Championship 100% over now.We all know who will win it. Only battle for 2nd and 3rd thats interesting.
GP of Britain.
- Thread starter Barbedwirebikerr
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Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
It’s a shame Dovi had such a crap run of luck at Catalunya and Silverstone this year. Up until the last round he had accumulated more championship points than he had at the same point in in the 2017 season (that supposedly went right down to the wire).
To be honest I don’t think Dovi could beat Marc this year given Marc’s current form even if hypothetically Dovi had averted the bad luck of those two rounds but it would have made the championship way more exciting.
Sure, he might very well be up to his old tricks if in genuine contention, but notwithstanding same I do think he is racing because he loves riding/racing at a still respectable level, as in 2013 when he wasn’t much in contention either.
Arguably he could be holding Yamaha back and someone younger would be better in his seat, although I don’t think Quatararo would have genuinely contended this year, and I don’t think Yamaha, currently anyway, are running their team to his advantage and Vinales’ disadvantage. He is risking injury, and obviously needs to face up to the finish of his career and getting on with the rest of his life at some stage.
As far as legacy I think the Ducati adventure is what cruelled things, and took him to the status of being one of the greats rather than on a tier above his predecessors. Continuing to race is probably not helping his overall rating vs MM, but probably doesn’t influence his standing vs Lawson, Doohan et al. If he had quit after the 2009 title he would still have had a strong argument probably even against MM.
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Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
I think all the riders love racing or they wouldn't be there, even Stoner loved the racing (just not everything else that came with it).
I agree that Rossi continuing on after his Ducati experience and going on for close to 10 years now without winning a title will ultimately hurt his legacy. For the first half of his career he was much the unstoppable force Marc is today, if he had of ended his career after 2009 and on top, he would have been remembered like that.
Instead of being remembered for someone who then obsessively spent the next 10+ years (majority of his career) striving for that one more title and failing, getting all bitter and twisted in the process when he couldn't beat his younger and faster competition. I'm sure he is aware of this public perception of him just as he's aware he doesn't have a realistic chance of winning another title. He must really love racing to be giving it his best shot at the expense of tarnishing his 'all important' record tally, I give him heaps of credit for that.
This season I have even noticed the commentators not gushing about his achievements for 5 minutes every time one of the cameras pan into his general direction. I don't know if he will sign a new contract beyond his current one, a serious injury would have to get him contemplating retirement you would think?
To be completely honest, I never once heard Rossi spout "BUT I HAVE 9 TITLES" like his fans do.
I Just think he enjoys winning and wants to feel it again, pop a wheelie and kiss that stupid camera with his annoying ... wet lips.
He also likes the spot light and prooobably keeping his Yamaha seat away from some greedy young hands too.
That’s the thing. Had he retired after the 9th world title, something I still have a theory was his original intention, he like Marc now would be a guy who had never encountered a bike on which he couldn’t win races and eventually titles.
Instead he chased Ago’s shadow, in regard to whom few even among his rare detractors considered him to have anything to prove.
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Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
To be honest I've never heard him say that either, it was Nick Harris that brought it up every time that familiar number 46 came into camera frame. The importance Rossi placed on his 10th title and the behaviour it brought out in him when he realised it was slipping from his grasp says more than enough for me. I lost a lot of respect for him during the tail end of 2015, it was clear then that it wasn't just about the racing and that there was some truth in the 'world record tally' GOAT media nonsense being talked about whether he admitted it openly or not.
He loves winning, I mean who doesn't if your racing. He loves the attention and spotlight, he will have the spotlight even after he retires because of his massive fanbase and ties to the sport. Yamaha know he wont win them another title, maybe not even another race. They would still resign him based on his fanbase and the brand recognition he brings them alone. He himself can finish the championship in 6th and probably still contribute to as many bike sales as a manufacturer who has just won the world championship.
It's good to see him giving it his all and still enjoying the racing whether he is winning or not.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Not saying he "hates" racing - merely that the derived pleasure from his involvement is HUGELY diminished; much less satisfaction there. It's been shown in multiple studies that very few highly successful people look forward to retirement.
I could have retired 4 years ago - but I do what I do because I'm still as good at what I do as I was 15 years ago.
I do agree with latter posts that the whole 10th championship thing is likely an obsession that lives solely in the minds of the fans.
I’m not sure that he or any celebrities are truly aware of the public’s perception of them. They live in a bubble for the most part. Athletes often get surrounded by yes men, that on top of their self belief (which I question with Rossi given his vetoing of team mates etc.) often means they don’t realise when their time is done or that they aren’t good enough.
It’ll always be, if Yamaha give you a good bike next year Vale you’ll dominate again. You’re better now than you were a decade ago etc. the hangers on can either be blinded themselves or they can not want the ride to be over.
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
He has loads of yes men around him, probably more than any of the other riders. Who knows what he truly believes and how much koolaid he drinks.
https://www.autosport.com/motogp/news/141547/rossi-losing-deserved-titles-motivates-me-at-40
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
So - yes, if the interview is legit, he does seek the 10th championship grail. Can't fault a man for having a dream. But since we know it ain't going to happen, it's a hollow dream.
"It makes me laugh. If I'm not strong in a test, or I finish fourth,[I get told] I have to stop. It seems a bit extreme."
Not extreme - but when your results can only get worse, it's time open the seat to the next rider. Knowing that is acknowledging the natural order, although it's true that over the hill males do often remain dominant in the chimp family. Personally when I see those wildlife shows where eventually a young male pounds the .... out of the gray-haired alpha and kicks his ... out of the colony rather depressing. No pension, no 401K, no Social Security and relatives never come to visit. I expect one of the things that keeps Rossi going is the prospect of spending his days at the villa playing video games with Uccio.
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Marc has been really lucky this year and dovi the unlucky one. Could have been a 5 ride take out at barcelona, but marc just escaped.
Good to see yama back at it again, shame MV woke up late. Could have been a cool 3 way fight to the end. I dont think marc will crash 2 more times this year. lets hope yama can get in there now. Looking good. Misano and aragon should suit them really good.
One particular yes man especially, who proudly announced himself to the world at large as the author of the PI 2015 conspiracy theory, Valentino himself apparently not having noticed during the race that MM was tanking in the process of winning.
Joined Sep 2016
894 Posts | 557+
Queensland Australia
Sad that he blindly believes that poisonous hanger on, I'm sure Uccio has his own agenda that supports his strategy of living comfortably while getting a free ride.
Love him or hate him, seeing Rossi this season get so excited about a front row start and from what I can tell genuinely enjoying the racing rather than bitterly obsessing about winning is refreshing to see.
That’s the whole thing, no-one deserves a title for being a close runner-up or by being a very popular ex-champion, a title win by whom would be “good for the sport”. If it had been conceded to him by Pedrosa, MM etc not trying to beat him in the end of season races in 2015, as some whom I tend to believe reported was his wish, it would have devalued all the titles he genuinely won imo. i was wont to argue to anti-Stoner Rossi fans that a rider as unpopular as Stoner winning titles was proof the sport is genuine.
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
:bomb:I can understand Rossi hanging in there if he loves it. It’s not like he’s being consistently beaten by his younger teammate, a situation that I find surprising. I think the paddock and riders are admiring just how competitive Rossi is despite his years and the current level of competition where it’s so easy to be fighting for a top 10 spot in one race while fighting for a podium spot in the previous race.
Rossi clearly loves his racing and continues to race for this reason. I don’t know about the love for the media attention. If you’re extremely good and competitive in any endeavour, your own ability at self-assessing plays a huge role in your success. I therefore seriously doubt that Rossi is pandering to ‘yes men’ around him when considering if and when to stop.
As to him ‘deserving’ the 2015 title, that’s all a matter of debate IMO. I thought he made a huge mistake in how he chose to deal with the difficulties he encountered during his 2015 championship campaign and his modus ended up working against him. However, I saw problems on both sides. Very messy, and I guess this forum must have been quite the circus in and around that time. :bomb:
Rossi clearly loves his racing and continues to race for this reason. I don’t know about the love for the media attention. If you’re extremely good and competitive in any endeavour, your own ability at self-assessing plays a huge role in your success. I therefore seriously doubt that Rossi is pandering to ‘yes men’ around him when considering if and when to stop.
As to him ‘deserving’ the 2015 title, that’s all a matter of debate IMO. I thought he made a huge mistake in how he chose to deal with the difficulties he encountered during his 2015 championship campaign and his modus ended up working against him. However, I saw problems on both sides. Very messy, and I guess this forum must have been quite the circus in and around that time. :bomb:
Nah he was deffo implying he deserved 1 OR!! 2 titles more.
2015 (didn't have a real fighting chance, Lorenzo beat him fair and square) and 2006 (Without Edwards helping him and Dani Helping him too he wouldn't even have had a fighting chance either) should be his in his eyes.
The moment I start thinking lightly of this guy all i have to do is read an Article/Interview of him and its an easy path back to hate.
So where is the debate ?. If he had won by proceeding in the latter races of the season as he had before then I would have acknowledged him as a well deserved winner even though as it would seem is the case with you in regard to Stoner and Lorenzo I don't like his personality.
He didn't win because he wasn't fast enough to beat the riders he needed to beat in those last races. He got his lead (imo) by riding really well, by Lorenzo riding less well (in fact mostly quite poorly) in an unusual number of wet races, by MM stupidly continuing to crash out because he couldn't accept not winning every race after he had pretty much done so in the preceding season, and to some extent because Pedrosa was slow or absent due to injury. I never saw how this meant that there was any obligation for the remaining races to be wet races, for MM to keep crashing, or for Pedrosa to continue to be injured or ride as if he was.
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Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
Obligation? What obligation?
He earned a lead. What's with all the qualifiers which usually apply for riders who have a lead? Finally, I'm amused you dislike his personality and it seems to affect your overall impression of him. Can't separate the personality from the abilities and achievements on track, hence the qualifiers for why he had a lead? :spin:
