Silly Season 2006

You have a very good point, plus, people prefer seeing younger riders up there at the top, e.g. Dovisioso is a complete fan favourite, and he's 19/20.

Whereas the older ones are less liked.

This doesn't matter much, it's a fact though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Jul 15 2006, 03:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The thing is that today a MotoGp career starts much earlier than it used to and they look more for talent than proven performance. While SB has many greate riders many of them have a full career there, while most 125/250 are climbers or want to be. So when the teems are looking at new riders do they want a 250 champ at 20 years or a WSB champ at 27?
The 250 riders know how everything works in and around the MotoGP circus, especially they know the tracks. 20 years old guys are relativly easy to control and develop. Rider style in MotGP has become more like the 250 style recently.
All these factors are in the 250 riders benefit when the teams look at new riders. That said, even a 30 year old guy that rise and shine can get a GP ride if he is outstanding. In that way you're right, there will allways be an opening, it's only got narrower.

Very good points and I agree completly with you! Its just sad to see to see things turning into tennis were people are champions at young ages and then people don't give a .... about them when there older, just because there not young anymore. Its all good wanting a champ at champ at 20 years old but there are many other who are labelled the new hot shot, then they don't win anything for the next 15 years. Its important that the young riders aren't thrown in the deep end too early with this new trend of rider recruitment.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Checa_7 @ Jul 15 2006, 07:05 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You have a very good point, plus, people prefer seeing younger riders up there at the top, e.g. Dovisioso is a complete fan favourite, and he's 19/20.

Whereas the older ones are less liked.

This doesn't matter much, it's a fact though.

To be honest I dont think Honda or anyone give a crap if their rider is well liked, look at Honda and Danibot.

By the way, Checa's doing alright ain't he! considering the team he's with and the Dunlop tyres. Just look at were his team mate is.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Checa_7 @ Jul 16 2006, 05:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Whereas the older ones are less liked.

COUGH COUGH Bayliss COUGH



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Electric Mofo @ Jul 16 2006, 06:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>To be honest I dont think Honda or anyone give a crap if their rider is well liked, look at Honda and Danibot.

I think you might be surprised there. Sure, he might not be too popular on this forum, but I`d venture to say his popularity outstrips Rossi in his home country.
Here`s a good argument. Teams like popular riders because they attract sponsors, right? Well if you look into the fuss caused in the sponsorship silly season at the start of this year, you`ll find two major sponsors departed GP racing. Telefonica Movistar and Galouses. Both these sponsors left due to rider issues. Gauloses left because Rossi wanted to make his own team without them in the picture, and Movistar left over a dispute with Repsol over having their name on the bike that Pedrosa would be riding in motoGP. Repsol argued that they'd sponsored the factory team for more than ten years, and Movistar argued that they had been supporting Dani through his up-and-coming years, like the Movistar cup, then 125s and 250s. In the end, Repsol won out, and Movistar spat the dummy and pulled out of supporting any bike racing. Because they both wanted Dani, because both companies have big markets in Spain, and Dani is hugely popular there. He`s still an awsome rider, and he is where he is because of his skill, not his nationality, but don`t underestimate the size of his fan base because a few people take a dig at him for not smiling.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jul 16 2006, 04:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>COUGH COUGH Bayliss COUGH


I think you might be surprised there. Sure, he might not be too popular on this forum, but I`d venture to say his popularity outstrips Rossi in his home country.
Here`s a good argument. Teams like popular riders because they attract sponsors, right? Well if you look into the fuss caused in the sponsorship silly season at the start of this year, you`ll find two major sponsors departed GP racing. Telefonica Movistar and Galouses. Both these sponsors left due to rider issues. Gauloses left because Rossi wanted to make his own team without them in the picture, and Movistar left over a dispute with Repsol over having their name on the bike that Pedrosa would be riding in motoGP. Repsol argued that they'd sponsored the factory team for more than ten years, and Movistar argued that they had been supporting Dani through his up-and-coming years, like the Movistar cup, then 125s and 250s. In the end, Repsol won out, and Movistar spat the dummy and pulled out of supporting any bike racing. Because they both wanted Dani, because both companies have big markets in Spain, and Dani is hugely popular there. He`s still an awsome rider, and he is where he is because of his skill, not his nationality, but don`t underestimate the size of his fan base because a few people take a dig at him for not smiling.


I thought the same as you richo! about Dani being hugely popular in Spain, but when i went to Spain i was very surprised!
We went to watch the Catalunya GP, and i was expecting Pedrosa Mania. We were watching in Stadium area of the track with thousands and thousands of fans, and throughout practice when Dani went past the crowd where getting excited and cheering, air horns etc..
When it came to the race it was the same as above, but when vale started a bit rubbish and then started putting the moves on people the crowd were goin mental! complete Rossi mania in Danis back yard. A few laps before Dani came in the crowd were hardly cheering him. I think Danis spanish following is all down to marketing from the (Spanish) company telefonica! Last year when i was in Spain on a holiday when dani was riding in 250 on the telefonica bike, the were billboards, stickers posters, and adverts everywere! i didnt see any this year.

Intresting bit of insight. I would have thought Dani was still way more popular than Rossi in Spain. I`m not saying your wrong, but Those cheering when Rossi starts doing his thing could have been doing so out of excitement for the sport. And as for the advertising this year, well, after the whole Repsol thing I was talking about, I don`t think Telefonica would be too rapped about putting Dani`s face on their ads. And I doubt Repsol advertise as publicly as Telefonica do, simply because of the different markets. Maybe you`re right. But I still think Dani has a larger fan base than what a lot of people might think. Sure, worldwide he's not, and probably never will be as popular as Rossi, or maybe even his own teammate, but I wouldn`t underestimate his fan base.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>MotoGP rookie Casey Stoner suffered a double blow during last weekend's German Grand Prix. Not only was the 20-year old advised not to race following a high-speed crash in the pre-race warm-up but race winner Valentino Rossi has also moved to block the Australian joining the Yamaha team.

Stoner, who was linked to a move to the factory Yamaha team at the end of last season before joining up with Lucio Cecchinello on a Honda, has again been muted as a possible team-mate to Rossi next season under the wishes of chief engineer Jeremy Burgess.

However, despite showing flashes of brilliance this season and the temperament necessary to become a multiple race winner, Valentino Rossi has taken it upon himself to block the move, saying that the Australia would be best served at Honda.

"I think the best option for Stoner would be to stay where he is," Rossi said at the Sachsenring.

Rossi has already signed a one-year extension that will take him to the end of the 2007 season, but the position of team-mate Colin Edwards is less straightforward. Despite having a good rapport with the Doctor, Yamaha and Michelin, the Texan Tornado risks losing his seat after a relatively poor season to date.

His position could be saved should he and Yamaha's World Superbike rider Noryuki Haga beat Honda to victory on this year's Suzuka Eight-Hour on July 30th. Honda are putting huge resources into this year's race and a victory for Edwards aboard the impressive R1 would be timely.



http://www.eurosport.com/motorcycling/amer...sto927692.shtml

Whatever was Rossi thinking? I mean, I really want to know what he was thinking saying it would be best for Stoner "to stay where he is."


Very, very interesting.

Is Rossi like the head of Yamaha or something???

if rossi wants pink wheels hed get them

According to Motociclismo, Rossi has vetoed Stoner as teammate, he wasnt to keep Colin.
So despite talks between Stoner and Yamaha do exist, there's little chance it will actually happen if Rossi doesn't want it to happen.

Also the Ilmor 800cc is already on the track, there are pics of the bike testing in Silverstone. According to Ilmor there are already 5 engines built, the 800cc V4 hits 18K rpm and 200hp.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Jul 18 2006, 07:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Intresting bit of insight. I would have thought Dani was still way more popular than Rossi in Spain. I`m not saying your wrong, but Those cheering when Rossi starts doing his thing could have been doing so out of excitement for the sport. And as for the advertising this year, well, after the whole Repsol thing I was talking about, I don`t think Telefonica would be too rapped about putting Dani`s face on their ads. And I doubt Repsol advertise as publicly as Telefonica do, simply because of the different markets. Maybe you`re right. But I still think Dani has a larger fan base than what a lot of people might think. Sure, worldwide he's not, and probably never will be as popular as Rossi, or maybe even his own teammate, but I wouldn`t underestimate his fan base.

Ive only ever spoken to one spaniard in real life about motogp riders and they never once mentioned a spanish rider.

Only Rossi.

I dont think there is enough spanish-italian hatred going on for the spanish to not like vale.

Maybe if it was spanish-portuguese then it would be different!

¿ ?

You must've spoken with the Spanish version of Yamahamer.

I'm quite sure ALL of the Spaniard fans know Pedrosa, Gibernau, Checa, Lorenzo .... etc.

That doesn't mean they dislike Rossi as I do. But I think this year Rossi will have much less support from the crowd in Valencia.

Teo i didnt mean they had never heard of any spanish riders!!!!

I meant they started only to talk about Rossi, and when i asked them if they liked the spanish riders they just said "they are not as popular as rossi" Which really surprised me but obvioulsy this is just one spaniard.

Ps. Whay have you changed your name to Mavis?

Ask Ben.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mavis @ Jul 18 2006, 06:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Ask Ben.

you taking up the dani in the top 5 bet??

I do, but where's your bro? hiding under a rock?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mavis @ Jul 18 2006, 11:53 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>¿ ?

You must've spoken with the Spanish version of Yamahamer.

I'm quite sure ALL of the Spaniard fans know Pedrosa, Gibernau, Checa, Lorenzo .... etc.

That doesn't mean they dislike Rossi as I do. But I think this year Rossi will have much less support from the crowd in Valencia.

yeah one like me...thats why you left out the only Spanish champion in GP/500 history.....1999 - Alex Criville (Spain) Honda

[EDIT - Please refrain from using personal insults]

Yamahaher-Al Vs Mavis! Which one of you to is the taker!
Tell me Yamahaher is that a photo of one of the "Purple Helmets" you have with your name?

I had to delete two posts here. Don't forget this is a place for debating, not to insult people.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ Jul 19 2006, 10:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yamahaher-Al Vs Mavis! Which one of you to is the taker!

Encoraging that sort of behaviour is not the best thing for the situation, wouldn`t you agree?