Rossi with Yamaha through 2010

[XFBO]

Originally Posted by TrickLidz

To play devil's advocate, and in Larry's defense (I can't believe, I'm saying this...) does it say anything about Rossi staying with Yamaha on the I4.....or just that he's staying??
Maybe, he knows something we don't...(Rossi, I mean, not Larry)

My thoughts EXACTLY!!!!

But even so it has nothing to do with the bet that was made......cmooon Larry dont keep us waiting too long!

[johnyisthedevil]

now to me it sounds like he was saying that racing for Yamaha is more fun, and being motivated is easier being there. And maybe that is because it's more of a challenge for him to win on an inferior machine. 'Cause we all know that when it comes down to it Rossi is simply the finest rider to ever grace a bike with the presence of his ass, and furthermore that if Stoner and Pedrosa were not on superior equipment it would be no contest just like it was when Rossi was on a Honda. Remember those good ol' days when Rossi would just f*ck with people for 3/4 of the race and then check out like it was nothing? Well he left all of that behind to go ride a Yammy when it was absolutely the worst bike on the grid and I believe he was quoted as saying it was because he wanted a challenge when asked why he would sign a contract to ride the biggest POS out there. Just some food for thought and to play . . . well. . . my advocate.

[RCJAY]

Originally Posted by bsess

No need to play anyone's advocate. The bet was simply as follows:

Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop
Sure... but let's make it fun... if Rossi signs with Yamaha then I post a pic of me smooching an Yamaha I4s ass... and if Rossi doesn't sign with Yamaha then you'll post a pic of you smooching Mr.RC45's ass... (note I'll send you an RC45 model and you can smooch ass like my friend Orson (Mr Guzzi) had to do after loosing a bet)...

Nothing else remains to be discussed or done other than the submission of the required photo. BLS may be a Johnny-One-Note when it comes to his motorcycle obessesions but I'm certain that he's a man of integrity who always keeps his word. If he hasn't posted the picture yet, there's a good reason and if he's still breathing, it will surely be taken care of soon.

No wax lips, Larry!

That will be a classic moment

[Furious Styles]

Rossi picking the Yamaha has shit to do with it having better engine architecture. Your a fool to believe that. What the hell do you think he'd do? Go to Ducati? Race next to Stoner? Thats laughable in itself.

Rossi is a trail blazer. Simply put.
The only thing Rossi could do to improve his legacy would have been to uproot Burgess and himself, move next door to Kawasaki, lick his chops and then kick Caseys ass up and down the tarmac.
What prevents that? Age mostly... and the small fact he doesn't have to prove a damn thing, to anyone, anymore, except himself.

[sqd8r]

Originally Posted by TrickLidz

To play devil's advocate, and in Larry's defense (I can't believe, I'm saying this...) does it say anything about Rossi staying with Yamaha on the I4.....or just that he's staying??
Maybe, he knows something we don't...(Rossi, I mean, not Larry)

Nice sentiment but that's it.

Yamaha has won two titles with the I4 in Moto GP and has been in contention since inception despite debateable deficiencies in the I4 platform. If Yamaha was truly going to consider switching it would have to see an across-the-grid dominance by the V4. Honda's lack of success with the V4 is what is keeping Yamaha from going down a more costly and new path, ironic isn't it. Rossi and team-mates, factory and satellite, pace and level of contention on the I4 this season will see Yamaha remain true to its company mindset - build the bike buyers identify with and can ride not the bike dreams are made of which is the only place we will ever see a market competitive V4 from Honda.

[sqd8r]

Originally Posted by johnyisthedevil

now to me it sounds like he was saying that racing for Yamaha is more fun, and being motivated is easier being there. And maybe that is because it's more of a challenge for him to win on an inferior machine. 'Cause we all know that when it comes down to it Rossi is simply the finest rider to ever grace a bike with the presence of his ass, and furthermore that if Stoner and Pedrosa were not on superior equipment it would be no contest just like it was when Rossi was on a Honda. Remember those good ol' days when Rossi would just f*ck with people for 3/4 of the race and then check out like it was nothing? Well he left all of that behind to go ride a Yammy when it was absolutely the worst bike on the grid and I believe he was quoted as saying it was because he wanted a challenge when asked why he would sign a contract to ride the biggest POS out there. Just some food for thought and to play . . . well. . . my advocate.

Bold #1 - very debateable and the history books don't support it; three words: Agostini or Hailwood

Bold #2 - Three more words: Kawasaki and Suzuki. The Yamaha was never the biggest POS on the grid. Rossi is a legend already, he doesn't need anyone padding the facts on his behalf.

Bold #3 - Rossi left because of the control Honda had over his life. Yes he left for the challenge but lets be clear it was a calculated move which brought not only Rossi but the majority of his multiple title winning Honda team including the winningest team manager in Moto GP, J. Burgess.

The Yamaha was not a POS. Even demi-gods can't turn sh*t into silk.

[wdavis009]

Originally Posted by sqd8r

Bold #3 - Rossi left because of the control Honda had over his life. Yes he left for the challenge but lets be clear it was a calculated move which brought not only Rossi but the majority of his multiple title winning Honda team including the winningest team manager in Moto GP, J. Burgess.

That is debatable. Rossi himself has stated numerous times that the main reason he left was because he wasn't being challenged and had become bored. He claims if he had stayed at Honda he would have retired from motorcycle racing within a couple years. He also points to the fact he was tired of people claiming his winning was due to the bike, and wanted to prove the rider is more important than the bike. I am sure the atmosphere at HRC played a big role, but the lack of challenge and desire to prove his success wasn't due to the bike is what he himself always points to as the primary reasons for the move. Of course, I am sure some of those explanations are calculated on his part to ensure his legacy in motorcycle racing. I agree with your main point though...if he and Burgess didn't think the Yamaha had great potential they never would have gone there.

[dj_wawa]

someone remind me; who was on the Repsol Hondas when Gibernau was giving Rossi one hell of a year? Hayden and who? I don't think Pedro was in MotoGP at that time..

[sburns2421]

Originally Posted by dj_wawa

someone remind me; who was on the Repsol Hondas when Gibernau was giving Rossi one hell of a year? Hayden and who? I don't think Pedro was in MotoGP at that time..

Barros and Biaggi were Hayden's teammates, and Nicky outrode both of them.

[sburns2421]

Originally Posted by sqd8r

The Yamaha was not a POS. Even demi-gods can't turn sh*t into silk.

It was arguably the second best bike on the grid next to the Honda.

After 2003 (Ducati's first year), this is how I would rank them:
Honda
Yamaha
Ducati
Suzuki
Kawasaki
Team KR
WCM/Morowaki

So Rossi never has had the worst bike on the grid. Not by a long shot. His job in '04 was a little easier (but not to say easy) because:
1) Repsol Honda was in a state of flux (chaos?) with his crew's departure
2) He was the unquestioned #1 at Yamaha, and everyone at Yamaha was behind him.
3) Ducati screwed up the handling on the GP04, making it less competitive.
4) There really was not a rival tire. There were very few "Bridgestone" tracks (although IIRC Tamada won a couple that year on stones). Good riders on Bridgestones had basically no chance for wins at most tracks.

[RockyMt]

Another (albiet possibly minor) reason Vale left was the BROKEN promise of him keeping his RC211 championship winning bike, apparently that was a major issue at the time, Vale said "no bike, no contract" and Honda wouldn't budge.

-Rocky-

[sqd8r]

Originally Posted by RockyMt

Another (albiet possibly minor) reason Vale left was the BROKEN promise of him keeping his RC211 championship winning bike, apparently that was a major issue at the time, Vale said "no bike, no contract" and Honda wouldn't budge.

-Rocky-

I agree, a minor point.

Originally Posted by wdavis009

That is debatable. Rossi himself has stated numerous times that the main reason he left was because he wasn't being challenged and had become bored. He claims if he had stayed at Honda he would have retired from motorcycle racing within a couple years. He also points to the fact he was tired of people claiming his winning was due to the bike, and wanted to prove the rider is more important than the bike. I am sure the atmosphere at HRC played a big role, but the lack of challenge and desire to prove his success wasn't due to the bike is what he himself always points to as the primary reasons for the move. Of course, I am sure some of those explanations are calculated on his part to ensure his legacy in motorcycle racing. I agree with your main point though...if he and Burgess didn't think the Yamaha had great potential they never would have gone there.

Rossi like all the greats is a student of history and more importantly conscious of his place in that history. Rossi celebrates every milestone crossed in Moto GP and he knows he's solidified his place in racing by making the switch to Yamaha.

The greatest motivation IMO for Rossi leaving Honda wasn't the challenge as so many seem to think. It was his place in history. Rossi's mentor Mick Doohan to this day suffers from the 'what if he wasn't on a Honda' question despite his multiple world titles gained while enduring career ending injuries. Somehow winning on the winningest manufacturers motorcycle seems to diminish the herculean efforts of these riders despite the fact that the margins for victory are often within 10ths of seconds.

Rossi's switch, akin to Lawson's historic switch back in the day, ensures that Rossi's legacy is not besmirched by similar allegations, which TBH would be credible, for lack of a better word, allegations considering the overall dominance of the V5 in its day. The move to Yamaha was calculated to not only ensure his place in history with more titles but to also ensure that the focus on his place in history would be on the rider not the machine.

[wdavis009]

Originally Posted by sqd8r

Rossi like all the greats is a student of history and more importantly conscious of his place in that history. Rossi celebrates every milestone crossed in Moto GP and he knows he's solidified his place in racing by making the switch to Yamaha.

The greatest motivation IMO for Rossi leaving Honda wasn't the challenge as so many seem to think. It was his place in history. Rossi's mentor Mick Doohan to this day suffers from the 'what if he wasn't on a Honda' question despite his multiple world titles gained while enduring career ending injuries. Somehow winning on the winningest manufacturers motorcycle seems to diminish the herculean efforts of these riders despite the fact that the margins for victory are often within 10ths of seconds.

Rossi's switch, akin to Lawson's historic switch back in the day, ensures that Rossi's legacy is not besmirched by similar allegations, which TBH would be credible, for lack of a better word, allegations considering the overall dominance of the V5 in its day. The move to Yamaha was calculated to not only ensure his place in history with more titles but to also ensure that the focus on his place in history would be on the rider not the machine.

I think I already said that in my post, but in fewer words. Which was greater, desire to be remotivated or the desire to overcome "it's the bike" argument, only Rossi knows and we can only speculate. He has spoken at length about both. Based on his explanation for staying with Yamaha another 2 years (there are more important things, or equally important things, than results at this point in his career) I wouldn't underestimate the desire to be challenged.

[Mashuri]

Let's get this thread back on topic. Oh, Laaaaaarrrryyyy!

[RCJAY]

Originally Posted by Mashuri

Let's get this thread back on topic. Oh, Laaaaaarrrryyyy!

BTW where is Mr. V4 ................

[sqd8r]

Originally Posted by RCJAY

BTW where is Mr. V4 ................

Curled in a V4 feotal position, rocking himself to sleep while chanting, "the V4 is superior, the V4 is superior..."

[harada]

Originally Posted by sqd8r

Curled in a V4 feotal position, rocking himself to sleep while chanting, "the V4 is superior, the V4 is superior..."

although I am not an active speaker here... but I am with many buddies here.....

Waiting for Mr V4 photo.....

[sqd8r]

Just a thought.

When the picture does eventually show up it should be made an avatar option.

[bsess]

Larry is probably on vacation somewhere.

[mrgrn]

Originally Posted by RCJAY

BTW where is Mr. V4 ................

you called