Motorcycle Forums

You see Wosi..

..had you said all of that in your original post, I would have happily and willingly fallen in line with the majority and congratulated you on a fair and reasoned post. All this bollocks you come out with regarding Stoner really doesn't become you..

Wosi

Also..take a look at the drop in audience when Rossi broke his leg, both at the circiuts and TV viewing figures. They make unpalatable reading for fans like you..but facts is facts.

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I don't disagree with those stats. But they do suggest that Vale has brought many 'fly by nights' to the sport. Surely the only conclusion? I've a couple of Flo fans who have become disillusioned with him over the past 2 seasons. I wonder why. Any sport needs real fans.  

Where were we

Was that it Wosi - your fella was on the ropes and that's all you had to come back with, a couple of soft jabs and a poke to the ribs..

Porkies? - Look, we know all about the pay cut and yes, anyone would be pissed off. But before then Rossi had been dicking Yamaha around for some time with threats of leaving Motogp and going to F1, rallying or whatever. Ferrari were giving him drives in their cars and noises were being made about allowing teams to run a third car, just so Ferrari could be accommodated in their desire to run Rossi. It was getting to the stage where it was becoming more than just speculation and Yamaha must have been wondering what was going on, especially as Rossi was stalling re-signing with them at the time (2008). You could understand Yamaha wondering if the same thing was going to happen next time around as he continued to talk car racing. Add to that his desire to oust Lorenzo from the team or else, throw in Ducati's 2009 approach to Lorenzo and suddenly, Yamaha could have been left without a big name for 2011. They reacted as they saw fit and made sure they got Lorenzo. No sentiment in business - any business. Lorenzo had proved his potential with wins (and that was when not armed with equal equipment)

Saying Yamaha were ungrateful was looking at the situation with blinkers. Winning titles is a two way thing, the rider needs the bike and the manufacturer that provides the bike needs the rider. Neither is bigger than the other. If you talk of gratitude, where was Rossi's to Honda, for giving him his chance in Motogp on a proven bike (6 of the previous 7 titles) Instead he said it was him not the bike and stomped off to Yamaha - did he not remember the Honda's previous achievements? The 2 years at Ducati have proved that it's not all rider, so was his attitude justified back then?

To talk of a manufacturer being ungrateful to one rider after giving them wins is hypocritical, given the view taken of Stoner's time at Ducati. You and others constantly refer to his AWOL period when it is on medical record that he was sick. Ducati management and Marlboro appeared to not give a shit. Had they handled it better, maybe he wouldn't have just taken off. These are the people remember whose level of sympathy towards Melandri was to send him to a shrink... Stoner returned after the problem was identified and treated and won again first time back. In the meantime, Ducati had attempted to replace him with Lorenzo – could you not say that was thoughtless and a huge ingratitude towards a rider who had given them their only title and who was continuing to win for them? Did they care? Did they fck. The only rider to give them a title and they'd have dropped him like they would your sticky yellow undies…

Double standards? Again.

I will however, pay Rossi due respect for going back to Yamaha and pairing up with Lorenzo as although it was his only option to remain with a chance of winning, he must have had to swallow hard before going through with it. It could backfire badly. On the other hand, he could still be a force to reckon with once he gets his confidence back. I wouldn't rule out a win or two if I had to bet on it.

As for the biggest draw in Motogp - undoubdtedly - but that to me is an indication of hangers on following a personality rather than true enthusiasts of motorcycle sport who watch to watch racers race and that is ably demonstrated by your statement of viewing figures - and also by the fact that people were streaming out of Mugello long before the end when they realised he wasn't going to win - no interest in their other two home riders.

That to me is hardly a benefit to the sport, when a percentage of watchers are interested only in a rider, not the actual racing.
 

Bulto

This statement from your post  -

 ''As for the biggest draw in Motogp - undoubdtedly - but that to me is an indication of hangers on following a personality rather than true enthusiasts of motorcycle sport who watch to watch racers race and that is ably demonstrated by your statement of viewing figures''

contradicts your own argument - if as you state Rossi is the biggest draw in Motogp it means that the majority of race fans undoubtedly follow a personality and can in no way be classed as 'hangers on' who represent a minority.

The reason Rossi has been able to attract such a following is because - like it or loathe it -  he  is a giant personality but not only  that has backed it up with his ability to win a world championship in every class of MotoGp including 7 in the premier class. How long will it be before we see the like of that  again ?

As RevB said on another thread it's about entertainment as well as the racing.

RevB

Elemantary to you and me but not to some poor misguided souls !