<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Mar 20 2008, 06:59 PM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yes there seemed to be a lot of that going round, in 07 there were about 13 "bogey tracks" wasn't there
I'd have to differ with you on the Rossi is the best pure rider out there bit for the following reasons:
Rossi's on the best bike and has been for years ( Lorenzo steping in has shown that ) so really its been a bit od a giveaway for him.
Rossi is the king of TC he has had it longer than anyone else out there, indeed he is the guy on the Mag. Marelli website!! Take TC off a bike and he would be nowhere one would assume.
Rossi has had the best tires, as as been displayed by the fact that only Stoner can win, even on Bridgestones.
In several straight up "pure races" since Stoner came into MGP he has won and his record surpasses Rossi for that time period.
Rossi was ranked 3rd in the world and in a year when 3rd, and indeed 2nd, was a looong way off pace.
Rossi's last few races ( late 07-08 ) has shown him to be at best a top of midpack rider.
Toseland on a satellite Yamaha matches Rossi in his first ever race.
Lorenzo in his forst ever race creams Rossi
Rossi uses political pressure to get gains that help him ( unfortunately it seems to have backfired with the going Bridgestones ploy
)
Rossi is good at getting in front and holding others behind him ..... The newer guys dn't seem to understand this hence they have been going past him whilst he creates a new "pack" ( and "real race"
) down where the midpack stuff starts.
Rossi employs desparate measures to compete ... eg. Run Qualies ( or very very soft tyres ) to get in front and possibly hold of the toher riders.
Doviziosa on a second rate Honda had his measure. And Dovi. is a Rookie.
Rossi imagines things are wrong with his bike to cover up his own shortcomings.
Rossi has in the past employed pressure within his team to ensure that the riders hired to ride with him are not going to show him up.
Theres lots of reasons why Rossi is not the best "pure rider" those are just a few.
I'm not Rossi fan, I'm not a Stoner hater.
First, Did Rossi have the best bike in 04? He still won though didn't he?
Rossi uses very little traction control from what I hear, much less than most. Maybe you have another source?
So what if a racer holds up other rider. Why would you not want to qualify in a good position and be out front? its a race, thats racing, the point is to finish first, and he does. That point you made makes no sense at all.
Melandri complains about the bike or tires when he doesn't win, so does Stoner, and Pedrosa, so whats your point? Hayden is the only rider who always says the TEAM didn't have it right. Which is what makes him such a likeable guy.
I don't think Rossi coming in 3rd last year discredits him. Yes the yamaha was slower in the straights, yes the michelins had a few more tracks then the bridgstones where they opperating temps werenpt right. But even had they been on an equal playing field like this year, I don't know he would have beat Stoner. I do think it would have been much closer though. Perhaps you ride a motorcycle, perhaps you even race. You have to understand its about feeling with a bike. You may not feel comfortable on a bike even though its the "fastest" bike out there and you may go faster on a different bike because you like the way it feels. Stoner just works with the Ducati, they work perfectly together.
I think in Quatar the bridgstones struggled the most, as testing at other tracks showed the bridgestones with an advantage, and Quatar was obviously a michelin track. So of course Dovi, lorenzo and toseland did well. I know Stoner won but I feel his team has a better understanding of the tires and also because he uses so much traction control it allows him to maintain his tires over the race better then others. I don't feel its the tires or top speed that makes Stoner so great at the moment, I believe the TC is what really seperates him. With tire wear, race longevity, and his rain performance (not that he isn't already good in the wet).
Stoner has had a great start to his motogp career no doubt. However he didn't win a race his rookie year and he also never won a 125 or 250 title. So he has proven he can't win on any bike. Rossi has won on every bike he's ever kicked a leg over except the 800 yamaha (so far). So regardless of what you say at this point, that fact alone backs my opinion.
This could be my screen name in my afterlife.
