<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Valerian @ Jul 27 2009, 01:31 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>For any rider in Motogp at the moment, they have to live with the fact that one of the riders is widely considered the Greatest of all time - the Goat. Most, if not all, of them probably think so as well plus they have the media continually harping on about it. No doubt these are all proud, competitive men but to be told or worse to know that one of your opponents is better than you no matter what you do is debiltating - it brings huge pressure. For many of them they are beaten mentally before the race begins. I suspect many of them are scared of Vale on the track in case they knock him off as they respect him far too much.
Anyway, this pressure got to Biaggi and eventually to Gibernau. Some argued that the newer younger riders like Dani, Casey and Jorge would not have been damaged by Vale so would bring the fight to him and I think they were right. But Vale is bringing it back to them big time and he is relentless, at the moment. I hope Jorge can fight back but first he must stop beating himself and then he must start beating the greatest of all time. (I also think Rossi doesn't see Dani as a big rival, sure he will lose to him sometimes but never in a close physical race.)
On a side note, I'm not sure what's happening to Casey. After Sunday's debacle and with his illness, he's clearly not in a good place at the moment but I hope he can turn it around as I'm warming to the Aussie boy.
Valerian, this post here sounds fairer. I jumped on your previous statement because it reeked of blind cheerleading. Yes, you make some great points, HOWEVER, I'm not sure why you guys continue to think anybody is "scared" of Rossi. I agree, they have much respect for him, perhaps why he can run them off the track but nobody returns the favor. Perhaps its just a difference of integrity, maybe not, maybe its just that Rossi is more confident. (I've struggled with this myself and it infuriates me riders have let him get away with it vs. that other riders preferred self preservation over bashing, jury is sill out on it for me). But I will tell you, even though it makes me angry, the other part also insights admiration that he throws caution to the wind, he’s got either bigger balls or disregard for life and limp (his own and others).
But again, I think this idea of breaking spirits came from Sete (I still hold that Biaggi was a combination of personal demons and yes, adjusting to the shadow of Rossi) and you guys want to apply this idea of “breaking spirits” to Stoner and Lorenzo. Lets just say we disagree completely. Anyway, thanks for formulating a better more digestible post. Even though I disagree with most of it, it was easier to read.
