Rossi on 2009

Here is an interesting paragraph taken from an interview with Rossi on GPOne:

What are your expectations for the next season?

“I am very curious about Hayden, the move to Ducati will be a big motivation for him, and I think his riding style can suit the Red bike perfectly. Stoner is stronger than him though. Then there is Dovizioso, who will be Pedrosa's teammate. This year Andrea has been really very fast with the Honda he had. I'm curious to see how he and Dani get on together in the same team. Pedrosa is tough, but Dovizioso will be a hard nut to crack for him, just as Lorenzo is for me”.

The Doctor offers a frank and good 'diagnosis' as usual
Very much to the point.
About Hayden... I can almost feel an unexpressed 'fear' there. He certainly would not want Nicky to be as fast or even faster than Stoner!
Also I perceive a kind of 'hope' that life in the Honda garage will not be too easy.
And then Lorenzo... Surely Valentino is not expecting 2009 to be easy!

As much as I like Nicki he hasn't been as strong as Stoner.

BTW I like your avatar. Jarno was really something.

Was sat at work just thinking, about this then read what you had put Jarno, the question i wanna know is normally Rossi has an idea who will want to be Champion next year like the last few years he starts his, phycing out of them early. 2007 thought it was Pedrosa but was Stoner. bad example but you get the idea.

So who do you think the top 3 are for Rossi to start his mental torment on :-
for me i think

1= Stoner ( Rossi knows he wants it back bad )
2= Pedrosa ( Last chance ditch for pedro to be champ )
3= Dovi ( super quick on sh bike given HRC i think will win a few maybe ) my guess for the unobvious

Awesome skills but the bike is letting him down and making life hard for him.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ninja10 @ Oct 27 2008, 10:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Was sat at work just thinking, about this then read what you had put Jarno, the question i wanna know is normally Rossi has an idea who will want to be Champion next year like the last few years he starts his, phycing out of them early. 2007 thought it was Pedrosa but was Stoner. bad example but you get the idea.

So who do you think the top 3 are for Rossi to start his mental torment on :-
for me i think

1= Stoner ( Rossi knows he wants it back bad )
2= Pedrosa ( Last chance ditch for pedro to be champ )
3= Dovi ( super quick on sh bike given HRC i think will win a few maybe ) my guess for the unobvious


That is pretty good, I thought about this as well and I went this way.


1. Stoner - still won six races in a "bad year" and really has to be tormented to go off his race plan. Stoner will improve again and he can just go frightfully quick. May adapt to "torment"

2. Lorenzo - Quick guy on the same tyres and bike. 2008 is never going to happen again and he may just find his ambitious young team mate is ready to step up.

3. Hayden - Haystack over Pedro, red bike and part of a team that has the championship in sight, Nicki is going to be a right royal pain in the arse for Vale and everyone else next year, good bike same tyres...honestly we are all holding our breath/crossing our fingers for Nicki.

3. Pedro - I think now he is just another 250 champ in a field of 250 champs. He is quick and will develop the bike but I don't think he has the stuff.

4. Dovi - His team mate gets one year to hold him back, and really he got one podium on a non factory but well supported Honda. Sete and Marco have both finished 2nd on that platform, he has a lot to step up to. Rossi doesn't allude to that team and its control issues lightly.

5. After this who cares

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Oct 27 2008, 07:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That is pretty good, I thought about this as well and I went this way.


1. Stoner - still won six races in a "bad year" and really has to be tormented to go off his race plan. Stoner will improve again and he can just go frightfully quick. May adapt to "torment"

2. Lorenzo - Quick guy on the same tyres and bike. 2008 is never going to happen again and he may just find his ambitious young team mate is ready to step up.

3. Hayden - Haystack over Pedro, red bike and part of a team that has the championship in sight, Nicki is going to be a right royal pain in the arse for Vale and everyone else next year, good bike same tyres...honestly we are all holding our breath/crossing our fingers for Nicki.
3. Pedro - I think now he is just another 250 champ in a field of 250 champs. He is quick and will develop the bike but I don't think he has the stuff.

4. Dovi - His team mate gets one year to hold him back, and really he got one podium on a non factory but well supported Honda. Sete and Marco have both finished 2nd on that platform, he has a lot to step up to. Rossi doesn't allude to that team and its control issues lightly.

5. After this who cares

mmmmm....that is a risky pick there my friend...but I do hope your right. Got my fingers crossed for Hayden.

Where do you see Sete in the mix?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JPT @ Oct 27 2008, 11:54 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Where do you see Sete in the mix?
Nowhere. Sete's in next year for pure comic relief. The idea of the Nieto brothers running that team doesn't instill a great deal of confidence, although like Aspar I don't think money's going to be a problem.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Where do you see Sete in the mix?

I think Sete may be in there possibly, Rossi may have a think about it, but i should imagine that he is over sete as a threat....

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (JPT @ Oct 27 2008, 10:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Where do you see Sete in the mix?

I think the younger guys will keep him wrapped up midfield.

Remember this is the "who is a threat to Rossi" thread so Vale is not there so the 4 riders + vale = the top 5.

Sete may go alright sometimes but by and large the young guns will sort him (IMO).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Oct 27 2008, 06:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That is pretty good, I thought about this as well and I went this way.


1. Stoner - still won six races in a "bad year" and really has to be tormented to go off his race plan. Stoner will improve again and he can just go frightfully quick. May adapt to "torment"

2. Lorenzo - Quick guy on the same tyres and bike. 2008 is never going to happen again and he may just find his ambitious young team mate is ready to step up.

3. Hayden - Haystack over Pedro, red bike and part of a team that has the championship in sight, Nicki is going to be a right royal pain in the arse for Vale and everyone else next year, good bike same tyres...honestly we are all holding our breath/crossing our fingers for Nicki.

(4) 3. Pedro - I think now he is just another 250 champ in a field of 250 champs. He is quick and will develop the bike but I don't think he has the stuff.

(5) 4. Dovi - His team mate gets one year to hold him back, and really he got one podium on a non factory but well supported Honda. Sete and Marco have both finished 2nd on that platform, he has a lot to step up to. Rossi doesn't allude to that team and its control issues lightly.

(6) 5. After this who cares

1.- Rossi – Its going to be a thought but interesting 2009 for Rossi to be crowned 9 times!

2.- Dovizoiso – Neither Gibernau nor Melandri did fifth in their Rookie years even if they had gotten Runner up spots on Satellite Honda Plataform through their careers. Dovizioso got fifth with Satellite and Michelins in the first go, how many Riders have done this? In addition, Honda is urged to get Development right, a matter that takes us to:

3.- Pedrosa – prefers not to Develop the bike by choice (Prefers to read data from others and not share, ring a bell Puig?). But with a teammate developing for his own choices, could end up playing catch up.

4.- Hayden – Learning year of Brigestones and Ducati, tests are not quite races. Still a question mark.

5.- Lorenzo – Will have the input of a crazy young Rider to risk it all when needed, in Lorenzo case now with more experience. You have to be above 'Special and Great' to keep this whish up. I think Pedrosa lacks of it now, and some other Riders may start losing it, and ride thinking about less risk but add points, at this level it is too hard to achieve as been demonstrated.

6.- Stoner – doing good, had Runner up and "won six races in a 'bad year'", but really? None of the above had Brigestones throughout the whole 2008, the only one not in your list of threads to the World Champion is himself.

7.- I do care from here onwards!

We have a few testings in Valencia, Sepang then Losail,Qatar,Herez..

1) Stoner-He is the front runner with Rossi & Pedrobot..2009 ?

2) Lorenzo- He might win a few races mid season next year

3) Nicky - a learning year and be on the podium a few times

4) Pedrobot- His last chance to prove his is better than Lorenzo and HRC main rider

5) Dovi - a new HRC hope for 2009

6) Sete - is another Barros

7) Melandry- He will be on the podium...a few times and stronger

8) Vermin -- if its rains Vermin will be on podium and may win

9) Others- Back markers and grid fillers.

Nicky doesn't get a learning year. He's got a 1 year contract and if he doesn't get top 5, it's a Red Bull satelite Ducati (replacing Sete) or WSBK Ducati.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Oct 28 2008, 12:43 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1.- Rossi – Its going to be a thought but interesting 2009 for Rossi to be crowned 9 times!


6.- Stoner – doing good, had Runner up and "won six races in a 'bad year'", but really? None of the above had Brigestones throughout the whole 2008, the only one not in your list of threads to the World Champion is himself.
7.- I do care from here onwards!


VHMP - I quote myself below to show I accounted for Rossi, this thread is Rossi on 2009. That is, who is a threat to Rossi. I didn't include him and did mention that. I am saying that Casey is the number one threat.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Oct 27 2008, 11:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think the younger guys will keep him wrapped up midfield.

Remember this is the "who is a threat to Rossi" thread so Vale is not there so the 4 riders + vale = the top 5.
Sete may go alright sometimes but by and large the young guns will sort him (IMO).

I think Casey as a 6th place runner is a little bit of reverse optimism in the extreme, but you are entitled to that opinion. If you were in Australian I'd bet you something for it, I don't do O/S bets. I would gladly bet 5 x cartons of stubbies on the premise that numbers 2 through 5 on your list will all finish below Casey.

I would only bet a single carton on Vale though.

And I retract my don't care statement, they are however not threats to Vale and the scale and scope of my predicition wont go to the point of how is (or isn't) Hopper a threat to Vale. Short of running over his foot in the pits Hopper (for example) isn't going to challenge Rossi.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Oct 27 2008, 11:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>VHMP - I quote myself below to show I accounted for Rossi, this thread is Rossi on 2009. That is, who is a threat to Rossi. I didn't include him and did mention that. I am saying that Casey is the number one threat.

I think Casey as a 6th place runner is a little bit of reverse optimism in the extreme, but you are entitled to that opinion. If you were in Australian I'd bet you something for it, I don't do O/S bets. I would gladly bet 5 x cartons of stubbies on the premise that numbers 2 through 5 on your list will all finish below Casey.

I would only bet a single carton on Vale though.

And I retract my don't care statement, they are however not threats to Vale and the scale and scope of my predicition wont go to the point of how is (or isn't) Hopper a threat to Vale. Short of running over his foot in the pits Hopper (for example) isn't going to challenge Rossi.

I get you too mate… I think that 2 to 5 from my list not having Bridgestones throughout all 07 Season did affect the income (In Dovizioso’s case a Satellite). So 6 wins for runner up may have not happened, anyway, “ifs” do not count. Nevertheless, I did mention it because we are talking about threats to 2009 Rossi defending Championship. I also pointed out that motivation to ‘Risk it all when needed’ is something that riders start losing, and in order to keep it, they have to be above ‘Special and Great’, as Rossi has proved (Laguna Seca and on other races after a decade). So losing that desire could also be a threat, I personally do not think Rossi will have motivation problems at all, he still wants to break the ‘Most MotoGP Championships’ Record (needs 9) so he has a lot of work ahead. Anyhow, it will be interesting to see the outcome, and I do not take bets, but gladly would take a couple of ‘Australian’ or ‘Mexican’ beers with you brother.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Oct 28 2008, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I get you too mate… I think that 2 to 5 from my list not having Bridgestones throughout all 07 Season did affect the income (In Dovizioso’s case a Satellite). So 6 wins for runner up may have not happened, anyway, “ifs” do not count. Nevertheless, I did mention it because we are talking about threats to 2009 Rossi defending Championship. I also pointed out that motivation to ‘Risk it all when needed’ is something that riders start losing, and in order to keep it, they have to be above ‘Special and Great’, as Rossi has proved (Laguna Seca and on other races after a decade). So losing that desire could also be a threat, I personally do not think Rossi will have motivation problems at all, he still wants to break the ‘Most MotoGP Championships’ Record (needs 9) so he has a lot of work ahead. Anyhow, it will be interesting to see the outcome, and I do not take bets, but gladly would take a couple of ‘Australian’ or ‘Mexican’ beers with you brother.


Looking at Valencia testing thus far I think you'd be shelling out for the brews if the bet was on.

Mexican...I am fond of that tequila stuff as well, you'll have to wait to 2011 when I am coming to the states to go to Laguna (Wife is having a school reunion in Delta Colorado).

We'll have a few.

I think that the contenders have been covered - however one thing that has been missed; is everyone 100% sure that Stoner's wrist will be fully healed next year and will last the whole season?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Oct 28 2008, 07:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I get you too mate… I think that 2 to 5 from my list not having Bridgestones throughout all 07 Season did affect the income (In Dovizioso’s case a Satellite). So 6 wins for runner up may have not happened, anyway, “ifs” do not count. Nevertheless, I did mention it because we are talking about threats to 2009 Rossi defending Championship. I also pointed out that motivation to ‘Risk it all when needed’ is something that riders start losing, and in order to keep it, they have to be above ‘Special and Great’, as Rossi has proved (Laguna Seca and on other races after a decade). So losing that desire could also be a threat, I personally do not think Rossi will have motivation problems at all, he still wants to break the ‘Most MotoGP Championships’ Record (needs 9) so he has a lot of work ahead. Anyhow, it will be interesting to see the outcome, and I do not take bets, but gladly would take a couple of ‘Australian’ or ‘Mexican’ beers with you brother.

You are obviously entitled to your opinion as andy says, but I find your position illogical if you are a big-time rossi fan; he has of course undeniably given you every reason to be a fan.

I argued I think correctly last year that over the top stoner fans who thought that valentino was over-rated or past it were, apart from being wrong, actually diminishing casey's achievement in beating him for the 2007 championship.

I believe much the same applies in reverse this year. As I recall vale and casey were both on bridgestones this year, and whilst casey was outraced it could be argued comprehensively, he was at least as fast as vale in numerous races . You seem to be arguing at least by implication that 4 or 5 other riders can become as fast as valentino merely by switching to bridgestones which I think rather underestimates him .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BlackKnight @ Oct 28 2008, 07:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think that the contenders have been covered - however one thing that has been missed; is everyone 100% sure that Stoner's wrist will be fully healed next year and will last the whole season?

I think its a bugger of an injury .... its not so much painful as it is "non-structural", ie. the injury prevents ful use of the wrist due to the split in the scaphoid. Folk like Rogi-G on here don't seem to undestand the concept of such an injury ( I think he is more used to "boo boo's which are usually fixed by application of a smiley face bandaid ).

The bone has already split once and was stapled but this treatement has allready failed once .... the idea of a bone graft is pretty drastic and I don't expect it is a fast healing fix, couple that to the thought that I don't think Stoner is the type to allow full and propper healing time ...... it all says I think it'd be very hard to give him 100% chance at all. Indeed I would suggest that full recovery would be only possible if he sat out next season ..... can't see that happening.

But ..... I still think we'll see wins from him where the track is not a high braking force track ..... the fast flowing tracks may be ok.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Oct 28 2008, 04:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You are obviously entitled to your opinion as andy says, but I find your position illogical if you are a big-time rossi fan; he has of course undeniably given you every reason to be a fan.

I argued I think correctly last year that over the top stoner fans who thought that valentino was over-rated or past it were, apart from being wrong, actually diminishing casey's achievement in beating him for the 2007 championship.

I believe much the same applies in reverse this year. As I recall vale and casey were both on bridgestones this year, and whilst casey was outraced it could be argued comprehensively, he was at least as fast as vale in numerous races . You seem to be arguing at least by implication that 4 or 5 other riders can become as fast as valentino merely by switching to bridgestones which I think rather underestimates him .

As I have said before Michael (in a Post with Austin)… I really think that any of them 2 to 6 Riders from my list <u>can be as fast as Rossi in a given track & right setup</u>. The difference would be, throughout a decade, that it has always been Rossi against one other great Rider, in any given track. That is not underestimating Rossi what so ever. So analyzing that 4 fast Riders did not use Brigestones all of 07. And as far as I can see everybody agrees that Brigestones (kick butt!) are better and prevailed as sole Provider, I could see any of them Riders fighting at the top where conditions are correct for each. Anyway, it is going to be interesting.


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Andy Roo @ Oct 28 2008, 02:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Looking at Valencia testing thus far I think you'd be shelling out for the brews if the bet was on.

Looking at Valencia testing thus far I´ll say it's the first go with Brigestones for 3 out 4 (Dovizioso, Hayden and Lorenzo). So NO bet taken, but shelling out for the brews in ON!