Rarely do I start a thread on MGP. Rarer still one focused solely on VR, but given the apropo title from Crash and his venomous reaction so early on in the season I'm sure this will be a recurring theme this year.
I'm also certain that I am not alone in thinking that VR is prepping the exit visa. He had a similar pattern of behaviour when he was at Honda and Yamaha. A complaint here, a negative comment there, and that was when he was winning . Now, and so early in the season, he is lashing out directly at Ducati - turning the corner from this point on will be difficult imo.
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Rossi stated that the bike was unridable, and it has most of the same problems that it did last season, at least for him. He refused to see Nick Hayden's sixth place as a glimmer of hope...
I agree with J. Ryder. I found his comments unprofessional and largely unfair, dare I say overdramatic, given that it was known during winter testing that the new parts wouldn't be forthcoming for several races. So is this VR realising his mortality and/or VR being smart and prepping for a silly season exit; hoping for a Honda or Yamaha factory ride?
The problem I think is that I don't believe there is any room on either factory team for the Rossi of today, nearing the end of his career, still demanding large coin, perhaps becoming a bit difficult to work with while still a media darling or devil if you give him the right or wrong bike. Also, I think the other manufacturers are willing to accept that the issue isn't just the bike; afterall Rossi was on the one who pushed the idea that it was the rider not the bike. Once again, VR is being headed by his team-mate, a recurring result of late so how much is the bike v. rider? If Hayden betters his results end of season from last year where does that put this debate of bike or Rossi?
OTOH, as predicted by many including myself, Ducati is wearing it. I doubt this will impact Ducati sales whatsoever; afterall Ducatista are faithful to Ducati, not VR. In contrast the Rossi faithful will have traded in their Repsol for the R1 M1 rep and now for the Ducati rep, when it comes - so their impact on overall sales is negligible. Ducati will still sell a shedload of Rossi gear in the short run and the new Panigale is gorgeous in everything but name.
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Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
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Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
My best learned conjecture is Rossi on Suzuki... but first he should check
Suzuki's bank account and second gauge their Gp commitment... after all
historically speaking Mr.Suzuki's Gp commitment has not been as consistent or
as strong as Mr.Honda's...
Poor Vale must be longing for the good old days at Yamaha (maybe that I4 wasn't so long and ponderous after all, huh Larry?)
What Rossi longs for is someone who listens because when he signed for
Yamaha he tested 5 different engine and frame combinations... he picked the
best of the 5 and won the first race and took the championship... so far Ducati
has anted up one bike especially for Rossi...
The I4 cranks are still long and ponderous problem for Yamaha or they wouldn't
go to the trouble of a power robbing jack shaft in order to spin it backwards...
the V4 still sports the most advantages in MotoGp or Yamaha engineering would
not have consider designing their own version for the 1000 rule change...
Are you sure they are selling a truckload of merchandise? Italian magazines have said time and time again VR merchandise took a nose dive at the end of 2008 already and has been declining at a fast pace ever since. It's such a well known fact some Italian chaps even made a spoof video of it.
As far as bike sales are concerned the two main Ducati breadwinners right now are the Multistrada 1200 (in Europe) and the Diavel (in the US and Japan). People don't buy them because of VR but because they are Ducati's and they are fine bikes. The Panigale will do well on its own merits.
Let's face it, as talented and charismatic VR is, Rossi-craze was the by-product of the over optimistic climate of 2000-2008 when people had money to burn. People who bought Yamaha FZ6's because of VR are now struggling to fill their family car gas tanks. People who had no interest in bikes but bought only because it was fashionable have now sold (if they found a buyer) and moved on.
Yes, people still follow races but do it so because it's free on TV (at least in most of Europe). They won't scramble for the dealer or the merchandise stall if VR wins again. The golden age is over and won't come back.
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Shame on me, my heart is black.
Let's face it, as talented and charismatic VR is, Rossi-craze was the by-product of the over optimistic climate of 2000-2008 when people had money to burn. People who bought Yamaha FZ6's because of VR are now struggling to fill their family car gas tanks. People who had no interest in bikes but bought only because it was fashionable have now sold (if they found a buyer) and moved on.
Yes, people still follow races but do it so because it's free on TV (at least in most of Europe). They won't scramble for the dealer or the merchandise stall if VR wins again. The golden age is over and won't come back.
He's a realist, he knows he's perhaps not at the level of Casey (Stoner) and Lorenzo but he certainly believes he can race with the rest of them," Burgess said.
I hate journalists, they are unable to match titles and core of their articles.
After all, what the heck if Rossi's carreer reachs its end in Motogp?
9 titles in 125, 250, 500, MOTOGP...the day another rider could show the same prize list is not for today, nor tomorrow.
If Ducati is not able to make a good bike for riders that risk their life on tracks, so Rossi shouldn't go on with them. Break your contract pal, tell them to go fxck themselves in greece and get back your freedom, even if it is costly.
Perhaps it's time to have your own team, your own bikes: The best mirmillo could become the best lanista.
He's now not as fast as Casey or Lolly, IMO, and any mental/streetsmarts advantage he had, is out the window.
Sad, really...but that's life...
He MAY not be as fast as those two , but actual racing (slicing and dicing for position) is more than just outright speed as in qualifying ; and I think VR still has the moves and the will to battle for wins . A few days ago I assumed that surely Ducati had listened to , and given him , what he asked for in a bike , but considering his latest comments , I'm not so sure .
A few days ago I assumed that surely Ducati had listened to , and given him , what he asked for in a bike , but considering his latest comments , I'm not so sure .
well, it wouldn't be the first time a company (or racing team) chooses to not listen to its rider, opting instead to give them what THEY think is needed.....
Like I said, they let Ferrari tell them what they needed in a motor, and while it has gobs of power, it's mostly unusable. Couple that with a chassis with less feel than a wax Marilyn Monroe, and tires that don't work, and that's just the combination any rider needs, right? Ducati won't face that their results were getting fewer and farther between since 2007. Without the mad Aussie to slide the unridable bitch around cavalier to all costs, it's a wonder they are even in the top six. Remember when Marco asked for changes and Ducati gave him the number to a shrink? Their own arrogance has sealed their fate, and I can only hope the Krouts can see through the pasta and vino, and finally get it all sorted...
Like I said, they let Ferrari tell them what they needed in a motor, and while it has gobs of power, it's mostly unusable. Couple that with a chassis with less feel than a wax Marilyn Monroe, and tires that don't work, and that's just the combination any rider needs, right? Ducati won't face that their results were getting fewer and farther between since 2007. Without the mad Aussie to slide the unridable bitch around cavalier to all costs, it's a wonder they are even in the top six. Remember when Marco asked for changes and Ducati gave him the number to a shrink? Their own arrogance has sealed their fate, and I can only hope the Krouts can see through the pasta and vino, and finally get it all sorted...
Audi/VW (or whatever the corporate name is) is not the least bit interested in Ducati Moto GP results, IMO.
In fact I would not be surprised to see the Corse Dept. downsize Moto GP in the coming seasons. A company the size of that German conglomerate views Ducati as a retail brand. Ducati has been on the road to Harley Davidson type market position for some time. That racing is part of that is only in the brand image identity. Superbike more than filled that branding issue.
As long as the bikes sell it is the bottom line that will dictate the racing budget.
That's not to say Audi/VW/Porsche doesn't value racing as a selling/development tool. Brands have been built on it (Honda as well). But it can become an investment of diminishing returns in the market place.
Yes perhaps, from a marketing standpoint, but it is also true that Porsche will not race unless they know they can win. They have the engineering and resources to make that happen, and make no mistake about it, they have built their reputation in motorsports...
Yes perhaps, from a marketing standpoint, but it is also true that Porsche will not race unless they know they can win. They have the engineering and resources to make that happen, and make no mistake about it, they have built their reputation in motorsports...
Absolutely Porsche has done that. With a quirky, at best, rear engine, air cooled design. There are some parallels with Ducati on that level. Porsche moved on from the corporate "image" engineering and designs that continued to win. Ducati started down that road with the V4 but then seemed to hit some sort of glass wall. Now with the aluminum frame Ducati might be able to move on from (as they have with the frame) image based engineering.
Absolutely Porsche has done that. With a quirky, at best, rear engine, air cooled design. There are some parallels with Ducati on that level. Porsche moved on from the corporate "image" engineering and designs that continued to win. Ducati started down that road with the V4 but then seemed to hit some sort of glass wall. Now with the aluminum frame Ducati might be able to move on from (as they have with the frame) image based engineering.
I'd love an "image based engineering" Panigale. Weird, eh!
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I'd love an "image based engineering" Panigale. Weird, eh!
Superbikes, isn't that word ultimately synonymous with image based engineering; the Italians aren't the only ones subscribing to this school of thought imo.
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2011 Husqvarna TE630
2011 BMW S1000RR
Sour grapes are a lesser man's fruit.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Busy Little Shop The [fact] that the RC45 was a "relative failure" is what matters most...
Valentino Rossi lashes out
. Now, and so early in the season, he is lashing out directly at Ducati - turning the corner from this point on will be difficult imo. 
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