Fascinating reading. However the fact remains that Rossi has won more world titles than any of those riders. That may change in years to come, but until it does he remains the GOAT. Statistics are statistics but when you look at the record books it's world titles that count.
Oh, here they come, Rossi bashers YAAAAWN. Remind me, how many riders have been at the top flight as long as him in the modern era? Anyway...Seems Jlo has finally gelled, be interested to see how he hets on with the Honda. Lets face it, he is a one make winner so far, switch didn't work (until last couple of rounds, what about the whole preceding season plus...) so I'm keen to see if he can be one of the few that does switch and take a title.
Who's bashing Rossi? Not me. How long has he been in the top flight? Ages, but that's just longevity. When was his last championship? Well JLo has won on a Yamaha and Ducati. Rossi hasn't done that. If he wins on a Honda, will you admit to his talent?
You can't deny Lorenzo is talented, but Rossi has won titles (titles being the key word) with two manufacturers. He has also won on 500, 800, 990 and 1000. Also the total highest points scored by any rider, most podiums and so on. Also although he never won on a Ducati, he was instrumental in Ducati changing how they developed their bikes. Lorenzo has a habit of inheriting bikes developed by other riders. Yamaha - Rossi, Ducati - Rossi/Dovi and next Honda - Marquez
Granted, Rossi has won titles on a number of different machines, but you can only ride what is in front of you. If you ride in the sport for 20 years and it evolves throughout that period, then you will naturally be exposed to the changes you mention. Again, being at the sharp end for years more than your peers in going to get you points. His title record is very impressive and I am the 1st to admit, a great achievement. I do however think that Marquez will equal or beat it before he's 30, he's getting stronger each year. Points may be harder as they are accumulated over a long period. I suppose it depends on his motivation in a few years time. The Ducati was nowhere near a consistent race winner when Lorenzo came. They had won the odd race since Stoner left, notably at the power circuit of Austria. You could conceivably argue that Dovizioso's form in the 2nd half of last season came about as Lorenzo's input started to come through, very conceivably. So Rossi was instrumental in developing the current Ducati and Lorenzo has inherited it? Personally. I can't see how Rossi took the Ducati forward at all. It certainly looked no more likely to win a race at the end of his 2 year tenure than it did at the beginning and he couldn't wait to jump back on the Yamaha. As for Yamaha, Vinales looked like a championship winner at the start of the last season on the bike that Lorenzo had input into for years earlier. They have went backwards from that point on with Lorenzo no longer in the team and look a mess now. Yamaha remained competitive when Rossi left for 2 years and Lorenzo was the team's focus, with even Spies winning. If Rossi is the great developer, why are they in the mess they are? When couldn't work the thing out a few years ago, he was quick to jettison Jeremy Burgess who had master-minded multiple titles with Doohan and Rossi, he's no further forward now. By the sounds of it, you think Lorenzo deserves no credit whatsoever and even if he wins next year, you'll keep that opinion as he's done it on the "bikes developed by other riders". I fundamentally disagree with your assessment of the man and his skills as a rider and input into his teams motorcycle development. The trouble is, there is a lot regurgitated on the internet by people who do not look at the facts. "Lorenzo can't develop a bike, can't win in the wet, can't race wheel to wheel". Look back over his career, look at the stats and watch the races, think for yourself and you'll see the reality is very different. His crime is to be in the sport at the same time as the golden child, and even worse, beat him.
Who’s denied his talent? Winning races and developing bikes is nothing like the same. And he hasn’t won a title. Stoner did. Rossi has.
You need to take those hatinr blinkers off matey, seriously you are kidding yourself if you don’t think it affects how you see the sport thru a glasses of Rossi hate. For whatever reason.
I may be wrong, but with this whole tank/JLo Business, I remember Ducati coming out and basically saying he could have had it sooner had he been able to clearly put across the issues he was having (like a good development rider). Anyway, on the Rossi front, it’s been Rossi’s ability to learn and adapt over the years that is great. People rock up and beat him, he puts in the hours to learn and take the fight back to them. I also have no doubt that MM will smash his records though, but it still doesn’t diminish what Rossi has done over the years.
The important data in that big long article is 1) since the tyre rule change his results have dipped massively 2) his head to head record against riders who would compete with him is poor Both of which devalue what he won, when he was winning championships year after year pre 2005
Ago, good as he was, won a lot of his titles due to far superior machinery. I think that is generally acknowledged.
Not like Ducati Corse to blame the rider then, after all it can't be their amazing machines. They refused to believe there were issues with their bikes because Stoner was winning on it. They basically said Stoner's medical condition was all in his head. Refused to drop the carbon frame for a long time, despite the riders claims it was too stiff. Now Lorenzo's problems are all his fault. They have form. Saying Lorenzo could have had the tank modifications earlier if he had just told them is making the situation sound very simplistic. Lorenzo has been working his way through this profesionally and methodically, he was modifying his seating position and padding to the tank from the very 1st test in 2017. Look at the Aero. He decided to run with it last season and has stuck with it. Dovi ran without it for ages after Lorenzo adopted it full time, ocasionally using it or small variations, he now looks to have gone down Lorenzo's route with full aero.
Calm down man , But to be fair - he did run the aero with great success finishing in 17th while Dovi was winning and beating MM Yes he has suddenly found a pair and started racing again, yes he is shite in the wet. No he didn’t develope the bike massively it’s been winning regularly since he’s been at Ducati and no he’s not been worth 12 million Euro’s a year. I am glad he has started to race again and wish him massive success next year and look forward to the racing - Rossi top fella has been able to adapt to most bikes, but couldn’t get the Ducati to work for him. But even Jl commented that Rossi would have won on the the 2018 Ducati in a recent interview as the bike is now totally different. So in summary JL proved me wrong found a pair and started racing on a bike that is now performing- wet racing still to be proved different - Rossi riding a bag of shite and still performs- MM unbelievable talent but only so far on a Honda May the racing continue to be good who ever rides whatever
This Rossi fella sounds amazing. But I looked him up and he hasn't won a race in over a year and a title in close to a decade. In fact he's only won 2 races since June 2016 (over 2 years), Cal Crutchlow has won 3 in that time. All very confusing as sounding as good as he does, I'm amazed anybody else bothers to turn up.
Yep fella doing well 2nd in championship including being knocked off by MM not bad for nearly 40 Need to finish to win and never said anything detrimental about Cal, just need to stay on the bloody thing
