<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%Rossi - Chapter III
Chapter I – Max Biaggi
Chapter II – Sete Gibernau
Chapter III – Casey Stoner
In a very well known history of one of the greatest rider of all time, there had been 2 very outstanding riders who got embroiled in ugly battles on track and off track with the media, and both of these bitter rivals ended up limping home.
Going quite into the twilight of Rossi’s career (depending on how long he wishes to continue), Rossi appears to have met more than a match in a rival that could apparently go as quick, if not quicker than him, a rider who seemed to be able to take whatever is thrown at in close battles, dominating with 10 wins per season, and most fearsome of all, the new challenger do not seem to show any signs of crumbling under the infamous pressure that Rossi had always been famed to apply during a race.
The battle with Stoner, definitely is the biggest challenge ever in the career of Valentino Rossi, and beating Stoner would probably mean more than his 2004 outstanding feat on the Yamaha. It was not a disaster if Rossi did not win in 2004, but there would be a huge question mark if Rossi did not win in 2008, after so much fuss had been made about the tires in 2007, and by making the bravest of the move to ride on Bridgestones rubber in 2008. Rossi had placed himself under the biggest pressure ever by being on the same rubber as Stoner. Rossi knows that 2008 could be the year that firmly put the suggestion that Rossi is no longer the best rider out there.
Looking at the rivalry with Casey Stoner, Rossi had demonstrated the best of his skills in applying the mind games and manipulation of the media to his advantage. If there is any argument, as always, on whom the greatest rider ever is, it will be safe to say that in the mind games department, there is no rider who is even close to Rossi’s skills in this area. Rossi showed why he is the wisest rider out there, in comparison, makes Stoner looks totally green and seemingly foolish.
<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%
Laguna Seca 2008 – the one year wait
Valentino Rossi had been waiting for this opportunity for more than one year ago. Like Sete, Stoner is a rider that he personally hates, I use the word hate. However, unlike the chapter with Sete, Rossi has to be very patient before being presented with the opportunity like Laguna Seca 2008.
Being the most crafty and wisest media manipulator, Rossi understands too well about the game with the media, that rule number one is you have to walk the talk.
Rossi’s determination to humiliate Stoner (dare I say even more than towards Max and Sete) was deeper than the fact that he is the greatest rival. Stoner was a rival who showed no fear or respect at all to Valentino Rossi.
Looking back in 2007, Stoner had got instant success, and being such a young lad, such success had done a lot to his confidence, and his arrogance seemed to soar to the extent that even made Mick Doohan looked like a reasonably humble personality next to him. No one in the Valentino Rossi era ever dares to belittle or disrespect Valentino Rossi the way Stoner did. In 2007, Stoner definitely got under Rossi’s skin, perhaps into Rossi’s bones as well.
Stoner willingly taunts Rossi, and did that many times in 2007.
1. Stoner made fun of Rossi for initially saying new tire allocations rules is good as there will be less confusion with setup with less choices of tire, but later Rossi reasoned that part of Michelin’s poor performance is due to lack of tire choice. Stoner gave Rossi a good bollocking in the press for this.
Rossi’s response? None…
2. Stoner slams the riders who complains and whines on their tire issues, which is definitely directed mainly at Rossi.
Rossi’s response? None….
3. Stoner criticized the decision by Michelin riders for attempting to switch tire brand just after one bad season, and compared to how his Ducati team stuck with Bridgestone over several years of uncompetitive periods.
Stoner did a very daring criticism here, for such a young lad, that only legends or most respected personnel with huge depth of experience dares to make such remarks.
Rossi’s response? None…
4. When being asked if Catalunya 2007 was his best race, Stoner decided to vote some other race where he cruised to victory as his best race to date.
Rossi must have or may have taken notice of this and surprised to see an upcoming rider beating one of the greatest rider of all time in an awesome straight fight, yet refusing to acknowledge it as the best race.
Is this the honest answer from Stoner or an attempt to destabilize Rossi by playing down such an awesome battle? Only Stoner knows it,…or perhaps Rossi as well knows it.
5. When being asked about the threats for 2008, Stoner had stated that Pedrosa will be his biggest rival for 2008 because he was nearer on points, despite several DNFs yet finishing second.
It will not take a genius to workout that since 2000, Rossi is the ultimate threat for a world title every season, given whatever circumstances. It was pure madness and arrogance for refusing to acknowledge the threat Rossi would present in 2008.
Rossi’s response? Again no response.
One must be surprised to see Rossi being humbled by Stoner without any retaliation. Not quite, Rossi chose to response in a different way. In fact, Rossi is full of praise when Stoner beat him, well not quite.
Rossi knows too well that you have to walk the talk. His chosen respond, had been the most politically savvy, and wisest of all.
“Casey Stoner is the best of traction control generation”- Rossi. Nobody can complain that Rossi was being a sore loser, or giving excuses, yet such statements, with the passionate explanations of the beauty rider’s skills in throttle response, in fact Rossi was saying that Stoner is the best, how could anyone criticize him for that.
But Rossi had made everyone sit up and take notice that there is too much electronics, and even questioning if electronics had taken out some skill set of the riders. Even the legends of the past are in favor of getting rid of electronics. Ultimately, there is some question marks about what Stoner could had done without electronics.
Of course, his continuous other response was the complaint of the Michelin tires, while at the same time giving praise to Stoner whenever he could.
Rossi’s message was simple and straightforward, he lost because of Michelin tires, and Stoner could not have done what he did without the traction control. But, nobody else could have given that message in such a wise manner without sounding like giving excuses.
Come race day Laguna Seca 2008, Stoner with his confidence sky high and restored again after 3 wins in succession, and dominating all practice and qualifying sessions with at least 0.5 seconds margin, one would think that it will be totally impossible for Rossi to put a stop to Stoner’s progress in Laguna Seca, when he had done exactly the same destructive routines in practice and qualifying sessions. Rossi has one of the worst records in Laguna Seca, and Rossi fears the circuit, he is quite critical of the safety of the circuit, and unlike other riders, he is short of admitting that he hates the Corkscrew corner. Even Mat Mladin said that “Rossi had no business winning here today” after the race.
Laguna do not look like the right place to halt Stoner’s progress.
However, with Rossi’s determination and Burgess’s genius in last minute modifications, Rossi knew he could do something about the race with the lap times difference reduced.
As ever, Rossi’s first mind games started, by saying that he needs a 30 second head start to beat Stoner today. Stoner must have thought he would stroll to another crushing victory again,…how wrong could he be, Stoner may not be wise enough to sense something is amiss when Rossi starts talking strange.
When the lights turns green, the rest is history, Rossi being given the machine good enough to cause Stoner some trouble, and he did the most inspired race ever. Laguna Seca 2008 is not just another race, Rossi made a very strong statement in that race.
In the pitlane celebration, second part of Rossi’s mind games continue, Rossi, again I emphasize being the wisest out there, totally knew Stoner was still boiling from that race, first because he lost a race that belongs to him, second because Rossi knew he had just rattled Stoner’s cage with some of the hardest pass made,……..reached Stoner’s hands right in front of BBC coverage. The reaction from Stoner was more or less expected, and totally looked very unsporting and sour,…resulting in quite a lot of backlash worldwide.
That’s not the end yet,.. Rossi still attempted to play it on further on the podium, still trying to talk to Stoner, and later revealed it to the Italian press that Stoner had said that he lost all respect to Rossi.
<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%Brno and Misano 2008 – there crashes in succession.
After the mid season break, when all calmed down, Stoner had admitted that he may have over-reacted in Laguna Seca, while at the same time pointed out that Rossi too had over-reacted in the past.
Stoner had decided to employ the different psychological approach to Brno race by stating that this time he hoped to challenge Rossi till the end of the race, hoping to give Rossi the false sense of security that he had tamed down after the Laguna crash. But Rossi was too wise for all that.
Stoner, despite his humble approach before race day, had decided to go 100% from first lap. Rossi was fully aware of Stoner’s intentions and wasted no time in getting past John Hopkins.
Rossi again tried to play around with Stoner’s now more fragile mind, by saying that he saw Stoner leaned a lot more than him in the corners and may have resulted in the crash. Unlike all previous mind games that Rossi played, this is the first time he is talking about riding style of his nemesis. Stoner has unique ability to use traction control and having some totally different and unique riding style to handle the Ducati at the knife edge to make it the fastest combination on the grid. The Doctor is now attempting to mess up Stoner’s self belief and confidence at riding the Duke at the limit by “attacking” his riding style.
Rossi had also attempted to send a message that he had already got Stoner’s numbers by implying that when he saw Stoner crashed, it’s a déjà vu, also in Brno but in 2001 Biaggi also had a front end wash out in the midst of championship battle.
In Misano, Rossi fired another round of mind games by saying that he thought Stoner had crashed due to pressure. Stoner on the other hand tried to imply that it was tire issues that caused his crash.
Again in Misano, Rossi is attempting to mess up Stoner’s previously unshakeable confidence at riding 100% on the limit, by saying that he had some warnings in the corner that Stoner crashed out. Indirectly, Rossi is stating that Stoner rode over the limit and failed to get any warnings of lack of front end grip in that particular corner.
Whether or not, Rossi’s attack on Stoner’s on the limit confidence really made any differences, shall be seen.
<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%Looking forward to 2009
After a year long wait, Rossi finally had the chance to revenge on Stoner, managing to humiliate the Australian in the process, to the upmost satisfaction of the Doctor.
One lesson that Rossi knows very well, is that the talking has to be done on the track, which prompted Rossi to wait for more than one year before firing at his nemesis.
With 2008 now a foregone conclusion, barring any mishaps, it will be a very exciting 2009 to look forward to. How will Stoner recover from such defeats? Will Stoner be strong enough to mount a recovery, or he is going down the route of Sete and Max?
Chapter I – Max Biaggi
Chapter II – Sete Gibernau
Chapter III – Casey Stoner
In a very well known history of one of the greatest rider of all time, there had been 2 very outstanding riders who got embroiled in ugly battles on track and off track with the media, and both of these bitter rivals ended up limping home.
Going quite into the twilight of Rossi’s career (depending on how long he wishes to continue), Rossi appears to have met more than a match in a rival that could apparently go as quick, if not quicker than him, a rider who seemed to be able to take whatever is thrown at in close battles, dominating with 10 wins per season, and most fearsome of all, the new challenger do not seem to show any signs of crumbling under the infamous pressure that Rossi had always been famed to apply during a race.
The battle with Stoner, definitely is the biggest challenge ever in the career of Valentino Rossi, and beating Stoner would probably mean more than his 2004 outstanding feat on the Yamaha. It was not a disaster if Rossi did not win in 2004, but there would be a huge question mark if Rossi did not win in 2008, after so much fuss had been made about the tires in 2007, and by making the bravest of the move to ride on Bridgestones rubber in 2008. Rossi had placed himself under the biggest pressure ever by being on the same rubber as Stoner. Rossi knows that 2008 could be the year that firmly put the suggestion that Rossi is no longer the best rider out there.
Looking at the rivalry with Casey Stoner, Rossi had demonstrated the best of his skills in applying the mind games and manipulation of the media to his advantage. If there is any argument, as always, on whom the greatest rider ever is, it will be safe to say that in the mind games department, there is no rider who is even close to Rossi’s skills in this area. Rossi showed why he is the wisest rider out there, in comparison, makes Stoner looks totally green and seemingly foolish.
<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%
Laguna Seca 2008 – the one year wait
Valentino Rossi had been waiting for this opportunity for more than one year ago. Like Sete, Stoner is a rider that he personally hates, I use the word hate. However, unlike the chapter with Sete, Rossi has to be very patient before being presented with the opportunity like Laguna Seca 2008.
Being the most crafty and wisest media manipulator, Rossi understands too well about the game with the media, that rule number one is you have to walk the talk.
Rossi’s determination to humiliate Stoner (dare I say even more than towards Max and Sete) was deeper than the fact that he is the greatest rival. Stoner was a rival who showed no fear or respect at all to Valentino Rossi.
Looking back in 2007, Stoner had got instant success, and being such a young lad, such success had done a lot to his confidence, and his arrogance seemed to soar to the extent that even made Mick Doohan looked like a reasonably humble personality next to him. No one in the Valentino Rossi era ever dares to belittle or disrespect Valentino Rossi the way Stoner did. In 2007, Stoner definitely got under Rossi’s skin, perhaps into Rossi’s bones as well.
Stoner willingly taunts Rossi, and did that many times in 2007.
1. Stoner made fun of Rossi for initially saying new tire allocations rules is good as there will be less confusion with setup with less choices of tire, but later Rossi reasoned that part of Michelin’s poor performance is due to lack of tire choice. Stoner gave Rossi a good bollocking in the press for this.
Rossi’s response? None…
2. Stoner slams the riders who complains and whines on their tire issues, which is definitely directed mainly at Rossi.
Rossi’s response? None….
3. Stoner criticized the decision by Michelin riders for attempting to switch tire brand just after one bad season, and compared to how his Ducati team stuck with Bridgestone over several years of uncompetitive periods.
Stoner did a very daring criticism here, for such a young lad, that only legends or most respected personnel with huge depth of experience dares to make such remarks.
Rossi’s response? None…
4. When being asked if Catalunya 2007 was his best race, Stoner decided to vote some other race where he cruised to victory as his best race to date.
Rossi must have or may have taken notice of this and surprised to see an upcoming rider beating one of the greatest rider of all time in an awesome straight fight, yet refusing to acknowledge it as the best race.
Is this the honest answer from Stoner or an attempt to destabilize Rossi by playing down such an awesome battle? Only Stoner knows it,…or perhaps Rossi as well knows it.
5. When being asked about the threats for 2008, Stoner had stated that Pedrosa will be his biggest rival for 2008 because he was nearer on points, despite several DNFs yet finishing second.
It will not take a genius to workout that since 2000, Rossi is the ultimate threat for a world title every season, given whatever circumstances. It was pure madness and arrogance for refusing to acknowledge the threat Rossi would present in 2008.
Rossi’s response? Again no response.
One must be surprised to see Rossi being humbled by Stoner without any retaliation. Not quite, Rossi chose to response in a different way. In fact, Rossi is full of praise when Stoner beat him, well not quite.
Rossi knows too well that you have to walk the talk. His chosen respond, had been the most politically savvy, and wisest of all.
“Casey Stoner is the best of traction control generation”- Rossi. Nobody can complain that Rossi was being a sore loser, or giving excuses, yet such statements, with the passionate explanations of the beauty rider’s skills in throttle response, in fact Rossi was saying that Stoner is the best, how could anyone criticize him for that.
But Rossi had made everyone sit up and take notice that there is too much electronics, and even questioning if electronics had taken out some skill set of the riders. Even the legends of the past are in favor of getting rid of electronics. Ultimately, there is some question marks about what Stoner could had done without electronics.
Of course, his continuous other response was the complaint of the Michelin tires, while at the same time giving praise to Stoner whenever he could.
Rossi’s message was simple and straightforward, he lost because of Michelin tires, and Stoner could not have done what he did without the traction control. But, nobody else could have given that message in such a wise manner without sounding like giving excuses.
Come race day Laguna Seca 2008, Stoner with his confidence sky high and restored again after 3 wins in succession, and dominating all practice and qualifying sessions with at least 0.5 seconds margin, one would think that it will be totally impossible for Rossi to put a stop to Stoner’s progress in Laguna Seca, when he had done exactly the same destructive routines in practice and qualifying sessions. Rossi has one of the worst records in Laguna Seca, and Rossi fears the circuit, he is quite critical of the safety of the circuit, and unlike other riders, he is short of admitting that he hates the Corkscrew corner. Even Mat Mladin said that “Rossi had no business winning here today” after the race.
Laguna do not look like the right place to halt Stoner’s progress.
However, with Rossi’s determination and Burgess’s genius in last minute modifications, Rossi knew he could do something about the race with the lap times difference reduced.
As ever, Rossi’s first mind games started, by saying that he needs a 30 second head start to beat Stoner today. Stoner must have thought he would stroll to another crushing victory again,…how wrong could he be, Stoner may not be wise enough to sense something is amiss when Rossi starts talking strange.
When the lights turns green, the rest is history, Rossi being given the machine good enough to cause Stoner some trouble, and he did the most inspired race ever. Laguna Seca 2008 is not just another race, Rossi made a very strong statement in that race.
In the pitlane celebration, second part of Rossi’s mind games continue, Rossi, again I emphasize being the wisest out there, totally knew Stoner was still boiling from that race, first because he lost a race that belongs to him, second because Rossi knew he had just rattled Stoner’s cage with some of the hardest pass made,……..reached Stoner’s hands right in front of BBC coverage. The reaction from Stoner was more or less expected, and totally looked very unsporting and sour,…resulting in quite a lot of backlash worldwide.
That’s not the end yet,.. Rossi still attempted to play it on further on the podium, still trying to talk to Stoner, and later revealed it to the Italian press that Stoner had said that he lost all respect to Rossi.
<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%Brno and Misano 2008 – there crashes in succession.
After the mid season break, when all calmed down, Stoner had admitted that he may have over-reacted in Laguna Seca, while at the same time pointed out that Rossi too had over-reacted in the past.
Stoner had decided to employ the different psychological approach to Brno race by stating that this time he hoped to challenge Rossi till the end of the race, hoping to give Rossi the false sense of security that he had tamed down after the Laguna crash. But Rossi was too wise for all that.
Stoner, despite his humble approach before race day, had decided to go 100% from first lap. Rossi was fully aware of Stoner’s intentions and wasted no time in getting past John Hopkins.
Rossi again tried to play around with Stoner’s now more fragile mind, by saying that he saw Stoner leaned a lot more than him in the corners and may have resulted in the crash. Unlike all previous mind games that Rossi played, this is the first time he is talking about riding style of his nemesis. Stoner has unique ability to use traction control and having some totally different and unique riding style to handle the Ducati at the knife edge to make it the fastest combination on the grid. The Doctor is now attempting to mess up Stoner’s self belief and confidence at riding the Duke at the limit by “attacking” his riding style.
Rossi had also attempted to send a message that he had already got Stoner’s numbers by implying that when he saw Stoner crashed, it’s a déjà vu, also in Brno but in 2001 Biaggi also had a front end wash out in the midst of championship battle.
In Misano, Rossi fired another round of mind games by saying that he thought Stoner had crashed due to pressure. Stoner on the other hand tried to imply that it was tire issues that caused his crash.
Again in Misano, Rossi is attempting to mess up Stoner’s previously unshakeable confidence at riding 100% on the limit, by saying that he had some warnings in the corner that Stoner crashed out. Indirectly, Rossi is stating that Stoner rode over the limit and failed to get any warnings of lack of front end grip in that particular corner.
Whether or not, Rossi’s attack on Stoner’s on the limit confidence really made any differences, shall be seen.
<span style="font-size:14pt;line-height:100%Looking forward to 2009
After a year long wait, Rossi finally had the chance to revenge on Stoner, managing to humiliate the Australian in the process, to the upmost satisfaction of the Doctor.
One lesson that Rossi knows very well, is that the talking has to be done on the track, which prompted Rossi to wait for more than one year before firing at his nemesis.
With 2008 now a foregone conclusion, barring any mishaps, it will be a very exciting 2009 to look forward to. How will Stoner recover from such defeats? Will Stoner be strong enough to mount a recovery, or he is going down the route of Sete and Max?
