[Zeeman]

Rossi to Yamaha - cool, this may mean more competetive racing - ie, harder for Rossi to keep up, another Good rider with a good machine, more people at the top at this time next year slugging it out. Good for racing.

Z...

[ReaperAZ]

I for one would love to see the Texas Tornado back on Honda. I think it would be very good to team him with Hayden, would be a good mentor for Nicky. As for Rossi, it's just another challenge for him and another possible way to prove that he is the best of the best. I say bring on Colin and give us what we want to see.

Dano

[Baketech]

People are quick to dis the Yamaha.....but if you look at some of the technology they are trying to develop, its a pretty interesting machine.....very 'Honda-like' in my opinion.

Its probably on par with the RC in vision and scope.....and definitely in line with what MotoGP is all about....imho its a matter of time before their execution catches up with the design intent of the program.....

Flame away....

[phozed]

Rossi interview:

http://www.as.com/articul....=dasmot

Did the pressure on you by Sete and the media affect the soap opera that has surrounded your renovation of the Honda contract or the alternative of Yamaha?
-- (Thinks long about the response). No, it's only a sporting decision. But surely the pressure from the press has an effect on everything.

What can you tell me about piloting the Yamaha next year?
-- I'm not going to reveal anything about my future until Malaysia. I don't know if before or after the race, but it won't be long before an official announcement is made.

How are the negotiations?
-- The first option I have always preferred is to continue at Honda, although we had to change some things.

What things?
-- It's said that I want to be the number one rider for the factory by contract, but that is not the point of the conflict, because I'm already that. What I want guaranteed is that I will carry the weight of developing the motorcycle. To be the one who makes the decision about what direction should be followed at all times.

And they haven't permitted that?
-- The hardest thing about closing a contract with the Japanese is that they have a different mentality.

Aren't they giving you enough money?
-- Money is not the problem with Honda.

In addition to the offer from Yamaha you had another with Ducati.
-- I can't talk about that.

In Italy they said that Ducati tempted you with the option of going on to Formula 1 with Marlboro in the near future?
-- It's true that they offered me that possibility, but that's not the principal motivation for taking it. I race motos and the principal factor in making the decision is the moto, not cars.

Do you see yourself piloting a Ferrari in the future? You've always said you like rally more.
-- Yes, it's true, I like rally more than F1, but I think for me and the future it's easier to drive an F1 car than a rally car.

Do you say that because of your experience in Great Britain and the crash you had on the second stage?
-- Yes, the world of rally is completely different from that of road racing. In Great Britain we had a lot of bad luck. I think I could have done well because we tested before.

Going back to your jump to Yamaha. Do you know who the last rider was to win the premier class with two different marques?
-- Yes, Lawson (his eyes shine and he smiles).

Would you like to follow in his footsteps?
-- It wouldn't be bad to emulate Lawson and win with two marques.

Biaggi doesn't believe you'd dare leave Honda and Capirossi says he's the only one brave enough to change manufacturers.
-- I think Biaggi ought to talk about himself and leave Rossi in peace. What he says doesn't influence what I do. And Capirossi is the only one who's had the courage to change marques because he was out on the street. He had to do it, he had no other choice for continuing in MotoGP.

[Crash]

I say it's all a tease..... In the end Honda will belly up again.

[ccwilli3]

Baketech : People are quick to dis the Yamaha.....but if you look at some of the technology they are trying to develop, its a pretty interesting machine.....very 'Honda-like' in my opinion.

Its probably on par with the RC in vision and scope.....and definitely in line with what MotoGP is all about....imho its a matter of time before their execution catches up with the design intent of the program.....

Flame away....

in what way? Which M1? They aren't running the twin shock'd, adaptive fram flexing, seat exhaust version... They just started using the FI this year after carbs last year... That bike is cool, the one they are racing, to me anyway, is just plain jane... An I4!? How boring...

Until I see that dual shock'd M1 rolling and pumping out ducati/honda HP, I'm not impressed... And I grew up on yamahas...

[ccwilli3]

Quote I think Biaggi ought to talk about himself and leave Rossi in peace. What he says doesn't influence what I do.

YES YES!!! More bitch/rossi drama, I love it!

[tigerblade]

ccwilli3 : Quote I think Biaggi ought to talk about himself and leave Rossi in peace. What he says doesn't influence what I do.

YES YES!!! * * More bitch/rossi drama, I love it!
It's a lot like all the TB/ccwilli drama, huh?

[Baketech]

ccwilli3 : in what way? *Which M1? *They aren't running the twin shock'd, adaptive fram flexing, seat exhaust version... *They just started using the FI this year after carbs last year... *That bike is cool, the one they are racing, to me anyway, is just plain jane... *An I4!? *How boring...

Until I see that dual shock'd M1 rolling and pumping out ducati/honda HP, I'm not impressed... *And I grew up on yamahas...

I'm talking about the test bed developement bike.....that stuff will make it to the track eventually. Re my post where I said 'intent'.....

But, I'm a gadget guy, tech things turn me on....I could give a crap about the rider drama....

[fl-929]

Got this from Colin's site. Someone had talked to Colin on the phone

Quote:

Just got off the phone from Colin.... All will seeemingly be revealed this weekend. He got a great laugh out of all the rumours flying around. Heres what i'm allowed to say......
Rossi to Yamaha 98% done
Barros WILL NOT be let go by Yamaha
Repsol WILL NOT allow a two American team
Only one Honda seat appears to be available.......

That is unfortunately all i can say, hope it helps set a clearer scene.......

[grafixman]

Off the MotoGP site:

When questioned about his plans for next season, which has been the centre of much speculation and gossip in the paddock today as the rest of the riders contemplate their own futures, Rossi commented: “The contract I was offered by Honda at Motegi was not good enough and I did not sign it. My manager will arrive tonight with a new one and we will have to see. I don’t know what people are saying because I don’t read the newspapers, but I can tell you that I have not signed for anybody, that is for sure. I think the best thing for this weekend is to concentrate on the race and the championship.”

[Heavy-Dee]

It's True ahh Link-a-doodle-doo

[CBRVFR]

Prediction:

2004 MotoGP Championship -

Gibernau
Biaggi
Capirossi
Hayden
Rossi

That's right, Hayden ahead of Rossi. And not because he's better, but because the Yamaha M1 is not ready for prime time.

[Crash]

CBRVFR : Prediction:

2004 MotoGP Championship -

Gibernau
Biaggi
Capirossi
Hayden
Rossi

That's right, Hayden ahead of Rossi. And not because he's better, but because the Yamaha M1 is not ready for prime time.

It won't be the M1 as we know it. Supposed to be an entirely new bike.

[firebladetoronto]

Crash : Quote (CBRVFR @ Oct. 10 2003, 10:59am)Prediction:

2004 MotoGP Championship -

Gibernau
Biaggi
Capirossi
Hayden
Rossi

That's right, Hayden ahead of Rossi. And not because he's better, but because the Yamaha M1 is not ready for prime time.

It won't be the M1 as we know it. *Supposed to be an entirely new bike.
What about Tamada...I think he will take Rossi's ride if Rossi leaves. And maybe Edwards will take Tamada's ride? Or maybe Biaggi will take Rossi's ride, and Edward join the Camel team?

I want to see Mick come back!!!

[robert929]

Well I have to put my 2 cents into this. *Long after the fact.
1st. *About Valentino being 9 secs. off the pace and coming back to win, yes, that takes skill, bar none and I give him all the credit in the world, he is a great rider: that being said, he was also on the best machine on the track, period.!!! 2nd *If any of you are as astute as you type yourselves out to be then you would know that there are alot of politics in WGP/MotoGp...and especiallly Honda. *There are always team orders for the #2 guy on the team and tell me this, since Valentino is so great, (titles in every freakin' class he's raced)
It seemed to me that Tohru Ukawa was on his ass alot when the new machine came out. *Now my memory isn't all that great, but I think Tohru got moved to a different team for providing so much competition for Rossi. *Event though they blew away the competition, and in the middle of the season to the end Valentino blew away Ukawa, what that showed me was that any above average experienced rider with a knack for rear-steering a bike at about 120mph could ride this bike and *win convincingly....That's just my opinion and as far off as it may seem to some of you, I'm entitled to that.. I hope this didn't make anyone mad. *As far as him moving to Yamaha
I say so. *He isn't the only O N E that can ride that bike to victory. *And just remember this, If Colin is the next O N E they have been working on a new machine for him for about 4-6 months now, so whatever Yamaha is doing to upgrade the M1 or M44 or whatever they call it, know that Honda hasn't been sitting on it's hands wondering how they will survive without the O N E. That's all I got thanks for the time and Yamaha still sucks......No matter who the hell rides for them. * * *

[phozed]

at least Chuck Miller isn't just a name on a msg board

from the soup interview:
Q: Do you have any insight into the Nick Hayden situation last year, with his move to GP?



A. Sure, I was right in the middle of all of it.



It wouldn't be a surprise to anybody to know that it was American Honda's goal to keep Nick Hayden in America to continue racing. There's been a plan for years for Nick Hayden to be a World Champion. And the only difference is that plan was escalated. When Nick Hayden won the championship convincingly last year, we knew that he was on the right track. Our plan (with him) was to continue gaining experience in the United States and in Europe this year. That was our original goal and direction. When Nick's success was apparent at the end of the season, and when Nick had other opportunities with other companies, we realized we needed to step up our plan to a little bit.



So it was difficult, because it was difficult on American Honda's plan. We wanted to retain him here for multiple reasons. One, to give him the additional experience that we thought he needed before he went overseas. I'd traveled with Nick a few times to Japan, and he's a good ol' boy from Owensboro, Kentucky, and doesn't like different foods and different things, and hadn't traveled much, so we were worried about that. HRC's plan was to have Nick gain experience, gain track time, this year in Europe, and then move him into that next level. Nick can adapt, and he's proven that this year.



He's up against the best guys in the world, and heck, he's beat Capirossi and Ukawa and a host of others. He's gone by Colin and Kenny Roberts Jr. And the rest of that group. You can say, certainly, a lot of it was due to the RC211, you have to have a great bike to win a championship and to be successful. But you can have a great bike without a great rider and you won't go anywhere. And that's what Nick is. Nick's a great rider. Ricky Carmichael's a great rider. Mat Mladin's a great rider. The best riders win. The best riders will not win without the best equipment.



Nick's going to be the World Champion. He will be the next American World Champion, I believe.



Q. How receptive was HRC to Nick going there? It seemed like it was happening a bit fast for them.



A. It was. It took a bit of convincing on our part as well. But I will say, the very top management at HRC never wanted to let Nick go. Never would have given up on Nick. HRC is a powerful company. They have a great plan. Again, whether it's with the riders, the equipment, our team, our involvement in racing. You can't argue with HRC's success. Yeah, it shocked a lot of people that Nick all of a sudden became Valentino's team-mate. But I think through American Honda's effort, working with HRC, Nick Hayden's management group, we were able to put the whole package together and give everybody what they wanted. At least everybody at Honda.

[robert929]

I guess in the end they all do circle the wagon and protect their own, and could care less about the truth. I don't know who the hell Chuck Miller is and I don't care, but he not only misspoke he told an outright lie when he suggested the Nickster 'passed Colin Edwards and Tohru Ukawa'. Nickey Hayden is a great rider and maybe someday he will be a World Champion, but to suggest that he 'passed' up two better riders is not telling the whole truth; and that's equivalent to telling a lie in my book. He said so himself that H R C is a very
powerful company, which is code for politics, ie; they get what they want period. Valentino Rossi is the star, now why would they put two comparable riders with World Championship potential on the same team on the same bike? OOOPS!....., they tried that and promptly fired Ukawa for being too fast and too close to Rossi, or basically not following team orders by winning a few races. Putting Colin Edwards on the 'A' team with Rossi would be a no win situation. You got a World Champion in his own right teaming with another World Champion in his race class and you think that they are going to suggest that the American rider take a back seat to another rider who , in one mans opinion isn't as good as the American is, is consistently a faster and just better rider. No Chuck Miller some of us who know and can think for themselves aren't buying your brand. You can try that media spin all you like, but in the end it only made sense to put Nickey on that team, because He is one of a handful who wouldn't pose that much of a threat to Rossi in his first year on that bike.......Take the gloves and team orders off and with comparable equipment names like Tamada, Edwards, Ukawa, Gibernau, Capirossi, Roberts, would be right there with Rossi. I don't down play Rossi's skills whatsoever, but at the same time let's not downplay the skills of other riders who would beat Rossi if Honda stop dictating the F I M rules and officials.........Notice I didn't mention Biaggi, well that's because he has no heart and I don't respect his kind of a man.

[luvtolean]

Robert, do you selectively read? Read Miller's line after talking about passing those guys.

[Heavy-Dee]

Um, do you need more fiber?

[Baketech]

That damned Evelyn Wood.....

[robert929]

I guess I better come out and defend my last post so I don't become the whippin' boy on this topic... I didn't mean to hurt anyone's feelings (luvtolean) about my statements on Nickey Hayden. I know Honda wanted him and they got him, truthfully they already had him. He is a very good talent, great he is not. In the eyes of the A M A he's great, news flash he's not in the A M A anymore. Now we don't just forget about his accomplishments when he was here, we just put them in the right perspective, and right now he is an average rider on one of the best motorcycles in the world. So
to the Chuck Millers and luvtoleans of the world understand this; before we go and call someone a 'Great Rider' let's allow him to first earn that title.........That's all I got for now, I truly hope I didn't hurt anyone's feelings.......late.....

[Rios929]

ummm, i think being in the top 10 in the points standings (he is currently 6th) in your first year in the world's premier motorcycle race championship is enought to warrent being called a 'great rider'