Rossi:reward talent, not technology

Rossi: MotoGP should reward talent, not technology

Record-breaking multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi backs calls for a return to 1,000cc engines in the premier class - and stresses that man should count for more than machine in the end result
Legendary multiple MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has revealed his vision for the future of the sport, contending that limits need to be imposed so that the focus of the competition returns to the best rider once more rather than simply who has the best bike at his disposal.

Rossi has already been outspoken and unequivocal in describing the reduction in engine capacity from 990cc to 800cc in 2007 as 'the biggest mistake the world championship has made in the last 15 years' [see separate story – click here], contending that the bikes are now less fun to ride and less spectacular for the fans as the dependency upon electronic gizmos has gone through the roof.

Now, the Urbino native – who has achieved title glory with every engine size and every regulations package in recent memory, in 125cc, 250cc, 500cc, 800cc and 990cc – argues that the onus needs to be placed back upon the skill of the rider rather than the quality of the equipment beneath him, and as such has come out in support of the proposed 1,000cc, four-cylinder route the series is evaluating for 2012 and beyond [see separate story – click here].

“I would return MotoGP to 1,000cc and I would remove 70 per cent of the electronics,” the Yamaha star opined in an interview with Italian TV chain Rai Sport. “That's a fair reduction, I'd say.

“Unfortunately, for motorised sports it's difficult; until recently there weren't many rules and everyone pushed to the maximum. We need to impose limits, but in an intelligent fashion.”

crash.net

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Dec 4 2009, 02:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rossi: MotoGP should reward talent, not technology

The dilemma here is that Factories like Honda and Ducati, for example, will never think about the Sport this way, simply because they put their bikes in a pedestal believing the equipment is in an unreachable level of importance for any Rider to top it. Then again, Yamaha went for the 'Riders First' guiding principle and tried to back them up with the best equipment they could, and look where this got them: they are the best and have most firsts in the 3 categories (Rider, Teams, and Manufactures) in the last years, ever since Rossi (the Rider) came in, and still the focus was to get Lorenzo (Rider) and Spies (Rider).

But importantly and something big corporations fail to admit usually, is that perhaps 90% of the audience, identifies themselves, as human beings… With a Rider more than a Bike… And this is where Dorna, and Big H's pressure, have messed it all up!

Look at crappy F1… Years ago people looked at and talked about Pilots and their cars, few did the other way around and it was great Sport to watch back then. Now their main aim is the Car, and all the rules revolve around it, so F1 lost it and I for one could not careless about it. Bormula 1!

There use to be said that with bikes you could actually see the Rider's input, feeling, attitude changes, reactions, strengths, etc. while riding the bike in a race… Which gives my point a bit of a backup maybe. So get 990's BACK NOW and cut the crap silly Duhrna!

Well, it would be cool to see pilots riding as they did in the '80s, but it is also true that MotoGP category is and should continue being the pinnacle of two-wheel motorsports. To me it can't be that way without all the most advanced technologies applied to the bike. F1's the same. You could remove electronics and just rely on riders' ability and talent to control the bike's power. That way, on the other hand, we wouldn't see what those riders are able to do with the most advanced technology, we wouldn't see the rider+bike package achieve the edge of its potential.

What a load of ........!

Rossi said this so I discuss him saying it but I would say the same if any other rider said it.

Tell me a time in history when a rider, driver or sportsman of any kind has turned down any form of technology that will give them an advantage. Seriously!

Go back a few years to just one example when overnight specials were being handed out. Did Rossi or anyone else say "No I don't want them as they give me an advantage over my competitior"? Of course not! I could go on but I would be calld a Rossi basher/hater or what ever. But I will say that this is just another example of Rossi spinning what he knows his fans want to hear to the media when he does not want an even playing field especially now when he has young pretenders who are his match on any given day. The funny thing is all of the so called experts/boppers will fall for it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP70 @ Dec 4 2009, 10:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What a load of ........!

Rossi said this so I discuss him saying it but I would say the same if any other rider said it.

Tell me a time in history when a rider, driver or sportsman of any kind has turned down any form of technology that will give them an advantage. Seriously!

Go back a few years to just one example when overnight specials were being handed out. Did Rossi or anyone else say "No I don't want them as they give me an advantage over my competitior"? Of course not! I could go on but I would be calld a Rossi basher/hater or what ever. But I will say that this is just another example of Rossi spinning what he knows his fans want to hear to the media when he does not want an even playing field especially now when he has young pretenders who are his match on any given day. The funny thing is all of the so called experts/boppers will fall for it.
I agree. Fairly self -serving comment in my view.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Dec 6 2009, 01:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I agree. Fairly self -serving comment in my view.
I'll agree in one thing: it's self serving. Question is:
Is this marketing and something he says only because it's what his fans wants to hear, or is it because he feels that the field levels out too much because of the electronics and by making the rider skill count more he can maintain his advantage as a rider even when age take it's toll on both physics and hunger in a few years time?
There is little doubt who should fear less electronics and larger engines and who could hope to gain on it.

And TP, what the hell are you talking about. Overnight specials where given a few selected (the top) riders now and then, Rossi is NOT suggesting that he or a selected few are to be given a 1000cc engine now and then when he had a particular bad qualifying. He is suggesting or rather applauding others suggestions that will even out the whole field regarding equipment. So, sure as hell your Rossi hate shines through to the degree that you can't even stay on topic. You compare apples and oranges BIG time. It is more than obvious that riders will receive any advantage they can within the regulations, any rider NOT doing that is to ....... stupid to be able to balance on two wheels let alone race on them. Rossi has again and again been pro changes that make the rider count for more and even the difference between the bikes. I don't think that he is doing that only to see promote fair racing but because he also trust his own ability and talent to be his best advantage against the rest of the riders. All the better for him to promote what the fans of the sport wants to hear. But this is NOT about selective advantages for some few but a general rule change that apply to all. As always there are some winners and some looser when rules changes. Hardly worth commenting that Rossi think he will gain on this one, after all he is not a total moron. All the more hilarious to see anyone being able to build up a ethic/moral anger over this. Surly those that do must have some serious they should work though.

If Rossi really believed what he said, he'd be riding in WSBK. He wants technologically complicated equipment, but he also wants to hassle the MSMA for writing bad rules that have gutted the sport.

Rossi and machine are arch enemies. Rossi thinks the machine he rides is his boy toy.

I think it's better for us fans to see more of the riders ability in stead of more complicated technologie, that serves some riders more than the rest in every year.

anyway in both ways the best riders shine more than the others, but with less technologie more riders make chance for fighting for the win or podium, and the factory bikes can not dominate the races and the seasons like they'r doeing now.

Of cource I,m not expert in this, and i,m only giving my only view and thoughts about this, but i,m sure that Motogp has lost a bit of his attraction for fans who enjoy more fights in every race.

I remember that in every race somebody chalanged Rossi for the win, and it weren't always the same guys, sometimes they were even not the championship contenders who raced against him for the win, but now we have 6 best bikes which only 4 of them are fighting for the wins in the whole season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Dec 6 2009, 01:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'll agree in one thing: it's self serving. Question is:
Is this marketing and something he says only because it's what his fans wants to hear, or is it because he feels that the field levels out too much because of the electronics and by making the rider skill count more he can maintain his advantage as a rider even when age take it's toll on both physics and hunger in a few years time?
There is little doubt who should fear less electronics and larger engines and who could hope to gain on it.

And TP, what the hell are you talking about. Overnight specials where given a few selected (the top) riders now and then, Rossi is NOT suggesting that he or a selected few are to be given a 1000cc engine now and then when he had a particular bad qualifying. He is suggesting or rather applauding others suggestions that will even out the whole field regarding equipment. So, sure as hell your Rossi hate shines through to the degree that you can't even stay on topic. You compare apples and oranges BIG time. It is more than obvious that riders will receive any advantage they can within the regulations, any rider NOT doing that is to ....... stupid to be able to balance on two wheels let alone race on them. Rossi has again and again been pro changes that make the rider count for more and even the difference between the bikes. I don't think that he is doing that only to see promote fair racing but because he also trust his own ability and talent to be his best advantage against the rest of the riders. All the better for him to promote what the fans of the sport wants to hear. But this is NOT about selective advantages for some few but a general rule change that apply to all. As always there are some winners and some looser when rules changes. Hardly worth commenting that Rossi think he will gain on this one, after all he is not a total moron. All the more hilarious to see anyone being able to build up a ethic/moral anger over this. Surly those that do must have some serious they should work though.
I found the comment self-serving because he has often (but not always) benefited from superior technology himself, whether or not he required any advantage, but will concede I may have been looking from the wrong angle.

If his angle is that the technology that has ensued from the current rules is bad for the sport then it is difficult to disagree.

My quick reaction perhaps resulting from too many arguments on here was that there was an implication that in the championships he lost he was beaten by technology; this may have been unfair on my part as altoough this is not infrequently argued by some of his fans I am not really aware of him ever claiming this.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Dec 6 2009, 11:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And TP, what the hell are you talking about. Overnight specials where given a few selected (the top) riders now and then, Rossi is NOT suggesting that he or a selected few are to be given a 1000cc engine now and then when he had a particular bad qualifying. He is suggesting or rather applauding others suggestions that will even out the whole field regarding equipment. So, sure as hell your Rossi hate shines through to the degree that you can't even stay on topic. You compare apples and oranges BIG time. It is more than obvious that riders will receive any advantage they can within the regulations, any rider NOT doing that is to ....... stupid to be able to balance on two wheels let alone race on them. Rossi has again and again been pro changes that make the rider count for more and even the difference between the bikes. I don't think that he is doing that only to see promote fair racing but because he also trust his own ability and talent to be his best advantage against the rest of the riders. All the better for him to promote what the fans of the sport wants to hear. But this is NOT about selective advantages for some few but a general rule change that apply to all. As always there are some winners and some looser when rules changes. Hardly worth commenting that Rossi think he will gain on this one, after all he is not a total moron. All the more hilarious to see anyone being able to build up a ethic/moral anger over this. Surly those that do must have some serious they should work though.

This is very unusual for you Babel. Normally you don't revert to a personal attack unless it is Jumkie of course!

Rossi hate? I have repeatedly said that I do not hate Rossi at all. I hate his bopper fans. I do hate when riders pass comments that are as rediculous as this one regardless of who it is. Seriously does Rossi want equal machinery so it is just rider talent that wins a race? Well what he wants then is one make racing. Otherwise technical advantages will always exist even with tight rules. With tight rules he who throws the most money at it will almost always have a technical advantage.

Rossi has almost always had a technical advantage of some kind over a <u>large portion </u>of the field, not all but a large portion. So is he saying that he has won championships due to a technical advantage? Is he saying that his bike had an electronics advantage in 2009 and 2008? If this is what he is saying then I applaud him.

If he is not then what exactly is he referring to?????

It's kind of cruel in a way. Rossi gets the best equipment because in the present system he can demand the best. The sponsors line up with truckloads of cash to see he gets what he needs to win to promote their product and it's almost a forgone conclusion he'll be right at the top. There is no machine equality. Let's see him do a year on the GS. He'd never do it but he's fine if it is somebody else's career. Machine equality would lessen his chance of guaranteed wins and there is no way in hell he'd give that up. No way he has to hit 130 wins. You can say he left Honda for Yamaha and took a big risk but he took everyone that made the Honda great with him just to hedge that bet. You are completely blind if you see Rossi sitting on less than the best machine that can be built by man. He has had a string of ...... races here and there but on the whole he's riding the bike that with any of the present motogp guys on it would place them top 6 and possibly double their point take immediately. It is that much better. Put Rossi on it and forget it he's gone.

In North America in the 80's I was a big drag race fan and actually raced a few times locally. They switched from "run what you brung racing" to bracket racing then and all of the sudden the average guy with a car and $1000 could win some dough and move up through the brackets to pro. Before that the guy with the most money won every time. I don't have the answer but the problem is obvious. You don't need to limit the bike you need to limit the money.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP70 @ Dec 8 2009, 01:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This is very unusual for you Babel. Normally you don't revert to a personal attack unless it is Jumkie of course!

Rossi hate? I have repeatedly said that I do not hate Rossi at all.

You call THAT personal attack? I attack what you write. When you write "I don't hate Rossi" and then go on to personally blame him for the way this and all other motor sports has worked in just about indefinably time then I prefer to say it as it is.
You continue in this reply to argue that he has had so much better equipment.

Grow up. The best always have the best equipment, you earn it the you get it. IT's the way it WORKS. Maybe your not a Rossi hater, maybe you just hate the sport?


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>So is he saying that he has won championships due to a technical advantage? Is he saying that his bike had an electronics advantage in 2009 and 2008? If this is what he is saying then I applaud him.

If he is not then what exactly is he referring to?????
What are you talking about? There are two supposedly quotes from Rossi in that article and he says
reinstate 1000cc and cut 70% of the electronics. That has nothing to do with whatever advantage or disadvantage he got so your questions make no sense what so ever.

Again, please stop mixing up general regulations and bike improvements done within the regulations. Two entirely different matters, and while there are plenty of reason to argue that Rossi might gain an advantage with his suggested changes they would be for all, and for one Hayden would love that kind of changes (as he has been quoted numerous times) , as would Spies.
You go out claiming this is buullshit wile it is basically a repetition of the the most argued changes in the history of motoGP. I would have been a millionaire if I got a penny for every "give us back the 990" or "ban TC", but when Rossi says it, it's ......... I sure have a hard time finding any lost love there.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ Dec 8 2009, 01:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It's kind of cruel in a way. Rossi gets the best equipment because in the present system he can demand the best. The sponsors line up with truckloads of cash to see he gets what he needs to win to promote their product and it's almost a forgone conclusion he'll be right at the top. There is no machine equality. Let's see him do a year on the GS. He'd never do it but he's fine if it is somebody else's career. Machine equality would lessen his chance of guaranteed wins and there is no way in hell he'd give that up. No way he has to hit 130 wins. You can say he left Honda for Yamaha and took a big risk but he took everyone that made the Honda great with him just to hedge that bet. You are completely blind if you see Rossi sitting on less than the best machine that can be built by man. He has had a string of ...... races here and there but on the whole he's riding the bike that with any of the present motogp guys on it would place them top 6 and possibly double their point take immediately. It is that much better. Put Rossi on it and forget it he's gone.
We could allways discuss how good the Yamaha is, and of course who made it good, but that is beside the point. General rule changes doesn't take away or give any general bike advantage. Well, it's not all true but let's assume it doesn't, and besides there is little reason to think that Yamaha with their sophisticated ECU/TC would gain the most. Suzuki on the other hand... Anyway, I think it's fairly evident that he want the bikes to be harder to ride, all the bikes of course. Heavier, more grunt, more slides much more gyro forces from the engine..... All this leave more options to the rider and more control to the rider. With his history from GP500 and early motoGP it's very tempting for him to assume quite a bit advantage from the younger riders when they abandon TC. If they at the same time put in the grunty 1000cc engines allowing much more point and shoot style that those riders have little experience with and I'm sure he feel he would gain an advantage. And with that personal advantage gained he is willing to give away the general advantage his bike might give him now.

i missed reading these stuffs