Rossi out for a while?

BDA116 · 06-22-2006, 10:17 AM

Soup :: Dutch TT: Free Practice One
I guess that's one more comparison to Doohan he can cross off his list.
Nicky HAS to win this round. Yeah, I understand that he really only NEEDS to finish in front of Loris, but he is certainly the best-of-the-rest behind Rossi, and needs to prove it on a euro track.

sheepofblue · 06-22-2006, 10:37 AM

Bummer hope the rumor is wrong and he is OK. Of course I would like him to take second still though

LUCIDDREAM57 · 06-22-2006, 10:39 AM

Dayyum!!!!! How could the Doc crash during a practice run????? This sucks!! Oh well, I guess every child at play hurts himself on the playground once in a while. The broken wrist doesn't sound promising. I guess he's out of line for the championship this year.

clutchslip · 06-22-2006, 10:40 AM

Is this a spoiler?

Big crash, hey? Dang, there musta been at least 4 in that corner, today.

I hope Rossi isn't out. Capirossi looks like he's hurting. It could be an all American podium, if Hayden is just jerking around in practice.

I don't want Hayden to win the damn championship by default. That would stink.

LUCIDDREAM57 · 06-22-2006, 10:45 AM

The Official MotoGP Website

Apparently the breaks are hairline and he may be still racing at Assen.

Acidreign · 06-22-2006, 10:48 AM

Here is what Reuters News Service posted...
-------------------------------------------
AMSTERDAM, June 22 (Reuters) - MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi expects to race in Saturday’s Dutch Grand Prix despite breaking a bone in his hand in a free practice crash at Assen.

“He’s definitely planning to race,” said a Yamaha team spokeswoman on Thursday.

The 27-year-old Italian ‘high-sided’ his bike about halfway through the opening session and was taken to hospital for further checks.

The team said Rossi had fractured a small bone in his right hand and dislocated another in his ankle but was otherwise unhurt and could decide to return for the second afternoon practice session.

The Dutch race on Saturday follows a crash-strewn Catalan Grand Prix in Barcelona last weekend in which six riders fall at the first corner.

Ducati’s Spaniard Sete Gibernau is absent from Assen after requiring surgery for a fractured collarbone but Italians Loris Capirossi and Marco Melandri have recovered and took part in Thursday’s practice.

Rossi has won the last two races after a troubled start to the year and is now third in the championship standings, 29 points adrift of Honda’s American leader Nicky Hayden and nine behind Ducati’s Capirossi.

The Yamaha rider has a great record at Assen, even though the circuit has been substantially reconfigured since last season.

Rossi has won in the Netherlands for the past two years and started on pole there in 2005.

The championship is now in a crucial phase, with a spate of races close together, and the Italian spoke on Wednesday of the need to stay out of trouble.

“It is very important to keep healthy and concentrate at such a crucial moment in the championship,” he told a news conference.

Japan’s Shinya Nakano was quickest in the first session for Kawasaki, lapping in one minute 39.619 seconds, ahead of Suzuki’s American John Hopkins and Australian rookie Casey Stoner on a Honda.

Melandri was seventh quickest, Hayden 12th, Capirossi 14th and Rossi, who completed six laps before the fall, 16th of the 19 riders on track.

((Writing by Alan Baldwin in London, editing by Robert Woodward; London sports desk; Reuters Messaging; alan.baldwin.reuters.com@reuters.net: +44 207 542 7933))

SJ96F3 · 06-22-2006, 10:56 AM

I suppose with a bad wrist and a bum ankle he's still in his own league.

BDA116 · 06-22-2006, 10:57 AM

Yep, looks like he is still riding. The problem is that the wrists really take a beating racing - especially at that level, so I don't think there's any way Rossi can be at the pointy end this weekend.
And one more spill could remove him from the field for a few races. Not taking care of it can ruin a career. Just ask Schwantz.
It is risky, but it shows he's tough and not willing to go down without a fight.

phobiaphobe · 06-22-2006, 10:58 AM

I wonder if he'll suck it up and go for the win or take it easy and settle for a few points.

LUCIDDREAM57 · 06-22-2006, 11:03 AM

I thought when Rossi wins that is taking it easy for him.

clutchslip · 06-22-2006, 11:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by phobiaphobe

I wonder if he'll suck it up and go for the win or take it easy and settle for a few points.

Are you talking about Rossi. Or Hayden?

SJ96F3 · 06-22-2006, 11:20 AM

I think Rossi's going to have to go for it... He can't afford to fall too much further behind in points. Plus I really do think his 80% is good enough to put him 3rd or 4th. Almost every race seems to finish with the top 3-4 guys about 6 seconds ahead of everyone else. At 80% he'd still be best of the rest.

phobiaphobe · 06-22-2006, 11:23 AM

He's only 29 points behind... Who knows, maybe he'd be better off to sit this one out and let stuff heal... but I can't see that happening.

ichsnoo · 06-23-2006, 5:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by clutchslip

Is this a spoiler?

Big crash, hey? Dang, there musta been at least 4 in that corner, today.

I hope Rossi isn't out. Capirossi looks like he's hurting. It could be an all American podium, if Hayden is just jerking around in practice.

I don't want Hayden to win the damn championship by default. That would stink.

I like your optimism, but Stoner must be up for a win.

Dave

richie · 06-23-2006, 8:19 AM

yup, rossi's racing...but hows he gonna hold 240 ponies with only one wrist ... dont hold your breath guys

ccwilli3 · 06-23-2006, 10:08 AM

mad props to the guy even going out there, 10 seconds off the pace or not... If its a crash fest again, he could very well finish in the points...

BDA116 · 06-23-2006, 10:15 AM

I guess after qualifying there are doubts he'll even start the race.
I can only imagine what it's like to even ride with a broken right wrist, let alone race a 240HP monster.
Pain pills or no, that would be near impossible - especially on the right wrist.
Then there's the other side to it: At what point does drugging up impair a racer to the point that he is dangerous to both himself and the rest of the field?
Soup :: Dutch TT: Qualifying Times From Assen
Bridgestone really has a good qualifier right now. Should be a good race.

CBRVFR · 06-23-2006, 10:32 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BDA116

Bridgestone really has a good qualifier right now. Should be a good race.

Apparently.. but you still have to give props to Hopkins. The Anglo American was absoloootley flying!!

Almost had a Hopkins/Edwards 1-2 start, there. How you fixed for ibuprofen?

SJ96F3 · 06-23-2006, 10:39 AM

He still qualified with a time that was 4 seconds faster than his first practice session before the crash... and only 4 seconds behind pole. Not bad.

BDA116 · 06-23-2006, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CBRVFR

Apparently.. but you still have to give props to Hopkins. The Anglo American was absoloootley flying!!

Almost had a Hopkins/Edwards 1-2 start, there. How you fixed for ibuprofen?

I have complete faith in them both dropping back after 8-10 laps max.

There will be a breakaway with Nicky, Dani and Casey. Marco will try to go too, but will be too sore. Stona will crash, and KRJR will fight with Checa for third.
Nicky needs to beat Dani but will have a hard time doing so.

phobiaphobe · 06-23-2006, 10:43 AM

If Rossi can cruise into a 7th or 8th he'll still be in good shape. Still plenty of races left. Is there a 2-week break after Assen or just 1 week?

nedro · 06-23-2006, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJ96F3

He still qualified with a time that was 4 seconds faster than his first practice session before the crash... and only 4 seconds behind pole. Not bad.

NOT BAD!!!

So in 24 (+/-) laps that makes it something like 1 1/2 minutes behind the leaders. He's not Colin. What makes you think that's good?

The only question now is who's going to come in second and third?

BDA116 · 06-23-2006, 10:53 AM

Remember that Rossi hasn't run a full distance since getting hurt. He only turned 13 laps in qualifying and four in the last practice.
I don't doubt that he'll at least line up and try, but he will have a very tough time of getting up there even in the points. I'm sure he knows what he's doing and if it is apparent he won't be able to do it, he'll pull off.
There is a race next week and then a couple weeks' rest.