Threatening to leave the sport? Sounds familiar.... And the cult followers he's recently created who are echoing him smack no different. Maybe Stoner should offer his salary back in hopes that they put that money back into the technology of his bike. Somebody might want to sit down with the young man and take the time to explain the vital marketing equation part of racing. If he feels this strongly about the lack of funds to sustain the technology, then he should be out pedaling Hondas at every dealership. God knows how much he enjoys making marketing appearances. Why does this remind me of the prevalent ignorance/arrogance of the Motegi debacle this year?
Stoner is no doubt in my mind the best rider in the world. I admire the dude on several levels, most of which is his ability to ride a bike beyond even the best on the planet. Notwithstanding, my praise, in the eyes of his cult fans of late, my motives are probably in question. In their eyes, I have probably become a detractor (maybe even a ‘hater’) for some of his more radical fans who can’t stand me pointing out some minor flaws in the young man, yes minor, now move along. Nothing but positive accolade for Stoner is expected of me I suppose. He has so much going for him too, loving supportive parents, a pretty wife, a kid on the way, world champ (on his bday at his home GP no less) and one of the best packages (if not thee best) in the series, and loot to boot. How he finds something to complain about is really beyond the pale. Maybe he should take the advice of some of his fans and leave the sport; after all, it doesn't seem to suit him considering his criticism and lack of enjoyment, right right (....... idiots). When he smiles, it seems to be big news. Despite all his talent, he just doesn't seem cut out to handle the reality of life, that is, that it changes constantly. I mean, I get criticism of the series, but threatening to leave it? Dude, WTF.
When we changed from 990s to 800s, I remember reading how this was going to render the speeds and performance unspectacular. And within a few rounds, the speeds were back up. Burgess even suggested we turn to 600s as the premier class displacement. All this doom and gloom recently from a few members that try to put on the cloak of purism or worried that this is "dumbing down" the series, or who declare this is no longer "prototype" racing (despite arbitrary rules for every formula including the next), or this is simply pseudo engineering of close racing, seems to forget we already have had several formula changes, every time with the doom and gloom birds chirping the end of the world.
I for one hope Stoner is just being the complaining guy in the room we've known him to be and really doesn't leave the sport. Every time he takes the track, especially when he rode for Ducati, I felt we are/were watching something truly special. But if he does decide to leave, he will lose most of the respect sane people have for him, as he will turn his back on the sport and fans because he will have thought he was bigger than it. I’m sure some of his radicalized fans will reply that he is the man for threatening to leave the sport, some of which probably talked massive .... when Rossi attempted to do the same thing. Perhaps its just human nature, I thought Rossi was unique in being the head of a cult, it seems to be turning out, it doesn't matter who the head is, we will always have fans on the outside fringe of insanity who echo the talking point no mater how out of step with reality it may be.
I can see Casey and Ben and any other rider wanting the most exquisite jewelry on the bike in terms of the latest technology, but that doesn't pay for itself. Btw, didn't most of the riders also say they preferred less rider aids? Newsflash, the most "technological" thing is probably the electronics. In what world does this make sense, you claim you don’t want electronics but then poo poo when they aim to get rid of them by increasing the fuel limits. The components will probably stay the same and get better as more money will surely be diverted to the hardware of the bike, where the brain of the rider will manage the machine, not some elaborate and extremely complicated computer because somebody arbitrary decided 21 liters was the rule Jesus would have wanted. About the change of formula in the series, its just change, and people hate change. This is the reality of life that I have to live with and everybody else on the planet. Deal with it and get a grip.
