Rossi: 'Stoner wasn't man enough'

Bloody nora Vale. Come on man, let it go.

Although, with this comment:

'In the last few years, the sport has become too serious and so have the riders.

'In the past it was more just about bravery but now everybody is more serious and very athletic. They diet and train a lot and don't have a normal life. I think it's important to be able to have fun too!'

You've gotta admit he does have a point.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 10:02

Aye - he does that. I liked that part of the article. I'm 62 and I still race ... because it is fun

However I cannot see any relationship between what he is saying about Stoner at Laguna and anything that happened in the following years. Makes no sense to me.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 11:27

He also said he wasn't pushing hard enough... the guy needs to know when to shut up.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 12:46

You should know by now that Rossi is a master of psychological warfare. He's goading Stoner into returning. I for one hope it works and doesn't backfire on him.
He's also directing the MotoGP empire to steer away from an antiseptic world of electronics packages and media middle-of-the roads that would lead to Formula 1 style racing (he who has the best electronics and aerodynamic package wins - removing a lot of influence from the driver) and pit lane automaton clones (with the exception of Kimi of course).

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 12:56

Ever since Rossi moved to Ducati I've liked him less and less.

Stoner didn't like that Rossi beat him? Sorry Rossi old bean, wasn't it you that came out with the 'it's 80% rider 20% the bike'? So why is it that Stoner could beat you and Lorenzo on the Ducati, but you managed a couple podiums despite the huge budget that was thrown at you whilst you spent years blaming the bike. And now you're back at Yamaha. What happened to the 80/20 rule Mr GOAT?

Rossi would do well to eat some humble pie. At least Stoner proved he wasn't in this sport for the money, and that he could win on a bike that even Rossi couldn't win on.

I really hope this story is made up and was just posted to wind people up.

I said it in another post, and I'll say it again, Rossi will finish below Marquez next year and won't be near Lorenzo. I'm betting a 4th place finish in the championship.

Rossi can't win races anymore, so he's sticking to what he can win, being the centre of attention and media hype. One of the reasons Stoner left, the off track B/S seems to be more popular than the racing...

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 13:07

but was it not an unlawfull / illegal pass - in racing terms?... off the inside of the track, basically he cut the corner!... even if it was around the outside, the long way round, and he had run of the track, it would / should be deamed an illegal move... can't remember which track that this attracts a penalty, maybe World Supers rather than MotoGP... Track demarkation should be more rigourosly inforced...

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 13:28

Rossi can't win races anymore, so he's sticking to what he can win, being the centre of attention and media hype.

Really Szmolo? And I'm not just saying this as a VR fan. Everyone in the paddock knows he's still a VERY class act. And very capable of winning races.

As for him "bring in it for the money", why's he gone back to Yamaha and taken a massive paycut in that case?

It's also more than likely there's a whole lot more context to this. I'm going with the basis that it's the off season, nothing's happening, and the Italian press are bored.

I really should learn not to get involved in things like this. I really should.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:22

R30Paul

You have a point there. If you leave the track (and he clearly did) you cannot return to the track in a more favourable position.

However, I liked the ballsy way that he did it!

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:22

The comment seems a bit random. Maybe there's a context we're not seeing? Perhaps the interviewer asked a specific question to get that response.
I'm a huge fan of Rossi, I admire his racing spirit and his love of having a good time, although not everything he says and does sits well.
I don't expect him to win the championship this year, I'd be very surprised if he does, but I expect he'll be back at the front fighting for podiums at least.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:23

Oh please. The Stoner statistics on the ducati were published only two weeks ago by a national paper and he did a lot less winning on the duke than you lot seem to think. After that first season (the 50bhp more than anyone else season!) he crumbled on the duke. Stoner played mind games too - he'll have you believing he's god.
Tell me this, at what point does Rossi's new engine, new chassis and new bodywork qualify as the same ducati that stoner rode? You're all full of crap. Completely different bikes.
Long live THE DOCTOR
Let's hope the muppets on this list realise you're the best there's ever been. They can't read the f'kin statistics that's for sure.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:29

Media shit stirring, the comment "Stoner wasn't man enough" wasn't a blanket statement about Stoner's whole career, it was some ill chosen words about his tantrum at the end of the Laguna Seca race...

Can't blame the media though current crop of aliens are too banal to have a fierce rivalry, too much arse slapping eachother for my liking, lets have some punch-ups on the podium please...

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:41

@Overlooked Potential
I doubt Stoners going to bite, I think he made it clear why he decided to retire at the last race. In post race interviews he said he was scared he might crash and you cant knock him for that, he's married now with a kid, had a bad crash in the US and saw a fellow rider loose his life last year. I think all that weighed heavy on his mind and he's lost that thing you need to push to the very edge of every lap to compete at the front.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:48

User 98049:

Tell me this, at what point does Rossi's new engine, new chassis and new bodywork qualify as the same ducati that stoner rode?

We've been over this here in some depth in the past 2 years. Trust me, we have.

;)

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 14:51

Oh dear, Rossi has started mouthing off again. Has anyone noticed how everyone seemed to be getting on so much better these last couple of years? I put it down to VR keeping his head down and not playing mind games. What I don't understand is why he's having a pop at CS after he's gone. It's rather like shouting at the mother-in-law after she's gone home, i.e. safer! Personally I'm not looking forward to his return to Yamaha, although I reckon Yamaha will have lots of shiny new sponsorship on their bikes.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 16:48

I think Pagik may have a point; it's off season the press are bored and nothing interesting is happening, so they are leaping on ANYTHING that Rossi blurts on about.
What is the point of burbling on about a racer who has retired?
Does he need a little bit of extra publicity just as he's about to release a new album in time for Christmas or something? Maybe he's starting an acting career?
I wish him luck next year and common sense would indicate that he'll go better on the Yam next year than ever the Ducati but stuff like this does make me think he should just stick to racing!
Still, whatever, the racing should be better next year! I hope.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 17:54

I've said this before and I'll say it again....The only Rossi is back at Yamaha is for the publicity Dorna badly needs to raise the 'stock of MotoGP because Bridgepoint (the owners) want to sell.

Carmelo Ezpeleta set-up the deal between Ducati and Yamaha to help MotoGP's revenue....Rossi put bums on seats....even if they are stupid enough to believe Rossi can be a winner again.

It' all about publicity there will be plenty more of this to come and excuses why the Yamaha isn't good enough.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 17:57

take rossi out of the equation for a second....
moto gp has absolutely no personalities. incredible riders yes. characters no. i just find it impossible to like or dislike a rider these days because theres nothing to them.

literally only watch it for moto 3 and 2 and to listen to toby, julian, and neil

:(

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 18:10

It's a very very big stretch, to say that Stoner excelled at Ducati, a quick look at the stats reveals this :

After winning in 2007 he then finished 2nd in 2008, 3rd in 2009 and 7th in 2010, (he really developed that Ducati into a winning machine)

Stoner wanted the carbon frame, he has admitted that, then got it and never won a championship again on the Ducati, so much for his skills lol.

If Stoner excelled at Ducati by winning ONE world championship, then Nicky Hayden excelled at Honda.

Merry Christmas

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 19:29

It's all going a bit Pro Wrestling theatrical. Very sad. Save it for the track, eh?

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 19:29

Rossi Vs Stoner








Yawn

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 20:04

Looks like rossis piss poor 2 seasons on a bike stoner won on have got to him,He is trying to rewrite history,as for bravery i didnt see much evidence of bravery from him in the last 2 seasons just sulking like the spoilt twat that he is,As the old saying goes you can fool most people but you cant fool yourself,you made a prat of yourself at ducati after mouthing off about stoner and you got your arse kicked,Eating away at you isnt it,

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 20:24

You silly buggers, you're all missing the point. Which is: Rossi is the last old skool rider. The last of the great era before professionalism began destroying the character of the great sport.

His comment about everyone being really serious is so true, and what is destroying the sport at the moment. It was all about who had the most balls entering a corner. It isn't anymore, races are just a war of attrition almost. No mistakes = win race. Yawn!!!!!!!!!!

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 20:42

Anyone actually seen the video? he passed him into the corkscrew so was already infront when he ran off the track which actually lost him time and allowed stoner to put his bike in the gap and be run out wide. Anyway he shouldn't really be running his mouth off because stoner on the honda would be faster than rossi on the yam.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 20:53

Just for the record Rossi also beat Stoner (who was riding a Honda) whilst riding a Ducati. He also did it without the luxury of special made Ducati specific tyres and a Ducati that Hayden was slower per lap than the previous Ducati he rode. A few people going on about statistics here but clearly being selective about it.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 21:47

@R30paul
@whitecraw

I think it was not deemed illegal because he was in the lead going into the corner and he did not gain a time advantage from it as Stoner has more speed after the incident and gets along side Rossi.

Posted: 11/12/2012 at 21:52

And they get paid a shit load of money to ride million dollar machines in a professional business.

Posted: 12/12/2012 at 01:49

I think Casey said it quite rightly, "Your ambitions exceeded your ability". Rossi didn't like this plain statement of fact.

There are no more "real riders" any more. Take away all the electric aids and what do you end up with? Blokes on motorbikes going as fast as their bikes and the conditions (not to mention the size of their "brakes") will allow and giving us old fashioned entertainment instead of processions.

Posted: 12/12/2012 at 09:09

New low for the doctor ... he's really loosing it.

Posted: 12/12/2012 at 12:25

I bet CS is just giggling, casting his fishing rod somewhere in the middle of nowhere.

Posted: 12/12/2012 at 12:26

The Doc needs a Doc.

Posted: 12/12/2012 at 12:44

who else can get such a tread going............

Posted: 13/12/2012 at 08:09

Exactly. It's certainly got people talking. VR still knows how to work a crowd.

Posted: 13/12/2012 at 09:36

On the same Bike Stoner would have him,read Lorenzo's book then you see
what Rossi is like he did't want Stoner in the same team,so he got Lorenzo,Ha Lorenzo will win the Championship in 2013 but it will be tuf Rossi will not beat Ago's Record as for the Laguna Race Rossi got the settings from Lorenzo ..

Posted: 13/12/2012 at 15:56

This post & Mr Rossi's comments are quite illogical..

Posted: 13/12/2012 at 19:00

..was it not Rossi who originally said "Your ambitions exceeded your ability". to Stoner some months before?????

Posted: 13/12/2012 at 19:06

No spock - Stoner said that to Rossi. Rossi went to apologise for knocking moaner off and that was stoners reply..

Posted: 14/12/2012 at 12:01

The Ducati was not exactly the same bike - and Honda was the bike to be on.

Even Dani had a crack at the title on it!

And oh boy does Casey moan! It was never his fault was it....!

Personally I can't wait for Suzuki's return.

Posted: 16/12/2012 at 22:33

True Spock! Rossi was clearly wrong whereas the Aussie nailed it.

Posted: 17/02/2013 at 08:28