Nigel Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 The last 2 races (Aust & Malaysia) dry and wet, have made me appreciate Casey even more. He is quick and smooth. Yesterday, he got a lead of about 15 secs in about 15 laps. Did I mention that he is quick ? This year's comp is over. Next year it's time for Lorenzo and Pedrosa to really compete for the championship with Rossi and Stoner, who is quick. All of these guys are fast at all tracks, hopefully the 2 spaniards will fall off less.
Jake Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Yeah, its a miracle Casey did so well last year and earlier this year while riding with that strange yuppy disease (or whatever it was). Now he is finally riding fully fit we are seeing what he can really do, so next year will be a cracker. And lets not forget that nobody else can get anything out of the Ducati, only Stoner. Makes his wins all that more impressive. And the bonus of him being on the front row all the time is we get to see more of his delicious wife.
Grumpy Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Isn't he a great rider? Oh! and quick, did you mention that he was Quick? I missed the bloody race:confused:
gainphile Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 (edited) It's amazing seeing them on track (turn-12 PI) Lorenzo looks reaaaally fast Stoner looks fast Rossi looks like he's cruising (wtf). Yet when the times is in, rossi was the fastest. Such is refinement of Yamaha+Rossi. Looking forward for 2010 battle between this combination and the buckling horse that is casey + ducati. Livio supo mentioned that casey is sooo fast, that even in practice he was 1 sec. faster *on the 1st corner* than hayden who had done a few laps . Unfortunately the 990 era are gone and they race like formula 1 now. Tiniest mistake lost you the race. If anything is interesting in MotoGP I'd like to see Rossi move to ducati! Edited October 26, 2009 by gainphile
Batty Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 It's on again tonight at 9:30 I think, but I am on late shift and won't get home till 10:30
Mick35 Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 GEEZ!! he's quick , his agility has returned too, he just sits better on the bike. His moves are sharp and precise. So glad he got well again WATCH OUTFOR 2010!!
Nigel Posted October 26, 2009 Author Posted October 26, 2009 Go all of them ! I'd love to it to be like the late 80s when 6 were banging fairings every race. (Schwantz, Rainey, Lawson, Gardner, Macgee and Sarron). Then the boring Doohan domination. For the Doohan-Rossi eras only 1 or 2 had the potential to win. Since 2008 we now have the situation where any of 4 can win. I am hoping to see Davisioso more consistent and who knows how fast Milandri will be on Ducati.
Jake Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 Nigel said: and who knows how fast Milandri will be on Ducati. Err....we do know. Not very fast. Edit: Melandri is returning to Gresini Honda next year.
Batty Posted October 26, 2009 Posted October 26, 2009 It would seem that only Casey can ride the Duke, I would love to see how Rossi could go on it though.
saintpeter Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 "Boring Doohan domination?" Nigel, the reason why only 1 or 2 had the potential to win is because Doohan was quite possibly the best rider the world has ever known. Geez, it's tough being an Aussie eh? When other riders started using electronic trickery to try and gain an edge, Doohan didn't. Same with anti-lock brakes. Why not? He didn't need them. Doohan kept riding that evil "big-bang" v-4 long after everyone else had given up on the idea. Why? Because it was "more fun". The only thing Doohan did if he needed to go faster was twist the throttle a bit more and hang on. I would have loved to have seen Rossi against Doohan (as would all of us, i'm sure), i reckon it'd be neck and neck all the way, but not if Rossi was on a Yamaha. I reckon if Rossi was still riding a Honda now, "boring Rossi domination" might possibly be heard too...
Nigel Posted October 27, 2009 Author Posted October 27, 2009 Jake said: Err....we do know. Not very fast. Edit: Melandri is returning to Gresini Honda next year. Doh! forgot that, funny how for years Honda was unchallenged in the horsepower stakes but for the last 4 years(?) everyone has been chasing ducati. I mean what do Italians know about engine development and racing.....
gainphile Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 saintpeter said: "Boring Doohan domination?" Nigel, the reason why only 1 or 2 had the potential to win is because Doohan was quite possibly the best rider the world has ever known. Geez, it's tough being an Aussie eh?When other riders started using electronic trickery to try and gain an edge, Doohan didn't. Same with anti-lock brakes. Why not? He didn't need them. Doohan kept riding that evil "big-bang" v-4 long after everyone else had given up on the idea. Why? Because it was "more fun". The only thing Doohan did if he needed to go faster was twist the throttle a bit more and hang on. I would have loved to have seen Rossi against Doohan (as would all of us, i'm sure), i reckon it'd be neck and neck all the way, but not if Rossi was on a Yamaha. I reckon if Rossi was still riding a Honda now, "boring Rossi domination" might possibly be heard too... Yep. I still remember the bickering even among aussie motorcycle fans when Stoner won the title. They keep saying look.. how fast that ducati is on the straight, forgeting that his teammate is nowhere to be seen. When we met livio last 2 weeks he summed it perfectly: Casey don't need the traction control trickery but it's good to have. The electronics never had to work too hard. But with Hayden they gave him new electronics and immediately he got 6th or whatever.
saintpeter Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 What i find most interesting with Stoner is how "managed" his life is. Everything, from wife on down, was out of the way- done and dusted so to speak, from when he's barely out of his teens- so the guy could concentrate on racing with no outside distractions. I can't think of any other rider who has the opportunity to be so focused. That said, the guy's dedication and commitment is astonishing; but i do wonder if the mystery ailment Casey had mid-season was too much focus, too long?
Nigel Posted October 27, 2009 Author Posted October 27, 2009 I'm not saying Doohan was boring, just that there was a gap. The "others" were not up to it. Best rider ever...don't think so, but very good yes. Perhaps the guy on the slowest bike, year after year, who still won 1 championship. A likeable Texan - KS, but really the title for best ever, looking at results is Rossi. Agostini had the miles fastest bike for much of his career, whereas Rossi had the Hnda for 2 seasons, (?) before going to Yam and winning again. Personal favourite racer - all time #1, man could he ride a bike - Graeme Crosby.
saintpeter Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 Yeah, watching Schwantz and Rainey trying to kill each other was great racing. As long as KS beat WR, he couldn't have cared less if it was second last and last. I agree Rossi is extraordinary- the way he uses psychology to get at the other riders is brilliant, and he has to do it because the Yamaha is slower- but that just means the other riders are letting it happen. I can't agree when you say "the others weren't up to it", Nigel. They weren't up to Doohan's standard, that's all. Take Mick away, they were all top class riders. Cheers Peter.
DarrenW Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 Batty said: It would seem that only Casey can ride the Duke, I would love to see how Rossi could go on it though. Rossi got to ride the Duc during the off season(The Italians wanted him to ride it....) Thats why he's still riding the Yamaha:)
Nigel Posted October 27, 2009 Author Posted October 27, 2009 Casey makes sure that all the cables are burnt in. He also uses an anechoic garage with traps in all the corners. When Casey tests new parts, the mechanics don't tell him when they have fitted current stock or new stock. This was a suggestion from Drizt and it seems to have worked. Casey is winning on a 2007 bike, he just thinks its a 2009.
gamve Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 (edited) Love what Casey Stoner is doing and he is obviously a brilliant rider. Not bagging the guy but it seems he only has one racing tactic, get out to the front, make a break and stay there. This is a great tactic as long as everything is perfect. The mystery illness would't have had anything to do with not being able to handle pressure? The guy is young and some would say lacking experience in GP racing. As an example he does not have a world super bike title, a 125 world championship or a 250cc championship. Now If he could also do what Rossi does in the way of race craft, he would also be a brilliant racer. I guess time will tell if he becomes the racer I hope he will be. I wish him all the best for the future. PS that bloody Duke is a horrible sounding thing. sharp staccato bark on the gas, then a misfiring horrible sound on part throttle or when the traction control rocks in and going down into MG at Phillip Island with the throttle shut it sounded like a mack truck with the jake brake on. Horrid but **** it was fast. Edited October 27, 2009 by gamve
markeroonie Posted October 27, 2009 Posted October 27, 2009 why has no-one mentioned how fast Stoner is? in the wet in the dry ???
Batty Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 I am led to believe that he is fast in the wet, but not only that, he is fast in the dry too.
Nigel Posted October 28, 2009 Author Posted October 28, 2009 Personally, people that win in the wet are the best. Whereas often the fastest bike wins races, in the wet it is all the rider. You would have to wonder what Vermeulen might do on a factory bike, but more often than not he doesn't beat his teammate Loris. ?? Anyway he wasn't good enough so back to Superbikes. Casey has won at least 2 wet races I've seen in the last 2 seasons and in general has greatluy reduced his "offs".
Rural Rat Posted October 28, 2009 Posted October 28, 2009 Casey, Mick, Wayne and all of this quality are simply heroes to all us "Wannabees". I can only watch in awe guys. Simply awesome. Not to mention Chad Reed, Shane Watts and all our other dirt racing heroes.
ford Posted November 3, 2009 Posted November 3, 2009 When all the rest catch up with Rossi then you can say they are the best. If Stoner can get over his mental problems he might make it,but I doubt it. Riders like Rossi are not just riders they are living legends,many might beat him but they will never attain his status.
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