OT: End of an era or start of greatest comeback?

[cageyar]

There may have been more to Rossi's off results this season than just the Mugello crash. Coming off shoulder surgery AND trying to tame the Ducati GP11 is quite a challenge even for arguably the greatest road racer of all time.
So let's get down it. Is he going to capture an 8th 500/MotoGP championship and 10th championship overall or is the Rossi era over?

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/9000783.stm

[sgoodwin]

I voted no because it'll be his first year on it & it may take some time to sort out for him. He also has some up & coming stars to contend with (Jorge & Ben come to mind). But the man can ride so it's not over yet.

[Steve Carlton]

I'd love to see him do it like he did with the Yamaha, but that's a tall order, even when he was younger.

[rjo]

I'm betting that Stoner will be fast on the factory Honda, unless he suffers an injury during the rest of the season.
Remember that he was very fast in his rookie year, on a third string Honda, getting pole in only his second race IIRC, and when he didn't crash he was just off the podium. The next year, when he took the championship, he made the goat look very silly on more than one occasion.

[bradzdotcom]

i think it depends a lot on whether or not they can stop the Duc from tucking the front end, or if rossi can work around it.

and it depends on whether or not ben spies actually believes that he can't go as fast as he's going, and he can't win a championship...yet. they keep telling him that, but he just doesn't seem to hear it.

[signit98]

No matter how good Rossi is at developing bikes, Ducati has fallen a little too far behind this year... they do not have the resources that Yamaha had when Rossi took over.

IF (and that is a BIG IF) Rossi can win it again, it'll be in his second year with Ducati... however, I doubt it. He has not looked the same after his accident.

[Chris Canning]

Well i voted no,i think don't it's up to him or Ducati or his crew,it's the others,with Furusawa retiring at the end of the year who carrys on with the development of the M1,exactly how good is Lorenzo at developing a bike,next years bike to be on is without doubt a Honda,it's taken 2 seasons to get it right but it's coming good,and Pedrosa and Stoner will spur each other on.

It's possible he could do it,but if Yamaha stick to keeping him to his contract so he'll not be able to ride a Duc till Jan 1st,jeeze he'll be on a steep learning curve,and Burgess will certainley earning his money,they'll be starting from scratch with both motor and chassis

[shreddr]

Lorenzo will crash into oblivion during the off season, and Bennie Spies will take the title in his second try. Vale is on the downside, but he had a hell of a run.

[cageyar]

Originally Posted by shreddr

Lorenzo will crash into oblivion during the off season...

Here's a fan photo for your garage wall.............................

[Bob Hancock]

I said yes but mostly as a wish. I'd love to see him sparked by the challenge of riding a bike few can and winning. An Italian on a Ducati just sounds right...no?

[Guest24]

Chris, do you think that Rossi could help solve the front fork problem on the Ducati and make it competitive again. Stoner couldn't seem to help the team in that area thus far.

I think Rossi has another World Championship in him. If not 2011 then 2012.

[jduke]

I agree, it will be in 2012.

[Chris Canning]

Originally Posted by Nail24

Chris, do you think that Rossi could help solve the front fork problem on the Ducati and make it competitive again. Stoner couldn't seem to help the team in that area thus far.

I think Rossi has another World Championship in him. If not 2011 then 2012.

It's not just Rossi is it,all the young guns on the way up noticed that Rossi has keeped his crew chief and a lot do the same,Rossi rides the bike comes in tells Burgess what he feels and he knows how to interpret that,do i think he can cure the front end??, reckon it's more complicated than that,he'll want the motor changed and just about everything else,he can do it,is he good enough to develope the bike and fend of Lorenzo/Pedrosa/Stoner,no i don't think he is,but hey there's nothing wrong with hoping.

Can Lorenzo carry on developing the M1 without Furusawa is another question.

But if i was going to have a bet next year it would be on a Honda rider.

[Guest24]

Since I saw Dani driving out of the turn on his Honda and his teammate just slightly off the bubble I have picked Honda. Dani beat Dani a couple of times this year or he would have a shot at being on the top of the heap for '09. I'll will be interesting to see what Stoner can do on the Honda next year. He had his day in the sun a couple of years ago. If he really has the enduring skill, he should finish at or next to the top next year on a Honda.

[Chris Canning]

Stoners problem Honda make bikes for Pedrosa.

[signit98]

Originally Posted by Chris Canning

Stoners problem Honda make bikes for Pedrosa.

Not sure I'd agree with that this time around, Chris... it must make Pedrosa a little nervous that Honda is willing to that much money for Stoner.
Pedrosa had a good chance to run with it this year, but (as Bubba mentioned) had beaten himself on tracks where only he could do that.

I strongly believe that Stoner will get as much factory support as Pedrosa... and then, look how good Dove did so far on a bike that was built for Pedrosa...

The folks at Honda may be a bit slow on the uptake, but they are not stupid.

[Chris Canning]

Were the problem lies is 'Who does the developement and in which direction,the chances of e'm both singing of the same hym sheet are nil,Dovi just got good at riding Pedrosa's bike,maybe Stoner will too!!.

[cageyar]

Update today on the MotoGP website just as three race weekends in a row start Friday with practice at Motegi:

"Valentino Rossi is steeling himself for another hard weekend on his body as he prepares for the Grand Prix of Japan, where the right-handed Motegi circuit will place added demands on his recovering shoulder. The Fiat Yamaha rider explained that the leg he broke in June is now the lesser of his problems, with his shoulder the main factor in his ability to push hard.

“The leg is now almost back to normal again – I have even started running – but the shoulder is a problem and we know now that this is not going to change until we have time to treat it properly,” said Rossi, who has fond recollections of the Japanese circuit.

“I have some great memories from Motegi, especially winning the Championship in 2008, but I am expecting this weekend to be quite difficult on my body,” continued Rossi, who is also looking forward to the rounds in Malaysia and Australia which follow on consecutive weekends. “We have a hard three weeks ahead but after this race two of my best tracks are coming up, and I am hoping for some good results. We will do our best and see what happens!"

Rossi’s Team Manager Davide Brivio returns to the paddock this weekend having missed the previous round at Aragón – where Rossi placed sixth – due to a back problem, and he hopes that the previous good showing of the M1 at Motegi (Rossi won in 2008 and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo won last year) bodes well for his rider.

He said: "Valentino is understandably disappointed that he isn't in as good physical shape as he had hoped, and this is a pity for him because the leg is really quite good now! Aragón was hard on him but generally our bike goes well at Motegi so we hope it will be better, even if the nature of the track will still be hard on him.”

[Corky]

Great to see Rossi on a Ducati. Great way for him to end his career.

Italian on Italian.

I'm going with Spies.

[JonyRR]

the racing world is littered with the broken dreams of people who have bet against Rossi.
Just sayin'.
And personally, I'd like to see Elbows kick everyone's a$$$es up around thier shoulderblades