Rossi Stoner 2007-2008 CURRENT RESULTS with prior year comparison SPOILER

[COWBOY]

Had this research posted on TOB and didn't want to lose it.

Updated it to include the last few races.                             2008 Result              My prediction

March 9 Losail, Qatar +2.838 -- Stoner                               Stoner                         Stoner  +
March 30 Jerez, Spain +1.246  Rossi                                        Pedrosa                          Pedrosa  +
April 13 Estoril, Portugal +0.175-- Rossi                    Lorenzo                        Rossi  x
May 4 Shanghai, China +3.03 -- Stoner*                             Rossi                               Stoner   x
May 18 Le Mans, France --                                                 Rossi                                Stoner  x
June 1 Mugello, Italy +3.074 -- Rossi                               Rossi                                  Rossi   +
June 8 Catalunya, Spain +0.069 -- Stoner                         Pedrosa                                Lorenzo  x
June 22 Donington Park, GB +11.768 -- Stoner                  Stoner                               Stoner  +
June 28 Assen, Holland +1.909s -- Rossi                            Stoner                             Lorenzo  x
July 13 Sachsenring, Germany                                         Stoner                             Rossi  x
July 20 Laguna Seca, USA +9.865 -- Stoner                      Rossi                                 Stoner   x
August 17 Brno, Czech Republic +7.903 -- Stoner             Rossi                                           Stoner  x
August 31 Misano, San Marino+4.851s -- Stoner                 Rossi                                       Stoner  x
September 14 Indianapolis, USA                                           Rossi                                     Stoner  x
September 28 Motegi, Japan                                                            Rossi                          Rossi
October 5 Phillip Island, Australia +6.763s -- Stoner                            Stoner                        Stoner
October 19 Sepang, Malaysia +1.701s -- Stoner                                    Rossi                      Stoner
October 26 Valencia, Spain                                                                 Stoner                       Lorenzo               

Red = Stoner 2007 win
Yellow = Rossi 2007 win
* = won race last year but lost 2008

[Ducatiloo]

So is it due to Stoner, Stoners Crew, Bike Setup or Rossi getting the Tires he wanted?

[darylbowden]

So is it due to Stoner, Stoners Crew, Bike Setup or Rossi getting the Tires he wanted?

All that and more.  We can sit here and debate ad nauseam why, but none of us actually know that answer and neither do the teams most likely.  But, you also forgot the Yamaha - it's a better bike with a MUCH better engine and a better electronics package.

[Ducatiloo]

All that and more.  We can sit here and debate ad nauseam why, but none of us actually know that answer and neither do the teams most likely.  But, you also forgot the Yamaha - it's a better bike with a MUCH better engine and a better electronics package.

This post hurt the Ducati Red of my ego

[COWBOY]

Both are true as Daryl states IMO.   The Duc does have some issues AND the Yamis are dialed in.  However, there has only been one race so far that Stoner won last year and didn't win this (China, he finished 3rd this year).  It's a long season and the wins will be split among 4 riders at least IMO.  So anything can happen.  This will be as good a year as 2006 and potentially even better.

[darylbowden]

This post hurt the Ducati Red of my ego

Well, I didn't mean it quite that way.  I meant that relative to last year's Yamaha.  However, I would still say the Yammy is a better bike because all four riders have shown promise on it, while only Stoner has shown any promise on the Duc (and we know that Melandri and even Elias are better riders than their results suggest).  I think this is most likely because the Yamaha has the best chassis in GP, but I would still say the Duc has the best engine and they both use Marelli electronics, so that's a toss up.

[darylbowden]

The Duc does have some issues AND the Yamis are dialed in.  However, there has only been one race so far that Stoner won last year and didn't win this (China, he finished 3rd this year).  It's a long season and the wins will be split among 4 riders at least IMO.  So anything can happen.  This will be as good a year as 2006 and potentially even better.

I think you are definitely right about that - this year is gonna go down to the wire. 

Like I've said all along, Stoner is an amazing rider and he will win races for sure.  I just am of the opinion that last year was an anomaly and I think he will be lucky to win 4 races this year (which is still great by any standard, but far shy of last year's total).

[gm2]

This will be as good a year as 2006 and potentially even better.

something we can agree on!   
 

[mikeb]

  I just am of the opinion that last year was an anomaly

Totally true.  Not to take anything away from Casey.  It's just that with the new tire rule and the move to 800's last season was like no other season.  It was certainly a learning experience for a lot of teams......and Michelin.

[COWBOY]

updated results.

Through these 9 races

Both have 3 wins - Rossi matching his results of last year through these 10 tracks.  Stoner is -1 through these 10 tracks.

Rest of the season should be very interesting.

[sbrguy]

obviously stoner and rossi and pedrosa are the best riders right now in the season and all are on a hot streak, rossi with his crash yesterday but still he is going well.

i have to agree the ducati bike really does look like a beast of a bike that for some reason only stoner can get to go fast, maybe that is a testament to his riding abilities?  that bike looks like its barely staying upright coming out of turns yet stoner is managing to throw out insane lap times. 

so i would say the bikes right now are pretty equal as far as speed as ducati seems to have worked out for now a way to get at least stoner's bike competitive with the honda and the yamaha, so that they are now on somewhat equal footing.. obviously all 3 of those guys are great riders its going to come down from now on who DOESN"T have mechanicals.

[sqweak]

might want to mark the thread as spoilerific, just in case...

[COWBOY]

I think you are definitely right about that - this year is gonna go down to the wire. 

Like I've said all along, Stoner is an amazing rider and he will win races for sure.  I just am of the opinion that last year was an anomaly and I think he will be lucky to win 4 races this year (which is still great by any standard, but far shy of last year's total).

After the last round Stoner has now matched his win total through those 10 tracks with 4.  The schedule now turns to 5 of his most dominating wins from last year. 

Will he pull away or will Rossi and Pedro steal one?  I believe if he wins the 5 tracks he won at last year he will repeat regardless of what Rossi/Pedro do behind him. 

The wild card here is Indy and the race there could end up being the difference.  How cool is that!

[COWBOY]

I've also added SPOILER to the title to protect those that get confused when they click on a topic marked CURRENT RESULTS from hurting themselves.

[jswledhed]

I think he will be lucky to win 4 races this year.

http://www.qwizx.com/gssfx/usa/tpirhorns.wav