Valencia MotoGP ****spoilers and Great racing to come*****Forward looking Page 8

[1.21GW]

All of this has helped Rossi in a larger way, though I don't think it was part of any master plan.  I base this on the hunch that JLo was going to win the championship regardless.  Here's what I mean:

- After PI, Rossi was +11 pts over JLo.
- If Rossi doesn't say anything, the whole Sepang incident with MM doesn't happen.  Rossi finishes 4th, not 3rd.  Now +4 going into Valencia, but with no penalty.
- Rossi is not the greatest qualifier so let's say he starts on 2nd row.  He just isn't faster than JLo in perfect, dry, warm weather.  It would need to be JLo 3rd and VR 4th for Rossi to win (by 1 pt), which doesn't seem likely.  Not impossible, but unlikely.
- So JLo wins championship, and no one questions it.

Instead, with the MM controversy, JLo's championship has an asterisk next to it, and a meaningful number of MotoGP fans (even some non-yellow) question the validity of the championship.  Rossi is now the holder of 9.5 championships, vs just 9 without all the hoola.

[duccarlos]

Here's the issue with that logic, there is no asterisk! There's nothing in the history books that says that Jorghey did not win the championship. Rossi's ego is just as inflated as any of the others. At Ducati, he had a built in excuse, the bike was shit. The first year back at Yamaha he could say that he was getting used to the bike. He has no excuse this year. He was beat by his teammate on the same bike. He doesn't want to admit that he's not the fastest rider in the same garage. He needs to find a scapegoat and that attitude is very unfortunate for the sport. We as fans need Rossi to be his charming self. I prefer he be a disruptive figure, as in winning enough to make life a living hell for the others, rather than watch his self destruct and taking MotoGP with him.

[thought]

I'm just thinking about how crazy it was in 2015 when Rossi and MM went into the final corner together... in 2016, I'm not sure if both of them will make it out of there.

That said, Dani for WC in 2016. But I still wouldnt mind a Rossi win.

[1.21GW]

Here's the issue with that logic, there is no asterisk! There's nothing in the history books that says that Jorghey did not win the championship. Rossi's ego is just as inflated as any of the others. At Ducati, he had a built in excuse, the bike was shit. The first year back at Yamaha he could say that he was getting used to the bike. He has no excuse this year. He was beat by his teammate on the same bike. He doesn't want to admit that he's not the fastest rider in the same garage. He needs to find a scapegoat and that attitude is very unfortunate for the sport. We as fans need Rossi to be his charming self. I prefer he be a disruptive figure, as in winning enough to make life a living hell for the others, rather than watch his self destruct and taking MotoGP with him.

I wasn't suggesting there will literally be an asterisk, only one in the minds of some fans.  But, yeah, I agree with the above comments.

I'm just thinking about how crazy it was in 2015 when Rossi and MM went into the final corner together... in 2016, I'm not sure if both of them will make it out of there.

That said, Dani for WC in 2016. But I still wouldnt mind a Rossi win.

Dani's fan club went from 12 guys in Sabadell to 120,000 worldwide.  Did you know Dani Pedrosa is an anagram for Adored Spain?  It's also an anagram for Roadside Nap, but I have no idea how to interpret that.  In any case, Dani 2016! 

[Triple J]

The only people that think there should be an asterisks are the hardcore VR fans. JLo beat him in almost every category this season, except consistency. It's just part of racing. The fact is, JLo was on a charge starting with race #4, and he only let up a couple times.

VR always has an excuse when he doesn't win. His excuses are often valid, but he doesn't ever just get beat. 2006 - mechanical issues; 2007 - tires; 2010 - injury; 2011 & 2012 - Ducati; 2013 - Yamaha not suited to him anymore; 2014 - Honda a better bike

He didn't have a built in excuse this season. He had finished every race, was having a great season, and the Yamaha was clearly the best bike. So he fabricated one after PI. It then apparently came true for the next 2 races.

[Speeddog]

SofaRacer tweet:

How unwritten rules work :
Sepang - He shouldn't interfere, it's wrong.
Valencia - He didn't interfere, it's wrong.
(same people)

You got a link to that transcript?

I don't find it odd that he didn't hammer on him all race long. I do find it odd that he never showed him a wheel lecture or not.

https://motomatters.com/press_release/2015/11/05/press_release_statement_from_the_permane.html

[ducpainter]

SofaRacer tweet:

How unwritten rules work :
Sepang - He shouldn't interfere, it's wrong.
Valencia - He didn't interfere, it's wrong.
(same people)

https://motomatters.com/press_release/2015/11/05/press_release_statement_from_the_permane.html

I think the thing that he did wrong in Valencia is what he didn't do...which was race aggressively like he always does.

I agree no one had Lorenzo's pace in Valencia. There's no question about that, but that never stopped Marquez from trying a sketchy move before.

Ezpeleta's statement was a whole bunch of nothing unless, as you suggest, there was more said in between the lines behind closed doors. I doubt that would stop Marquez anyway, although you're right...if he made Lorenzo crash out he would have had to take sanctuary in Italy.

I agree, Rossi is cracking under the weight of his waning ability to pull off another championship and should have just shut up because he's making himself look weaker, and I doubt he would have won the title regardless...but...

I really can't make all the events of the last several weeks 'add up'. Something stinks.

[kopfjäger]

SofaRacer tweet:

How unwritten rules work :
Sepang - He shouldn't interfere, it's wrong.
Valencia - He didn't interfere, it's wrong.
(same people)

+

[duccarlos]

I really can't make all the events of the last several weeks 'add up'. Something stinks.

Agreed, all the shit that was coming out of Rossi's mouth sure does stink. He should have known better.

[GK]

Agreed, all the shit that was coming out of Rossi's mouth sure does stink. He should have known better.

When you've been the hero of the category forever, it's hard to accept that you've passed your peak.

That's why Rossi cracked. As said above, Jorge was simply better over the season. Rossi needed an excuse other than the truth that he simply wasn't fast enough.

If Rossi had won more, none of us would be having this conversation.

I predict a very hungry MM and DP next season. We know of course that HRC will come out swinging. Will Rossi be even close next season? I doubt it.

[koko64]

https://motomatters.com/press_release/2015/11/05/press_release_statement_from_the_permane.html

Well, that was a clear warning. A very thinly veiled threat. No way MM was going to determine the championship with a move gone wrong. He was on his best behaviour.
You can imagine what was said in private.

Secondly, after being falsely accused by Rossi, he would have had motivation to help J Lo.

Rossi triggered all this. He must be kicking himself now.

[Needle99]

I just hope all the protagonists in this stop talking about it. Then we can all move on. Unfortunately i expect more histrionics.

Was still a very enjoyable season to watch all up. Some great racing and different winners in different styles. MM was not as dominant as i thought he would be. I thought he could pretty much ride anything and be quickest. Anything except the 2015 honda.

Next year should be a hoot with Suzuki and their new engine and Maverick in season 2.

[duccarlos]

I don't believe MM was playing safe because of the talking down. I am convinced that he simply wasn't going to do anything to help Rossi. MM can't be faulted for that considering that Rossi is not his teammate and, even worse, has spent the last 3 weeks attacking him.

[thought]

I don't believe MM was playing safe because of the talking down. I am convinced that he simply wasn't going to do anything to help Rossi. MM can't be faulted for that considering that Rossi is not his teammate and, even worse, has spent the last 3 weeks attacking him.

But, MM not pushing Jlo hard might have let JLo win. So for that alone he must be held responsible for anything and everything wrong this season.  

There is simply no excuse for letting the Douche ever have a chance to extend his unbroken line of douche comments made on the podium.

[ducpainter]

I'd say because pics like this exist:



<snip>

This thread could have ended with this.