Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

The man you love to hate ...... just thought i would start a thread to air your views about the current reigning champ ......

Likes to mouth off doesn't he? - things not going his way all of a sudden and look at him. Thought his boot kicking incident was a taster of what he is like when the toys are out the pram broken......

Oh and well done pedrosa!

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I have said this all last seaon but nobody believed me! I'm not saying he isnt a good rider but he isnt an "excellent" rider. If he doesnt have the bike..... I'll stop here as it will just get me into rant mode again.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I think how well a rider performs is dependant on how well he feels on the bike. Casey was fast on a honda, but fell off. He was just too agressive. Stick him on the duke, and he is right at home - the duke likes to be slapped about, revved half to death and generally treated like trash. Casey does that!

I think its a rider + bike combo that made casey world champ. Look at melandri; stonking fast on the honda, but now not doing well at all (except china).

Theres more to it than whether or not the rider is great, the bike plays a big part. Not saying the duke is the best bike, but the match of bike to rider / rider to bike is very important.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Unless you're Rossi.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I think this year the other manufacturers have upped their game and caught Ducati up, and I dont think Ducati have made such a big leap forward with this years bike and thats why Casey isnt running away with it.

He does come across as a whinger though I'll have to agree.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Casey is indeed showing us another side of his personality,but it is understanding in many ways. One cannot expect the out of the ordinary..."champ being shafted and not given a chance to even defend his title" niceties that Nicky Hayden so amazingly was prepared to come out with. Most Aussies and Americans are only normally entertaining when they are winning,they hate being also rans.

I think Ducati have lied as to which direction they went with the 2008 bike,they suggested that they only "tweaked" when I think the truth is that they tried to go too far and have screwed things up,(too much front end weight balance and engine mapping too extreme.)

This season is far from done but everyone has to beat the Yamaha's which are for sure once again the strongest overall package. HRC must be reasonably pleased though to be leading the championship when still using the museum piece spring activated valve engines. I expect them to be even stronger as the season progresses.

Valentino is nicely settling in on those Bridgestones and if he is within less than 10 points of the leadership before the summer break,then my money would be on him for another title.(All that from someone who is not a N?46 leg humper)

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I think it's also worth mentioning that since the fuel regs have been 'tightened up' (ie now all breather tank hoses must be fitted with a non-return valve) Ducati seem to have lost their top-end advantage ;)

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Why are Honda sticking with springs?
Do they know something no-one else does?

Hard on Stoner...

My cash was on Lorenzo taking a first MotoGP champ...but that may have gone up in the air...a bit like he did!

It will be interesting to see if he can recover and get winning again. But to ride through those injuries proves his cajones...champion cajones!

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Basket, indeed, I was stunned by the determination of Lorenzo in taking part in the qualifying session and the race. Absolute legend. But then that's what he's paid to do I suppose?! Bad analogy but I guess it's like me having a terrible migraine and having to come to work and look at a computer screen all day - if it needs to be done then it's mind over matter. V. impressive though!

I think that it's going to be a very good battle between Pedrosa, Lorenzo and Rossi for the title. I think Lorenzo has the talent, pace and the machinery. Pedrosa has talent, pace and consistency, but I think Rossi has the talent, pace, consistency and the machinery. Which makes me think the number 46 will win the title.

Shaping up to be a very good, close season at the top of the pile. Although it seems to me that the MotoGP grid as a whole is becoming more like the Premiership, ie, one of four riders will win most races and there seems to be a gulf between them and the rest of the pack. What's happened to the Suzukis and the Kawasaki's? And I don't think it's necessarily the riders, it's the machinery too. Like Alpinestarhero says, combination of matching rider to machinery. I don't think Hopper is suited to the Kwak, he was better on the more agile Suzuki. Melandri was also better on a weaker Honda - what's that all about?!

The Yamaha's are undoubtedly the best all round at the moment which is so exciting and brilliant for Toseland. His ability to learn the new tracks has impressed me a lot and I think he will be on the podium at tracks he already knows well, ie Philip Island. Can't wait for this weekend!

I have respect for Stoner for his consistency and pace last year and he was obviously a worthy title winner, but I can't see him going down as a 'legend'. He just doesn't seem to be able to grit his teeth and pull something out of the bag when conditions aren't close to 100%. He's undoubtedly fast with a clear track and he can overtake the people in mid-pack but he's rarely had to / been able to catch up to the front and have a go at leaders like Rossi has done time in time out

Just my thoughts,

Cheers,
Matt

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Yea, he's a slight exception to the general rule, it would seem...

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

But even he has only ridden for two teams, two very well funded teams. You could say Stoner transformed Ducati just as much as saying Rossi transformed Yamaha. Slightly playing devil's advocate there, Rossi is obviously genius, everyone in the paddock knows it. I don't think there's a rider there that does not envy (or resent) his status, and he truly deserves it. In a straight up race on random equal bikes you'd back Rossi every time.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I'm sure you get upset when you've worked hard and things go tits up at the end...let him be. He's worked hard to be able to ride in the top flight so he has a right to throw his toys out the pram. I'm sure your heroes regularly throw the toys out...they may just not be so public about it...;)

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

:smt023

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

As Ducati and Stoner continue to work to improve matters and to drag themselves right back in to the battle for the title at close to mid season point, is there any changing of opinion around here now?;-)

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

No, I still dont think that Stoner is all that he is cracked up to be. Without the bike he really isnt that good. As was prooved over the last 5 or so races. However yes he was unstoppable all weekend. Fair Play.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

and cruised home 5.789 seconds clear of the field. :smt112

:smt041go stoner:smt041... go stoner:smt041 :winner:

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Oh dear, that has to be in jest no? If todays race had been 5 laps longer he would have LAPPED Melandri! Just look at the difference for the timing of the last lap alone for both riders!(All that when Donington is not a track suited to the GP8 nor is the next track Assen...I know he has now won 2 years on the trot in England,but it does not actually suit the bike...hence a superb performance by him.)

Livvio Suppo was interviewed at trackside mid race and stated that some changes have been made to the bike this week, mainly software for the engine mapping and traction control. Avalalable to all of the Ducati riders at Donington. He went on to state that the difference is that Casey "es un monstruo!"

Ducati have worked long and hard to react and have done so in good time. Casey did well to stay on the fringe of the title battle whilst this took place. It is now a genuine 3 way battle,(Jorge will not quite contend to the season end.) Rossi,Pedrosa and Stoner, with the wise money definitley being placed on the Italian.

Remember where you read this first.

Sete to fill in for Melandri starting at Sacshenring following a gentleman's agreement for Marco to stand down,(he is doing neither himself or Ducati any favours at the moment.) Marco Simoncelli and not Nicky Hayden gets the Nº2 ride at Ducati next year with Dovizioso joining Dani with HRC.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

But who is? Or more specifically, how do you know who has the bike and who doesn't? If a rider wins, his bike is good, if a rider never wins his bike is bad. That's generally accepted. But - If a rider wins whilst 3 riders on near identical machinery, 2 of whom have previously won grand prix, repeatedly bring up the rear like they're in a lower class, then you have to assume the rider is the difference.

If MotoGP were F1, and 3 near identical cars were faffing around at the back, with grand prix winning drivers in 2, you would definitely question the quality of the package. Imagine the way the press would pour over the driver that was so incredibly "getting more from the car than is humanly possible" etc. I digress, but I've always found it ironic that racing drivers spend their entire early career striving to show how they are a cut above, with the sole goal of arriving in a class where that ability matters less than it will have ever done before in any of the one-make series' they may have participated in. Anyhoo.

It could be argued that Stoner never has the best bike. Melandri and co certainly don't shine a nice light on the Ducati. Average times for the 4 Ducatis will not look pretty compared with 4 Hondas or the 4 Yamahas.

He's fantastic in my opinion, and yes I know they say the bike is built for him and blah blah, but he's certainly in the top 4 riders of the moment, who must be very hard to split, and will definitely be at the sharp end come the end of the season.

Edit: Basically what El Pedro said :)

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I am indeed honoured good sir.;-)

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I am not a Stoner fan, BUT, he is learning from his master, and he learns quickly. To be fair the Ducati suits his style, and I dont think anyone else can ride it.

Donington certainly is not a Ducati circuit.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Not a fans fave though, interviewed on the podium after todays race and he was upset about w@nker flags directed at him and thumbs down from the fans. They were his first words after the interviewer asked "So Casey, must be great to be back in the UK?"

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Where you get that idea? He won it last year... ;)

Indeed. Not the way win us over by bitching about some nobs giving him some w@nker sign's to be honest. Im not a fan but I dont think it is right giving him that kind of treatment BUT, he has to be man enough to just ignore it. Maybe when he grows up.

As for "fans live to hate", Why is that!? I dont like him much, but I dont know why! Maybe its the fact that when he wins its always soooo dull. He says "Why is it that my wins are so boring to people?" In my opinion its because he is first into the first corner and thats it. BORING. :smt086

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I wouldn't be holding up one of those signs, but it's his attitude that annoys me. If he's winning, he's all smiles, and losing, he's all scowly and cross.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

The fans that were directing the w*nker stuff at him arent really fans, they are tw*ts, you might not like he guy but this isnt football or panto, shut the f*ck up and dont spoil it for everybody else. Or even better just dont come and sit and try and oppose your thumbs enough to open a beer can in the back garden with no shirt on and watch it on the tele.

Tw*ts thats two years in a row now Casey has come in for greif like this.

I think its package and bike, he trusts the bike and the electronics and he just gets on with it, as said the other Ducatis are nowwhere. Melandri looked so slow at the weekend, I think he hates riding that bike.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Remember when kiyonari one the BSB title a couple of years ago? He was boo'd. Quite terrible really, and I hope no more of the football mentaility comes over into motorcycling, and we can get back to when it was all cheers and applaude for whoever won.

Good on casey, back to his old self methinks

Matt

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

I have this crazy feeling that Pedrosa might scrape it this year!

stoner - boring = Mr Robot, no flair or excitement, he makes very little mistakes and when he does he can't pull it back - Mr Rossi makes mistakes and its pure joy to watch him make up for it.

Hayden - oh dear, i feel so sorry for him when they changed the capacity rules i knew he was going to stuggle, he will be off to SBK or AMA soon.

Sete standing in? - wish it was gibernau!

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Note sure about Pedrosa. He is as bad as Stoner. Soooo boring ... zzzz ... zzzz ... sorry what was I saying?

Oh yeah, he is proper % rider. He will not risk pushing for 3rd if it means a possibility of loosing points for 4th etc. Plus I am not really sure I want to see midgets riding bikes as that's one of the reasons he is playing at the top. He weights 15kg or so less than anyone else. I guess Andrea Davizioso will get a proper bike for next season and it will be buy buy Pedrosa and Lorenzo.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Lorenzo isnt a boring rider! FAR from it. Man that guy is a lot like Rossi was 5+ years ago carving his way through. I didnt like him in 250's as he was a big head but now in MotoGP he is just funny with it. :D

I think to sum up stoner it would be... NO charisma. :(

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Donington certainly is not a Ducati circuit, should have probably read Donington generally is not a Ducati circuit.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Well I am going to defend Casey a little,not because I am biased toward the Ducati team though. Mick Doohan was an outstanding champion who had everyone's respect. He was never jovial or likely to put on a show. He was simply an awesome rider,end of.

Aussies are very often like that,can appear lacking in personality but very much like Americans generally.....they enter to win not just to take part.

But Casey's story is even more complex and feel sure his story adds a lot to his reserved nature in public. We must remember the sacrifices his family unit made in order to give him a shot at breaking through in racing here in europe. There was no grace and favour offered at all. They sold everything they had and brought him to europe in the hope that he would make the grade.

Just think what a strain that would put on a young teenager? Knowing what his parents have committed and it all was down to him to ensure he did not fail? Some burden indeed. I suggest that a part of Casey's make up is fear. Not of falling or getting hurt,but of failing and dragging his family back down again. I really do think that is why he gets so vexed when others shrug situations off. He has to be doing well to keep him atop that slippery slope to failure,mediocrity and to constantly strive to be the best he can.

I am a racing fan and love to see riders ride well,they do not have to be race winners to do that. I hate to see anyone fall. I also watch them for their skill on the bikes and not for their personality. They are not running for an election or trying to woo my daughter,personality does not matter. Hence I have the greatest admiration for both Casey and Dani who simply just want to get on with the job. I also though, respect Valentino for his unquestionable skills and for being the face that saw bike racing viewed by such wider audience. The sport can carry both introverts and extroverts,yer we need not criticise simply because one falls in to our not favoured personality pigeon hole.

As a British race fan I am disgusted that just like last year,certain elements behaved in a far from sporting manner towards Casey. Every home crowd has it's home boys, but I know of no other race track where this kind of partisan and idiotic behaviour goes on. Totally shameful in my opinion.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

Well I am going to defend Casey a little,not because I am biased toward the Ducati team though. Mick Doohan was an outstanding champion who had everyone's respect. He was never jovial or likely to put on a show. He was simply an awesome rider,end of.

Aussies are very often like that,can appear lacking in personality but very much like Americans generally.....they enter to win not just to take part.

But Casey's story is even more complex and feel sure his story adds a lot to his reserved nature in public. We must remember the sacrifices his family unit made in order to give him a shot at breaking through in racing here in europe. There was no grace and favour offered at all. They sold everything they had and brought him to europe in the hope that he would make the grade.

Just think what a strain that would put on a young teenager? Knowing what his parents have committed and it all was down to him to ensure he did not fail? Some burden indeed. I suggest that a part of Casey's make up is fear. Not of falling or getting hurt,but of failing and dragging his family back down again. I really do think that is why he gets so vexed when others shrug situations off. He has to be doing well to keep him atop that slippery slope to failure,mediocrity and to constantly strive to be the best he can.

I am a racing fan and love to see riders ride well,they do not have to be race winners to do that. I hate to see anyone fall. I also watch them for their skill on the bikes and not for their personality. They are not running for an election or trying to woo my daughter,personality does not matter. Hence I have the greatest admiration for both Casey and Dani who simply just want to get on with the job. I also though, respect Valentino for his unquestionable skills and for being the face that saw bike racing viewed by such wider audience. The sport can carry both introverts and extroverts,yer we need not criticise simply because one falls in to our not favoured personality pigeon hole.

As a British race fan I am disgusted that just like last year,certain elements behaved in a far from sporting manner towards Casey. Every home crowd has it's home boys, but I know of no other race track where this kind of partisan and idiotic behaviour goes on. Totally shameful in my opinion.

Re: Get it up ye stoner! - ye bikes kack
 

The big difference between Doohan & Stoner though is that MD never gave a damn whether anyone liked him or not - whereas Casey seems to 'need' or at least expect some adulation.