starts...dude will be challenging for the championship come hell or high water
I think it's way way way way too early to be writing off Rossi or Ducati for 2011.
For sure they could do with some more test days, but I think they will be considerably faster at the next test in 2011.
For sure they could do with some more test days, but I think they will be considerably faster at the next test in 2011.
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Yeah I totally agree with your take on what Spies thinks of Stoner. Do you even read topics headings before you start typing?
Somebody please ..... slap this ....... moron!
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
In thinking about it, I'm not convinced. I'm kinda facing up to the stressed look on everyones faces at Duc. JB looks haggard, AB twitts a virtual WTF!!, Preziosi wasn't smiling all the time and in the end openly said things are bad. Even for Melandri this didn't happen. And as somebody on here has pointed out, Rossi is no "spring chicken" anymore.
Add to that a personal belief that Rossi's riding style is not ........ conducive to a non-perfect bike. This year as usual he had the absolute best machine on the grid and look what happened.
No, I'm trying to think realistically here, I think the whole Rossi to Ducati is going to be a flop, lets just hope it doesn ruin either Rossi or Ducati.
KInda bad they dropped the whole WSBK thing too over it
Joined Jun 2006
2K Posts | 20+
south wales UK
In thinking about it, I'm not convinced. I'm kinda facing up to the stressed look on everyones faces at Duc. JB looks haggard, AB twitts a virtual WTF!!, Preziosi wasn't smiling all the time and in the end openly said things are bad. Even for Melandri this didn't happen. And as somebody on here has pointed out, Rossi is no "spring chicken" anymore.
Add to that a personal belief that Rossi's riding style is not ........ conducive to a non-perfect bike. This year as usual he had the absolute best machine on the grid and look what happened.
No, I'm trying to think realistically here, I think the whole Rossi to Ducati is going to be a flop, lets just hope it doesn ruin either Rossi or Ducati.
KInda bad they dropped the whole WSBK thing too over it
sure rossi was going to push that bike knowing it doesnt suit his style and risk injuring a shoulder thats due to be operated on shortly.
did you not watch the footage? he was clearly cruising it around, it looked smooth as silk when he was taking it for a spin there was no pushing....
surely him and jerry have been eyeing it and i believe the test was purely an evaluation.
if ducati get right what him and jerry have suggested then come sepang we should see some action, i cant see that carbon frame staying eaither. for 2012
I've not read any report that suggests Rossi looked "smooth as silk" at the Valencia test. Everything I've read suggests the exact opposite. Do you have anything that refutes this?
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
Everybodies test was purely for evaluation.
But realistically its how far your evaluation lets you go that counts.
It ranges from ........ about like Stoners run ...... down to say getting on the bike and saying "the seat is wrong" and then walking away til its fixed.
And no, you can't test the suitability of any bike "for the suitability of the bike to race in XXXX" ..... by dawdling around on it. They did not do that at all at valencia, they tested the bike to a competition level 2 seconds below the competition ...... but realistically I know thats not the start ...... its just that I am more worried with that kind of performance, how long will it take them ..... and I guess I too wonder ..... will it be "a bridge too far" ...... I just remember all the hype and "wait and see" us Stoner fans got when melandri was signed ...... and in the end it was a situation that had most Stoner fans very upset for Melandri, despite the sooking crap that went on against Stoner at the time.
And I've siad this before, I see Rossi as a very simillar rider to Melandri, in terms of raw bike skills ..... so like I said ....... its a worry.
But then again, you know I never really believed that the Rossi to Ducati signing is anything more than Rossi's "swansong", I don't think they had a lot of confidence with Duc to start with ........ its just that Rossi didn't like his only real other competitive option ( stay at Yam ).
And don't tell me Honda would resign him, they made comments that they may ealrlier in the year indicating they could, but all the time Honda had already signed up Stoner ..... so it was "snicker in the background whislt rubbing hands value only"
No ..... Rossi to Duc. was his choice ........ I just think it was a bad one for the fans ..... he won't mind, hell for the next two years he's on good pay
win or lose
Edit: PS Disclaimer ( Whatever ) This should be read with the following in mind:
I actually don't want the above to happen, yes I am a fan of other riders too, but I am just expressing what I currently feel/see as the likely outcome.
I actually don't want Rossi to prove me wrong, or not, I don't have much yearning for either to happen. I'm not really that sort of a MGP fan.
But one thing is for sure ....... I am a big fan of watching what does happen and how all the above pans out. And watching riders riding skills etc. so no hate towards Rossi ( don't go sooking about that ) If you feel like me Rossi and the other riders fulfill my entertainment and interest needs each week. I just don't get the "I'll die if Rossi doesn't win" thing at all.
I do know that MGP holds my interest well over WSBK at the moment, unlike it has some years in the past.
But realistically its how far your evaluation lets you go that counts.
It ranges from ........ about like Stoners run ...... down to say getting on the bike and saying "the seat is wrong" and then walking away til its fixed.
And no, you can't test the suitability of any bike "for the suitability of the bike to race in XXXX" ..... by dawdling around on it. They did not do that at all at valencia, they tested the bike to a competition level 2 seconds below the competition ...... but realistically I know thats not the start ...... its just that I am more worried with that kind of performance, how long will it take them ..... and I guess I too wonder ..... will it be "a bridge too far" ...... I just remember all the hype and "wait and see" us Stoner fans got when melandri was signed ...... and in the end it was a situation that had most Stoner fans very upset for Melandri, despite the sooking crap that went on against Stoner at the time.
And I've siad this before, I see Rossi as a very simillar rider to Melandri, in terms of raw bike skills ..... so like I said ....... its a worry.
But then again, you know I never really believed that the Rossi to Ducati signing is anything more than Rossi's "swansong", I don't think they had a lot of confidence with Duc to start with ........ its just that Rossi didn't like his only real other competitive option ( stay at Yam ).
And don't tell me Honda would resign him, they made comments that they may ealrlier in the year indicating they could, but all the time Honda had already signed up Stoner ..... so it was "snicker in the background whislt rubbing hands value only"
No ..... Rossi to Duc. was his choice ........ I just think it was a bad one for the fans ..... he won't mind, hell for the next two years he's on good pay
Edit: PS Disclaimer ( Whatever ) This should be read with the following in mind:
I actually don't want the above to happen, yes I am a fan of other riders too, but I am just expressing what I currently feel/see as the likely outcome.
I actually don't want Rossi to prove me wrong, or not, I don't have much yearning for either to happen. I'm not really that sort of a MGP fan.
But one thing is for sure ....... I am a big fan of watching what does happen and how all the above pans out. And watching riders riding skills etc. so no hate towards Rossi ( don't go sooking about that ) If you feel like me Rossi and the other riders fulfill my entertainment and interest needs each week. I just don't get the "I'll die if Rossi doesn't win" thing at all.
I do know that MGP holds my interest well over WSBK at the moment, unlike it has some years in the past.
Joined Jun 2006
2K Posts | 20+
south wales UK
i didnt say about anything in the media
i meant watching the test the bike looked smooth so clearly he wasnt pushing it,... nothing more
when hayden or stoner ride the bike hard it looks a handful, if rossi was pushing the bike it would not look so smooth.
Well, I wasn't there, so I'm not going to say you are wrong. I did however read Kropotkin's report of the test, and "tentative" would be the best adjective that could be applied to Rossi's performance, if I read that right.
