[Heavy-Dee]

Really good. Sete really gave Rossi a run. Glad Rossi pulled it out though. Would have liked to see Nicky make up a few positions, but 6th is nothing to scoff at.

[CBRVFR]

Really good race - Hard to tell if Rossi going wide at different times was real or a setup- They all rode their asses off.
Hayden did great but never seemed to threaten Checa or Biaggi.

[ccwilli3]

Rossi lacks concentration and its obvious that he is not 100% focused...

Having said that, the guy knows how to ride when he needs to. 4th to first in one corner... Sete had like multiple bike lengths on rossi at the start of the last lap only to give them up to him, or have them TAKEN away...

Totally awesome race... I was loving it!

[929flyer]

Really good? That was fricken' awesome!

And cc-dude, I'm going to disagree on the lacking concentration thing. I think that Sete, Troy and Loris are riding great and forcing Rossi into mistakes. Troy was leading a fabulous pace. Rossi was searching for a way to pass the Duc HP and it forced him into making moves that were pushing limits. I'm going to bet, not being a pro racer, that it's a little easier to be smooth and on your game when you blast to the front and pull multi-second lead. Slicing, dicing, and sliding around in a 4 to 5 rider group is going to make your life harder!]

AND Nicky was in site of the game the whole race. Knock of some tenths here and there he'll be in the mix.

[929flyer]

Also, I don't know how much any of you have read about sports psychology. *It has been touched on in road race mags like Roadracing World. * An athlete can get in the zone and feel untouchable. *Some athletes are great at getting themselves into the zone every competition. *The opponent can upset that athletes ability to get into his zone through his performance and upsetting the other athletes rhythm etc. *Just maybe the performance of Rossi's competition is affecting him getting into that groove and into that zone??

I'm pretty certain that Rossi knows a game is on this year and he's just not going to walk away with wins. *So I don't think he's partying it up in his trailer thinking 'You can't beat me'.

But hell, maybe he is!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[QuikMike]

yep...awesome race....I was really pulling for Sete to get another one....maybe next time out at Estoril...anyways, he had about as a good chance as he could hope for by leading 3/4 of the last lap only to let Rossi take it away from him....

Seems like the Ducs are really starting to get on top of their ballgames....Troy and Loris fought until the end...I totally expect another Ducati win before end of the year...Bayliss' start was awesome!!!...

I think we may have finally found a legit contender to Rossi's throne in Sete...I mean, the guy can flat out ride and even though this wasn't Rossi's best effort, I think Sete can beat him on any given race...The first time Rossi ran wide in the chicane, I thought,'oh well, he just came in a little hot', but then he did it several more times throughout the course of the race, so maybe he's not 100% focused or maybe he was just pushing too hard...who knows either way, you would think he would get it right next time through, but he didn't....

Glad to see Nicky finish a respectable 6th....the kid is improving all the time.....just wish Colin could've done a bit better though...

[BDA116]

That was by far the best race of this season, and one of the best of the last four years.
It was so nice to see an actual race again. Five riders fighting to (almost) the end. Constant mistakes from over-riding and lack of concentration.
It is finally looking like the GP of old. The 88-93 seasons were some of the best ever. The best riders on monster machines with five or six guys able to win at any time.
I hope they just get better from here. No more single rider runaway boring 'races'.

Oh, and let's see what DORNA's excuse is next year for not bringing us a GP for 2005. How many can they come up with?

[deez]

I agree, best race of the year. They are finally making Rossi work his ass off for it.

Dorna? Um, there really isn't a track in the US on par with the World circuits, Barber doesn't have the facilities required (seating, paddocks, etc) and neither does Jennings.

[ratter]

What an awesome race, I'm impressed with Gibernau, he made Rossi work hard for his win, and Rossi looked like he had worked for the wins and his gestures after winning indicated that also.

[ccwilli3]

booth23 : Dorna? *Um, there really isn't a track in the US on par with the World circuits, Barber doesn't have the facilities required (seating, paddocks, etc) and neither does Jennings.

Jennings?? *Jennings?? *Jennings is not even remotely close to even a VIR... *They say to never say never, well I am saying NEVER. *You will NEVER see a GP at Jennings. *Its only 2.0 miles and it is a bit under that I think, they round up... *Barber, Homestead (evidently?), VIR, Laguna Seca and Road America would be the best chances we'd ever have... *

Didn't someone post here a while back that Road America was originally built to lure in World races but it never happened? *That makes me sad... * *

[ccwilli3]

QuikMike : blah, blah, blah...

I mean...

[929flyer]

An interesting GP side note;

I ran into a fella over in Des Moines, IA at a Duc dealer. He had a big VIP badge around his neck. They have the Knoxville Outlaw Nationals going on there so I figured he had something to do with that. He actually struck up a convo with me, and I asked what he was in town for? DUH! But, I was just making a friendly question.

He responds saying that he is town for the Outlaw Nats. The owner of the dealership is involved now and the fella goes on to say, I quote, 'My company owns The World of Outlaws'. He then hands a card to the dealer owner because he is going to buy a Multi-strada from him. Moto GP comes up. He says, 'Yeah, we have the promotional rights to Dorna (or whomever it is) for the American GP'.

I mention about reading interest in Barber or Homestead. He chuckles and says, 'yeah, that's the buzz, but not the true story'. He goes on, 'Neither Barber nor Homestead have the facilities they're looking for. Barber can not support the crowd they anticipate for the American event.' And he seemed to be very intent not to say more than that.

He had mentioned his home base as Texas. HHHMMM, seems to me that I've been seeing stories about a world level Road Course going in down there. One of the articles I read had an Artist rendering of the facility and it had huge Grandstands and such. Like you'd see at a track 'over there'. I'd say folks, that if the track down there happens it might look like Moto GP in TEXAS!

[ondablade]

A truly great race - incredible to see five bikes in close formation and right on the limit for a full race. Too bad Capirossi's Duke went pop as if anybody is capable of digging deep in the last laps it's him.
It was clear from first practice that the heat was on and that everybody was trying hard.
My take is that while Rossi still has a bit in hand it's much closer than before and he's perhaps for almost the first time in his career having to learn to ride hard and close while cutting laps right on the limit one after another - not to mention having to learn tactics.
I think if he can hone these skills that he still has the edge he needs to win consistently - I'd argue he made mistakes again today which he had enough speed to recover from.
I was really pleased to see him win as another defeat would have done him serious psychological damage and I'd hate to lose him from the sport. It was also great to see him smiling again. He'll really have felt satisfaction from that win, I think it will do wonders for his morale and this will allow him to benefit from the lessons of the last few races.
Gibernau rode a great race again, and is amazingly consistent. If he can find another whisker he's going to give Rossi a very hard time as if their speed was equal he'd probably be the more reliable performer.
The Ducatis looked great also, but Brno is an untypical circuit which I think may have played to their strengths (HP) and masked their weaknesses. (braking and drive off slow turns)

[929flyer]

BTW, while I was out at Laguana Seca for WSB. *I and my buddy was talking with an older fella working the event. *He said that he has volunteered there for years and yada, yada, yada. *MotoGP came up. *He said, and swears by it, that Mazda Raceway officials have told MotoGP they are VERY interested in doing the homologation that MotoGP wants at the facility! *

AND right now they are the only facility (that is interested) here that can handle the event. *Road America was built with the idea of being a world class facility, but word is that MotoGP would want extensive changes to even consider the place. *When I was there for the AMA races I, again always end up talking to folk that work at the track, was talking to a Road America official that said, and I quote this, 'We're having trouble making the 'big' races pay. *The promotional costs are skyrocketing and we haven't made money on one in quite awhile. *Until we are making money on other events you will not see Road America putting money into a MotoGP event.' *

I think that's it in a nutshell. *Road America is not going to make, what sounds like extensive and pricey, track changes until they are making the money they think they need. *Which I believe is the reason Mazda Raceway has balked in the past at doing it. *BUT NOW that the WSB races is one of their best events they might be changing their minds.

They'll get here sometime guys and gals! *It's just where?

[929flyer]

That's a great point ondablade. Did ya'll see the excitement that all three racers had on the podium. I think Rossi will take that race win over many he had last year, mistakes and all. They know they had a great battle. They know that is good for MotoGP.

[Repsol_69]

ccwilli3 : Barber, Homestead (evidently?), VIR, Laguna Seca and Road America would be the best chances we'd ever have...

This may sound rather silly, But isn't Sebring capable of facilitating a race of MotoGP's caliper?

Was a great race! I really thought Nicky would be a bit more competitive, but I'm very happy he held his ground as well as he did.

[deez]

ccwilli3 : Quote (booth23 @ Aug. 17 2003, 5:37pm)Dorna? *Um, there really isn't a track in the US on par with the World circuits, Barber doesn't have the facilities required (seating, paddocks, etc) and neither does Jennings.

Jennings?? *Jennings?? *Jennings is not even remotely close to even a VIR... *
Sorry any evidence of a Floridian has flew I meant Homestead. Homestead and Barber are the two tracks they were looking at correct? Neither of which is up to the task. Both need stands, paddocks, etc, etc, to be on par with the rest of the tracks on the GP calendar. I wouldn't hold your breath for a US round of GP anytime soon, we don't have a track yet suitable.

[Baketech]

Watched the tape last night....awesome
Great racing....bet the fans were going whacko!

I must have seen an edited version though, because I only saw Rossi make 1 mistake the whole race...

[Heavy-Dee]

I think the first US GP will be at Nelson. They could take it. Just get some Amish to direct traffic and build us some stands. THey could sell cheese too.

[sprint]

Has anyone seen this yet? *I don't know enough about MotoGP racing requirements to determine if this would be an option or not.

[QuikMike]

ccwilli3 : Quote (QuikMike @ Aug. 17 2003, 2:50pm)blah, blah, blah...

I mean...
now, now....don't be a hater, Charles!!

[tigerblade]

AWESOME race!

[firebladetoronto]

tigerblade : AWESOME race! *

Yup Yup!!!! Go Nicky!!!!!

[deez]

sprint : Has anyone seen this yet? *I don't know enough about MotoGP racing requirements to determine if this would be an option or not.

Yeah I've been following the development since the start. The last time I checked, they had 1/2 the $ they needed to do the whole thing.

[BDA116]

There are multiple tracks here in the US that are more than up to par with euro tracks. The fact that it's American doesn't automatically mean it sucks.
The few that have been mentioned have flat out stated that if the MotoGP signs on, the stands will be there. DORNA comes up with BS excuses every year. It has nothing to do with facilities. Barber is still far from completion, and their final facilities are better than most of the current MotoGP tracks. Had DORNA signed on, they would have accellerated everything. Indy hadn't even broken ground when the FIA signed on for the F1 USGP. Once the deal was made, the track and facilities were built within months.
There are an easy five tracks that could make the deal today and be ready in six months.
Road America was already screwed 7 or 8 years ago when they were promised the deal if they made some changes. They started and had spent a boat load of money on what was asked, only to have them say nevermind. The American track managers remember this, and won't spend money only to get screwed by this bunch again. Make the deal, however, and the facilities will be there, and be better than everywhere else.
Many of the Euro tracks are lacking in total facilities, but when deals are made they build.
Anyone remember the fiasco two years ago at the F1 round at Silverstone? It was one of the British tracks, but it slips my mind right now which one. The paddock was half the size promised and the parking lot was all dirt. It rained like a mofo and caused havoc for the teams and spectators.
The decision is DORNA's BS political crap, not a facility one.
Until there is a US MotoGP round it still can't be considered a 'world' series. WSC is, unfortunately, the only series that can truly make that claim.

[fl-929]

booth23 : Quote (ccwilli3 @ Aug. 17 2003, 6:38pm)Quote (booth23 @ Aug. 17 2003, 5:37pm)Dorna? *Um, there really isn't a track in the US on par with the World circuits, Barber doesn't have the facilities required (seating, paddocks, etc) and neither does Jennings.

Jennings?? *Jennings?? *Jennings is not even remotely close to even a VIR... *
Sorry any evidence of a Floridian has flew *I meant Homestead. *Homestead and Barber are the two tracks they were looking at correct? *Neither of whic