Gibernau...

I hope he doesn't retire cause he is a great rider. He might shock us all and say he will ride for Ilmor cause they aren't impresive at the moment.

i'm not a huge Gibbers fan, but i hope he finds a ride...geuss we'll see if PONS does anyting...of course if they do....we might also see Biaggi back sooner than you think.

For a guy with 30 podiums including 9 wins to end his career like this is sad. How likely is Sito Pons to get a couple of Hondas anyway now that you mention it? ....

I don't hate Rossi, he's one of my favourite riders, but I'd have loved to see Gibernau prove him wrong and win another race

Guess that won't happen now

Talking about horses...if Gibbers were a horse, they'd have had to shoot him this year. He's not my fave man out there, especially after Catalunya this year. But accidents do happen. The truth is his shoulder won't take another knock like the one's he's taken already. They might have put stem cells in it but he's no longer young and obviously cannot heal as well as a younger guy would. I think he'd be too great a risk for a team to throw money at. He's earned his retirement. Better this way than have a couple of seasons of 'fading away'. That's far more sad.

I bet he will retire, but look at all the options for being wild card! Every team except Repsol would like have him score some points if a rider is out. I don’t think we’ve seen the end of him. Maybe back, full time in 2008.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BEN @ Nov 7 2006, 04:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I still feel that on his day, Gibbers can be the fastest man on the track - certainly Rossi's closest rival during this period.

I agree for 04 & 05. But he has been inconsistent at best after these years. He made pole this year and led a few laps, but nothing like he was before. I noticed him a few years ago and hoped he would take Rossi's crown, but then something happened to him, which is unexplainable to me. Some say Rossi got in his head, or that he was cursed. But I'm not so sure I believe that. Who knows... but the image of Rossi making him run wide and off the track, then Rossi saying ungraciously and condescending that Sete would no longer win a race, was burned into my mind; and I’m just a spectator. I rooted for Sete to win another race, and he had chances, but for some unexplainable reason he has not been able to mix it up. It does seem that he has lost a mental edge. And in this sport, as in any other highly intense activity, you have to be super mentally strong (i.e. Hayden coming back from catastrophe to challenge at Valencia). It is true that Sete was Rossi’s best competition those two years, but since then has dropped off the map. He is a veteran of the sport, and at 33 (a relative dinosaur for GP) I think he will have to make way for the new up and coming younger stars. (Even though Loris is up there in age, he performed well in 06). I would like Sete to stay on at least to see him win one more race, and by doing so, give Rossi a dose of foot-in-mouth much needed humbleness; moreover, for him to go into his twilight with a sense of exercising any doubts he may have about his career. But I think this is unlikely, I hope I am wrong.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baldylocks @ Nov 7 2006, 04:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>if you were running a moto gp team - which i assume you aren't ?

Would you employ him ?

Cos I wouldn't

he's talented enough but, for me, he's lost his mojo - or rather it was taken off him

it just goes to show - when Rossi tells you you aren't going to win another race - you're not going to win another race.

Very good point.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Nov 7 2006, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree for 04 & 05. But he has been inconsistent at best after these years. He made pole this year and led a few laps, but nothing like he was before. I noticed him a few years ago and hoped he would take Rossi's crown, but then something happened to him, which is unexplainable to me. Some say Rossi got in his head, or that he was cursed. But I'm not so sure I believe that. Who knows... but the image of Rossi making him run wide and off the track, then Rossi saying ungraciously and condescending that Sete would no longer win a race, was burned into my mind; and I’m just a spectator. I rooted for Sete to win another race, and he had chances, but for some unexplainable reason he has not been able to mix it up. It does seem that he has lost a mental edge. And in this sport, as in any other highly intense activity, you have to be super mentally strong (i.e. Hayden coming back from catastrophe to challenge at Valencia). It is true that Sete was Rossi’s best competition those two years, but since then has dropped off the map. He is a veteran of the sport, and at 33 (a relative dinosaur for GP) I think he will have to make way for the new up and coming younger stars. (Even though Loris is up there in age, he performed well in 06). I would like Sete to stay on at least to see him win one more race, and by doing so, give Rossi a dose of foot-in-mouth much needed humbleness; moreover, for him to go into his twilight with a sense of exercising any doubts he may have about his career. But I think this is unlikely, I hope I am wrong.

Nicely put, like you I can't understand what happened him and why he wasn't still up there giving Rossi a hard time. Personally I don't believe that Rossi's mind games had an affect on his racing. Something else happened and I guess we'll never know what that was. He's had a crap season with one thing and another and I think it'll be a shame if he retires

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Orrmate @ Nov 8 2006, 03:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't hate Rossi, he's one of my favourite riders, but I'd have loved to see Gibernau prove him wrong and win another race

Guess that won't happen now

Same here man, Gibbers is a great rider and for him to go out without another win after the sht with Rossi is sad.

I agree with another poster he was Rossi's greatest rival, can you think of anyone else that took the fight to Rossi the way Gibbers did.

Don't say Hayden cause I will scream.

Also Casey Stoner is one lucky ......., his performance this season was not great, lots of falls, then he takes out Gibbers in Estoril causing him further injury and possibly retirement and then he lands a ride next season with Gibbers team Ducati.

I am still dumbfounded , but understand Ducati are thinking about the future. Ducati are taking one hell of a risk with Casey I reckon. Lets wait and see.

I hope Gibbers stays on and raises hell next season, but I think he will retire .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jova @ Nov 8 2006, 12:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Also Casey Stoner is one lucky ..................then he takes out Gibbers in Estoril causing him further injury and possibly retirement and then he lands a ride next season with Gibbers team Ducati.

the final insult for sete

adios amigo

maybe he should take a year off then come back .... do a biaggi

maaannnn i feel sorry for him.

He will retire.... I dont want him too!

When/ if rossi makes a team like i thought were going to happen with Nastro Azzuro etc etc I bet he gets Gibbers aboard as his team mate.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Katt @ Nov 8 2006, 12:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>maybe he should take a year off then come back .... do a biaggi

maaannnn i feel sorry for him.Love the new avatar Katt

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Morgo @ Nov 8 2006, 02:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>When/ if rossi makes a team like i thought were going to happen with Nastro Azzuro etc etc I bet he gets Gibbers aboard as his team mate.

Dude! What've you been smoking?!?!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (skidmark @ Nov 8 2006, 07:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Love the new avatar Katt

why thankyou skid. ... one of the best shots i've found of doohan!

Has announced his retirement

Taken from Eurosport.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Sete Gibernau has retired from Grand Prix racing with immediate effect, the Spaniard announced today.

Gibernau said: “I am quitting from the highest level of competition.

“I am not enjoying my racing any more and I do not want to keep going just for the sake of money.”

"It has been an incredible experience and has provided with me some unforgettable moments."

Gibernau, 33, has raced in Moto GP's top level since 1997, winning nine races and twice finishing second in the championship, in 2003 and 2004 while riding for Gresini Honda.

This season though, has been the worst of his career. After moving to Ducati at the start of 2006, three separate injuries to his right collarbone plus a broken hand have set him back, ensuring that he missed four races and finished only 13th in the championship.

After Ducati chose to replace him with Australian hot-shot Casey Stoner for 2007, Gibernau's options were limited anyway, before he made his announcement

We all knew it was coming, but still, sad to hear it. Here's to Sete for all those years, and another one for whatever endeavor he chooses after MotoGP.

if that's the way he feels - he's doing the right thing

It's the right thing to do but still

Whatever happens, the guy will always have my respect. Maybe he wasn't a winning machine like Rossi, but he rode with heart.

he may not have won as many races - but if hadn't been for Gibbers a lot of the best races i have ever seen would have been ......

Nice work old boy

Enjoy your retirement