<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 17 2009, 08:55 AM)
<{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Because like him or not he is clearly one of the best riders in the world. I agree to date he hasn't achieved the ultimately high levels of success that were expected but despite all the effort that goes on round here to belitle world champions, it is actually an incredible feat. I don't think many people actually think Dani is as good as Rossi or Stoner, so in that sense i don't think he is overrated............yet
Exactly. Not being able to beat rossi is hardly evidence of total lack of riding ability, and it is possible that stoner is actually quite good also. It is also possible that others have had better bikes than him in the 2 seasons after his rookie season; the possibility of such an advantage is widely accepted as explanatory of failure to win a world championship by a rider as eminent as valentino rossi.
I can make no excuses for the estoril incident and was aghast at the time, but I personally am in no position to judge a split second decision in the heat of a race, and such incidents have not been characteristic of his career, which in the lower classes was characterised by bravery in the face of severe injuries. I do wonder as have others if he is robust enough for a prolonged career on the big(ger) bikes, and as others have also said I see little evidence of any ability to develop/sort bikes. The latter seems rare in the current ranks, another reason why most of the motogp teams should have been clamouring for ben spies' services, whom it would seem does have such ability.
Even puig has contributed considerably to the development of many young riders, casey stoner in particular, without any apparent motive of material or other gain. I agree that the puig thing now looks counterproductive for dani, who is now a relative veteran in bike riding terms, and he will not beat people as tough as rossi et al if he still feels the need for a svengali figure.
