Valentino Rossi and Michael Schumacher
Both struggled in Petronas-sponsored teams and both have bad forms. I think Rossi should retire like Schumacher in the end of 2012
Your opinions?
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Rossi and Michael Schumacher have a same thing in the tail-end of their career
- Thread starter TheriusVR46
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Valentino Rossi and Michael Schumacher
Both struggled in Petronas-sponsored teams and both have bad forms. I think Rossi should retire like Schumacher in the end of 2012
Your opinions?
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
There was nothing bad about Schumacher's form from 2010-2012.
He came back after missing 3 seasons and having a bad motorcycle accident, and still acquitted himself quite well considering when he drove in 2010 he was 41 years old. It also required a different type of skill at that time where you needed to conserve tires rather than drive flat out on the limit most of the race. Keep in mind, at 43, he took pole position at Monaco of all places. Only a grid penalty kept that from being official as he got knocked off pole because of that grid penalty. It was also said he tried to keep the peace in the garage between himself and Rosberg by not trying to be number 1 in the team at that stage of his career.
Has nothing to do with being sponsored by Petronas, it's just coincidental.
Otherwise, yes, Rossi does need to retire at the end of this season. He looks just plain bad out there now, and I can't see him getting a leash for 2022 anywhere just so he can ride off into the sunset in front of fans.
He came back after missing 3 seasons and having a bad motorcycle accident, and still acquitted himself quite well considering when he drove in 2010 he was 41 years old. It also required a different type of skill at that time where you needed to conserve tires rather than drive flat out on the limit most of the race. Keep in mind, at 43, he took pole position at Monaco of all places. Only a grid penalty kept that from being official as he got knocked off pole because of that grid penalty. It was also said he tried to keep the peace in the garage between himself and Rosberg by not trying to be number 1 in the team at that stage of his career.
Has nothing to do with being sponsored by Petronas, it's just coincidental.
Otherwise, yes, Rossi does need to retire at the end of this season. He looks just plain bad out there now, and I can't see him getting a leash for 2022 anywhere just so he can ride off into the sunset in front of fans.
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
I don't see him being interested beyond this season if he continues to qualify and finish races outside the top ten, all while watching others on the same bike winning races and also, knowing that the team he is currently with, have won races before.
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
I don't think M. Schumacher lacked pace when he retired. The car that he had was a difficult car and the team was having trouble up until then, making consistent improvements. What Michael did seem to lack was that really on the edge spacial awareness and reflexes that would allow him to race other drivers really closely without collisions. He has some 'head in hand' type incidents that earned him penalties. Beyond that, he was giving Nico a good run for his money in the latter half of his come-back.
With Rossi it's now very different. This year, he simply lacks pace compared to his rivals. MotoGP is currently highly competitive across the grid so being 15 seconds adrift at the end of the race or 1 sec adrift in qualifying means that you are way outside the top 10.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Sports as a business is defined as entertainment for the fans. Who really is entertained by the sight of a man of a certain age, riding a super competitive bike at the back of the pack? If his fans need so badly to adore him, let ‘em redirect some of that t-shirt money and build the guy a temple and give him a golden throne and an attendant with a peacock feather to fan him with.
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
This is Rossi's business, and hes probably going to do better financially then most of the other riders on the grid this season. As long as he is not endangering anyone, I dont see the problem with letting him ride. As for entertainment, are the other 5 guys at the back of the grid any more entertaining?
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
As a fan, I could care less about his financial security, which in any case, was quite secure a long time ago. Moreover, as someone who pays good money to watch races, both at home and at actual races, I feel my ROI is much better with a young talented rider seated on a top bike - because younger riders still have POTENTIAL to improve, hence add to the excitement of the race.
Watching Rossi trail around at the back of the pack trying to keep up with riders on lesser machinery, is too much like watching the 300th film with an 80 year old Woody Allen playing the love interest opposite the latest hot young starlet. Tho Woody Allen to his credit did eventually start casting credible young leading men to portray him in movies.
Watching Rossi trail around at the back of the pack trying to keep up with riders on lesser machinery, is too much like watching the 300th film with an 80 year old Woody Allen playing the love interest opposite the latest hot young starlet. Tho Woody Allen to his credit did eventually start casting credible young leading men to portray him in movies.
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Joined Dec 2020
147 Posts | 196+
Germany
He qualified 4th if I remember correctly in the First race of 2021
...meaning there was 18 riders slower than him...which also were much younger btw
So as Long as He can shine ocassionaly he has his place in motogp. I personally would like to see him win for a last time before he hangs up the leather
...meaning there was 18 riders slower than him...which also were much younger btw
So as Long as He can shine ocassionaly he has his place in motogp. I personally would like to see him win for a last time before he hangs up the leather
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Yes a feat he managed with a quite legal tow.
But it raises the question of where would he have been starting had he not gotten a slipstream around the track? He went from 4th on the grid down to 12th when the checkered flag was waved, and as I recall, it's not where you start, but where you finish.
If this were any other rider, the media and fans at large would be calling for them to be replaced outright or to exit via retirement. Instead we get silly posts like yours trying to find some silver lining in it all by pointing out a qualifying position that in no way was reflective of where he actually finished, or has done in the two successive races.
Find some other hill to die on.
Joined Dec 2020
147 Posts | 196+
Germany
A certain Marc Marquez likes to get towed around the track in qualifying too... Nothing wrong about it
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Imagine when a guy with a physically weak right arm qualifies on the second row of the grid on a circuit very demanding on that arm, then proceeds to finish 7th.
Then look at the other one who is in good health albeit old, on one of the best bikes on the grid circling around with the midfielders to backmarkers and ultimately crashing out.
Like I said tows are legal, but you have to recognize them for what they are. A tactic that helps in qualifying but isn't reflective of what they can do in a race is meaningless in the end.
As I recall Marquez was winning or coming close to winning those races when he used a tow. Something that I don't care about because no one has a problem with riders slipstreaming during the Grand Prix because it makes for more excitement.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Ross has the means buy a boatload of Cambodian child brides to carry him around the circuit on their shoulders. But the fans deserve better.
Doubtless Yamaha is indebted to Rossi for all the attention he brought to the brand. Conversely Rossi has been well compensated, despite which, he threw a tantrum not so long ago and jumped ship for Ducati. They took him back when he was still competitive, but apparently - they are realistic enough to know his capacity to earn points for the factory team isn’t commensurate with his required salary. I reckon the Petronas team took Rossi on in part to take him off the hands of the factory team and to off-set team expenses by way of the heavy duty sponsorship and publicity his presence brings, which is financially pragmatic given the current economy. In the meantime Morbidelli looks like he’ll give them their money’s worth.
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
Realistically, is there even a better rider out there for Petronas? The top riders in Moto2 are at least a year away from even being considered.
Its also worth noting that we really do not know how much support Yamaha is actually contributing to Rossi's team, we know he's on a factory M1 but are they sharing data and development?
Its also worth noting that we really do not know how much support Yamaha is actually contributing to Rossi's team, we know he's on a factory M1 but are they sharing data and development?
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Off hand I can’t think of anyone presently free who would be in the same talent range as Morbidelli, but last year at contract time - there were free agents who would have much more potential to gain points toward a manufacturer’s championship. Stephan Bradl tho is probably no longer obligated to Repsol now that Marquez is back. He’s a solid rider.
As to the question of how much support Yamaha is specifically throwing to Rossi; interesting question. How much data is shared is always interest, tho reports on this always seem a bit vague, depending who is being asked.
Joined May 2019
607 Posts | 459+
Where I am.
I know what you mean but the problem with this season is that Maverick finished in 11th in that same race after being nowhere in the race. He's not even old! Fit as a fiddle too!!
Such is MotoGP 2021/2 --- the great Michelin rubber, I think.
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
I know what you mean but the problem with this season is that Maverick finished in 11th in that same race after being nowhere in the race. He's not even old! Fit as a fiddle too!!
Sure, but as we've seen with Maverick, the wrong tire selection, or incorrect bike setup can kill his race before it ever begins. That being said, he also has won a race already this season and finished 5th at the Losail #2 race. But the case is the same as it's ever been since 2017. He's fast when everything is working, and can win races, but the moment anything goes against him with the bike (setup and/or rubber) he struggles.
But Rossi on the other hand is consistently getting slower and slower in spite of having a factory M1. He's toast. If he has any sense of self-pride, he needs to make a retirement announcement before the end of May. Though at this point it really doesn't matter to me because my assessment of his career isn't going to leave out everything post-Ducati. Plenty will opt to view the 2000-2010 period in a vacuum, but I'll be looking at the entire thing.
Joined Aug 2013
902 Posts | 509+
USA
we really do not know whats going on with Rossi's bike, we know he took delivery of a factory M1 but there is hardly any indication that he is getting a lot of factory support from Yamaha when it comes to data sharing and updates. Yamaha did have a lot of issues during preseason testing, did any of their solutions reach Rossi's team?
I only bring that up because of how Yahama seems to treat Mobidelli and his team. He is obviously someone who can fight for a podium, yet he was not given a factory bike. It does not seem that there is a lot of support from the factory team to the customer team.
I only bring that up because of how Yahama seems to treat Mobidelli and his team. He is obviously someone who can fight for a podium, yet he was not given a factory bike. It does not seem that there is a lot of support from the factory team to the customer team.
