Again, ND, if he just crashes on the lap then he just crashes.

But if he crashes because he had the wrong tires on this bike... and that is because he either wasn't paying attention to what the team told him, or decided he knew best... that is a different story. Sorry but it isn't that hard to understand.

Just like Stoner deciding to use the WETS at Donnington against the teams advice. He gets the blame... justly.

If you have an agenda you can breed anything you want into situation.

He made a silly mistake... he was not the first and he will not be the last.

The wet tires at Donnington was a calcualted risk based on the weather and the fact that he did not have the race pace to challenge the leaders. Hayden did the same thing for the same reasons. If it had started raining and everyone else had had to pit while they did not, they would have been heroes. Not how it turned out, but, as the case with so many things in life, hindsight is 20/20.

It is ridiculously easy to second guess from the sidelines.

Regardless, he is one of the very few people that has the ability to win every GP race he lines up for. That pro alone far outweighs any cons that may be associated with Stoner.

NDSkies - 17 November 2009 12:18 PM

If you have an agenda you can breed anything you want into situation.

He made a silly mistake... he was not the first and he will not be the last.

The wet tires at Donnington was a calcualted risk based on the weather and the fact that he did not have the race pace to challenge the leaders. Hayden did the same thing for the same reasons. If it had started raining and everyone else had had to pit while they did not, they would have been heroes. Not how it turned out, but, as the case with so many things in life, hindsight is 20/20.

It is ridiculously easy to second guess from the sidelines.

Regardless, he is one of the very few people that has the ability to win every GP race he lines up for. That pro alone far outweighs any cons that may be associated with Stoner.

Didn't have the pace at Donnington? Casey always seems to manage the pace. But, at that race, even if his dry weather pace wasn't the best, his pace in the wet sessions was far superior to everyone else. So if he starts on drys like everyone, and then they switch to wets... he makes his way to the front right quick.

But hey, only ummmm... every single racing commentator and pundit (including plenty of ex GP racers) said that it was a stupid move. They all said in a championship battle you have to cover your rivals first a foremost. But what do they know? Nicky, yeah he was the guy that could take a huge gamble. Nicky had nothing to lose. But, again, you like to re-write history and go against the entire GP world with your opinions.

As for the warm up lap crashes... it actually isn't "the first time" and may well be "the last time" that a rider has done what Casey did. It wasn't just a simple mistake out on track... it was the error in judgment of not listening to what his team told him to do. Don't you see the difference there?

NDSkies - 17 November 2009 12:18 PM

Regardless, he is one of the very few people that has the ability to win every GP race he lines up for. That pro alone far outweighs any cons that may be associated with Stoner.

I will agree with that. Moreover, I think he's the 2nd best rider in MotoGP, between Rossi and Lorenzo.

RR, you are the same guy that thinks Stoner just wanted a vacation in the middle of the season, so, it is painfully obvious that no matter the situation you will spin it in your own mind to vilify Stoner.

SSDD.

If you believe that Stoner was ill then the Donington choice doesn't seem as dumb. If you don't believe it then it was stupidity.

All I can say in that regard was prior to his break Stoner was finishing 3rd to 4th and after his return he was a winning machine. Whatever the reason for the break it worked.

Whatever. Generally its the guy riding the bike who gets the blame when the bike is crashed. Tires? Riders job is to feel the tires and do what is needed based on feedback. Crashing on a warm-up lap is just plain stupid and inexcusable. I like Casey but it is a pure bonehead move, and the team can try to take heat off of him, but ultimately he was the one in the seat, he has to take the blame.

This was not a case of feeling what the tires were or were not doing. The bike just went away obviously with no warning.

Yes, ultimately it was Stoner's fault.
No, he is not the only rider to be caught out by cold tires with no grip.

And no, I seriously doubt Ducati are concerned about being stuck with one of the few riders capable of winning every GP race that he lines up for.

I can't imagine who Ducati would want over a healthy Stoner. Lorenzo, Rossi and Pedrosa are fast guys but what they would do on a Ducati is a giant question mark.

I'm not sure what caused that tumble. I don't know if the bike broke, or it had the wrong tyres, or it hit a curb and/or the grass, or Stoner simply Bozoed and dumped it. But the results are the same -- bent bike, scuffed leathers and a bruised rider.

Ye may debate the causes and assign blame all you want, but it's not going to change the results. Now would someone please toss Casey a few ice packs so his face won't look as read as his bike when the race starts?