Bridgestone's Problems at Qatar

I read the article. I think that this may be Rossi's achille's heel all season. The switch to bridgestone was a huge mistake and it will cost him the championship for two seasons.

dun worry, he'll be on dual compound next season, will be special allowance for #1 whinger.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Duc999 @ Apr 1 2008, 09:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I read the article. I think that this may be Rossi's achille's heel all season. The switch to bridgestone was a huge mistake and it will cost him the championship for two seasons.
I was more convinced of that prior to this week. Now that he podiumed on what's been a bad bridgestone track while pretty thoroughly beating the other stones runners I'm a bit more on the fence. He and his team have obviously demonstrated a lot of adaptability in the past - until stoner comes back and starts destroying the field again or michelin runners start dominating I'm reluctant to make that judgement. He's in-touch with the field in the championship and the leading bridgestone runner after a couple of tracks that aren't real stone-friendly. He's only a couple of races in on the tire that had 5 riders in the top 7 last season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Apr 2 2008, 03:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was more convinced of that prior to this week. Now that he podiumed on what's been a bad bridgestone track while pretty thoroughly beating the other stones runners I'm a bit more on the fence. He and his team have obviously demonstrated a lot of adaptability in the past - until stoner comes back and starts destroying the field again or michelin runners start dominating I'm reluctant to make that judgement. He's in-touch with the field in the championship and the leading bridgestone runner after a couple of tracks that aren't real stone-friendly. He's only a couple of races in on the tire that had 5 riders in the top 7 last season.
I agree. I think he would have more points now if he had been on michelins, but these 2 tracks were not the ones he switched for. Where he may come unstuck is if pedrosa and lorenzo rather than stoner end up being his major rivals for the title.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Apr 2 2008, 04:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree. I think he would have more points now if he had been on michelins, but these 2 tracks were not the ones he switched for. Where he may come unstuck is if pedrosa and lorenzo rather than stoner end up being his major rivals for the title.

Pedrosa and Lorenzo are already his major rivals.
My point on saying that he made a big mistake with the switch is just that. Stoner is not the only title threat to him. He switched to be on equal footing with the Ducati and now he is a step slower than the top Michelin Riders.

Stoner will be back and Michelin is already back with a vengence. Rossi more than has his hands full.

I have said it before. I am rooting for him to be extremely competitive this year (i hinted that I wanted him to win but that would be contrary to Team Ducati). I just think the guy is extremely talented and should win one more before he hangs up the boots.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Duc999 @ Apr 2 2008, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pedrosa and Lorenzo are already his major rivals.
My point on saying that he made a big mistake with the switch is just that. Stoner is not the only title threat to him. He switched to be on equal footing with the Ducati and now he is a step slower than the top Michelin Riders.

Stoner will be back and Michelin is already back with a vengence. Rossi more than has his hands full.

I have said it before. I am rooting for him to be extremely competitive this year (i hinted that I wanted him to win but that would be contrary to Team Ducati). I just think the guy is extremely talented and should win one more before he hangs up the boots.
We don't disagree then. He may have underestimated the threat of pedrosa and lorenzo at the end of last year. As you say, stoner may still have an advantage on the tracks that suit the ducati, and he will miss out on an advantage at michelin tracks which there may be more of this year. There is always the possibility he will develop both the bike and the tyres, though; he +/- burgess have been known to do this in the past .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Duc999 @ Apr 2 2008, 02:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Pedrosa and Lorenzo are already his major rivals.
My point on saying that he made a big mistake with the switch is just that. Stoner is not the only title threat to him. He switched to be on equal footing with the Ducati and now he is a step slower than the top Michelin Riders.

Stoner will be back and Michelin is already back with a vengence. Rossi more than has his hands full.

I have said it before. I am rooting for him to be extremely competitive this year (i hinted that I wanted him to win but that would be contrary to Team Ducati). I just think the guy is extremely talented and should win one more before he hangs up the boots.
As I have said before, Rossi's tyre needs did not coincide with the rest of the Michelin runners. He felt that Michelin would (could?) not put the effort into tyres that worked for Rossi given the fact that the other Michelin runners wanted different tyres. Hence the move to Bridgestone. He felt that he needed a tyre more similar to Stoner than to the other Michelin runners wanted. Staying with Michelin probably would have been his death knell.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yamaka46 @ Apr 2 2008, 02:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As I have said before, Rossi's tyre needs did not coincide with the rest of the Michelin runners. He felt that Michelin would (could?) not put the effort into tyres that worked for Rossi given the fact that the other Michelin runners wanted different tyres. Hence the move to Bridgestone. He felt that he needed a tyre more similar to Stoner than to the other Michelin runners wanted. Staying with Michelin probably would have been his death knell.
We do need to see brno etc.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Apr 2 2008, 03:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>dun worry, he'll be on dual compound next season, will be special allowance for #1 whinger.
im sure they will make a duel compound for casey, they cant have him balling his eyes out after every race.

this is a quote frome that artical :

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>In fact if you look carefully at photos of the right side of Rossi’s rear slick you can see that he was in trouble very early in the race.

i seem to remember the rossi haters stating the pics of rossis bike with the knackered rear tyre was a camera angle or it was even said could be photo shopped

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crvlvr @ Apr 2 2008, 10:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Based on last year's results, these were the 7 tracks (of the 18) that a Bridgestone Rider did not win at:

Jerez
LeMans
Mugello
Assen
Sachsenring
Estoril
Valencia

So far, after 2 races, it appears to be a repeat performance of last yesr.

However, if Bridgestone continues to to have the advantage in the other 11 tracks, then the championship might be finght against Stoner and Rossi. Has Michelin caught up?

Well according to Duc999 Michelin is back and better than Bridgestones.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Stoner will be back and Michelin is already back with a vengence. Rossi more than has his hands full.

Right now I am leaning to diagree with you Duc. Like CRVLR said, it seems rather reminiscent of last year

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crvlvr @ Apr 2 2008, 06:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Based on last year's results, these were the 7 tracks (of the 18) that a Bridgestone Rider did not win at:

LeMansNot to be picky, but didn't win that on stones?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Apr 2 2008, 09:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>im sure they will make a duel compound for casey, they cant have him balling his eyes out after every race.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Apr 2 2008, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i seem to remember the rossi haters stating the pics of rossis bike with the knackered rear tyre was a camera angle or it was even said could be photo shopped

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goatboy @ Apr 3 2008, 05:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Not to be picky, but didn't win that on stones?

Yes

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Apr 3 2008, 04:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i seem to remember the rossi haters stating the pics of rossis bike with the knackered rear tyre was a camera angle or it was even said could be photo shopped

Oh yes I remember that fairytale .........

I seem to remember that a lot of Rossi fans were seeing things in any "excuse photo" that someone miscalled. Like the phantom shredded tyre photos that some would post.

As it has turned out it appears that after 2 rounds on has to currently say that all the tyre stuff was a nonsense. Perhaps a few more rounds may prove me wrong ..... but to date ....... Rossi is not as good on Bridgestones as he was on Michelins.

07 after round 2 Rossi ....... 1st

08 after round 2 Rossi ....... 3rd

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (crvlvr @ Apr 2 2008, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Based on last year's results, these were the 7 tracks (of the 18) that a Bridgestone Rider did not win at:

Jerez
LeMans
Mugello
Assen
Sachsenring
Estoril
Valencia

So far, after 2 races, it appears to be a repeat performance of last yesr.

However, if Bridgestone continues to to have the advantage in the other 11 tracks, then the championship might be finght against Stoner and Rossi. Has Michelin caught up?

I removed LeMans, Motegi and Donington Park due to weather (Bridgestone won all 3 races), I also won't include Turkey for obvious reasons. The numbers are the average finishing position of the top 5 finishers for each tire manufacturer. The lower the number, the better. I hope this is useful

Track------------------Winner------------Bridgestone-------------Michelin
Quatar--------------Bridgestone-------------5.2---------------------5.4
Jerez------------------Michelin-----------------7.4---------------------3.8
Shanghia-----------Bridgestone-------------4.4---------------------7.8
Mugello---------------Michelin-----------------5.0---------------------7.6
Catalunya----------Bridgestone--------------4.6--------------------8.2
Assen-----------------Michelin------------------6.2--------------------5.0
Sachsenring---------Michelin------------------5.6--------------------6.8
Laguna Seca-------Bridgestone--------------3.8--------------------9.2
Brno-----------------Bridgestone--------------4.4---------------------7.6
Misano---------------Bridgestone-------------3.0--------------------10.6
Estoril------------------Michelin-----------------6.2--------------------4.8
Phillip Island--------Bridgestone-------------4.2---------------------8.0
Sepang--------------Bridgestone--------------4.0--------------------8.2
Valencia---------------Michelin-----------------4.0---------------------9.6

Lets just wait and see what happens. I suspect Pedrosa will extend his lead in Estroril. But then we have Shanghia, LeMans, Mugello, Catalunya and Assen. I suspect Rossi takes ATLEAST 3 of those, maybe all.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Apr 2 2008, 10:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>As it has turned out it appears that after 2 rounds on has to currently say that all the tyre stuff was a nonsense. Perhaps a few more rounds may prove me wrong ..... but to date ....... Rossi is not as good on Bridgestones as he was on Michelins.

07 after round 2 Rossi ....... 1st
08 after round 2 Rossi ....... 3rd
As Motogp does not utilise a single make bike with tyres being the only variable, this is sheer speculation and cannot be viewed as being supported by any facts.