Le Mans GP (Race Spoilers!!!!)

[Chococat]

Are you guys crazy?  He didn't need confidence, he needed a package that was capable of winning.  He needed a bike that wasn't nearly the slowest on the grid, one that didn't suffer multiple mechanical DNFs two years in a row, one that had tires that could compete with the guys that were running up front.  And now that he has that, we're back to seeing what we're used to seeing out of Rossi - dominance. 

Rossi doesn't need to be on the best bike as Stoner did last year. Rossi just needs to be on a bike that is not so far behind that it's impossible to do anything with. This is the first year that anyone besides Rossi has been consistently competitive. If that's not in indication of the level of his superior skill then I don't know what is.

I don't have anything against Stoner but I remember last year how everyone was calling Rossi a whiner and he was making excuses. I saw the smirk on the faces of the Ducati team whenever they were questioned about Rossi. Karma is a pregnant dog I guess. 

[Pakhan]

Great race, I can't believe that a cripple made second  Lorenzo is bring some serious cards to the table.

shame about hopkins and stoner, although I don't think stoner was going to podium anyway, but still points lost.

Real shame about Toselands crash

[mikeb]

As far as Stoner I think he's actually showing his world champion mettle this year. 

During the broadcast I heard the commentators say he didn't want to remount after he made it back to the pits and it was his crew the urged him to get on the back-up bike.

Any validity to that?

[COWBOY]

During the broadcast I heard the commentators say he didn't want to remount after he made it back to the pits and it was his crew the urged him to get on the back-up bike.

Any validity to that?

I heard that to.  Definitely disappointing if true.

[RodeoClown]

Hayden is weak sauce this year again. 

Homeboy is killing me this year! I really would love to see him do well but man 

[gm2]

During the broadcast I heard the commentators say he didn't want to remount after he made it back to the pits and it was his crew the urged him to get on the back-up bike.

Any validity to that?

yes.

[Chococat]

During the broadcast I heard the commentators say he didn't want to remount after he made it back to the pits and it was his crew the urged him to get on the back-up bike.

Any validity to that?

Priceless...rofl. Five races into the season, looks like he doesn't like the taste of his own medicine.

Drink up Stoner...

[darylbowden]

I heard that to.  Definitely disappointing if true.

Me too.  I'm definitely not a fan of his (I know you're all shocked), but I thought he was a better competitor than that. 

I'm most interested in how he's gonna react if things keep going badly.  Will there be more "sabotage" or will he nut up?

[COWBOY]

Me too.  I'm definitely not a fan of his (I know you're all shocked), but I thought he was a better competitor than that. 

I'm most interested in how he's gonna react if things keep going badly.  Will there be more "sabotage" or will he nut up?

Easy now.  He's yet to blame anyone but himself and his team for his showing and has remained positive and optimistic about the season even following Le Mans. 

And Choco -  By this point last year two other certain riders were calling for rules changes, complaining about tires and whining about the unfairness when faced with similar disappointing results.

It's been a great season so far and the rest will be great to watch.  Drama yet to come

-- Rossi and the Yamaha's in general hold their advantage the rest of the way?
-- A healthy Lorenzo will continue to press Rossi for team resources and potentially take the Championship lead?
-- Pedro may or may not get a boost from the new Honda technology?
-- Stoner will be getting to the tracks they dominated (6+ second victories) last year. Will he again?
-- Yamaha will have to weigh Risk/Reward with their new technology?
-- The satellite teams with A list riders will win one at some point (Toseland, Edwards)?

[darylbowden]

Easy now.  He's yet to blame anyone but himself and his team for his showing and has remained positive and optimistic about the season even following Le Mans. 

My point being that his not wanting to go back out on the bike could either be the first of many or an isolated incident by an understandably frustrated rider.  I'm just waiting to see what will happen based on what happened in '06. 

[gm2]

the last guy who just didn't feel like finishing a race got fired.  granted he was far from holding the #1 plate, but.. lame.

[COWBOY]

the last guy who just didn't feel like finishing a race got fired.  granted he was far from holding the #1 plate, but.. lame.

Not "feeling like finishing a race" is a far cry from limping a bike in with aprox 8 laps to go and not seeing the point in taking advantage of conditions and riding back out on a bike with wet tires -- finishing so far last that the cameras are packed and the champagne is flat. 

Am I disappointed it is was his attitude?  Sure, I'd prefer he fight for every point (this season will be close as hell IMO) but what happened is a far cry from him being a quitter.  Who's to say it wasn't just a momentary feeling and when pushed said make the beast with two backsin a right - lets fight for every point!


Here's his quotes from post race.

"But from my point of view - I'm trying to win the world championship, not defend it. All we can do is always do our best and try to not let these type of things happen again."

He said there would be no change to his approach even though he now has to chase down the points leaders.

"We've still got to score points. If it's 'win or bust', you're not going to get anywhere if you keep busting," Stoner said.

And he insisted that he is just as competitive as he had been in 2007, when he won ten races and took the title with three rounds to spare, but has lacked the good fortune he enjoyed last season.

"I'm just as strong. The last few races, we've struggled. But we also had some bad luck," said Stoner.

"Things haven't gone our way. If those things hadn't happened, nothing would look as bad as it does. We were fighting for a podium today. I believe if everything had gone a little bit better, we would've been on the podium.

"I think I'm fighting just as well as I did last year. Nothing's changed."

[Super T.I.B]

+1.

I'm with you Cowboy.

[ROBsS4R]

Was there ever an announcement in regards to what happen to stoner's bike 

This is my first year really getting into Motogp so I don't even know if they hide everything under a blanket or if they tell you whats going on with the Bikes when they malfunction.

[derby]

Was there ever an announcement in regards to what happen to stoner's bike 

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/67587

This is my first year really getting into Motogp so I don't even know if they hide everything under a blanket or if they tell you whats going on with the Bikes when they malfunction.

depends on how much of their hand they want to tip.