I think if we separately compiled a list detailing precisely who these members are it would be pretty similar, but although I neither particularly like Rossi or Stoner and as an impartial observer, perhaps a fraction of the length of one which could be drawn up representing the hatred towards Stoner. Hater is indeed a strong word. Few hate Rossi - he is manifestly popular..which has raised the profile of this sport immeasurably. If we are talking hatred - look no further than CS. I am not aware of any rider who has had more genuine levels of hate directed against him than Casey Stoner....not even Phil Reid...or judging from my recent experimental thread not even the ridiculous and tragic figure of Anthony Gobert who clearly has no remorse or compunction concerning his wasted career opportunities and those he has hurt along the way.
For every member on this forum that has called Rossi there must be another ten who have lampooned him for his illness or the frequency of his low sides in 2009 and 2010. Casey was supposedly washed up - finished, given what we now know about the front end of that Ducati his achievements are in hindsight astonishing. At Silverstone on Saturday afternoon he came out on the Riders For Health Stage and was predictably roundly booed by several hundred people adorned in that ...... lurid yellow. The hatred seems to have emerged in 2008 - given that it was the same fraternity booing Pedrosa in 2006 in Parc Ferme at Donington, having beaten Valentino the following year it's not hard to deduce why. The other contributory factor in the UK appears to have been Stoner branding Donington as a '.... circuit' the same year, a fair comment which I actually partially agree with. Since then Casey hasn't exactly acquitted himself well and as a PR nightmare has alienated press, paddock and public alike. He does himself no favours perhaps the post race Laguna outburst was his nadir and I have little time myself for his repeated petulance.
Rog recently posted that there are those who want to see Rossi beaten irrespective of who does it and express a similar dislike for his fans.
Let's cut to the chase - I'm one of those people. Further - I don't like Valentino Rossi. I've thought about Rog's post and admit it. I love seeing Rossi beaten and I have little time for his adoring acolytes. There, I said it....much like being a recusant or a 16th Century heretic - to openly post on a motorcycling racing forum that you dislike Rossi...you might as well declare your membership of the BNP or Ku Klux Clan, admit to being a ........., or even profess a penchant for bestiality.
Yet, I am not a hater. I don't hate Rossi. Allow me to elucidate. I love seeing Rossi beaten, but I also love to see him win. Rossi elevated this sport to levels not seen since the Golden Age of the late 80's and early '90s when the gods engaged in titanic battles and we watched in awe. The aliens have similar transcendent levels of talent. When Rossi rode for Yamaha his competitors had to raise their game to untold levels in order to challenge him similarly bringing out unseen reserves in Rossi's abilities. Catalunya 2009 was one of the greatest memorable victories I have ever seen in Grand Prix motorcycle racing, similarly Donington 2005 was perhaps the finest wet weather wins it has been my pleasure to witness. I love it when Rossi is pushed, yet many so called fans were content to see him disappear unassailed and throughout most of 2002 vastly superior machinery. I found it mind numbingly tedious just as I wanted to see Casey challenged last year.
I don't like Valentino Rossi. I said it again. Why? I find his personality and public persona fake, and believe him to be duplicitous, scheming, insincere and disingenuous. Whilst I love his studious devotion to the sport I found his supposed post race acknowledgements/tributes to Ago, Hailwood and Nieto self aggrandising and egotistical and would loved to have invaded the track taking a blowtorch to that ......' ridiculous 25 metre long banner at Assen in 2010 - 100 victories aside. Yeah, I'll reaffirm - I love to see him lose as well.
I don't like Valentino Rossi. His sanctimonious dismissal of tobacco advertising only to hypocritically reap millions from Altadis came together with the tax scandal over which he quickly distanced himself from the dubious Gibo Baldi/Great White management despite being privy and complicit to the entire evasion scam. I found his reaction to Lorenzo and ultimatum to Yamaha both childish and petulant and the wall as pathetic as the one that divided Repsol Honda at Pedrosa's behest. The move to Ducati was one of the most costly, miscalculated and conceited .... ups since Sheene sported a Yamaha T shirt whilst under contract to Suzuki, and the ........ about the shoulder injury astonishing in view of the sheer vitriol vented on Stoner following his Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. Rossi's underwhelming performance at Ducati I initially defended. But a year down the line I feel no sympathy - just schadenfreude given the arrogance prior to his signing to Ducati. The move on Gibbers at Jerez was venerated and has gone down in Tavullian lore, but Gibbers had beaten him fairly - I thought it was frankly .... desperate opportunistic riding (which I do hate) - alongside his skittling of Melandri at Motegi and his very very crap move at Jerez in 2011. Had Casey taken Valentino in the same way the forum would have gone into melt down. Finally, I feel the 9 times world champion mantle flatters to deceive and frequently used hyperbole by his fanboys which brings me to......the fans.
No I don't tend to like glory hunters - never had, one of the main reasons I love it when Manchester United lose. I worry for the sport because most of these guys will desert GP when Rossi retires. Ezy is desperate to wring/milk every last drop out of the golden ... that is the Rossi phenomenon and is again intent on manipulating the rules in his favour. This is the first time in his career with the exception of 2004 that he has not enjoyed significant comparative advantage and the fans are deserting in their droves instead of getting behind him. Only the true fans of both Rossi and first and foremost GP motorcycle racing tend to and will remain. I detest the incessant kitsch Aldo Drudi helmet designs, the nauseating yellow paraphernalia that pollutes the crowds and the fickle nature of the bandwagon jumpers. The genuine Rossi fans tend to be true devotees and advocees of the sport
Hate? nah, but there's nothing wrong with a justified dislike. Hate? - put it this way, I'd never gloat or delight in Valentino Rossi crashing a motorcycle out of either a race or practice. That's hate.
Great post Arrab.
