posted Jul 1, 2009

MountNebo - I'm surprised by the depth of your conspiracy theory.

Overate the guy, I think the issue is more that people underestimate how good he has been. If your flattering Doohan who was on the best machinery with Burgess in tow lets not forget then how can you concievably ignore Rossi as better.

The current field of top 4 riders is pretty packed with talent. Previously, the domination of Rossi on the Honda may have obscured the view but a worthy winner he has been.

To speculate back to Ago, Hailwood et al is always difficult to judge. My father who watched those guys rates Rossi above them with no direspect to them. Others find it hard to judge while people like yourself say "no way". Personally, I can't see how you can truly judge it. Machinery alone is so different how can you say Ago would have paced around the TT like Jefferies?
A circuit were truth be told the bikes are just too fast for it, but I'm not going to diss the TT.

"Agostini won his races in seasons with less fixtures against guys like Hailwood". Does that mean the world championships were easier to come by? (devils)
Your deluding yourself with the misty thoughts of the good ole days, great though they most definately were, move on.

Better racers, I don't see it.
show-pony!? - ur deluded by the fanfare and not the racing.
lack of respect - no more than any other who wanted to be the best and that includes AGO.
lack of class - take it or leave it. I prefer a guy with personality rather than a F1 bod.

price of tickets at Donnington!!?? WHAT. GP's were dying he helped inject life back into it when WSB was clearly the better racers spectacle. Do you really think he's phoning the circuits and stating the entry price. Don't tell me Rossi is responsible for the global financial melt down too. Nah, ur right he's the guy who p*&^(d my pension away and sold gold off cheap not that Brown fella.

Working class - you sound more like an elitist snob. I've been riding for 20+ years and I welcome Rossi and will be sorry to see him go. Luckily for us race fans we have the talents of Stoner, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Simoncelli, Smith and Spies etc etc waiting in the wings to keep us happy.

Go watch F1, they don't drive round with chickens, so I hear and it's really exciting at the start and during the overtakes around laps 30 when they change tyres or fuel or something.

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posted Jul 1, 2009

"Biaggi, Abe, Roberts, Barros, Gibernau, Hayden"


Are you serious? Roberts? Abe? Hayden? Come on! If you're counting Hayden or Roberts as some of the best in our generation...

Personally I really rate Lorenzo and I think that he's better than all those guys put together. A proper win it or bin it racer in the mould of Schwantz.

I'm also certain that if Kato hadn't died Rossi would have been annihilated on a regular basis, but I guess we can only specualte about that one.

When it comes to ticket prices too...

In 2000 tickets to Donno were about 25 quid - tops. The crowds might have been sparce, but at least you were surrounded by genuine motorcycling fans instead of 100,000 star-struck sycophants.

I haven't lived in the UK for a few years now, but you can guarantee that I'll think twice about paying 3 times that price to watch the same guy win, because it's too expensive.

Heck I've made the trip to Phillip Island a couple of times and as much as I love the place I can't afford to do that again any time soon.

Give me the BSB's any day.

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posted Jul 1, 2009

If you don't believe that the numbers will suffer at the GP's when Rossi goes, then at least look at what happened in F1 when the glory days were over and people were left paying 100 quid to watch unemotional racers dominating.

The GP's were booming in the times of Rainey, Schwantz, Gardiner and Lawson. There were more guys racing than there are now and spectator numbers/sponsorship was great.

Then they all left and Doohan took over.

What do you think is going to happen when Rossi leaves?

Do you think that the uninitiated masses are going to pony up 100 quid a ticket to see an emotionless Pons product lapping everyone?

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posted Jul 2, 2009

"If you don't believe that the numbers will suffer at the GP's when Rossi goes, then at least look at what happened in F1 when the glory days were over and people were left paying 100 quid to watch unemotional racers dominating."

The British F1 GP was a sell-out again as it has been for many years so not sure what you mean here.

"The GP's were booming in the times of Rainey, Schwantz, Gardiner and Lawson. There were more guys racing than there are now and spectator numbers/sponsorship was great."

Actually the crowd at Donington was pretty sparce, so again don't know what you mean here.


"Do you think that the uninitiated masses are going to pony up 100 quid a ticket to see an emotionless Pons product lapping everyone?"
The price for general admission for 2010 is £48, not £100, so again, don't know what you mean here. And Pons? do you mean Puig?

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posted Jul 2, 2009

As I said, the Rossi "MotoGP" Honda years were more down to him regardless of who was on the other bikes. Biaggi and Gibernau are racers of that I am certain. Rossi obscures that, crikey we are talking about one of THE best riders of all time - he is not an ordinary racer and that is why he is lamented the way he is.

Re racers I talk of Lorenzo, Stoner, Dovi, Pedrosa, Capirossi, Bayliss and to an extent Melandri/Edwards. You pick on Hayden etc as it's an easy jibe no more than that. Again Rossi obscures the view.

Prices and numbers, when did GP racing reach anywhere near the popularity it does today and that's more down to SB enthusiasts attending GP's in the 90's and the MotoGP era not a sudden explosion of Rossi fans. The bikes relate better in my view to what we get on the road and that's why SB is so popular amoungst many other things.

F1 - don't watch, not a fan, did watch it in the 70's and 80's when they had proper drivers and entertaining races - tech has spoilt that. It's no longer the driver but more the car.

The only thing we agree on is Lorenzo is pure quality. When Rossi leaves, a talent such as him will still hold the masses. Those who leave with him, that's their choice.
Lorenzo, you telling me he isn't excuberant in his celebrations, even if he is, so what. Popularity of the sport brings it's own rewards so stop whinging(Bradley smith et al for instance). Would you rather have 20/30k crowds and less race investment?

If you don't like it then don't watch it, that's why I don't watch F1. Typical ex pat dissing home, it was better in my day, yawn. B*(&llks. Loose the chip and enjoy the racing, these past few years have brought back what we missed from years gone by so why complain.

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posted Jul 2, 2009

That's the point. I've stopped watching and I've stopped going to GP's. I want to start going again.

I've heard enough bad stuff about Rossi to put me off the bloke for good and I don't feel happy when I see him enjoying success.

If you don't believe how (on a public level) Rossi can influence a guys career for the worst... I ask you to wait for the next person to get on the wrong side of him and see how long it is before everyone else sides with Rossi.

Biaggi, Gibernau, Stoner etc. etc. People whinged about them... but has anyone ever stopped and thought why? Was it because Rossi didn't like them?

Seriously though, if you don't believe the late 80's/early 90's weren't the best days of motorcycling... then you obviously weren't there.

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posted Jul 3, 2009

"I've heard enough bad stuff about Rossi to put me off the bloke for good and I don't feel happy when I see him enjoying success."

It's fair enough, you don't like him but do you want to see a racer or 'feel happy at someone enjoying their success'?


"If you don't believe how (on a public level) Rossi can influence a guys career for the worst... I ask you to wait for the next person to get on the wrong side of him and see how long it is before everyone else sides with Rossi."

But how is this any different to your dislike of Rossi. The general public can have their favourites and those riders they don't like - so what? The factories pick their riders on results. It's well documented that Rossi didn't want Lorenzo as a team-mate but Davide Brivio is quoted as saying Yamaha run the team not Valentino. What the public feel is on no consequence to a riders career.

"Biaggi, Gibernau, Stoner etc. etc. People whinged about them... but has anyone ever stopped and thought why? Was it because Rossi didn't like them?"

Not unlike you whingeing about Rossi?

"Seriously though, if you don't believe the late 80's/early 90's weren't the best days of motorcycling... then you obviously weren't there."

I was their, and there was some great racing, but there was also times of dominance. There certainly weren't the huge crowds or vast amounts of sponsorhip you talk about though. I've been watching since the 70's and I defy anyone to come up with a better season of close racing than 2006

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posted Jul 3, 2009

Well if you arn't watching then you've missed some classic races these past few years and they all involved 46. Of course the 800 era has taken time to deliver on those few and far between moments.

Don't go blaming Rossi for the idiots of Donny a few years back when they were booing, we all slated those guys. Stoner in the meantime just hasn't endeared too many in his fan club. By the way, I'm a fan of his, although I do get fed up with some of his moods. The difference is I can balance my opinion as I love his style.

Biaggi, love em. I understand what your saying but we can't stop the uneducated with their gut reaction. We all have our favourites, we just have to temper how we care to show it.
Lorenzo isn't everyones cup of tea. Me I love the guy, he truly is the next big thing and I said that yonks back, crikey I had him down for the first Rookie top class Champ(pity about the highsides or should I say Michelins).

Rossi knows he's a threat but Lorenzo has been very clever with his media/Rossi handling and I think that's the main difference to all previous contenders. Now the racing is the key factor and I don't think that'll change. Finally, a guy who can step up to the mark and show the metal to handle it all.

The top racers of the past weren't any different to Rossi. The problem has been Rossi's rivals haven't had that mental strength that takes a top sportsman to the top and keeps him there. This is why I disargee with you, you're just rattled by his personality that's all. Lawson, Rainey, Sheene, Doohan etc etc all had/have what Rossi has it's just unfortunate that we've had to wait so long for others of that ilk.

Seriously, 80's/90's - I don't recall disagreeing, quite the contrary. But, I won't right of the 990 era or the later 800's as missing some of that spark. I was pretty fond of the 70's but just because I didn't mention it doesn't mean I disliked it.

You have your view, fine. You don't like Rossi, fine. But to indicate he isn't the quality of rider he most definately is, is short sighted. As I've said numerous times before, personality goes a long way but it's the racing I'm interested in.

King Lorenzo!!!. I've had enough of this topic.

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posted Jul 3, 2009

Rossif - I'm with you all the way mate. Wish I hadn't written such an essay

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posted Jul 3, 2009

Fair enough lads. I promise to watch the next race (whatever time they play it in Australia!).

Enjoy the season!

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