MotoGP Rd 4: LeMans (No spoilers here! <wink wink, nudge nudge, say no more!>

[xsephirot]

I don't know...Cal got a podium on a satellite Yammy, and has out rode him all season except for Qatar. Dovi and Hayden both beat him on the Duc, and Dovi has made a habit of out qualifying him all season.  . I just don't think he has the motiviation to fight/risk it like he used to...which is understandable given his age, past success, bad leg injury, & involvement with Simo's accident. 

I think Rossi still has massive motivation. However there's little bits of pieces. There's no doubt he rides 100% hard still but others have surpassed him given the 2 dud years he had. He still seems to be having trouble getting the perfect setup that he likes. More weight in the front and flickable bike as opposed to Lorenzo's bike having more weight centered. Additionally you have to consider if Rossi trusts the electronics completely to just throttle it and let the computers do the work

[Jester]

I'd like to bring up the possibility that last year's Yamaha was actually better than this years bike and Cal just doesn't realize it.  The factory boys aren't as strong as Honda this year and while Cal might be a couple chassis tweaks behind, he might actually be riding the best Yamaha.  Neither of the two are quite as good as the current Honda, but I'm not so sure newer is better.

[Speeddog]

JLo and Rossi tested the 2012 and 2013 chassis at Jerez ~ 2weeks ago.
Apparently not much in it.

http://motomatters.com/results/2013/05/06/2013_jerez_motogp_post_race_test_final_t.html

From the article, it appears that Cal is on the 2012 chassis.

Perhaps JLo was on the 2013 for LeMans, and their last minute setup change was a '2012 setup' and didn't agree with the 2013 unit.

[Triple J]

I think Rossi still has massive motivation. However there's little bits of pieces. There's no doubt he rides 100% hard still but others have surpassed him given the 2 dud years he had. He still seems to be having trouble getting the perfect setup that he likes. More weight in the front and flickable bike as opposed to Lorenzo's bike having more weight centered. Additionally you have to consider if Rossi trusts the electronics completely to just throttle it and let the computers do the work

Could be bike set up. I doubt it though. He's ridden around problems before. I definitely don't think it's electronics...they were around when he won his last championship.

[OT]

46 - it's all too soon to tell...he did break Marquez to get a podium in Race 1; rode a known Yamaha-unfriendly track at Austin; lost the front while in a decent position last week.

Might get interesting later in the season and next year when Yamaha starts sending him parts, etc. that he wants/needs instead of JLo's stuff.

[fastwin]

I'd like to bring up the possibility that last year's Yamaha was actually better than this years bike and Cal just doesn't realize it.  The factory boys aren't as strong as Honda this year and while Cal might be a couple chassis tweaks behind, he might actually be riding the best Yamaha.  Neither of the two are quite as good as the current Honda, but I'm not so sure newer is better.

^ what he said.

[ZLTFUL]

Whew...I was worried that I would have to watch the WHOLE season before I could call it a season. Thankfully, it appears that I only have to watch the first 4 races and now I already know how the season will wind up. /sarcasm 

[duccarlos]

Whew...I was worried that I would have to watch the WHOLE season before I could call it a season. Thankfully, it appears that I only have to watch the first 4 races and now I already know how the season will wind up. /sarcasm 

You're just a little butt hurt that your boy is not as super human as you thought he was.

[The Architect]

Just watched some after the race footage.  I was really bothered by Lorenzo wagging his finger at Marques. 

Lorenzo looked like a tool. 

[Raux]

Just watched some after the race footage.  I was really bothered by Lorenzo wagging his finger at Marques. 

Lorenzo looked like a tool. 

Marquez showed incredible restraint, I don't think I could have not attacked Lorenzo for doing that to me

[ZLTFUL]

You're just a little butt hurt that your boy is not as super human as you thought he was.

Yeah...he's a mere mortal. 9 world titles? What a worthless piece of shit...

[duccarlos]

Yeah...he's a mere mortal. 9 world titles? What a worthless piece of shit...

Maybe you should become more of a fair weather fan. I will be the first one to admit that I want to see Rossi on the podium much more than Jorghey, but I actually live in reality.

[ZLTFUL]

And you are somehow making some shit up about what I actually said.

4 races are done. 12 races are left. I don't think there has been a world title decided in less than a quarter of a season ever. But people are acting like it has been wrapped up.

I'll give you a crisp hundred dollar bill if you can find anywhere that I said Rossi was going to take a title this year...hell, I'll give you one if you can find where I said he even has another title in him before he retires. Because I've never said that. Why? Because I think I have my head more firmly in reality than a lot of people who post in this section.

Let's see what happens when Stunty McCrashesnotsomuchlately snaps a collar bone or Cal finally gets over his fear of not getting a contract over a "lesser" rider and wins some races.
12 races left is an awful lot of what ifs for me to make a call on who is going to win the title. But it's silly to say things like 'Dani has it wrapped up." Or "Yamaha isn't going to come back."

People have stupid short memories.
I like Rossi. I don't try to hide it. He has won more titles and more races than anyone EVER has except for Agostini. What exactly is so wrong with openly admiring that?

[gm2]

People have stupid short memories.
I like Rossi. I don't try to hide it. He has won more titles and more races than anyone EVER has except for Agostini. What exactly is so wrong with openly admiring that?

 

[OT]

+1 .... Wait till it rains 9 out of the next 12 races.....