Racing 2011
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From: San Diego CA
In March's Sport Rider, Kent Kunitsugu writes: " ... it's rumored that Ducati MotoGP team sponsor Marlboro ponied up a two-year contract worth $24 million in order to help convince [Rossi] to make the move."
So maybe Ducati got Rossi on a wing and a prayer and a cigarette.
I better go enjoy one to help pay for this Italian Renaissance.And I'd like to mention that Spies is so awesome, he gets two number-one plates ... #11. lol No, seriously, I think Ben is headed for the pantheon of Rainey/Schwantz greatness.
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From: Northern Michigan
I think Honda is going to win it this year. I agree 100 percent with everything you have said Conrice. They are desperate to win the GP title this year. The good news for Honda is, they developed the bike for Pedrosa and his small frame, which just happens to be a perfect fit for Stoner. I really think Stoner will be unstoppable this year. There were a few times his lap lead would shrink, but then he would just pull out more. I truly think he could have smoked everyone with a huge lead, but instead played it safe and just kept a small lead. On the next race with a stickier track, look to see him pull a huge lead.
I think Rossi at the end of the year will be top 5. I do expect him to be placing top 3 soon though, but by mid season, he will podium for sure. This track was horrible for him on his shoulder with all of the turns that put all the pressure on his shoulder. I was extremely impressed with where he finished. A healthy Rossi is going to be amazing. But I also look for him to be a little focussed on the 2012 model as well, and the current bike will be a bandaid for him. But the 2012 Rossi will be something to really see.
I was a bit dissapointed with Spies though. I really expected more out of him. Still one of my favorite riders and I hope he does well, just not what I was expecting.
I hope Hayden gets better and it was an off day for him. I am still a huge Hayden fan and always will be. I just really want to see him in the mix a little more towards the top. But Rossi and Hayden will be great together.
This is going to be a great year, even though my favorite riders are probably not going to be at the top, a Honda is going to win the championship, and its not going to be Pedrosa.
I think Rossi at the end of the year will be top 5. I do expect him to be placing top 3 soon though, but by mid season, he will podium for sure. This track was horrible for him on his shoulder with all of the turns that put all the pressure on his shoulder. I was extremely impressed with where he finished. A healthy Rossi is going to be amazing. But I also look for him to be a little focussed on the 2012 model as well, and the current bike will be a bandaid for him. But the 2012 Rossi will be something to really see.
I was a bit dissapointed with Spies though. I really expected more out of him. Still one of my favorite riders and I hope he does well, just not what I was expecting.
I hope Hayden gets better and it was an off day for him. I am still a huge Hayden fan and always will be. I just really want to see him in the mix a little more towards the top. But Rossi and Hayden will be great together.
This is going to be a great year, even though my favorite riders are probably not going to be at the top, a Honda is going to win the championship, and its not going to be Pedrosa.
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o ya, stoner was managing that lead.... because look at the last few laps, he dropped the hammer and pulled out another second in one lap....
i wouldn't worry about spies too much. when they race at a shorter track that is hard on the tires, i'm sure you'll see him be right there on top.... and as far as being disappointed, ya 6th doesn't sound too hot.... but look at who was in front of him. remember that he's huge compared to the other riders, and he's on one of the slowest bikes, so at a track that is dependent on top end (like qatar), you gotta kind of expect that. but wait and see, he'll be right up there as the season progresses.
damn... though i agree that racing in japan would be a mistake this weekend... i am going to be missing racing come tomorrow.
i wouldn't worry about spies too much. when they race at a shorter track that is hard on the tires, i'm sure you'll see him be right there on top.... and as far as being disappointed, ya 6th doesn't sound too hot.... but look at who was in front of him. remember that he's huge compared to the other riders, and he's on one of the slowest bikes, so at a track that is dependent on top end (like qatar), you gotta kind of expect that. but wait and see, he'll be right up there as the season progresses.
damn... though i agree that racing in japan would be a mistake this weekend... i am going to be missing racing come tomorrow.
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kawasaki does not race in motogp anymore... they haven't for 2 seasons now. who knows if or when they'll come back.
suzuki has done terrible in gp, and after capirossi's contract was up last season, they decided to go down to a one rider team with alvaro bautista. during one of the practices at qatar, he ended up braking his femur... so he's out for a while, and they couldn't get their replacement (john hopkins) there in time for the race.
suzuki has done terrible in gp, and after capirossi's contract was up last season, they decided to go down to a one rider team with alvaro bautista. during one of the practices at qatar, he ended up braking his femur... so he's out for a while, and they couldn't get their replacement (john hopkins) there in time for the race.
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elaborate? sure.... 3 HRC repsol bikes. they're not just paying another rider to grid a bike they put together from spare parts laying around in the back of the paddock. its that many more engines, chasises, track time, mechanics, crew chiefs, trailers, lawyer fee, laison fees... the list goes on and on.
and if you think that stoner, pedrosa, and dovi come cheap....
and simoncelli's bike might as well have HRC painted on the fairings, too. he gets more factory support from honda than any other san carlo rider ever has.
or is there some motogp group rate team discount that i don't know about?
the fact that ducati had to pull out of WSB should show just how financially strapped they are.... mostly because of the fact that they ARE paying the fith highest paid athlete in the world's salary. them having to comitt to the point of putting all their eggs in one basket shouldn't mean to you that they have endless amounts of funing, it should prove to you the exact opposite. btw, i never said anything about rossi coasting through the year and not trying he doesn't know any other way (just like any other rider in gp). all i said was, that his shoulder is still messed up... has been messed up... longer than his leg and his shoulder doesn't seem to be getting better for the amount of time/surgery/rehab that has gone into it. just because he won't give up doesn't mean he's going to be winning races 2 weeks from now... nor did i say that ducati is throwing in the towel for this year's effort.... i just wouldnt' hold my breath to see them go all out this year
if you think that every rider goes out there trying to develop a bike that everyone can ride.... well... thats not what they do. vale developed the M1 to be the fastest bike VALETINO would be the fastest on, he didn't develop it for lorenzo, spies or anyone else. stoner did get the duc right. its not an easy package to ride, and he developed it to the best of his capabilities to work great for him... and lets look back at stoner's career at ducati... a world championship ... 23 wins, 43 podiums... and he also got valentino rossi (the GOAT) to say "he (meaning casey stoner) is the only guy im scared of on the track."
can lorenzo win on his own? he did already. the way those 2 fought last year and the year before that, it was all on him. none of the mechanics talked to eachother, burgess sure didn't help lorenzo's side of the garage, they shared NO information, if anything disinformation. and i don't understand why you are so quick to say he can't do it on his own when he hasn't shown otherwise. ya he fell into factory yamaha... but so? he won the championship last season, came within a very small margin of points to winning the championship the season before that.... but somehow, you think that he can't do anything (not to mention no one else can do anything) unless they feed off of rossi's brilliance first.
when... all that's happened so far this season is.... rossi's been off... he's not been remotely fast compared to the rest of the aliens. he's still complaining about his shoulder (and i'm sure it is a b*tch trying to ride with that shoulder), his bike is inferior to the competition (of all the factory teams, its the weakest and has been for the last few years... be honest with yourself). as soon as rossi felt pressure from spies in qatar, it only took a few laps to get by him... and he did it by passing him on the straight (heavier rider on slowest factory bike), and easily out braking him into turn 1.
and if you think that stoner, pedrosa, and dovi come cheap....
and simoncelli's bike might as well have HRC painted on the fairings, too. he gets more factory support from honda than any other san carlo rider ever has.
or is there some motogp group rate team discount that i don't know about?
the fact that ducati had to pull out of WSB should show just how financially strapped they are.... mostly because of the fact that they ARE paying the fith highest paid athlete in the world's salary. them having to comitt to the point of putting all their eggs in one basket shouldn't mean to you that they have endless amounts of funing, it should prove to you the exact opposite. btw, i never said anything about rossi coasting through the year and not trying he doesn't know any other way (just like any other rider in gp). all i said was, that his shoulder is still messed up... has been messed up... longer than his leg and his shoulder doesn't seem to be getting better for the amount of time/surgery/rehab that has gone into it. just because he won't give up doesn't mean he's going to be winning races 2 weeks from now... nor did i say that ducati is throwing in the towel for this year's effort.... i just wouldnt' hold my breath to see them go all out this year
if you think that every rider goes out there trying to develop a bike that everyone can ride.... well... thats not what they do. vale developed the M1 to be the fastest bike VALETINO would be the fastest on, he didn't develop it for lorenzo, spies or anyone else. stoner did get the duc right. its not an easy package to ride, and he developed it to the best of his capabilities to work great for him... and lets look back at stoner's career at ducati... a world championship ... 23 wins, 43 podiums... and he also got valentino rossi (the GOAT) to say "he (meaning casey stoner) is the only guy im scared of on the track."
can lorenzo win on his own? he did already. the way those 2 fought last year and the year before that, it was all on him. none of the mechanics talked to eachother, burgess sure didn't help lorenzo's side of the garage, they shared NO information, if anything disinformation. and i don't understand why you are so quick to say he can't do it on his own when he hasn't shown otherwise. ya he fell into factory yamaha... but so? he won the championship last season, came within a very small margin of points to winning the championship the season before that.... but somehow, you think that he can't do anything (not to mention no one else can do anything) unless they feed off of rossi's brilliance first.
when... all that's happened so far this season is.... rossi's been off... he's not been remotely fast compared to the rest of the aliens. he's still complaining about his shoulder (and i'm sure it is a b*tch trying to ride with that shoulder), his bike is inferior to the competition (of all the factory teams, its the weakest and has been for the last few years... be honest with yourself). as soon as rossi felt pressure from spies in qatar, it only took a few laps to get by him... and he did it by passing him on the straight (heavier rider on slowest factory bike), and easily out braking him into turn 1.
Burgess and Rossi I know didn't share bike set up info. Rossi doesn't play well with other kids. But none the less Yamahas bike was in need of Rossi's skill's to make that bike good and get it back on the box after many years of absence. At the same time Lorenzo came to a team with a bike that was very well sorted before his arrival. Now lets see if he can develope a bike with yamaha next year. That bigger engine is gotta upset the chassis and the setup's they are used to running now including Honda. I'm actually moe interested in jumping to next season because of the change.IMHO
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kawasaki does not race in motogp anymore... they haven't for 2 seasons now. who knows if or when they'll come back.
suzuki has done terrible in gp, and after capirossi's contract was up last season, they decided to go down to a one rider team with alvaro bautista. during one of the practices at qatar, he ended up braking his femur... so he's out for a while, and they couldn't get their replacement (john hopkins) there in time for the race.
suzuki has done terrible in gp, and after capirossi's contract was up last season, they decided to go down to a one rider team with alvaro bautista. during one of the practices at qatar, he ended up braking his femur... so he's out for a while, and they couldn't get their replacement (john hopkins) there in time for the race.
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From: DC Metro
BadS1... Whew!!! Get it off your chest man... lol I agree, all the guys out there are awesome, Rossi has made history & I think deserves to be recognized as the GOAT. But as you stated each year brings opportunity for some one to step up. Stoner seems to have transitioned well so far to Repsol. I think Honda & Yamaha are the bikes to beat in MotoGP. This is what makes it all so EXCITING!!! I don't want to see the same guy just have cake walk wins every race. Thats what I kind of disliked about AMA a few years ago when it was Mladen & everyone else... Then Spies came up to make is interesting. I am cheering for Honda to win the Championship & then hope they will field or assist putting a team in AMA again. LOL!!!
WSBK... Racing was good, being its early won't spoil it... But I thought it was crazy when Duc's back tire flew off... AMAZING!!!
WSBK... Racing was good, being its early won't spoil it... But I thought it was crazy when Duc's back tire flew off... AMAZING!!!
Last edited by CYCDUP; Mar 28, 2011 at 09:04 AM.
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edit - lookie look at the pics i found
Last edited by Conrice; Mar 28, 2011 at 10:52 AM.
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BadS1... Whew!!! Get it off your chest man... lol I agree, all the guys out there are awesome, Rossi has made history & I think deserves to be recognized as the GOAT. But as you stated each year brings opportunity for some one to step up. Stoner seems to have transitioned well so far to Repsol. I think Honda & Yamaha are the bikes to beat in MotoGP. This is what makes it all so EXCITING!!! I don't want to see the same guy just have cake walk wins every race. Thats what I kind of disliked about AMA a few years ago when it was Mladen & everyone else... Then Spies came up to make is interesting. I am cheering for Honda to win the Championship & then hope they will field or assist putting a team in AMA again. LOL!!!
WSBK... Racing was good, being its early won't spoil it... But I thought it was crazy when Duc's back tire flew off... AMAZING!!!
WSBK... Racing was good, being its early won't spoil it... But I thought it was crazy when Duc's back tire flew off... AMAZING!!!