Can Stoner defends his title ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ May 20 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>2nd half of the season looks promising for him. There are some tracks that seem well suited for the Ducati.

Unfortunately, DORNA don't want him to win. That is all you need to know.

Who let him have access to his tinfoil hat again?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ May 20 2008, 08:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Who let him have access to his tinfoil hat again?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ May 20 2008, 11:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Who let him have access to his tinfoil hat again?

Ezy wanted Stoner in MotoGP and he was in.

Ezy wants Stoner out of the championship spot (to make room for Rossi) so..............................

I hope Stoner can do the business but I can tell you he doesn't have any sway at the governing body and he isn't allowed to attend technical meetings.

You need a tinfoil hat. I'll do one better I'll give you an aluminum foil hat, since that's what foil is made from I would know.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ May 20 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>2nd half of the season looks promising for him. There are some tracks that seem well suited for the Ducati.

Unfortunately, DORNA don't want him to win. That is all you need to know.


Yeah like they didnt want him to win last year.

Casey looks to me like he is beating himself before he gets on the bike. He did an amazing job last season, but as happened to Rossi, others raise their game, and it looks like he is struggling with that. The bike is still a missile, the tyres work, but it's not the same as last year. The days of using the Duke's speed to pull away are gone, as Yamaha and Honda have upped the ante again, and as hard is it is for folks to swallow, Rossi is still an awesome rider, Lorenzo is looking like the future and if Dani holeshots he's gone.

I'm not a fan of Casey, but I have always maintained that yes he had the fastest bike and (what looks very much like) the best tyres, but he was the only guy who could make it stick race in race out with the Ducati Bridgestone combo. That makes what he did last year special.

His body language this year when he doesn't get pole or win has been like that of a kid who hasn't got his way. Stomping off into the garage, his face tripping him on the podium, weve all seen it. Not a happy camper our Casey.

So, anyway, Dorna not wanting him to win? The guy is going through a bad patch. Get over it.


Pete

Casey is definitely a whiner.

But I'm pretty sure most of his whining this year is in regards to the tires.

The team fiddled with the chassis to see if they could get it to work with the 08 tires. He crashed and hurt himself. At Jerez, the team had a miniature blow-up and had a meeting where everyone spoke their peace and then moved on to the race.

I was under the impression that he was enraged the team were making him run the "new stuff" when he wasn't comfortable on it and it had lead to his injury several months prior. His struggles this year remind me of Nicky's struggles late in 2006, but the competition is too sharp for Stoner to have any off weekends. Just another case of the teams agendas and the rider's agendas being in conflict.

I'm sure the 08's were developed to win in Europe and as you state the competition has come on strong and Ducati need to make some adaptations.

However, I believe almost all of his problems are related to Bridgestone's off season changes and you know how I feel about that mess.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ May 20 2008, 09:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Casey is definitely a whiner.

But I'm pretty sure most of his whining this year is in regards to the tires.
the irony of it all. i love this sport, its better than a soap opera

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 20 2008, 12:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> the irony of it all. i love this sport, its better than a soap opera

please explain.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 20 2008, 06:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>haha so you remember those posts to


haha i do my friend i do, ALL OF IT and the stoner is better than rossi thread

there was like 5 or more things that stoner said last season cos victory was going to his head...

i had to laugh also when he said they dont need a improved qualifier


another thing i find funny to is alot of people were saying rossi is finished and then i find them putting his name at the top of there predictions for races.................. class dam naysayers

I like him, but can he defend? Maybe not, aside the technical issues, he should change his attitude - last year he was relaxed and this was mirrored in his results. This year (apart from interview at end of Le Mans quali) he just seems like a child who isn't getting his own way. I don’t know, I hope he can keep it though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 21 2008, 04:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>3330:boho_stoner.jpg]

boohoo blub blub.. get used to it looser. just for you son
Fanboy (Roger), you keep making my points for me.
Oh, and I voted no.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ May 20 2008, 01:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I voted no.
Why? Have you flipped like Roger (Vale hater) and turned against your own guy? Are you Stoner hater?

I voted Yes. (The question being "can" he...)

Look, I'm neither a fan of Stoner or Rossi, but have you forgotten that Stoner won with four races to spare last year? He had a virtual DNF (not his fault) and is still in 4th. One bad day for Rossi on a good day for Stoner and its back to close points. Keep in mind that Lorenzo and Pedrosa may take points from him as well. I remember one time that Rossi had the points lead, it looked like he would take the title once again, but nothing is decided in racing until...well you know. I think Stoner still has a very good chance. I just think right now, it will be very difficult to beat Rossi the way he's looking at the moment, but fortunes always change.

(However, if he doesn't win, then I think he should whine to Dorna that he be given Michelins).

Of course he can. He may or may not end up doing so, but when things went right last year he was often untouchable. When things have been right this season he's won, and when they haven't been, with the exception of lemans, he wasn't particularly worse than last year, except in possibly overplaying his hand. With as many people in the hunt as there is this year, no one's going to have an easy time putting distance between himself and the field. At this point things look pretty good for Rossi, but I'd still call it a 4 man race.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ May 20 2008, 07:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>2nd half of the season looks promising for him. There are some tracks that seem well suited for the Ducati.

Unfortunately, DORNA don't want him to win. That is all you need to know.

oh yes thats right, dorna has put sugar in his fuel.
Nothing to do with the other manufacturers catching up ducati ?
Stoner is good but he aint rossi.
The pressure on stoner is mounting, here come the crashes !

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ May 20 2008, 10:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The pressure on stoner is mounting, here come the crashes !
The bike won't let him!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 20 2008, 11:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>boohoo blub blub.. get used to it looser. just for you son
Outch!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ May 21 2008, 07:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why? Have you flipped like Roger (Vale hater) and turned against your own guy? Are you Stoner hater?

I voted Yes. (The question being "can" he...)

Look, I'm neither a fan of Stoner or Rossi, but have you forgotten that Stoner won with four races to spare last year? He had a virtual DNF (not his fault) and is still in 4th. One bad day for Rossi on a good day for Stoner and its back to close points. Keep in mind that Lorenzo and Pedrosa may take points from him as well. I remember one time that Rossi had the points lead, it looked like he would take the title once again, but nothing is decided in racing until...well you know. I think Stoner still has a very good chance. I just think right now, it will be very difficult to beat Rossi the way he's looking at the moment, but fortunes always change.

(However, if he doesn't win, then I think he should whine to Dorna that he be given Michelins).
You know I like Stoner Jumkie. I can't see with the points lead against Stoner that all 3 in front of him will fail. Theoretically of course he can win but in my humble opinion the ducati isn't the same bike (for the worse) than last year. The m1 is the best bike with 2 great riders on them. The honda is not quite to the stage of the m1 , but it's still a damn good bike and it has a great rider as well. Anything can happen, but 3 riders of that calibre on those bikes with that points lead, to me it's not gonna happen.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 21 2008, 04:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>3330:boho_stoner.jpg]

boohoo blub blub.. get used to it looser. just for you son
Unlike you Fanboy, I can dish it out far better than you AND I can take it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Arrabbiata1 @ May 20 2008, 02:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The bike won't let him!
That's pretty funny. Nice to know bikes like ankle-splints Lorenzo's don't have that pesky TC...uhm, I wonder who else has a similar bike?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ May 20 2008, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Unlike you Fanboy, I can dish it out far better than you AND I can take it.


Aye, you Kiwis can take a joke, I'll give you that.

Pete

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (basspete @ May 21 2008, 07:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Aye, you Kiwis can take a joke, I'll give you that.

Pete
Just like the English can.