No, actually, here's the first ...........
Took this from the qualifying thread in case it gets buried - and onto this thread because I want to make a point.
Without beating Valentino on the track, Jorge will regard the title if he secures it this year, as little more than a pyrrhic victory, and will endure the same fate as Uncini, 'Lucky Luccinelli' and Nicky - to be eternally branded as champions by default by their detractors.
Take the above post, substitute the name 'Horhey' for Vale, and imagine making it last year on here when Casey was ruled out of championship contention - and the reaction it would cause. Why is Jorge a piece of ....? Why would you refer to any of these guys in such a manner? Why watch Moto GP at all? Witness, an atypical one dimensional supposed Rossi 'Moto GP' fan that is unable to comprehend grand prix motorcycle racing pre and post Valentino..because quite simply they weren't there originally, and won't be there when he's gone.
All you currently read on here right now is "...now the haters blah blah blah etc etc," Rossi's injury is a very very .... thing to happen - I want to see all of these guys, in full fitness, on top of their game and fighting it out on evenly matched machinery. We all know that's unrealistic right now,
I know the Rossi fans on here who are genuine, of which there are many, and not by coincidence - they are all fans of this sport. Then there are the glory hunters - typified by the above quote.
There are riders I would so much like to see bag a title right now - Nicky is one of them. The thought of that guy becoming two times world champion gives me shivers..really! But what I really want is a closely contended championship race by race - both on the circuit and in the standings, that comes down to the wire in Valencia again. I HATE to see a rider eliminated from races, and hate even more the inevitable gloating when it happens. I appreciate much of the lampooning of Stoner and Dani is really due to the appalling way in which they have acquitted themselves on occasions. I've seen it before; so much respect was lost for great talented riders such as Phil Read, 'lil Jon or Max Biaggi due to their behaviour both on and off the racetrack. But much of what we hear on this forum is 'Rossi Hater' accusations. I was at Donington in '06 and witnessed the bile poured on Dani outside Parc ferme by the yellow-shirts for doing the unmentionable and presuming to beat the Doctor, and a year later was appalled a by a similar mindless throng booing Stoner offstage at the Riders for Health Day of Champions - both prior to their poor reputations that certain events created. People had decided to hate Casey long before his lactose intolerance, long before his misplaced comments at Laguna in '08. The Rossi fundamentalists issued a fatwa on the guy the moment he out dragged the M1 at Losail in the opening race of '07. Furthermore, I'd be really intrigued to understand what makes Jorge Lorenzo 'a piece of ....' in someone's eyes. We are bike fans, why does this have to descend into a football style mob rules mentality. Just enjoy the racing - revel in the varied personalities (you don't have to like them all - but that's what has always defined this sport - it has personality) and instead of mocking Stoner next time he loses the front - contemplate how much better the race might have been with him in the mix instead.
I thought it was .... what happened to Stoner last year. Yeah, now Vale is out he will be missing races through enforced injury and Casey as many argued, did not. Whateever the circumstances behind it, I hate to see any of these guys out on Sunday. Last year was shaping up to be a real four way dice for the championship, and one by one the challenges from Casey, Dani, and finally Jorge through a variety of circumstances were eliminated. This didn't seem to perplex the Rossi brigade en-masse in the slightest.
I have contentiously held on this forum that Rossi is bigger than the sport he competes in. I do believe that there has been some preferential treatment along the years, but that is only natural given one so astonishingly talented and of such unique value to the sponsors and the series. It will be interesting to see the effect that this has on Race Day Ticket sales, which are very much the preserve of the - or should I say bolstered by - the 'Valentino' family outing. Perhaps this affords a brief but candid glimpse into the uncertain future of the championship...perhaps others may shine. I don't believe at this moment anyone can go with Lorenzo, but then curiously, the dreadfully dull domination that Rossi held over the field during much of the early four stroke era never troubled his fans.
To lose the GOAT at his home race, and with it the prospect of seeing him spectacularly raise the bar yet again to meet the significant challenge from his teammate is ...... ..... for him, ..... for Jorge, ..... for his competitors, ..... for us and ..... for the series. I hated seeing the ambassador for our sport laid in the gravel in so much pain and stricken by his shattered bike. I am also disappointed for the team, his home fans, and his genuine fans on here. We are simply not used to seeing it. As Pidg pointed out, he's never missed a race in his GP career. The worse we saw was the '06 crash at Ramshoek which damaged his wrist, and it was weird and distressing then seeing Valentino escorted up the steps of Dr Costa's in so much pain...that simply never happens.
Here's to a speedy recovery Valentino. Nobody is the winner here - and should someone take the title only as the perceived result of this injury, it would seem the fools are already lining up ready to brand them a piece of .........at the merest suggestion of a champion elect.
