Moto GP this weekend

[Spider]

It's just not the same without Ruben Xaus!

I mean watching a bunch of horse jockeys ride is fun, but every room needs a tall handsome lovable bloke!

Jorge is cool, like the fact he so into destroying his teammate....and just so bloody fast! think experience will prove him to be a contender!

[Mr.S2R]

It's just not the same without Ruben Xaus!

unfortunately Ducati weren't allowed to run a Desmosedici Hypermotard!   

[monsta]

hey girly...  (sounds like I'm ordering a drink at the bar! )
I'll be at Sepang this year as well. I'd like to get a rossi and stoner tee shirt, cut em in half and sew em together
Stoner because he's aussie and rides a ducati, rossi because he's cool, and we share the same surname.

[Betty]

It's a yang and yang thing - to be a "pro" means that you make your living of it. I'm just saying that in this day and ago, to be the world elite in any professional sport, I'd argue that you need the complete package. Whether we like it or not, sport needs money, therefore they need sponsors, and sponsors need fans to buy their wares.

I'm not saying that this is a good thing, in fact, its more than a little sad, but it is what it is..

I think you can still be among the elite without the 'complete package' it just means you don't earn as much. Would Ducati be in a better position if they had two lesser riders that could 'play' the media. It reminds me of reading about some Asian drivers bringing big money for a seat in Formula 1 only to be laps off the pace. I think everybody would have a different definition of what 'the complete package' is ... there must always be a balance (or come from SA ).

I think people expect too much sometimes (and not enough at others). Casey left Australia at a young age (professionally) to be a racer ... in a foreign, non-English speaking country and trying to get a foothold. First he needed to prove himself on the track (over the years) ... not take eloquence and PR lessons. This may have counted against him later as he was always the outsider and may have fostered an uneasiness with the media which belies a shy personality.

He doesn't seem arrogant or rude just rather uncomfortable during interiew. The kid is there to ride so let him ride ... its not like he will be making a career fronting the race day coverage.

I think with any sport you have similar situations. Doesn't matter how good you are at your chosen sport or how polished you are in the media if you are a drug using, gang-raping rugby league player for example or if your partner is a media grabbing nutcase. In my opinion Casey has his priorities right ... but maybe he has a mistress in every port - I don't know.

Football (soccer) I think would throw up the most examples of something always missing from the complete package ... I vomit a little every time I see Cristiano Ronaldo advertising Castrol oil. Roger Federer is probably as good an example of the 'complete package' you could find but he is fluent in several language and probably had a long time to build his 'media persona' before he hit his peak. Yet he may just be the last of the 'Gillette boys' to fall.

Geez, I think I need some sleep. Sorry everyone.

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

but I think Rossi (and others) have his measure from a racecraft perspective. if he gets out in front, and has the setup and pace to stay there, he's unbeatable, but get him into a scrap and others can take him - he's kinda like Pedrosa in that way...

I disagree with the 2nd half of this statement (to an extent)

I can't recall which race it was, it was a Euro race, and the scrap he had with Rossi blew me away.

I love seeing Casey race, I love racing full stop. I was more a Bayliss fan when he was on a Duc, but seeing Stoner backing that bike into the curves the way he does  .

But, this is my personal opinion, Valentino has had one extremely talented Aussie keeping him at the pointy end of the field. The same one that helped Doohan to 5 world championships. He followed him from Honda to Yamaha. I couldn't see him go to Ducati if Vale was to go, maybe I'm wrong. Guess that man?

Casey is only young, he will mature more.

[Betty]

I can't recall which race it was, it was a Euro race, and the scrap he had with Rossi blew me away.

I remember reading about this, but thought its may have been a hyped up Aussie journalist blowing smoke up his bum. The article read that the race was to be the making of Stoner in that he overcame some demons and (from memory) got past Rossi on the last lap after duelling all day.

It would have shown that he can do it, it is up to him to make sure he continues to do it.

[Mr.S2R]

Those races mentioned above could be any of the Euro races - Valentia, Assen, Jerez.  Each bike and rider has their favourites, but it seems in recent years the gap has closed incredibly, and the only real protagonist Rossi has is Stoner, with Jorge now closely following up.  If Jorge starts threatening like Stoner does, Rossi will resort to the physical (read Laguna Seca) and the psychological (using the press/media to his advantage).

I agree with Betty that a rider doesn't have to be the complete package/'media savvy' but it does help, especially when bringing in the all important sponsorship dollars, and that is where Australian riders are let down.  Australian riders will never get sponsorship dollars they require here and thus sacrifices are made and they head to Europe to follow their dream.  Look at Chris Vermulen - he would never of really made it without the word of one late great Barry Sheene in certain people's ear.  Look at Doohan also - he was never as charismatic off the track as a Mamola, Rainey, or Schwantz.  It was the sheer fact he is a rider a fantastic talent that kept him on a bike.

One thing I am glad is that Tosserland is long gone - couldn't stand the bloke - nothing like a Foggy as all the British media hoped.  Really thought Colin Edwards got the raw end of that deal - but look who's laughing now!!  

Oohh just a quick note - Stoner fastest in FP1 at Qatar!! Usual suspects trailing him Jorge, Rossi, Dovi (always forget about him - he is a really good rider), and Hayden (yawn he will fade in the race) with Spies (another guy to watch, stupidly fast on a superbike - if he transfers that across.....)

Westy 5th fastest in Moto2 - very interested in this new class.

Guess I will be heading in to work late Monday morning........ [moto]

[goldFiSh]

I disagree with the 2nd half of this statement (to an extent)

I can't recall which race it was, it was a Euro race, and the scrap he had with Rossi blew me away.

I love seeing Casey race, I love racing full stop. I was more a Bayliss fan when he was on a Duc, but seeing Stoner backing that bike into the curves the way he does  .

But, this is my personal opinion, Valentino has had one extremely talented Aussie keeping him at the pointy end of the field. The same one that helped Doohan to 5 world championships. He followed him from Honda to Yamaha. I couldn't see him go to Ducati if Vale was to go, maybe I'm wrong. Guess that man?

Casey is only young, he will mature more.

I thought that might be a bit of a controversial statement! I think that he does have some racecraft, but just that it's not as refined as Rossis. By that I mean also how consistent he is in applying it. I agree that he's been brilliant in some races, just not so much in others..

I'm glad you brought up Troy, and I agree whole heartedly! He's my modern day Aussie bike racing hero. And to me, he's more complete - not necessarily media savvy as Rossi, but to me at least he's perceived as a "nice friendly guy" who's grounded and willing to get amoungst the fans / media / whatever.

Jeremy Burgess is indeed another talented Aussie, and an essential ingredient to Rossi's success. To develop a bike, you need a talented crew, a committed team owner (to spend the $$), and a talented rider who has development skills - that being, the ability to translate what they feel on the track into the language the crew can interpret. In interviews I have seen, there's a lot of praise both ways - from rider to crew and vice versa. The crew remark on Rossi's uncanny head to be able to unravel multiple issues that a setup may have and prioritise them, and likewise Vale has also acknowledged the contribution of his crew, Burgess in particular.

Thanks for the discussions people! Shortly I'm gonna leave this thread until after the weekend, as I wanna watch it all, not read about it first!

[Stinky Wizzleteats]

Respec. 



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[vossy]

is it true that one HD are showing qualifing tomorrow morning?

Go STONER!!

[Nickati]

He doesn't seem arrogant or rude just rather uncomfortable during interiew. The kid is there to ride so let him ride ... its not like he will be making a career fronting the race day coverage.

Well who knows, look at Beatie, when he started comentating I thought Fvck me get off,no disrepect a extremely talented rider but couldn't string words together to make a sentence.
A couple of years later (and obviously some work) and now he's great !!!

Seems like a good career path for retired racers to me. Casey may yet be doing this in years to come.....
JMO !

[Ita]

CS will win the World Championship this year....

He is a a brilliant rider and he is fit and focused...

Val and Yourgay will be in a fight of their own for 1st loser!!!

Ita

[monstermick58]

Stoner the modern day Doohan 

                      Rossi the modern day Sheene   

                                 

BRING ON THE RACING

                                      Mmick

[sydmonster]

*mesage removed. it was irrelevant

[Ita]

*mesage removed. it was irrelevant

Roger...

Received...

Over and out...

As you were Soldier...   

 

Ita