Malaysian GP

ccwilli3 · 10-13-2003, 3:38 PM

Quote:

booth23 : Ding, ding, we have a winner. *I'll give Snoop credit though, he has earned the ride, just not the hype! *He might be better off back in the AMA series because he has an Italian that is in his way and will stay there since they are only 2 years apart in age. *Well you Hayden lovers can always hope that Vale quits for some sort of cage racing

so where does that put colin?? He has a young american on a better bike that isn't going anywhere, two rival italians and a spaniard to get by, and thats just honda... Are you hoping they will ALL quit??

So should he go back to WSBK??

dB · 10-13-2003, 3:51 PM

Why don't we just quit messing around? Everyone should quit except Vale. He can ride around the track alone and we'll all blow him kisses and throw money.

CBRVFR · 10-13-2003, 4:10 PM

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booth23 : *He might be better off back in the AMA series because he has an Italian that is in his way and will stay there since they are only 2 years apart in age. *Well you Hayden lovers can always hope that Vale quits for some sort of cage racing

...And for that matter, Vale can thank his luck that he reigned in an era without Doohan, who would not be so easily unhinged as Biaggi by Rossi's antics, and would probably still be kicking his ass to this day.

But you miss the point. Most of us are happy to see the kid grow and improve to the point where he can use his formidable talent, competitiveness, and courage in the premier class. As far as I can see, he is the most improved rider on the grid this season, and props to him. If he were to continue to improve at this rate, he'd be a threat to Rossi on equal equipment in two or three years.

As for the persistent Yamaha rumor, I STILL don't buy it. Ducati, maybe. Ferrari, maybe. Rossi wouldn't have much fun losing because of inferior equipment.

from Eurosport today:

The dispute over Rossi's contract has been brewing since midway through the season.

In July he spoke about his dream of competing for Italian manufacturer Ducati, who returned to Grand Prix racing this season after a 30-year absence.

Meanwhile, Rossi's MotoGP rivals shrugged off his latest declarations as no more than a stalling tactic designed to pressurise Honda into giving him the deal he wants.

'I'd be delighted if he did (move to Yamaha), but he won't,' commented Rossi's compatriot Max Biaggi, currently third in the championship standings.

Ducati's Loris Capirossi echoed those sentiments. 'I don't believe he'll choose the Yamaha,' he said.

deez · 10-13-2003, 4:18 PM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : so where does that put colin?? *He has a young american on a better bike that isn't going anywhere, two rival italians and a spaniard to get by, and thats just honda... *Are you hoping they will ALL quit??

So should he go back to WSBK??

Good question, and a tough one. *The only thing I can draw upon is when they both raced together to win Suzuka. *Each one of them was kind of awe of each other. *But after seeing Vale run of the track a couple of times and come back and pick everyone off, I think everyone is phucked until he retires, honestly. *Or he if he is on an inferior machine and can't override it. *The race announcers and people like Noyes are people who know this inside and out. *Since last year, I've heard them say from time to time that we haven't seen Valentino fully extend himself yet. *Think about that one for a moment..

Perhaps we have, we he ran the RC off the track twice this year. *I think his coming back in those two instances, was himself fully extending himself and riding at 100%, imagine what he'd do if he did this every race. *He is still only 24 and hasn't hit his prime yet.

Edit: CBRVFR, go ask Doohan about Rossi. I've read/heard him say more than once, that Rossi is better than he ever was. But maybe Doohan doesn't know himself

CBRVFR · 10-13-2003, 4:36 PM

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booth23 : CBRVFR, go ask Doohan about Rossi. *I've read/heard him say more than once, that Rossi is better than he ever was. *But maybe Doohan doesn't know himself

Sure.That would be a great conversation over several tinnies of Foster's Got his cell number?

I'm just saying that Rossi's greatest competitor to date is not screwed together with emotional loctite, and I suspect in his heart of hearts that Mick ( like most toughminded competitors) really thinks he could have beat ANYBODY. And he'd certainly not fold up in the attempt. We haven't seen Rossi go up against someone of his stature. He could barely walk to the grid and he'd destroy his competition. He has said his regret is that Schwantz and Rainey weren't around the last years of his riding career.

deez · 10-13-2003, 4:47 PM

Honestly, I've heard/read CEII as well Doohan, say that Rossi will be the greatest rider of all time should he continue to get better, he is already as good as anyone on any given day. He just has to cut out the mistakes. And I think Valentino is racing against great riders, Bayliss, Edwards, Biaatchi, Sete, Barros, Checa, Capirossi, I mean this is a highly talented field, KRJR is very good too, his bike is just piss. Bayliss and Edwards are phucking grueling riders, that will take your heart in a battle if you let them. Last year's WSBK title was phenom and we got to see Bayliss duke it out like that with Rossi once this year. I don't think his peers suck in any way, he is just that much better than any of them. Rarely are you going to get 2 greats battling it out in their primes together. To me this is a lot like Jordan's career, everyone else is just going to get miffed.

BDA116 · 10-13-2003, 4:49 PM

Every great champion says that of someone else. Spencer said the same thing of Hayden. Hell, Michael Schumacher said the same thing of Ralf. Nicky actually says Roger Lee is a better racer than himself. That's what it said on the outside. The inside thoughts are a different story.
Fact is, it is something that can never be compared. Doohan rode in an era where the competition was very fierce and the bikes were a bitch to ride.
Rossi is a dominant rider today and has broken all the records, but the bikes are easier to drive.
Prost and Senna drove F1 in an era where competition was fierce and the cars were a bitch to drive.
Michael is dominant today and has broken all the records, but the cars are easier to drive.
Would Rossi beat Doohan, Schwantz and Rainey in 1991-1994? Absolutely not. Would Doohan or Schwantz beat Rossi today? No.
Would Schumi beat Prost or Senna 1986-1992? Not quite.
Would Prost beat him today? No.
The comparisons can't be made. Suffice it to say that Rossi is the best GP rider currently out there. Schumi is the greatest F1 driver out there today.

Oh, and that rumor of Rossi going to F1? Never happen. He wouldn't be able to take getting lapped four times in a race.

deez · 10-13-2003, 4:52 PM

Rossi is a dominant rider today and has broken all the records, but the bikes are easier to drive.

Remember that he did win all 3 classes of 2smokers, including the bitch to ride 500's my man

Edit: That is the one thing people will never be able to say about Rossi that they really want to 'But he never rode in the two stroke era, so we will never know if he would have been etc. etc.' He did, 125, 250, and 500cc championships, every time he won the class the 2nd year out.

BDA116 · 10-13-2003, 4:57 PM

Yes, he rode the NSR 500. But is wasn't the same animal.
Unleaded fuel, completely different engine, etc......
The comparison still can't be made.

asiliat · 10-13-2003, 5:03 PM

The real question is, could Jackie Chan beat Bruce Lee?

phozed · 10-13-2003, 5:07 PM

Colin Young says Hayden's in line for the #1 spot at Repsol:

...based on this sort of form he is set to inherit the number one place at HRC subject to Rossi's departure.

Also - from crash.net:

Just when you thought Valentino Rossi's contract negotiations for next season couldn't get any more complicated, Ferrari president Luca di Montezemolo (pictured) has now invited the Italian to drive Michael Schumacher's world championship winning Formula One machine for 'a serious test, not a joke' - in what is interpreted as a move by Marlboro to tempt the five-times world champion towards Ducati next season.

more here

deez · 10-13-2003, 5:27 PM

Yeah I read that earlier. But Rossi quelled that off a couple of weeks ago, saying that if he did race cages, he'd like to do Rally stuff.

asiliat: Bruce Lee, no doubt.

2OHOH2 · 10-13-2003, 5:30 PM

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booth23 : But Rossi quelled that off a couple of weeks ago, saying that if he did race cages, he'd like to do Rally stuff.

Huh, I thought it was just the opposite

Baketech · 10-13-2003, 6:27 PM

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booth23 : Well you Hayden lovers can always hope that Vale quits for some sort of cage racing

I'll take that troll....and offer a gentleman's wager in return.

Assuming they stay on relatively similar machinery, and barring injury of either party, I will spot you a Hamilton that says Hayden will be competitive with Rossi by the 2nd half of the 04 season......

luvtolean · 10-13-2003, 7:08 PM

Uhh...Nicky's got another year on his contract, and he's going nowhere.

Barros and Nicky next year....

Repsol_69 · 10-14-2003, 1:15 AM

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Baketech : I will spot you a Hamilton that says Hayden will be competitive with Rossi by the 2nd half of the 04 season......

I'll see you Hamilton and raise you a Washington (took a pay cut... sorry! ) says Nicky beats Vale at least once next year. And NOT due to a crash. Just fair racing <--- poker face...

IMO The Kid is on his way to a career similar to that of Mick Doohan's. In fact its my honest opinion that Nicky would be the man that dethrones Vale.

I have to admit... Vale is the best rider out there right now, but Nicky will be taking him down.