Rossi: Radiation will stop me going to Japan

He is making a fool of himself, should read up on radiation levels first, air travel would expose him to more radiation than the levels at Motegi

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 08:45

"WAAAAAAAAAH!" The poor lamb.

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 10:59

To be honest, it's not like he's competeing for the championship at the moment, he has an easy way out.

It is idiotic though, how dangerous is riding a moto GP bike compared to low levels of background radiation?!

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 12:34

All depends on whether you trust who did the tests, for who, and for why....is there motivation to smudge figures ?? Of course. I personally distrust government agencies and any other commercial agency and wouldn't go anywhere near Japan for quite some time.
Good for Rossi for being open and honest about his fears....and I hope the rest of them wise up and stick together.

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 13:33

Sad to see he’s finally decided to firmly join the ignorant idiot fringe of MotoGP just as the other members of that factually challenged cabal have finally decided to start to understand the overwhelming evidence that says its perfectly safe in Montegi.

He’ll get more radiation exposure on just one of the multiple international flights he takes every year than he’d get in a week in Japan. And as Mr Lacey has pointed out above he races motorcycles at 200mph plus every other week of the year..? Talk about an inability to assess risk!

Obviously We’re with you Japan actually translates as We’re with you Japan, as long as it doesn’t require us to engage our brains and respond to reasonable and clearly presented evidence rather than a fear borne of our own ignorance.

We’re with you Japan... but only at a distance.

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 13:54

First, there is no independent agency tasked with monitoring this nuclear site. All the facts, readings, and information all come from the company itself, and the nuclear fires there are still burning. Second, only the japanese factory riders have really changed their tunes regarding going to Japan for the race. I imagine some of the technical reports include the fine print on their contract. Stoner's announcement re his wife's pregnancy is total BS. Last I checked she was not on payroll to ride the bike.

And finally, the vast majority of the crew members of teams --and the Ducati team in particular-- are balking at going to a place at risk for radiation exposure. Why have it there? why can't they move to suzuka?

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 14:35

Are you sitting in Japan writting that ??

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 14:37

Totally agree..

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 14:39

Maybe abit of radiation will sort that ducati out.

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 15:46

I remember when Daijiro Kato was killed in 2003, Rossi was head of the riders' group that said Suzuka was too dangerous. Now he wants to ride there? As others pointed out, the radiation was less than that of a flight a few months ago, but is now even less, plus he's not in contention - probably wants some more time off. Who knows, maybe only Aoyama will race and will get 25 points!

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 15:58

"Stoner's announcement re his wife's pregnancy is total BS. Last I checked she was not on payroll to ride the bike."

Erm... the article actually said Stoner was now considering going to Japan... what's to BS about?... it's Rossi who's saying he won't go... ?

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2011/August/aug1110-father-to-be-casey-stoner-could-race-in-japan/

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 16:00

Maybe he's concerned his hair might curl. Oh, wait ......

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 16:10

Ltgesq there is independent monitoring of both Fukashima and Motegi. If you can be bothered you can read the preliminary, but still quite detailed, preliminary report on conditions at Motegi, compiled at the Motegi circuit by independent contractors ARPA for yourself via the link below.

http://www.fim-live.com/fileadmin/user_upload/medias/MotoGP/2011/Laguna_Seca/RelazionepreliminaremotoGP-translation.pdf

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 18:04

That article title is completely wrong. Rossi said, that he is scared about going to race so near from nuclear plant with very active seismic activity in that ares, plus hes team members are scared. So why someone present it as he is scared from radiation ???? !!!
Listen what he actually said:
http://player.youku.com/player.php/sid/XMjk0OTg3ODE2/v.swf

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 18:49

If it comes down to winning or losing the championship then stoner and george will go, rossi not in the running.

Posted: 16/08/2011 at 20:38

Full credit to Rossi for boycotting this event/location. The Japanese Government have proven they always lie about everything.. even to their own people.. just to save face. Some readings have been off the top end of the levels that geiger counters can even count, so you can guarantee that very high levels of radiation will be in the air, land and sea. Who would want to gamble on a windshift?! Any moisture will take radiation out of the air and onto the riders. The event should not be helf anywhere in Japan until properly "independent" tests (whatever they are)can guarantee peoples safety. The other riders should get off their asses and support Rossi's stance for all their welfare. This whole thing is much worse than anyone is admitting and shouldnt be taken lightly. International stars like Rossi boycotting can actually help bring pressure to bear and thats gotta be good

Posted: 17/08/2011 at 02:10

In my opinion, if your contract says you race for the FULL season for HRC, Ducati, Yamaha, then, imo, you race for the ENTIRE SEASON.

They all need to get over themselves.

Posted: 17/08/2011 at 08:46

Yeah... who cares if a country was on the brink of civil war or in the midst of a nuclear crisis, these f1 & motogp stars should get their priorities right & entertain us!

Posted: 17/08/2011 at 11:40

Has anyone on here actually READ the report? I had a shoofty at it. It clearly states that there is negligible risk. Negligible. There is more risk from the actual track having a fault with it.

Posted: 17/08/2011 at 14:16

...& if you clicked on Pacient Fire's link above you would have heard his concerns also relate to the physically changing conditions... they're not wholly concentrated on radiation which the press seems fixated with.

Posted: 17/08/2011 at 17:17

If there is one thing I have learned about the Press and Governments worldwide, it is that they only tell us what they want us to know. Like Rossi, I'd be very suspicious of any glowing (glowing - geddit?) reports about radiation from a country who are major motorcycle manufacturers but whose motorcycle industry is in the doldrums. The Japanese clearly have a commercial interest in holding the GP, and are well-known for their tendancies to suppress information which is not in their favour.
Rossi is no mug. He will have better information than me or anyone else on this forum. He should make his own decision, without receiving flak from the less well-informed.

Posted: 18/08/2011 at 12:34

I rest my scrotum

Posted: 18/08/2011 at 12:46

Terry P. Very well put sir.

Posted: 18/08/2011 at 22:30

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/world/la-fgw-japan-quake-20110820,0,3489604.story

... nothing to see here :/

Posted: 19/08/2011 at 08:33

The fact that there is any suggestion of riders having to "honour their contracts" tells me that there are very compelling reasons why any of them might consider doing otherwise. They should all be given the right to choose the risks they take with their own lives. The contracts relate to racing, not to taking risks with earthquake-stricken nuclear installations. Circumstances have changed dramatically since those contracts were drawn up and that is a very relevant factor should anyone try to enforce them. The risks emanating from that area are a big unknown with the situation still very unstable and we want these guys to go there just to entertain us? Good for Rossi for speaking up and voicing his own concerns and those of everyone, not just the riders who is expected to go. And for raising awareness of the situation over there.

Posted: 06/09/2011 at 18:22