[phobiaphobe]

Pilfed from another board:

Rossi challenges Alonso!


MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi has challenged Formula One World Champion Fernando Alonso to a head-to-head battle, in three different types of motorsport, to prove who is fastest.

Rossi's challenge came in response to Alonso's claim that "Rossi might finish fifth or even get on the podium (in F1) but I could do the same in bikes if I was given enough time to practice."

Renault driver Alonso, the winner of last weekend's season opening Bahrain Grand Prix, has also previously claimed that the Italian's high profile Ferrari tests have hurt the team's 2006 preparations.

"I'm glad that Rossi has tested with Ferrari because that means they have lost valuable time preparing the cars for the show they put on," said the 24-year-old. "Let him come and drive. It will be good because there will be more media attention."

However, Rossi has now struck back in style - telling Alonso that, if the Spaniard really thinks he can get on the podium in MotoGP, then they should race each other on both two and four wheels to prove who is the ultimate motor-sportsman.

"I read that if Alonso is able to make some practice then he can put a MotoGP bike on the podium with me," Rossi, a five times MotoGP World Champion, told Motorcycle News. "Well, I think we should drive a Formula One car, a World Rally car and a MotoGP bike, add the times together and then we will see who is the fastest."

As well as his tests for Ferrari, and his renowned two wheeled skills, Rossi has also shown impressive pace in a Subaru WRC car, a world championship spec go-kart and a Maserati sports car - all in the last four months.

What a retard. Rossi would destroy him.

[Custom900]

Rossi is just an all around athlete. What else can you say?

The guy really is impressive.

[CBRVFR]

Maybe. How much time would you add for pushing the F1 car into the wall or hitting a tree with the Subaru?

[luvtolean]

Alonso ran his overly arrogant mouth and Rossi called him...I abso-freaking-lutely love it!

If he does goto F1, we already have a rivalry. And since Rossi would rather die than lose, and he's got the contacts to get into a good car...

[BDA116]

The only one of the three where Rossi has a clear advantage is on the bike. Could he really make up that much time in one discipline when he'd get so thoroughly wasted in the F1 car and beaten in the Rally car? (Not to mention the wrecks as CBRVFR pointed out.)
I'd love to see it, regardless of the outcome.
After seeing Schumi's relaxed lap times on a bike I would put money on him in the three disciplines, but Alonso isn't up to Schumi's level, he just has the better overall F1 package right now.

[Linus]

Rossi would beat Alonso on his Yamaha Pit Scooter

[luvtolean]

but Alonso isn't up to Schumi's level, he just has the better overall F1 package right now.

EXACTLY! In cage racing it's all about the cage. A good driver will beat a great one if he's got the best car.

In bike racing, it's all rider.

If Rossi gets into a "best" car...he will contend for the F1 championship.

[phobiaphobe]

I'm thinking Rossi would beat Alonso on the bike by a WAY bigger margin than he could be beaten in both other contests combined.

[Repeater]

Originally Posted by Linus

Rossi would beat Alonso on his Yamaha Pit Scooter

[SJ96F3]

Wonder how fast Rossi could lap Grattan... on an appropriate bike.

[Heavy-Dee]

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

Wonder how fast Rossi could lap Grattan... on an appropriate bike.

I'd love to see that.

[Zippy]

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

I'm thinking Rossi would beat Alonso on the bike by a WAY bigger margin than he could be beaten in both other contests combined.

I've got to agree. Rossi can run very competitively in all three. I would be totally amazed if Alonso could run competitively on a MotoGP bike. Heck, I'd give him cudos even if he could beat last the place finisher.

[BDA116]

Originally Posted by luvtolean

EXACTLY! In cage racing it's all about the cage. A good driver will beat a great one if he's got the best car.

In bike racing, it's all rider.

If Rossi gets into a "best" car...he will contend for the F1 championship.

He would contend for top five finishes - maybe - in the right car. No way would he contend for the title. The top few cars this year seem to be more closely matched, and each team with two drivers, all of which would be far better than Rossi.
An average race car driver can't just hop in an F1 car and lap with the pack consistently for an entire race. And Rossi is just that, an average race car driver.
It pains me to say so, but Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr., etc. would waste Rossi in an F1 car.
Rossi couldn't even get within better than 10% of Schumi's time on a tiny track in the car with the bigger engine and more downforce. On race day, when the times count, on a large track, he wouldn't get within 20%.
Yes the car matters more in F1 than the bike in MotoGP but it is 100% wrong to assume that it would make up a massive deficiency for a driver like Rossi.

[luvtolean]

Outside 20%?



If you took all the wings and driver aids off the cars, and put turbos back on them, then I'd agree with you. They'd be closer to bikes that way.

But not with the current state of affairs.

[BDA116]

It's worth finding out, I'd think. Too bad all involved would never get such a "Smackdown series" going.
Ferrari may indeed take Rossi in a couple years when they need a flashy driver to keep sponsor money flowing, but it's not gonna be any time soon.

[Custom900]

I say let's put Nicky in the battle with them.


Who's the better man - I mean boy?


As far as the debate we have here goes, both men are great at what they do. However, I don't think anyone without prior Superbike experience on a course would be able to compete with even a portion of what it takes to make it around the track.

With that being said, Rossi has Auto experience to some degree. I don't think he would be able to step right out on the F-1 field and make an impression, but with a little bit of track time before the race to get a feel for the car I feel that Rossi would at least hang with any of his competitors.

Rally is a different story all together. I'm not sure if any of those guys know what they're doing. "Hey Bubba, ya wanna go out and play on the dirt road?" "Sure Leroy, let me git ma truck."

Now that I've mentioned dirt, I feel the need to go out and play.

[Baketech]

He should have left it as GP and F1....

Making it a 3-way competition would open it up to a lot more contenders than just Rossi and Alonso...

[Kuss929]

Would be interesting to see what is being written on this topic on some F1 forums.

[phobiaphobe]

They should have an academic decathlon, with Veronica Vaughan providing moral support.


...soooo hot, want to touch the heiny.

[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by BDA116

It pains me to say so, but Tony Stewart, Jeff Gordon, Dale Jr., etc. would waste Rossi in an F1 car.

it pains you because thats probably not true. Think of how many wrecks their are in nascar whent hey do a road course. The few guys who actually brake before the turn (like you're suppose to) end up causing the idiots who brake all the way past the apex to crash. None of those 3 would post times anywhere better than say midpack in F1.


Now take this real situation. Alonso said he'd need practice on the bike so you gotta give Rossi a little practice in the cars too. Rossi would destroy him.

[luvtolean]

Custom, Rossi has beaten world champion ralliers before.

[Custom900]

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Custom, Rossi has beaten world champion ralliers before.

I'm just giving you guys a hard time. I wouldn't want to put my butt in a Rally car or an F-1 as far as competing goes. If I did I would have it handed back to me. Same with GP.

However, I would offer a Drag Race

[Linus]

Alain Prost sucked in Rally Cars-other F-1 drivers who tried Rallying did not fair much better-IMO its more demanding as a sport than F-1, Racing Bikes is a different animal all together