We will see. I don’t admire all of Jorge’s behaviour, but you don’t beat the likes of Stoner or MM, or even a Rossi of latter days in 2015 on the same bike, and win rising 50 premier class races without serious talent and application, even leaving aside the two 250 titles, with 250 GP bike racing imo perhaps the purest form of GP bike racing.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
A bridge too far. He crashed because he was inspired to run the hard tire.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
No. In around 2009 or 2010, Nakamoto said that the path for Rossi to return was open.
Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
I believe he was yes....but in Biaggi's case he was a hyper primadonna that after his Repsol time he ending up leaving MotoGP cause no one wanted him....
Joined Jul 2015
812 Posts | 336+
Hurricane, WV
You and Honda (if they are) are kidding yourselves if you believe George is going to play second to anyone! Last season and a half shows he gives zero ..... about your “mapping 8”. If he thinks he has a chance to win, he feels it is your job to stop him, not his job to hand it to you. Regardless if you are on his team or not. It is racing.. If you can’t beat me, .... off slow poke.
Honda has seen this and they know what they are getting. If they think he is going to change his personality to have the opportunity to ride with Mark, it is going to be a long two seasons for Honda.
I feel they know what they are getting. The are getting the only other guy to win a champ since 2011. A guy that if they give him a bike he can ride (and yes, he needs a particular type of bike), but if they give him that bike, they have a great chance to finish 1-2 in the champ in the coming years.
Not saying it is a lock. Probably 50/50, but for only $4mm investment.. Great return on investment.
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Joined Jun 2007
3K Posts | 309+
UK
Fun fact: The thing that made Rossi finally make the decision to leave was that HRC promised to give him his championship winning NSR500, made excuses for two years and then finally told him that it’s not possible.
This was his first hint:
Rossi back to Honda in 2011? | Visordown
I can't find the later comment, but he said something like "the door is always open to talented riders at HRC". This is after Rossi had won the 08/09 titles and seemed unstoppable again.
Later too:
HRC Boss: Rossi return is 'possible' | Visordown
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Agree for most part, though I think you've oversimplified the risk and prospect of overtaking a 'teammate' that was taking unnecessarily defensive lines and crash pace (which he almost did at Malaysia) when clearly he 'didn’t have the pace.'
My friend Arrabi will tell you team orders don't exist at Honda anyway so we won't ever have to worry about this issue (except when it seemed to appear on occasion). I don't believe team orders are non-existent at Honda, but you can bet they'd never put up a coded message for public scrutiny like the infamous 'map 8'.
Honda/Yamaha/Suzuki are more conventional DNA (starting with the twin-spar chassis) despite being individually unique whereas Ducati (and perhaps KTM, Aprilia) is/are idiosyncratic "protoypes". I predict Lorenzo will be competitive rather quickly, certainly not as long to adapt as it took for Ducati.
If you live in a glass house don't throw rocks.
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He'll have picked up a few new riding techniques at Ducati too.
When was the last time Pedro aggressively claimed his position back after Marquez overtook him?
Exactly.
HRC doesn’t need a mapping 8. You will know your role and shut your mouth.
Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Good lord, I hope Arrabi doesn't read this post....
It's funny you should say this, talking about what goes on at HRC, my great friend Arrabi and I have debated this issue for years, particularly over battles the two Repsol riders have had over the years at the Catalan GP. Synn, revisit Catalunya GPs years 2013,14, &17 in particular. I think you'll find Pedrosa is not exactly 'map 8ing'.
If you live in a glass house don't throw rocks.
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