can rossi take the title this year?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Apr 5 2008, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>100% true.
I expect Honda to challenge VERY strongly this year with their new bike and Pedro on Michelin Pedro-tyres. What we have seen in the first 2 races is just the beginning. They have not used the pneumatic engine yet!
Lorenzo will be another very privileged Michelin user and will do anything to beat Pedrosa, but he's still a rookie. If he manages to remain at the top in the next 4 races, then we'll have a Pedrosa-Lorenzo Spanish battleship sailing through the season

Stoner and Rossi are going to find themselves in the same boat trying to keep up with that Spanish battleship... They will have to pray their bikes can keep up with Honda, and Bridgestone keep up with Michelin, and then they'll have to use ALL their superior skills (they are the two best MotoGP riders in activity IMO) to stay at the top, and be able challenge for the title this year.

So it will be a battle among 3 or 4 men, using 3 different bikes and 2 different tyres, and undoubtely Rossi is going to have a good chance for the title.
But he's not the favourite... For the first time since 2001 he's only 'one' of the main contenders.

I agree!!! Also with the rest of your post.
Rossi will again be battling for wins, and also have a shot at the title, because, well..he's Rossi. I don't see him as the favourite. I actually still think Casey is the favourite, because I really expect him to be stronger in the up coming races, but you're right, Honda does seem to be very strong! I think the battle will come down to Dani, Rossi and Casey, and if Jorge keeps it up, he can surprise us too.

I was encouraged by Rossi's performance in Spain. I think he is slowly gaining confidence in his Bridgestone tires. Most riders go their entire careers with the same tire manufacturer. Rossi scores a second in only his second race on the stones. I hope as the season goes forward he gains more confidence and if this happens we will se a more confident Rossi. A more confident Rossi is a Rossi that is capable of winning it all once again. havind said that i think Stoner will be trying to prove a point as will lorenzo. Pedrosa will also be trying to prove that his win in front of king and country was no fluke. This should be a cracking season whoever wins it all. My money is going on Rossi.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Apr 5 2008, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>100% true.
I expect Honda to challenge VERY strongly this year with their new bike and Pedro on Michelin Pedro-tyres. What we have seen in the first 2 races is just the beginning. They have not used the pneumatic engine yet!
Thepnumatic engine might turn out to be a two edged sword. One DNF and any minor advantage are eaten up.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Lorenzo will be another very privileged Michelin user and will do anything to beat Pedrosa, but he's still a rookie. If he manages to remain at the top in the next 4 races, then we'll have a Pedrosa-Lorenzo Spanish battleship sailing through the season

Stoner and Rossi are going to find themselves in the same boat trying to keep up with that Spanish battleship... They will have to pray their bikes can keep up with Honda, and Bridgestone keep up with Michelin, and then they'll have to use ALL their superior skills (they are the two best MotoGP riders in activity IMO) to stay at the top, and be able challenge for the title this year.
But that spanish battle might be a drawback too. A dog fight out on the track can easily take them both out, and if my memory is correct they don't have very compatible riding styles.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>So it will be a battle among 3 or 4 men, using 3 different bikes and 2 different tyres, and undoubtely Rossi is going to have a good chance for the title.
But he's not the favourite... For the first time since 2001 he's only 'one' of the main contenders.

This year can easily be about consistency, where we will see the four swaping places all through the seson. So this might be a very entertaining year

I think he can, but it's going to be a big mountain to climb this season, more so than last I reckon.

I just want him to get an 800 title to go with the other capacities.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ogunski @ Apr 5 2008, 04:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was encouraged by Rossi's performance in Spain. I think he is slowly gaining confidence in his Bridgestone tires.
"slowly"? Nah, I think his learning curve is pretty 'quick'. But also, consider that the Bridgestone has been developed for many years now. It's not like he is taking on Dunlop and trying to do something with it. I think the transition to the new brand for him is so far going well. He is quickly learning the wear characteristics and traction and we will soon see him win races.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mattsteg @ Apr 4 2008, 02:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Maybe his rookie Spanish teammate can submarine him in the second-to-last race to take away his championship lead and make it come down to the last race.
Haha, very cruel Mat.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Apr 5 2008, 09:01 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This year can easily be about consistency, where we will see the four swaping places all through the seson.
Excellent point, I think this will define the season--"consistency" and who avoids any DNFs.

(You see, when we are NOT talking tires, we find a bit more common ground).

Rossi will always be the top contender to the title! Even if he was giving with the last year's KR212V, Rossi would be a contender!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Apr 5 2008, 06:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This year can easily be about consistency, where we will see the four swaping places all through the seson. So this might be a very entertaining year
I'd agree with that.

So far it appears that the wins this year may be more evenly shared between 3 or 4 riders, which would make consistency much more important. Alternatively, Stoner will pull himself together after Jerez and piss off into the middle distance again.

My crystal ball is broken, so what do I know.

Aww ...., if it's consistancy thats gonna win, the title will go straight back to Nicky "I'm delighted with my fourth place today" Hayboy.

Another year of Jumkie gloating. Still at least it will piss the Aussies off!

Pete

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Apr 6 2008, 12:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Aww ...., if it's consistancy thats gonna win, the title will go straight back to Nicky "I'm delighted with my fourth place today" Hayboy.

Another year of Jumkie gloating. Still at least it will piss the Aussies off!

Pete
Or we might be lucky and it'll go back to Valentino "I'm delighted with my second place today" Rossi. Even Jumkie might be a bit happy with that since he came out of the closet (ooo, er) regarding Rossi

Reference to Pete and myself, not the forum in general, so no flaming

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yamaka46 @ Apr 6 2008, 02:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Or we might be lucky and it'll go back to Valentino "I'm delighted with my second place today" Rossi. Even Jumkie might be a bit happy with that since he came out of the closet (ooo, er) regarding Rossi

Reference to Pete and myself, not the forum in general, so no flaming


Good post!!!

Pete

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Apr 6 2008, 11:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Aww ...., if it's consistancy thats gonna win, the title will go straight back to Nicky "I'm delighted with my fourth place today" Hayboy.

Another year of Jumkie gloating. Still at least it will piss the Aussies off!

Pete

Don't put us all in Pinky's category.
I'd quite enjoy Nicky winning another title.

And back to the topic - Yes Vale can win but it is going to be really tough.
Remember last year at this time he had one win and one second and led the championship on Michelins.
The tyre switch decision has cost him points in both the first 2 races IMO, but he may pick up more on the flip side when and if Bridgestone become the better tyre at a particular track.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Apr 5 2008, 11:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>For the first time since 2001 he's only 'one' of the main contenders.


It's great isn't it! I think Rossi is in a great situation this year and anything can happen. I still don't think anyone will be able to stop Dani though, hes too good.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Apr 6 2008, 01:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Aww ...., if it's consistancy thats gonna win, the title will go straight back to Nicky "I'm delighted with my fourth place today" Hayboy.

Another year of Jumkie gloating. Still at least it will piss the Aussies off!

Pete
I venture to suggest there would be a more than a few pissed off rossi fans in this eventuality, possibly including you .

Of course rossi can win, although he may not. As others have said, pedrosa is starting to look a fairly good thing, and he already has a 10 point lead on valentino. I would prefer hayden to win than pedrosa, but pedrosa at this time looks the more talented rider(which means he is a very very talented rider).

To be honest, I think it's too early to call this year. Stoner was ominous at Qatar, Pedrosa won from the front as Jerez, Rossi appears to be getting along with the Stones, and Lorenzo has come in like a missile. No surprises so far. The only surprise for me has been just how badly Stoner fell to bits at Jerez, both in qualifying and the race, I didn't see that coming.

A couple of races down the line, we can maybe really start looking into it, but as for the subject of the post, yes Rossi can win the title this year.

Pete

i dont think vale will win the title this year
he seems to have just lost a step, or, to be more honest, the others have raised their game somewhat .
its reminiscent of king kennys last few years , being beat by marco was seen as a fluke, then franco won and twas an aberration, only when freddie won was it generally realised his time had gone.............
and, sadly , i think thats vale too (he will of course win races still , just not enough to win the title )

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (convertmel @ Apr 6 2008, 06:58 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i dont think vale will win the title this year
he seems to have just lost a step, or, to be more honest, the others have raised their game somewhat .
its reminiscent of king kennys last few years , being beat by marco was seen as a fluke, then franco won and twas an aberration, only when freddie won was it generally realised his time had gone.............
and, sadly , i think thats vale too (he will of course win races still , just not enough to win the title )

Why not???
I think he will win, although I don't think he has to work harder.
If he wins, then he'll make me happy....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ Apr 6 2008, 11:02 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The only surprise for me has been just how badly Stoner fell to bits at Jerez, both in qualifying and the race, I didn't see that coming.
Pete
This is not an unreasonable comment based on events, but I would put a different interpretation on what transpired than him falling to bits/succumbing to pressure. I think it was similar to rossi's 2 offs last year, in that he knew it was a risk to push so hard particularly early in the race, but he was determined to attempt to actually win the race rather than settle for 5th, which was his result last year on an apparently more dominant bike and which livio suppo said after the race was about the maximum potential of the bike at the track on that week-end. Egotistical and indicative of poor tactical and strategic judgement yes, falling to bits I would disagree with if it is a one -off. I think rossi was similarly shattered after at least one of his dnfs last year except that they closed the garage so no-one could film him. I think this is one way in which stoner is similar to rossi; they both have an extreme hatred of losing.

Hopefully (as a stoner fan ) he has now moderated his ambition to winning the world championship rather than winning every race, because as you say whoever wins the championship with the apparently intense competition this year is going to have to settle for position on occasion.

sorry, double post.