Has your Attitude towards Stoner Changed?

[Triple J]

that's where the get-the-dirt-tracker idea came from.

Is this refering to Hayden? If so, Ducati wanted him in 2007 instead of Stoner from what i remember. They wanted 1) Rossi, 2) Hayden, then settled for 3) Stoner.

[gm2]

Is this refering to Hayden? If so, Ducati wanted him in 2007 instead of Stoner from what i remember. They wanted 1) Rossi, 2) Hayden, then settled for 3) Stoner.

yes it is and yes they did.  he said no.  then he said yes in 2009.

[Spidey]

My attitude toward Casey hasn't really changed, I don't think.  But I never really disliked him.  There was a period a while ago where I thought he sounded whiny, but <meh>.  Lately, I've been rooting for him more and more, especially over Lorenzo (who tears up live chickens for sport).  I'm sick of those f'n Hondas though. 

I've always found Stoner's in-depth interviews fascinating.  He's really analytical about the bike and his riding.  It's interesting.  I've never understood his deal with refusing to deal the PR side of things.

[Triple J]

I've always found Stoner's in-depth interviews fascinating.  He's really analytical about the bike and his riding.  It's interesting.  I've never understood his deal with refusing to deal the PR side of things.

Agreed. His interview a while back about he he manages to be fast on any bike (I think that was the topic), where he discussed how he slides it sometimes and rides it controlled others and how some other riders have a problem doing both, was very interesting. 

[gm2]

Schwantz thinks stoner should STFU and ride. 

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2011/Sep/110908-34column.htm

re Indy:

"It's paved. It's the same for everybody. Just because I don't like it doesn't mean I need to whine about it. There were lots of tracks I used to go to that I didn't get results at, or I didn't really go well at. I always complained "This place is too bumpy," or "It's too rough," or "It's too slick." Don't worry about whining so much, just worry about riding it. He's doing a good job of that, so he must just need something to whine about. It doesn't seem like he can complain about his bike much."

[Speeddog]

I don't recall seeing the video where he's talking about how crappy the track was, so....

Was he responding to a direct question from the media about what he thought of the track?
If so, then IMO, he's not whining, he's answering the question.

If he brought it up out of the blue, well, that could be considered whining.

[gm2]

I don't recall seeing the video where he's talking about how crappy the track was, so....

Was he responding to a direct question from the media about what he thought of the track?
If so, then IMO, he's not whining, he's answering the question.

If he brought it up out of the blue, well, that could be considered whining.

he complained about it on multiple occasions throughout the weekend, usually in response to more general how's it going type questions.

[Spidey]

Stoner often just tells people what is on his mind without an sort of "I'm talking on the record" filter.  And since he's a bit of a perfectionist, more often than not, he finds something about a track or the bike that doesn't work or that he doesn't like.  So it sounds like he's whining.  Often because he is.  

Biaggi is kinda of the same way.  But with less talent and more douchery.  I mean, I don't remember Stoner throwing his team under the bus.  On second though, they're not really alike.  Biaggi blames others (well, he used to).  Stoner's just never happy with what he's got.

[EvilSteve]

I always was a Stoner fan. First because he's an Aussie, second because he's stupid fast. He's never really struck me as a whiner but then again, Australians are actually known for being whingers so maybe it's normal to me. Whining aside, I've always liked his personality because he's blunt and to the point, honest to a fault you might say. I think culturally that's perceived differently depending on the observer (as cultural aspects usually are, like Danny being so stoic for example). I have more respect for Stoner this year as, in spite of his critics, he's shown that he's able to be consistently fast, race hard when he needs to, go for points when he has to and work through issues.

I'm probably a little one eyed but I feel like Occam's razor would suggest that Stoner was right about the Ducati all along. He was right about the Michelin tires and he was right about Ohlins sabotaging him, no strike that, he probably saw it as sabotage, Ohlins probably saw it like putting resources where they could get value from it.

My respect for Rossi has diminished slightly, mostly because he hasn't sacked the make the beast with two backs up and said that Stoner was right but I'm not surprised and it's only a slight dip in respect, like .1 out of 100. He's the GOAT IMO.

I'm not sure I'll ever understand why people who are into racing expect their racers to be PR people or sales people. Yeah, Rossi's personality is great, it's fun when he's on it but I respect him way more for his riding ability than I like him for his personality. Simoncelli seems to get more respect even though his personality (and hair!) outweigh his actual results by a really, really long way. Dovizioso suffers the inverse. Until Simoncelli starts getting regular podiums, he's useless in my book.

Have a look at Casey's and Marco's GP histories, Marco's personality gets him a pass on his crashiness (popularity wise) but his results have been just as bad.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Casey_Stoner (cliff notes: 2006 - LCR - 6 x DNF | 2007 - Ducati - 0 x DNF - World Champion)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marco_Simoncelli (cliff notes: 2010 - Gresini - 2 x DNF | 2011 - Gresini HRC - 4 x DNF - ...)

I might even argue that Stoner's move from a satellite Honda to a factory Ducati (and Ducati's power advantage) is somewhat mirrored in Simoncelli's move from satellite to factory bike in his first and second years.

To me, Matt Mladin & Casey Stoner are pretty similar personality wise and that personality seems to rub some people the wrong way. I like it.

[fastwin]

It's all good. Stoner is stupid fast. And yes, to some, he whines about stuff too much. So does my 14 year old. Just wish my kiddo could ride a bike like that. He could whine all he wanted!!

[gm2]

To me, Matt Mladin & Casey Stoner are pretty similar personality wise and that personality seems to rub some people the wrong way. I like it.

I agreed with most of what you said, up to this point.

Mat was just unabashedly an asshole on the track and an expert mind gamer.  If he could beat you before you even got to the grid, he was gonna do just that.  and he NEVER complained about the equipment.

[derby]

I agreed with most of what you said, up to this point.

Mat was just unabashedly an asshole on the track and an expert mind gamer.  If he could beat you before you even got to the grid, he was gonna do just that.  and he NEVER complained about the equipment.

 

[EvilSteve]

I agreed with most of what you said, up to this point.

Mat was just unabashedly an asshole on the track and an expert mind gamer.  If he could beat you before you even got to the grid, he was gonna do just that.  and he NEVER complained about the equipment.

A fair point I guess, I'll wait until Stoner gets to Mladin's age and experience and see what he's like then. The net affect is the same despite those differences though, unarguably talented riders who don't get a whole lot of love from people due to their personality. Funny you should describe Mladin that way, sounds a lot like Rossi.

[ducpainter]

I agreed with most of what you said, up to this point.

Mat was just unabashedly an asshole on the track and an expert mind gamer.  If he could beat you before you even got to the grid, he was gonna do just that.  and he NEVER complained about the equipment.

A fair point I guess, I'll wait until Stoner gets to Mladin's age and experience and see what he's like then. The net affect is the same despite those differences though, unarguably talented riders who don't get a whole lot of love from people due to their personality. Funny you should describe Mladin that way, sounds a lot like Rossi.

I'd add that, IMO, Mat was more about where he could make the most money as opposed to being the very best. In motorcycling terms AMA racing is a pretty small pond.

Just my opinion Dan.

[EvilSteve]

I'd add that, IMO, Mat was more about where he could make the most money as opposed to being the very best. In motorcycling terms AMA racing is a pretty small pond.

Just my opinion Dan.

If that is true, I wonder how Mladin felt when Spies went on to win the WSBK Championship as a Rookie...

As for Stoner, I think he gets a really bad wrap. We all like to have a villain in our soap operas I guess, why pick Stoner when Barbera is there?