MotoGP 2012 - Round 1 - Qatar (SPOILERS, race: 4/8)

[gm2]

His ego might get in the way of reason.

that's exactly it.  last year, for sure.  he wanted to go out and prove it all over again.

this year.. i'm sure he expected to kill it on the ducati all over again.  and you can't underestimate the effect of being one of the 2 people who actually ran over marco.  he may be kinda broken.

[gm2]

Or the Panigale in WSBK...

i think the ongoing unspoken assumption now is that it would NOT be with ducati.

[ducpainter]

<snip> and you can't underestimate the effect of being one of the 2 people who actually ran over marco.  he may be kinda broken.

I think there may be a lot of truth in that.

It would make me wonder why I was doing what I was doing.

[duccarlos]

i think the ongoing unspoken assumption now is that it would NOT be with ducati.

+1 Just after 1 race and he's rolling them under the bus. If things continue the same way, it's very doubtful we will ever see Rossi on another Duc.

[ZLTFUL]

they specifically covered the re-entry process for that chicane in the rider's meeting that morning.  that's why they gave him the ride through.   

just like the biaggi thing 2 years ago. 

What exactly was it? He wasn't allowed to re-enter until he was in last place or some shit? He made a completely safe re-entry and didn't kick gravel all over the track like a certain rider who crashed in that same chicane and spread gravel all over the track. Granted Cluzel didn't re-enter the track after the crash because his bike was busted but...

Just seemed like a crap call to me. Maybe if he woulda strafed someone coming back on or something but damn.

[gm2]

What exactly was it? He wasn't allowed to re-enter until he was in last place or some shit?

basically yeah.  the rule is that if you blow that chicane you go straight and ride through the pits. 

~logic being that it's too tight there and too fast heading into it.  it's not really a safe place to be looking completely over your shoulder and making a split second decision about getting back on track.  cuz if you don't do it quick, you're behind the wall.  and if you do it quick, you might likely be torpedoing somone else.

multiple people got ride-throughs that weekend, at least 1 other got black flagged.  it's just that they weren't leading races.

[gm2]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Apr/12041034x34.htm

"little Georgie boy"  

[ducpainter]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2012/Apr/12041034x34.htm

"little Georgie boy"  

I think that the factors that are playing a bigger role than the bike with Valentino's heart and mind are more than anything the unfortunate passing of Simoncelli last year

I think that, on the right equipment, Valentino can be just as competitive as he ever was on a GP bike.

[gm2]

i agree with him on both

[ducpainter]

Lots of on target comments in that editorial.

[Raux]

+1 Just after 1 race and he's rolling them under the bus. If things continue the same way, it's very doubtful we will ever see Rossi on another Duc.

here's the flipside.  what if he carries enough power with sponsors to shake up the team

[Grampa]

Downfall video parody: Hitler on Valentino Rossi's qualifying in Qatar

[Raux]

First off.  that is not Ducati red

[zarn02]

First off.  that is not Ducati red

True.

The GP bike hasn't ever been "Ducati red," has it? Marlboro red, and now whatever that neon/day-glo red is.

[zooom]

True.

The GP bike hasn't ever been "Ducati red," has it? Marlboro red, and now whatever that neon/day-glo red is.

HELL...that isn't even Marlboro red...look at a pack of their cigs lately?....looks more like like a fashion runway color of red then any of the related products flagship colors...