Quote:
Originally Posted by Sideshow#36
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.
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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
