I remember last year creating a post about why no one had the balls to stand up to Rossi in the last laps of a race. It seemed some were prepared to fight with him but when it came to the final lap their sphincter left them and they left obvious holes for Rossi to pass through.
OK it didn’t go down to the wire this time but it was great to see on Sunday that someone has the balls to man up to Rossi. I was worried that Elias' brilliance in Portugal last year was a one off but it seems at last we have someone who isn't afraid to go hammer and tongs against him.
Now I'm not saying that Elias is a better rider than Rossi, he clearly isn't, and he probably won’t get that many chances to duke it out with him. What I'm saying is that his respect for him doesn't extend so far that he dare not challenge him. Racing is racing and sometimes you need the young pretenders to take on the old masters without the reverence that they might get from other ‘journeymen’.
For nothing else I salute you Tony Elias for having the courage to take the fight to, and trade places with, Rossi. You add a refreshing uncertainly to the mix as someone who will fight to the line and not be intimidated. Let’s hope your example inspires others to think that it isn’t all over once he goes past you and that the legend is fallible.
The more that think it, the more exciting racing we will have.
www.paynebyname.com
OK it didn’t go down to the wire this time but it was great to see on Sunday that someone has the balls to man up to Rossi. I was worried that Elias' brilliance in Portugal last year was a one off but it seems at last we have someone who isn't afraid to go hammer and tongs against him.
Now I'm not saying that Elias is a better rider than Rossi, he clearly isn't, and he probably won’t get that many chances to duke it out with him. What I'm saying is that his respect for him doesn't extend so far that he dare not challenge him. Racing is racing and sometimes you need the young pretenders to take on the old masters without the reverence that they might get from other ‘journeymen’.
For nothing else I salute you Tony Elias for having the courage to take the fight to, and trade places with, Rossi. You add a refreshing uncertainly to the mix as someone who will fight to the line and not be intimidated. Let’s hope your example inspires others to think that it isn’t all over once he goes past you and that the legend is fallible.
The more that think it, the more exciting racing we will have.
www.paynebyname.com
