Why 2011 could be a tough year for Rossi

bluegreen · Jan 19, 2011

Two words.

Stoner Honda

Two more words.

Reigning Champion.

I think even if Rossi is 100% fit and the Duc is ready to go Stoner and Lorenzo are the guys to beat.

L8Braker · Jan 20, 2011

Keshav said:
Be interesting to know what kind of laptimes ole Vito was doing. If they were say

within half a second of Hayden's they reasonably significant.

Kesh...someone posted this in the comment section on Crash, not sure I would trust them.

abraham 1.41.6 gaureshi 1.42.1 and battaini 1.44.1

xx CURVE xx · Jan 20, 2011

i just hope we get some good races and no injuries...

Go Spies!

J4rn0 · Jan 20, 2011

Keshav said:
A lot will depend on whether all Ducati riders get the bikes with the complete list of Rossi specified modifications.

Certainly he and Burgess will be "developing" the bike race-by-race and chances are only Rossi and his tester

will benefit from said changes. Regardless of what is promoted by Ducati flacks - I will be taking any word

of Rossi's ailments with a pinch of salt - considering his apparent state of wellness on a snowbound kart track

and Ducati's permission for him to go snowboarding.

Preziosi is on record that the bikes brought to Sepang are the same specs for both Rossi and Hayden and include the latest chassis and fork modifications. But the same people who may have otherwise said there was discrimination, will now say that Nicky is being used as a test mule for Vale...

Regarding the snowboard or kart race, it all depends on how much you push. Vale's pace was always very relaxed. He was playing around just to please the public. The real first test for his "new" shoulder will be at Sepang.

Jumkie · Jan 20, 2011

Talpa said:
I actually believe that the factory duck squad looks the happiest in the paddock, Nicky and VR have done it all before In 03 and for both it will probably be the best working relationship that either has had for a number of years.

Certainly Rossi/Lorenzo, Hayden/Pedrosa was strained, but do you think Stoner/Hayden was a strained working relationship?

povol · Jan 20, 2011

Jumkie said:
Certainly Rossi/Lorenzo, Hayden/Pedrosa was strained, but do you think Stoner/Hayden was a strained working relationship?

It would be a first if it was. Everybody and every factory team like Hayden. He is a very good rider, isnt a primmadonna, and accepts his role as # 2. Its his lifeline to the sport. Nicky doesnt have to be a nice guy to stay in the sport now, but a few years down the road, the friends he has made will land him seats he may not get if he was just another over the hill diva. What most people like about him, is that these traits come naturally.. He just a good ole boy!

stiefel · Jan 20, 2011

...cue banjo

povol · Jan 20, 2011

stiefel said:
...cue banjo

Nah, more like Dukes of Hazzard intro.

Goatboy · Jan 20, 2011

Squeeeal piggy!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tqxzWdKKu8[/media]

povol · Jan 20, 2011

Goatboy said:
Squeeeal piggy!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tqxzWdKKu8[/media]

That was on 2 nights ago.

Goatboy · Jan 20, 2011

It's a great & scary movie.

Talpa · Jan 20, 2011

Jumkie said:
Certainly Rossi/Lorenzo, Hayden/Pedrosa was strained, but do you think Stoner/Hayden was a strained working relationship?

Not strained, they seemed to get on quite well personally, in regards to 'working relationship' I feel that Nicky was on his own the last two years in regards to improving the bike and making it competitive/more ridable for anyone else bar Stoner, which he did and serious kudos to him as talented others have failed miserably. But now with the best development team ever in the garage adding precise direction on the changes needed, and the factory responding in turn, though certainly more of a finesse (evolution not revolution) rather than a complete overhaul as some were suggesting. It certainly seems as though Ducati always knew the problems existed but didn't know how to solve them, of course no one knows if the changes brought about post Valencia with VR's and JB's feedback will solve the issues yet, but they all seem pretty confident.

So IMO Nicky will start 2011 with a much improved package, including a fairing which wasn't design for jockeys only, revised geometry and front forks, smoother firing order etc. And he seems the happiest he's been for quite a while.....

dwoodhouse · Jan 20, 2011

Talpa said:
So IMO Nicky will start 2011 with a much improved package, including a fairing which wasn't design for jockeys only, revised geometry and front forks, smoother firing order etc. And he seems the happiest he's been for quite a while.....

I do think the Ducati will be a much more rider friendly package than last year and Hayden does seem to be very positive and happy (but he just about always does). My thoughts are that he will have a better year all round results wise.

#22 · Jan 21, 2011

Goatboy said:
Squeeeal piggy!

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1tqxzWdKKu8[/media]

Goatboy my admiration rises for you daily!

Tom · Jan 21, 2011

woody996 said:
I do think the Ducati will be a much more rider friendly package than last year and Hayden does seem to be very positive and happy (but he just about always does). My thoughts are that he will have a better year all round results wise.

It must be tough being Hayden. He is all set to have his best season on 800's, his best since he was champion. But at the same time he must know that he's very unlikely to find significant glory when Rossi is his team mate. You can bet he'll be working as hard as ever though, Nicky strikes me as someone who is still hungry and certainly isn't getting comforatable any time soon

Keshav · Jan 21, 2011

Tom said:
It must be tough being Hayden. He is all set to have his best season on 800's, his best since he was champion. But at the same time he must know that he's very unlikely to find significant glory when Rossi is his team mate. You can bet he'll be working as hard as ever though, Nicky strikes me as someone who is still hungry and certainly isn't getting comforatable any time soon

Hungry? Dude - in the city of Calcutta there are lots of hungry people - and they're mostly sleeping on the sidewalks.

What Nicky needs is some of Lorenzo's iron-willed imperative to not be passed. I love the guy - but this year is gonna

be a repeat of last year. If at the end of 2011 I should have to eat my words - I will be one happy guy.

J4rn0 · Jan 21, 2011

All think about how hard will be Nicky's life with Rossi (actually I think he is going to have good races in front of vale or at least at the same level this year), but nobody has a thought for Dovizioso who has a much harder lot than him: he already had Pedrosa and now he has also Stoner, delighted to have found a Honda already sorted out (largely thanks to Dovi's work) and as fast as ever.

Tom · Jan 21, 2011

J4rn0 said:
All think about how hard will be Nicky's life with Rossi (actually I think he is going to have good races in front of vale or at least at the same level this year), but nobody has a thought for Dovizioso who has a much harder lot than him: he already had Pedrosa and now he has also Stoner, delighted to have found a Honda already sorted out (largely thanks to Dovi's work) and as fast as ever.

Very good point, Dovi does have a difficult position. But it's different because firstly not many people on here are Dovi fans so he doesn't get a lot of attention. And secondly because he is not a rider who has been at the top and is trying to get back to previous form, he is relatively unproven so factory team second rider is a position you would expect him to be in as it is what he's earned.

Keshav · Jan 21, 2011

J4rn0 said:
All think about how hard will be Nicky's life with Rossi (actually I think he is going to have good races in front of vale or at least at the same level this year), but nobody has a thought for Dovizioso who has a much harder lot than him: he already had Pedrosa and now he has also Stoner, delighted to have found a Honda already sorted out (largely thanks to Dovi's work) and as fast as ever.

Not me. I think Nicky's aspirations are not as great as those of Dovi who at some level is

hoping for a championship in his lifetime.

Tom · Jan 21, 2011

Keshav said:
Not me. I think Nicky's aspirations are not as great as those of Dovi who at some level is

hoping for a championship in his lifetime.

I think Dovi has performed better than Nicky over the last few years but they aren't far appart, i wouldn't be surprised if Hayden got the edge again. I don't really see Dovi winning a title in motogp, i think he is less likely to be champ than Pedrosa or Spies, let alone the riders who have already won it.

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Why 2011 could be a tough year for Rossi

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xx CURVE xx

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stiefel

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povol

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dwoodhouse

#22

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