MotoGP Spoiler

So out of the current crop of MotoGP riders, aside from Rossi and Stoner, whom else do you feel can ride that hard, if anyone?

 

Not my pic, but a good one.
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Lorenzo can. I'll be surprised if someday he's not Rossi's successor, but let's see what 2010 brings.

 

I was thinking about this the other day, and I wonder if Lorenzo is the first teammate to really rattle Rossi, even if just a bit over the last two years. He is undoubtedly the best rider to share a garage with Valentino. Rossi has recently griped about developing a bike for the rider that beats him occasionally. While I don't think Rossi quakes in fear of Lorenzo, it must chap him that perhaps 1/3 of the time another M1 crosses the finish line first.

Both Lorenzo and Rossi are unsigned for 2011. So if you were Lorenzo, would you try to sign with Yamaha first, early next year? Would that give Rossi some subtle motivation to either retire on top or switch teams and try to grow his legend even more? Yamaha would be loathe to lose Lorenzo, and he will have no shortage of options either. If Rossi waffles to re-sign, you might see some interesting things next summer.

If this came to pass, it would leave Lorenzo as #1 at Yamaha. I don't personally believe Valentino has any real allegience to Yamaha, he will make the best decision for him first and foremost. Rossi can virtually name his price and even Honda would love to have him riding for HRC again. Who wouldn't want the GOAT breaking Ago's all-time wins record on their bike?

 

One of the english magazines (Bike, August 2009 IIRC) had an article about how the top four ride these bikes. There are times when both brakes are on, both tires sliding, and the rider is at full throttle. Pretty amazing stuff.

In that same issue Rossi goes through how he rode Coppice corner at Donington (now that they don't race there I guess he can tell his secrets!). Very interesting and much more specific than I anticipated.

 

Doohan says, http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2009/October/oct2109-doohan-lorewnzo-will-get-stronger/

 

Rossi's website: http://www.valentinorossi.com/

 

I don't think Lorenzo rattles Rossi much at all, whereas I would bet Rossi really rattles Lorenzo. I believe it is because of Rossi that Lorenzo pushes himself beyond his limits to where he makes mistakes, and crashes. He may be the best racer to ever be on the same team as Rossi, however Rossi bests Lorenzo 95% of the time. Also, you are comparing a rider with 8 World Championships to Lorenzo's 2, which were both in 250. Who do you think intimidates who?

Rossi is bitter towards Honda. Honda's mentality is one where they believe their bike will win the WC, whereas the rider plays a much smaller role. Also, Rossi really wanted the Honda he won a WC on, and Honda never gave it to him. Those reasons are part of why he left there for Yamaha. Would he ever ride for Honda again? Hard to say. I have to imagine that Honda has perhaps come to realize how big of a role the rider plays, especially after Rossi went to Yamaha, and won. Again and again.

If I were Lorenzo, I would go to Honda. I would try to get on the best team that Rossi is not on.

 

That hasn't worked out for Dani P, so far.

 

I didn't remember that particular aspect, but you were spot on with everything (anti rider pro mfr mentality) and I just missed the bonus thing. That would piss me off if I had just won a WC for them! Burgess won a BUNCH of them for Honda. Any wonder why I haven't bought any sport bikes from them in my life......just a coupla dirt bikes and a coupla used NC 400's.

 

Yeah, Jeremy B has been setting up championship winners since Mick D and earlier.

Rossi didn't want Stoner anywhere near them. lol Jeremy was commenting on how KC would excell if he got a family around him back in KC's first season in the major class.

He found it with Ducati instead of Jeremy's band of aussies.

 

now that's wat I call a tropical storm!

 

Entertaining stuff from Rossi again.

Very poor first lap but for the rest he was awesome. Didn't get to see stoner much but his laptimes said enough! about 1.5 secs a lap quicker than anyone else for the majority of the race...wow.


Congrats on Rossi winning the WDC this season, great stuff!

 

Stoner will be the one to watch next year. Last winter he had surgery on his wrist and lost most of the testing time. This summer his mysterious illness basically made this a throwaway year, and he still will likely finish third in points. Now that he is back at full strength he has beaten Rossi in all three rounds. Would be no surprise to see him win in Valencia, and that would pose an ominous warning to Fiat Yamaha that 2010 might not have so many 1-2 finishes. Maybe several 2-3 though.

Also good to see Hayden near the front again as well, he seems to methodically be working through the issues on the Ducati.

 

Until Casey rises the pressure of being in the chase for the championship (not just finishing off a season in grand style absent this pressure such as he is doing now), nobody knows (Casey included) if he's been healed/cured of his troubles. For the good of MotoGP, all fans should hope that he has been cured. Next season is the soonest that we'll get to see.

 

Congrats to Rossi! Very entertaining year, yet again! I've said it before, and I'll say it again - best racing on the planet!

Wow, Casey on fire yet again! The guy was in his own league again yesterday.

 

Yes, watching Casey is wonderfully entertaining. In addition, this past weekend Casey handled the public relations part of MotoGP very well. I see it as a huge step forward for him.

 

Here is a couple of photos of Ben Spies Yamaha M1 that he is going to race this weekend.

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2009/11/04/spies-news-ride

 

In qualifying for tomorrows race

Stoner 1st
Rossi 4th
Edwards 5th
Hayden 6th
Spies 9th

http://www.cyclenews.com/articles/road-racing/2009/11/07/stoner-does-it