Stoner is the best I’ve seen in 40 years of following this sport. His skill his tenacity his true grit of extracting, adjusting and giving it all irrespective of the odds or the adversities and this is especially with the tremendous talent that fills the motogp field which is probably the most talented field and awarded field ever to fill a starting line going back to the past racing at this top class. Estoril is another race and one of his true triumphs that truly prove what a talented and skilful rider this man is. Stoner is AWSOME and this does not just come from me but from lots of commentators and past riders and present riders. It’s a joy to watch him extract, squeeze every gram of energy from his racing unit with the balls of a mighty warrior and skilfully take his machinery to the podium be it on the Ducati in the past or the Honda in the present. All I can say is AWSOME!!!! And it’s also so nice to see the wonderful camaraderie that is held by every rider in the racing field. Whatever happens and whoever wins it’s going to be such an exciting season and motogp can only grow and get better from here especially with the competiveness that is building up in this sport.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Like Jumkie, I thought Lorenzo was waiting for Stoner to fold rather than pushing for the win, a couple of times, he looked to be sitting up early goin into corners when he could have been getting in there and showing a wheel. Thought it was a pretty boring race to be honest, which was confirmed when Jorge an Spencer had started playing snooker. At this point I realised it was 2.30pm and I had fallen asleep before the end of the race and the BBC had moved onto another programme.
Rivetting stuff
Rivetting stuff
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
If that is in fact his strategy, at what point during the race does he abandon that strategy and go for a pass. After last week, he should have learned Stoners ability to conserve tires. It appears that Stoner is simply toying with the field at the moment and not allowing anyone to even show him a wheel.
Joined Jul 2006
11K Posts | 291+
Texas
You guys all wanted a control tyre. At least in 2007 there were tracks which suited different tyres.
I'll keep pulling for Spies to wrap his head around things, but with each bad race he is sealing his fate I'm afraid. If this doesn't work out for him I say go back to WSBK and rewrite the record books.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
Me? I've never asked for a control anything, I'm the one who harks back to 500 2 strokes.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Joined Apr 2011
1K Posts | 87+
Pangea
The only reason Stoner won that race is the move to 1000cc regs have benefited him more than anyone...he is the luckiest rider in MotoGP history.
Joined Oct 2006
3K Posts | 197+
Living the dream in Scotland
There were a few occasions today it looked like Jorge was sitting up early, like he didn't want to lead, which I found a bit odd. Someone needs to get right in there and mess up Spencer's head again. We need to see watch springs firing out again!
Joined May 2009
6K Posts | 4K+
Shovel's Club
Joined Aug 2008
6K Posts | 748+
Thailand
Nicky's Tweet:
"Crap race. Electronic problem. Bike thought it was on a diff part of track then it really was so electronics worked in all the wrong places.
Basically full power in the middle of some corners, no power and lots traction on some straights, no engine break for corners."
"Crap race. Electronic problem. Bike thought it was on a diff part of track then it really was so electronics worked in all the wrong places.
Basically full power in the middle of some corners, no power and lots traction on some straights, no engine break for corners."
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Psychologically - Stoner's race strategy in the last two races has to be just as disheartening to Lorenzo and Pedrosa as was his pull away and disappear act of latter seasons. At least in years past the other aliens had the option of speculating that Stoner, riding on the ragged edge to create a huge gap - would hit a bad patch and fall down with nobody even near him. Now (these last two races) he's always tantalizingly close while Lorenzo and Pedrosa have their hands full just trying to match his lap times. In the post race interview Lorenzo said, in so many words, that he was exhausted and never in the closing laps seriously considered trying to pass Stoner.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Speaking of tires, what ever happened to the tire conspiracy this year...
Bridgestone would seem to be continuing to make tyres which are too good. I think the idea was to lose the cold tyre crashes but have the tyres wear out at the end.
I think the 3 front runners have all used the old carcass tyres , at least for the last 2 races, though. The new bikes seem to be easier on tyres than the 800s, as I said earlier even stoner now seems to be able to make soft tyres last the distance. There is not even an option to replace bridgestone with pirelli any time soon, which appears to have helped other series, since I think dorna just re-signed bridgestone.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
He was just never close enough to try an actual pass. He got close to Stoners rear wheel on entry a few times, but never had a place to go but outside, then Stoner would kill him off the exit. That only went on for a couple of laps, then Stoner threw in a hot lap and pulled the gap back to a half second, then added a tenth or two for the next couple of laps until Jorge succombed
Joined Aug 2008
6K Posts | 748+
Thailand
So do you guys who are speculating on Casey's strategy just not believe the words that come out of his mouth? Podium interviews he said he tried to carry his usual "check-out" pace but had big chatter so he slowed to the point where chatter wasn't an issue (this is where George closed the gap) tried umpteen different 'lectro maps to eliminate the chatter (which didn't work) - then adjusted his riding style (which worked) then his pace picked up again. George wasn't doggin' or waitin' 'til Casey ...... up or pumped up or whatever - he got all he was gonna get outta the Yam today.
Pedder's is a waste - Honda: put him on a satellite bike next year with Marquez as a teammate.
Tech Trois - this is gonna be fun all year!
Bautista - about where he should be.
Vale - unless new parts are a miracle you've found your new home 6th to 8th.
Ben... ben ben ben ben ben... dude get it together, fire your crew, pull your finger out, .... "Elbowz Racing" bicycles - whatever... you gotta get on it or you're done.
Nicky - Don't let Vale play with your toys.
Barbera - harder to catch a tow for entire race, eh?
Anywho - lots of time left in the season for all these things to change - except for Pov, you can stop watching now - its all over.
Pedder's is a waste - Honda: put him on a satellite bike next year with Marquez as a teammate.
Tech Trois - this is gonna be fun all year!
Bautista - about where he should be.
Vale - unless new parts are a miracle you've found your new home 6th to 8th.
Ben... ben ben ben ben ben... dude get it together, fire your crew, pull your finger out, .... "Elbowz Racing" bicycles - whatever... you gotta get on it or you're done.
Nicky - Don't let Vale play with your toys.
Barbera - harder to catch a tow for entire race, eh?
Anywho - lots of time left in the season for all these things to change - except for Pov, you can stop watching now - its all over.
It had occurred to me that the chatter might be making stoner ride more slowly or differently so that he doesn't wear out the soft tyres.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
I get that he said he wasn't comfortable to push - but (not to be pedantic) that's not the same as saying it was his plan to disappear. Agree re: Lorenzo. Like I said, he and Pedro were just managing to tag along. I do believe Stoner would have pushed harder if the need was there. He spent the better part of his seasons on the Ducati in a state of saves and near-crashes in order to be competitive.
