robertorolfo - 23 May 2008 08:05 AM

Look, are you really willing to say, "Rossi is a great rider, but he is a choker"? I hope not.

I'm pretty sure no one is saying Rossi is a choker (as in, chokes often). But rather that he choked in this one particular instance.

ilthomson - 23 May 2008 08:15 AM

robertorolfo - 23 May 2008 08:05 AM

Look, are you really willing to say, "Rossi is a great rider, but he is a choker"? I hope not.

I'm pretty sure no one is saying Rossi is a choker (as in, chokes often). But rather that he choked in this one particular instance.

Exactly. I for one do not believe his is a "choker by nature" -- you don't win as many titles as he has being someone who "chokes often". That was the only instance I can think of where he choked. By nature, I think he has extraordinatry mental/emotional toughness -- he has shown the ability to apply increasing pressure until others made the mistakes. But he is human, he has his off days, and he did choke this one particular time.

Just to be redundant, I don't think of Rossi as a chocker, but I did see one time (last race of 06) what I PERCEIVED as him chocking.


Rossi is well... he's Rossi. Is he a chocker? No. Has he EVER chocked? EVERY person on this planet has chocked at least once, and I believe we all saw him choke that day.



But that still doesn't make it right to label him a chocker by nature.

There I solved the issue, lets all drive through please and talk about some other stuffs that we haven't beaten into the ground so many times it hurts!!!

mrmega - 23 May 2008 02:38 PM

There I solved the issue, lets all drive through please and talk about some other stuffs that we haven't beaten into the ground so many times it hurts!!!

Fine with me. So what did China GP represent in terms of trends vs. "meh, just one of those things"?

Rossi about to go on a big roll?
Edwards going to stay competitive?
Ducati and Honda going to strike back?
Hayden going to get any closer to Pedrosa?

RandomName - 23 May 2008 02:47 PM

mrmega - 23 May 2008 02:38 PM

There I solved the issue, lets all drive through please and talk about some other stuffs that we haven't beaten into the ground so many times it hurts!!!

Fine with me. So what did China GP represent in terms of trends vs. "meh, just one of those things"?

Rossi about to go on a big roll?
Edwards going to stay competitive?
Ducati and Honda going to strike back?
Hayden going to get any closer to Pedrosa?

Rossi about to go on a big roll? Unfortunately I have to say yes, it looks that way to me.

Edwards going to stay competitive? In Practices, QPs and WUPs he will. I don't think he will on the track though :(. I would love to see TLLCD get a win and 5 or 6 podiums this season..... but I do not think it is going to happen


Ducati and Honda going to strike back?
DUC: They might!!!!
HON: Yeah, they will but Peepee has nothing for Rossi or Lorenzo. Hayden isn't doing squat YET and I just don't think Dovi is on a competitive enough package to be a serious threat..... this year.


Hayden going to get any closer to Pedrosa? I WANT him too and I THINK it can be done... but I don't see it happening this season. I think HON put way to many of their eggs in the Peepee basket at the expense of the championship hunt for a few seasons , not to mention how developing the lead bike for Peepee doesn't seem to bode well with the other HON riders styles, size or whatever.


And I will add something that is similar to what Syn asked.....


What would it take for DUC/Stoner to return to being a contender this season. Is it possible? Is it to late?

Ducati is working on bringing out their '09 bike early as I understand it, and that's what they need.

garyb425 - 23 May 2008 03:34 PM

Ducati is working on bringing out their '09 bike early as I understand it, and that's what they need.

This appears to be the same step backward they took with the GP04 debacle... obviously Stoner was only one able to ride the GP07, but why change it so drastically after such a successful year? Must think they are HRC or something...

Oh do pack in Rolfo, you trolling biffer. What was the crack about Brad Smith all about? Was that necessary after the lad got a career best finish? I was pleased for Mike Di Meglio. It was great to be in the French crowd when a Frenchman won, a great atmosphere.

As for your beloved JT, you really don't give in do you? You gob off about his overtakes in WSB and the fact is that he didn't EVER knock someone off, despite the fat useless ITALIAN Lanzi running him off track like the rotund clown that he is.

Dovi is a great prospect and I definitely see him on the Repsol bike next year. I have always been a fan since his 125 days. But as I have previously stated, you really can't be too xenophobic about a country that you don't even come from, and one at that that can't even get the bins emptied.

Joker.

gonickygo - 23 May 2008 03:53 PM

garyb425 - 23 May 2008 03:34 PM

Ducati is working on bringing out their '09 bike early as I understand it, and that's what they need.

This appears to be the same step backward they took with the GP04 debacle... obviously Stoner was only one able to ride the GP07, but why change it so drastically after such a successful year? Must think they are HRC or something...

I think Ducati's fear/motivation is that the Japanese are not going to stand still, and they felt they needed to continue to up the ante to be able to compete in the future. Looks like it may have backfired but had they played it safe the result could have been the same. Really the only reason they won the title last year is because they took a risk with the GP7.