Stoner annouced it now because Honda were trying to re-sign him for another two years, but he wasn't ready to commit yet, so they "leaked" it to the press to help get him to sign, it backfired and pissed him off no end, and just reinforced his view that it's just a business now and the riders don't matter and are seen as just appreciating or depreciating assets or commodities. I read this in an article, but can't remember where :redface: The article was a link in a thread here or on Ducati.ms
Its as bizarre as any other theory, why not One things for sure, nobody believes his official line or take on the matter
Again, a slightly twisted view from somebody who's had past squabblings with Stoner and is also close friends with Rossi. Ask Doohan and you'll get a different view, nothing more than that really.
Mick is from Australia too though Lets throw another Shrimp on the barbie, mate While we at it, why don't we ask Crocodile Dundee's opinion too?
I think it has always been a business, much like F1. Riders much as footballers don't like that aspect unless they are the main recipients of the funds. Unlike football that isn't the case yet, but MGP isn't anything like the global sport that football is and so doesn't command the funds of F1 or footballers. Hamilton is rumoured to be edging towards £20M a year at his next contract, that's roughly 33% more than Rooney gets and he pays UK tax too unlike Mr Hamilton. The riders are only important as long as they are winning, not nice, but that's business.
Yes a business, but at Ducati it was a family, then they shit on him, now Honda plays games with him, I get the feeling he's about people/personal relationships and not money, he feels betrayed?
What about the fact that Ducati shit on him and then Honda. There is one common denominator there ....
Ducati pissed him about, he wanted to stay at Ducati, then they offered Lorenzo twice the money because it was the riders fault, not the bike or the factory's fault, then when Honda wanted to re-sign him for 2 years (apparently he only wanted 1 year), he said I'll think about it, they thought he wanted more money and leaked the story, so he pulled the pin on retirement a year early
Mysterious sickness forgotten like absence mid season in Ducati. While at Honda issues started when Lorenzo, Pedrosa started keeping up... Neh if anything it is as much his fault as Ducati/Honda.
Yes, Stoner isn't blameless in all this, but lactose intolerence can be a very serious illness tho', but people make light of it because milk is harmless to most people, but talk about peanut intolerence/allergies, bee sting allergy and it is taken more seriously. Same thing tho'. Ped. and Lorenzo started keeping up when arm pump got too bad? Caused by bad chatter that Honda can't/won't fix.
Lets face it guys, his heart is not in it, he never really exhibited a love and passion for the sport like Rossi does, if he wants to take the sulk and throw his toys out of the pram so early, then why worry? look positive, its an opportunity for a rider that is passionate about the sport. Casey Who? Good riddance IMHO, the sport is better without Prima Donna's like him, spoilt brats if that's how they behave. No big loss and I think his defeatism nature/trend has already allowed Lorenzo to be motivated far more. I'm sure he will keep trying but with an admission like that, his heart is not really in it. We are better off without him to be honest with his current attitude IMHO.
I might be wrong here but I think Pedrosa did not complain about chatter. Also said chatter started when Stoner was under pressure and had to ride it to limit not having the fastest bike under him. It could be that chatter was there earlier but Stoner does not feel like long run tests are of value …
Ive said it before and I'll say it again, Pedrobot does not complain about anything, he's a Honda Yes man ... a wise man too, he knows he's not a winner but he bangs in constant fast starts and an occasional podium and his money is in the bank, that's what Honda have been paying him for all these years, (MR Consistency)there is no passion in Pedrosa just like there is no passion in Stoner. Honda pay big bucks though ... I'd love to see their offer to Rossi already, we all know he's not finished yet, I'd love to see Yamaha's offer already too. Fuck Stoner and his child like attitude.
A fair amount of shite in this thread. Katana, do you know anything about Ducati Corse? It's tradition for the riders wives to hold the brolly. It's part of the Ducati family spirit. Bayliss Mrs was always there. Rossi and Hayden don't have regular girl friends so they have a random. Maybe he announced early to get it off his chest and allow the other riders and teams to work up their plans? Anyone who believes he was not ill needs to take a good look at themselves. Those along with the people who bitch about him leaving even though it was what they must have dreamed of for seasons now. If you risk your life you are entitled to moan. If you think it's a 40 hour week, or less like a regular job. Then you are dreaming. They will be working all hours. Looking at data, promo duties etc. Do people think travelling round the world is glamorous? It's not. It's rubbish. I used to travel all over for work and after a while it does your head in. Fine if you are single, but if you are not it's not a lot of fun. Casey bashers, keep going. You are doing a great job showing yourselves up as bitter individuals. As for forgotten. As Ducatis first and he will be Ducatis only MotoGP champion, now it's going CRT, I dont think he will be forgotten
Stoner and Pedrosa must be, what, 10kg apart in terms of weight? Their relative heights must distribute their weight over the bike in a very different way. Having lost a few kg myself, I can appreciate the difference in suspension performance that weight can acheive. I've said it before: Stoner has been racing most of his life and probably wants to find out what real life is like. He may not be back, but equally, he's only 26 - don't rule out a comeback. I'm not entirely sure I agree with the Ducati family thing.
