MotoGP Assen *******spoilers*****

[triangleforge]

I'm in total agreement that Rossi won the race fair & square, and that Marquez' pass attempt carried a higher chance for disaster than success.

But...

There have been enough motorcycle races won/lost in that last chicane at Assen that Rossi had to know Marquez would be exactly there on his right side going into the first kink - and he even invited it by leaving the door ajar. Even for a racer whose mind works as fast as Vale's, the decision to gun it through the gravel seemed awfully simultaneous to (and maybe even a skosh before) the contact. Is it possible that there was a plan B in Rossi's head going into that final stretch, exactly as it played out? Jared Earle said it better than I can in the Moto Matters wrap up:

Did Rossi play the youngster like a fiddle to guarantee the win? Only Valentino knows, but he did seem survive the impact a little cleanly. Let's call it racecraft and look forward to the next race.
https://motomatters.com/results/2015/06/27/2015_assen_motogp_race_result_assen_deli.html

Whether it was astounding riding when things went weird or clever racecraft that went exactly according to plan, my hat's off to Rossi for a well-deserved win that will be part of highlight reels for years to come.

[HotIce]

It seems a little bit too elaborated as a plan  
Especially when you play with 100mph speeds.
MM had nowhere to go, with that angle, and that speed, besides hitting VR, who was on his race line (check aerial view at time of accident, and previous laps).
I wonder, does it really need to take someone getting seriously injured, before MM gets penalized for these maneuvers?

[ducpainter]

I think Rossi did play him like the worlds smallest violin.

[kopfjäger]

I wonder, does it really need to take someone getting seriously injured, before MM gets penalized for these maneuvers?

Naga...naga...nagonna happen. Ask Nicky what happened when his then teammate took him out when he was fighting for the championship. 

[triangleforge]

It seems a little bit too elaborated as a plan 
Especially when you play with 100mph speeds.
MM had nowhere to go, with that angle, and that speed, besides hitting VR, who was on his race line (check aerial view at time of accident, and previous laps).
I wonder, does it really need to take someone getting seriously injured, before MM gets penalized for these maneuvers?

It's s scientifically proven fact that MotoGP racers' brains turn to mush and they are unable to think of anything other than bladder control at speeds in excess of 75.6 mph. Strategy? Tactics? It's simply not humanly possible at those speeds. Now it's my turn to 

Seriously. Valentino Rossi didn't just leave the door open on the right going into that corner, he hung a "Welcome y'all, and bring yer friends!" sign on it. If he was the least bit - the tiniest bit - surprised to find Marc Marquez bumping at his elbow right there and right then, Valentino Rossi is an idiot.



Valentino Rossi is not an idiot.

[duccarlos]

Why are we debating this when the 2 riders have accepted the decision of race direction? Thy made it clear that Rossi was leading and that there was contact warranting the move also considering that MM cut the corner as well. Rossi did not gain a position either and race direction also said that Rossi was on the "traditional" racing line. No one here is a mind reader.

Did anyone see the Moto3 save of the year?

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/06/27/ajo-s-superstar-save/178889

[ducpainter]

Why are we debating this when the 2 riders have accepted the decision of race direction? Thy made it clear that Rossi was leading and that there was contact warranting the move also considering that MM cut the corner as well. Rossi did not gain a position either and race direction also said that Rossi was on the "traditional" racing line. No one here is a mind reader.

Did anyone see the Moto3 save of the year?

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/06/27/ajo-s-superstar-save/178889

'Cuz we're all a bunch of keyboard racers.

I did see that...lucky to not collect the wall there huh?

[koko64]

Yeah, great save. Kind of surfing save.

[thought]

Why are we debating this when the 2 riders have accepted the decision of race direction? Thy made it clear that Rossi was leading and that there was contact warranting the move also considering that MM cut the corner as well. Rossi did not gain a position either and race direction also said that Rossi was on the "traditional" racing line. No one here is a mind reader.

Did anyone see the Moto3 save of the year?

http://www.motogp.com/en/videos/2015/06/27/ajo-s-superstar-save/178889

Just came here to post that haha... that's a CEII level save there

[Triple J]

What a race!!  

DP is right...MM wasn't ever ahead. The helicopter view shows that Rossi was always about 1/2 a wheel ahead.

That said...I think Rossi knew what he was doing. He didn't mean to go through the gravel, but he knew MM was there on his inside, and he shut the door (hard) on purpose. He didn't necessarily cause the contact, but he didn't avoid it either. He could have left MM a bit of space, but that isn't his style.

I also don't see anything at all wrong with MM's move. You don't win MotoGP races by waiting for perfect passing opportunities. Him and Rossi are more alike than they are different IMO.

Good stuff!!  

[duccarlos]

I also don't see anything at all wrong with MM's move. You don't win MotoGP races by waiting for perfect passing opportunities. Him and Rossi are more alike than they are different IMO.

This ^^

We got so used to the tiptoeing when trying to pass that we forgot what real racing looks like. MM tried a pass and Rossi reacted to it. Let them race and stop your pregnant dogin.

[Triple J]

Motomatters has a great article on it (same article on Asphalt & Rubber).

Interesting to see Rossi becoming less friendly with MM too. Not unsurprising though...he has a legitimate shot at the championship, and MM is a threat to spoil things...1st time those two conditions have aligned. You don't win as many championships as Rossi has by being a nice guy all the time! 

[m9hundo]

It's VR and Biaggi all over again

Looks like MM will not be visiting VR's ranch any time soon.

[HotIce]

Valentino Rossi is not an idiot.

I know!
There are a few square miles around where he born, that only produce geniuses 

[thought]

Motomatters has a great article on it (same article on Asphalt & Rubber).

Interesting to see Rossi becoming less friendly with MM too. Not unsurprising though...he has a legitimate shot at the championship, and MM is a threat to spoil things...1st time those two conditions have aligned. You don't win as many championships as Rossi has by being a nice guy all the time! 

Was just about to point everyone to that same article too.  Emmet makes another great point where this might be the best way to teach MM to stop bullying into people's lines... by simply using his aggression against him.  MM will def think a second or two more before trying that again on Rossi as he's now been burnt twice for being overly aggressive in trying to pass VR. To me, that's the real mind game that VR is pulling on MM... not that that's ever going to stop MM from trying to push his way into the corner anyway.

What I think might be the bigger issue later in the season is how aggressive MM's going to be when he has nothing to lose and VR/JLo have the championship to lose with one off.