[CBR929RE]

Originally Posted by rokitt51

In the past it had been said that Rossi has so much talent that he could ride anything past its faults and dominate. Well to me it looks like that is being proven to be false. Its not that the yamaha is all that bad i dont think, but its all of the competition on the field. Point blank, there are riders out there that are surpassing Rossi.

no one can ride around a bike that's sh*t the bed. Rossi had a few mechanical DNFs this year.

I think if his tires weren't hit or wildly miss he would have been right there with Stoner all year even with less power and less top speed.

[billyblade]

i agree with dan,i think the bike is now the issue with rossi.he has the tyres now so if he gets the bike sorted i think he will not be stopped in 2008,he is by far the best rider out there in my opinion,in some races last year he stayed with stoner and the doctor had the slowest bike in the paddock it just shows rider talent,

[FB1000inPA]

Stoner was hot, had a great bike, and no accidents.

Give Rossi a great bike (I vote for the new Blade ) and he will win the next title. Reason is, he is always hot and can win at any time if the bike is somewhat ready for it. Last season his bike was trash.

[nedro]

Originally Posted by .OrgOwner

Lets take a poll and some feedback on this question. Will Rossi win another world title or has the torch been passed?

I don't see any, "Rolling on the floor, laughing my ass off at the question." choice?
So I guess I can't participate.

[ptlcb1]

Rossi is not done. You can bet he will be up front. He will have a better bike this year to compete with. He has the tires now. And he doesnt have the off track issues to deal with as he did last year! In terms of race craft, he is still the best! Alot will depend on how good a bike the Yamaha is this year. Thats the question that needs to be answered...

[Bigtoe]

We will all see soon enough.

[dan.slabbert@gm]

after watching the Qatar race i'm not so sure about my earlier posts regarding Rossi's brilliance!

The young guns r talented & equipped with much testicular fortitude! Stoner just got on with after a mighty coming together in overtaking & just rode so sweetly (on Bridgestones). Lorenzo 2nd on a YAMAHA on Michelins, then the usual suspect Pedrosa & Rossi (Bridgestone) gets taken by Davizioso - thought he should have prevented that. Then look how well Toseland did on the non factory Yam (way down on grunt).

I'll wait for another couple of races (& check my PVR) & let u know. he can't blame the bike - the front row of the grid was Yam

[.OrgOwner]

I said it in the results thread for the first round of 2008 - I think he's done and the torch has been passed. Stoner is the new Rossi. Can't say it is all bike as the other Ducati finished way down.

[dan.slabbert@gm]

Originally Posted by .OrgOwner

I said it in the results thread for the first round of 2008 - I think he's done and the torch has been passed. Stoner is the new Rossi. Can't say it is all bike as the other Ducati finished way down.

Agreed. Dunno wots with Melandri tho! Same bike dunno bout the tyres. But he just looks so uncomfortable.

The hot shots seem 2 b Stoner, Lorenzo & lets not forget Toseland on the underpowered tech 3. Wot, i hear u say - wot about Perosa? Nah - I rate him as a Biaggi if he's lucky. In fact if Edwards loses some weight & retrieves the killer instinct, he could beat him. Nothing much 2 say bout Hayden, even though he's on 07 - seems 06 was his year

[TheJackal]

Originally Posted by dan.slabbert@gm

Are u outta yer mind?! I agree with McLovin - the bike is way off the mark. Obviously people know that in 07 Yamaha are crap - there are only 4 in MotoGP.

No way is the '08 Yamaha off the mark....just take a look a Jorge Lorenzo's result in Qatar, 2nd place...miles ahead Pedrosa in 3rd!

When Toseland gests the pneumatic valve engine for Estoril I think Rossi will have even more competition!

Face it, Rossi has had his day (or years)...Casey Stoner is the new Mick Doohan!

[dan.slabbert@gm]

Originally Posted by TheJackal

No way is the '08 Yamaha off the mark....just take a look a Jorge Lorenzo's result in Qatar, 2nd place...miles ahead Pedrosa in 3rd!

When Toseland gests the pneumatic valve engine for Estoril I think Rossi will have even more competition!

Face it, Rossi has had his day (or years)...Casey Stoner is the new Mick Doohan!

Dude, that's last year's news! Read what i sed this year, this week! We're singing from the same hymn sheet (almost).

remind me who Doohan is again? (kidding)

[Bigtoe]

Casey Stoner sure had it going on in Qatar. I think Ducati sure has the rules on their side when it comes to WSBK and MotoGp. Cause they got it goin on.

[spiral]

Give it a few races then we will see how Rossi is. I wonder what was up at Qatar he was not good at all.

For now........the Yamaha is not off the mark, but needs a bit more power. I can't wait till Toseland gets the pneumatic valve engine. He was class at Qatar.

[ptlcb1]

Casey Stoner is a very gifted rider, but to compare him to Mick Doohan??? Way too early for that. I may agree if they were still racing 500s. Very few could hop on a 500 and do well, like they can on todays 800cc bikes. The 500s truly seperated the men from the boys. There was no traction control. Any of those guys back in the 500cc era, could ride todays bikes well, but very few of todays young riders, could hop on a 500 and do well. Two totally differents worlds when comparing 500s and todays 800s.

[low-rider]

casey stoner is very good.no doubt about that. and combination ducati/bridgestone is good to. i think beside stoner important role will have also toseland, lorenzo and pedrosa. but i think that if rossi had a better bike he would do much better. i don't think he's finished. if he was on honda or ducati also i think stoner would have a lot of hard work to stay on top. i don't think yamaha can match ducati or honda at the moment...yamaha is good bike but not that good. and you have to know that certain bike will not feel the same or be natural to every rider. for example...maybe dimensions and handling and power curve on my fireblade are perfect to me for riding but when other rider seats on my bike he will say that it doesn't handle good.maybe other person will not be satisfied. maybe honda was much better in handling for rossi then yamaha is...

[denzee]

Originally Posted by Bigtoe

Casey Stoner sure had it going on in Qatar. I think Ducati sure has the rules on their side when it comes to WSBK and MotoGp. Cause they got it goin on.

Ducati has the displacement advantage in WSB (which is only new this season) but what advantage does Ducati have in MotoGP Bigtoe? Of course other than Italian Red Passion. lol

[ptlcb1]

Rossi has done well on the Yamaha. He has won the championship on it. But for his entire GP career, he has been on Michelins. It is going to take some time to develop the feel needed to get the most out of the Bridgestones when they start to wear down. Look at the race. He made it to the front and stayed there for a while. So the Yamaha is capable of running up front. He and Lorenzo proved that. Edwards and Toseland finished in the top ten as well.

When the tires started to go away, is when Rossi faded back. Stoner knows what he can ask of his tires from the middle of the race until the end. He has more experience, more knowledge on the Bridgestones than Rossi has. Plus the Ducatis electonics package, traction control system, is much better than that of the Yamaha.

No one is going to overtake the Ducati on the straights. Ask the guys that have the MotoGP live timing package. Stoner was running consistantly 327 kpm down the front straight. Melandri was also in the 320's. No one was even close to matching their speeds. But I ask this question... Where would you rather have the advantage, on a race track? The straight, which there is only 1 each lap, OR in the corners, where there are at least 12 of them each lap??? I raced for 5 yrs, but mainly do track days now. I run in the advanced class. I can lap faster than some 600s and even 1000's on my home track, on my 400. Sure, they crush me down the front straight, but they always have to pass me back, when we get back to the front straight. My advantage is in the corners. Tires play a important role in having that advantage...

When has Rossi ever took over the lead and then faded as he did last weekend??? I can not remember. Two reasons why that happened. Mechanical issues with the bike, or tire issues...

[dan.slabbert@gm]

When has Rossi ever took over the lead and then faded as he did last weekend??? I can not remember. Two reasons why that happened. Mechanical issues with the bike, or tire issues...

Or testicular fortitiude.....? But based on the dives up the inside & later braking for the first 11 laps guess I agree with "ptlcb1" comments above. Personally I think that Lorenzo was a revelation & watch Toseland if he gets some HP. Lorenzo poled which is good but not definitive (check out Troy Corser in WSBK) - what impressed was his race composure under pressure. Lollipop boy has the skill, balls & a mature head on young shoulders. Davioso wasn't bad either!

dan

[ptlcb1]

It is a revelation to see those new guys running up front! Great racing, I think, is what we all want to see every race weekend. Guys battling for the lead all the way to the end, is what keeps us on the edge of our seats, until the checkered flag. Its quite boring knowing who is going to win before the race even starts. I enjoy watching the 125s and 250s. Many times, those guys are closely battling from start to finish and you never really know who is going to win! Of course, it would be nice to see a Honda on top of the podium in those classes. Probably wont happen, but the racing is great!

[marius]

I know it will never happen but it would be intresting seeing everybody on the same bikes and tyres.Wonder who will take the checkered flag

[dicknose]

Originally Posted by marius

I know it will never happen but it would be intresting seeing everybody on the same bikes and tyres.Wonder who will take the checkered flag

It could depend on the bike and tyres.
Put Rossi on the Ducati and maybe Stoner would still beat him because the bike suits him.
Put them both on a Honda (for neutral ground) and Rossi might win.

[Ninja95]

Still the Doctor... and always will be!!

[.OrgOwner]

Originally Posted by marius

I know it will never happen but it would be intresting seeing everybody on the same bikes and tyres.Wonder who will take the checkered flag

Stoner is the best rider right now so he's going in with the best chance.

[marius]

the next race in spain will be intresting i think after that race i can say is rossi finished or not due to the fact it has short straights cause lets face it that ducati is fast.but i keep my fingers cross and hope he makes it.it will be nice if he can win one more time.his contract expires the end of the year wonder if he is going to stay

[jacobflyin]

I think Rossi will win one or 2 more at leat one on the yamaha I also am not a fan of Rossi but the guy is fast and if he gets a 800cc title he will be the only person to hold a title in every CC class from the 500 2 stroke to now that would be a great victory.

To be frank as long as Stoner does not win I am cool with anyone else, I would like to see a Honda of corse but any one but Stoner and the DUC look at the post Lanbrown droped one victory for Duc and thats all you hear, O you still ride a Honda can't aford the Ducati the funny part is I still am waiting for all my friends with the Duc's at the end of the road!

[jkobflys]

Rossi is back, defenetly taking adbantage of the Bridgestones sttifer tire as is Stoner.
not to say that its all about the tires, Lorenzo and Edwards are Riding the hell out of the Yamaha on Michellins, with the amount of talent riding for yamaha they should have a good amount of ideas to improve on, during the remainder of the season.

I think Rossi will batle Lorenzo at the end.
But Lorenzo Wins.

[.OrgOwner]

Well you know what they say, when the flag drops... It looks like it's going to be a great season anyway. I am still tipping Stoner, I think he's down but not out.