MotoGP - Qatar race

[valleyrider]

Dont forget to sign up at the motogp website and play in the motogp league.

I forgot to get my picks in before the first race so if you guys join up and play along as well we can see who does the best and scores the most points over the season!

 

[Mdetail1]

The difference between Rossi and Stoner is that Rossi is a showman and Stoner hated the spotlight. If Stoner embraced the media attention instead of running from it he would still be in MotoGP today.

No doubt Stoner has a lot of talent but he didn't know how to nor want to capitalize on the media attention in order to gain to the hearts of fans like Rossi has done and like Marquez is now doing.

Now how about that prediction I had back before the race?

Apart from Lorenzo crashing out and ruining my lineup I didnt do too bad I dont think.

No doubt about it Mr. Stoner did not like the media while Rossi thrived in it every single year. Rossi will go down as the greatest ever at least for now. This Marquez kid looks mighty awesome and only time will tell what he will accomplish.

I'm sorry I did not see your prediction before the race, but my hats off to you for being spot on.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

Todd, Lets see what happends next race in Europe. Me thinks Marquez ( back to 100% health) and Lorenzo will run away. Kinda of like they did last year. Remember 2013. How did Rossi fair that year on the exact same bike as Lorenzo?? He ran 4th,5th, and 6th most of the year. Don't believe me go look. The Doctor is getting old (35 now) and slower. Yes he was the greatest ever, but he is not right now at this moment.

I don't disagree, for the most part. Since Vale started riding he has gone through 500 2-strokes, 990s, 800s with primitive electronics and 1000s with highly advanced electronics. Factor that in with age and the fact he is now racing against "kids" who grew up idolizing and learning from him, and it becomes impossible to stay on top.

That said, I hope he has a very competitive year. There is no doubt that the Honda was faster in a straight line at Qatar and more stable under braking (traditionally Rossi's strong point), and yet The Doctor rode the Yamaha smooth as butter and kept up with Marquez to the end.

Rossi was also faster than Lorenzo at the pre-season tests. This probably won't translate directly to the races, but it is encouraging none-the-less.

Back in 2010 at the San Marino GP that takes place in September Rossi had already signed for Ducati and Stoner for Honda. Rossi blamed the poor performance of the Ducati all on Stoner. I will never forget that one. The first 4 to 5 races of the 2011 season Rossi was for the most part on the exact same Ducati as Stoner. What did Rossi do with it? I tell ya what he did. Zero. That was the same bike Stoner won 3 races and podiumed 9 times that year(2010) alone. Explain that to me and don't tell me that Ducati was great back in 2010. Rossi did crap with Ducati and never should have gone there, but in his big head he figured IF Stoner can win every single year on it I can too. Big boo boo for him. What did Stoner do in 2011? He ran away with the championship on that Honda with 10 wins and 12 poles. Even Marquez didn't get 10 wins and 12 poles on that Honda in one year. Not doubting he can, but he has yet to repeat Mr. Stoner's performance. To bad Stoner left GP racing. It would have been awesome to see him mix it up with Marquez and Jorge.

Slightly revisionist, pro-Stoner, anti-Rossi history. Yes Stoner was better on the Ducati than Rossi, but Ducati blew a huge opportunity when they refused (admitted by both sides) to adapt the bike to Rossi's smoother, heavier-braking style. For two years, Rossi repeatedly asked them to sacrifice stability for more front-end feedback (as his smoother style and heavy braking would benefit) and they kept their nose up in the air about it. This has been admitted by both sides.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

The difference between Rossi and Stoner is that Rossi is a showman and Stoner hated the spotlight. If Stoner embraced the media attention instead of running from it he would still be in MotoGP today.

No doubt Stoner has a lot of talent but he didn't know how to nor want to capitalize on the media attention in order to gain to the hearts of fans like Rossi has done and like Marquez is now doing.

Now how about that prediction I had back before the race?

Apart from Lorenzo crashing out and ruining my lineup I didnt do too bad I dont think.

I think Stoner's biggest problem was his that he whined. I actually thought about him this weekend, when Marquez made that crazy, almost "too much" pass on the second-to-last lap. Rossi was on the rumble strips and Marquez forced his nose in their just before the apex. A clean pass? Sure.. But make no mistake, Stoner would have ran to the media and complained for 2 hours about it.

Rossi, however, congratulated Marquez on hard racing. And to me that is the ultimate difference (other than Rossi's superior accomplishments).... Laguna Seca is a perfect example. Rossi, on an inferior bike which could not even come close to the Ducati's top-end rush, pulled off some of the most amazing, trail-braking passes ever seen. Stoner runs wide (looked like a day-one, target fixation wreck) and immediately starts blaming Rossi... Crying to anybody who will listen.

 

[Mdetail1]

Slightly revisionist, pro-Stoner, anti-Rossi history. Yes Stoner was better on the Ducati than Rossi, but Ducati blew a huge opportunity when they refused (admitted by both sides) to adapt the bike to Rossi's smoother, heavier-braking style. For two years, Rossi repeatedly asked them to sacrifice stability for more front-end feedback (as his smoother style and heavy braking would benefit) and they kept their nose up in the air about it. This has been admitted by both sides.

Ducati did throw everything that had at the bike for Rossi even change the entire frame, but nothing worked for Rossi. Stoner complained about the bike in the '09 and '10 seasons. The only difference is Stoner was able to ride around problems and win on it. To me that is very impressive. Not many can do it. The ONLY other time I've seen that is when Michael Schumacher went to Ferrari in '96. The car was total garbage. No one could win in it and Schumacher drove around it's problems and won 3 races that year. That was amazing stuff. I believe Stoner was way more talented than folks give him credit for.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

Ducati did throw everything that had at the bike for Rossi even change the entire frame, but nothing worked for Rossi. Stoner complained about the bike in the '09 and '10 seasons. The only difference is Stoner was able to ride around problems on win on it. To me that is very impressive. Not many can do it. The ONLY other time I've seen that is when Michael Schumacher went to Ferrari in '96. The car was total garbage. No one could win in it and Schumacher drove around it's problems and won 3 races that year. That was amazing stuff. I believe Stoner was way more talented than folks give him credit for.

They added the frame to combat problems of front end feedback, but it was not "Rossi's" design. It was the design the engineers came up with, and according to Rossi, they valued very little of his input. To me, the fact that Rossi developed the M1 and took it to a record setting pace is more impressive than Stoner getting a title on the Ducati.

Stoner was an absolutely amazing rider whose style made him a better fit on the Ducati, no doubt, but he has no where near the accomplishments (nor the talent IMO) of Rossi.

 

[Mdetail1]

They added the frame to combat problems of front end feedback, but it was not "Rossi's" design. It was the design the engineers came up with, and according to Rossi, they valued very little of his input. To me, the fact that Rossi developed the M1 and took it to a record setting pace is more impressive than Stoner getting a title on the Ducati.

Stoner was an absolutely amazing rider whose style made him a better fit on the Ducati, no doubt, but he has no where near the accomplishments (nor the talent IMO) of Rossi.

For Mr. Rossi Ducati changed a lot. New Swing Arm, New revised fuel tank, 2 different frames. Nothing worked for him. I can tell you they didn't do that for Stoner and he still won. Sorry you feel Stoner is not talented. 2 World Titles with 2 different manufacturers is not all that bad. Plus the only human to win a title for Ducati and win every single year he swing his leg over that bike. Not saying Stoner is the greatest, but he ain't bad considering what was given to him. Let see what Rossi does this year. I'm betting not much like last year. He's getting old (35) and in high level motorsports age plays a big part. He is not going to have an easy time chasing wounder boy Marquez and Lorenzo. Lets see what happens.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

For Mr. Rossi Ducati changed a lot. New Swing Arm, New revised fuel tank, 2 different frames. Nothing worked for him. I can tell you they didn't do that for Stoner and he still won. Sorry you feel Stoner is not talented. 2 World Titles with 2 different manufacturers is not all that bad. Plus the only human to win a title for Ducati and win every single year he swing his leg over that bike. Not saying Stoner is the greatest, but he ain't bad considering what was given to him. Let see what Rossi does this year. I'm betting not much like last year. He's getting old (35) and in high level motorsports age plays a big part. He is not going to have an easy time chasing wounder boy Marquez and Lorenzo. Lets see what happens.

I do think Stoner is extremely talented, just not prime-Rossi status. I think his skill and smoothness is undeniable, I just think he whined too much from a fan perspective.

 

[Mdetail1]

I do think Stoner is extremely talented, just not prime-Rossi status. I think his skill and smoothness is undeniable, I just think he whined too much from a fan perspective.

I guess it doesn't really matter anymore about Stoner. He's finished with racing. I only brought him up because he was on that Ducati for 5 long years and I did well with it. The new kid on the block that everyone has to worry about is Marquez. That kid is from a different planet.

 

[valleyrider]

As much as I am not an Iannone fan he might prove to be someone to watch out for this season.

He crashed right in the beginning of the race then picked it up to salvage a 10th place finish. He was fastest on a single lap during warm up and overall his race pace would have placed him right in the mix with A. Espargaro had he not dropped it in the beginning. His lap times during the race were right in line with the leaders up front.

I'm partial to Ducati (my favorite bike by far has been the Multistrada I owned) but I'm a Marquez fan.

 

[Todd@RUPES]

I guess it doesn't really matter anymore about Stoner. He's finished with racing. I only brought him up because he was on that Ducati for 5 long years and I did well with it. The new kid on the block that everyone has to worry about is Marquez. That kid is from a different planet.

I actually find myself rooting more for Lorenzo than ever before. I was never a fan (too pro Rossi) before, but their rivalry has seemed to cool as Lorenzo has proven himself, in addition to the fact that it was awesome to watch the way he raced at Assen shortly after wrecking his collarbone.

He raced hard to the end, and his ability to bunch the field up and pass at will in Valencia was amazing...

Marquez is the present and future, although I will be rooting against him (in vain)!

 

[valleyrider]

I love how Marquez's style of riding has brought out some aggression in the way Lorenzo rides, he pushes harder now and takes more risks than before.

I like this newer version of Lorenzo we are seeing more than the metronome version who was complacent with earning points for the championship. He is wicked fast but his smoothness and outright speed lead to boring racing up front.

 

[RaysWay]

I find myself rooting the most for Pedrosa. I think I just like rooting for the underdogs in sports. I'd love to see him take home his first championship.

 

[valleyrider]

I find myself rooting the most for Pedrosa. I think I just like rooting for the underdogs in sports. I'd love to see him take home his first championship.

I was really hoping last year would have been his year. Had he not crashed and broken bones he most likely would have had the title.