Reading his book just now and on the last chapter. Stoner comes across as a very decent bloke. Not afraid to admit his imperfections but most of all was not led by the money. And by fuck could he ride a motorcycle.
Thing is like any sport everyone is only one certain injury away from retirement I don’t wish harm on anyone but especially in bike racing things can change very quickly other than the deaths a Wayne rainy scenario is easily achieved unfortunately
Why? I doubt it. Form can be temporary but talent is permanent. I think it’ll be as you were. With Marquez head and shoulders.
Well from what I watched of last season he was head and shoulders above his competition, hopefully his competition has improved. Otherwise I won't be watching much of it, which is a bonus for my Mrs but means I'll have jobs to do.
i know its a personality thing but its funny how some could watch rossi wipe the floor week in week out (figuratively speaking) quite happily but when mm blitzes the field its boring. im not an mm fan (there are pics on here of me burning his hat after the rossi incident) but he is the greatest ever so far and i still love watching his skills. i doubt the field will be leveled just like that. i would like to see closer racing at times but i love the gp and for the most part its far from boring. mm hasnt had it all his own way by a long shot and even if he won every race id stayed tuned. i wouldnt let one mans excess of talent take away from the hard racing fought behind him. should we just shit can mm so the series looks better? alot of people are happy to be watching the mm era just as alot were to be watching the rossi or dohan ect days.
Oh I'm just a casual follower bud, it's the same for all sports for me. I like the whole season to be a mystery on who's going to win football, cycling grand tours. I guess in all sports there's a dominant rider/team just if the championship has been decided with 4 races left for me I'll not watch it beyond that. Just my personal take I what I watch. Fair play to MM for his incredible talent riding a bike no one else seems to have been able to ride well. As for the Rossi lovers/MM I truly don't understand the kind of vitriol that gets handed out. Never used to be this way in motorcycle racing.
I remember reading an article by a certain mr sheene(not the furniture polish one) saying he had been keeping his eye on a young 13/14 yr old Australian lad,can't remember exact words but said something along the lines of future world champ......
I think Stoner's number of Championships won prove he wasn't the best rider out there, as great as he was. In the years him and Lorenzo raced each other, Lorenzo won as many champtionships but in two less years.
As far as I could tell, this is true. There again, I never paid him or any of the other riders, past and present, any mind except when they are on their bikes.
You are correct, but in a media frenetic world, personalities are almost as important as results. I was at Sacsenring for the MotoGP year before last, every rider store inside the circuit was busy EXCEPT for Lorenzo's .... I have no real issue with him, but clearly many others do because that stand (and all the other Lorenzo franchises around the circuit) were deserted. Even the Moto3 rider stands had people buying ....but not any Lorenzo stand ... ?? Stoner, well if he had a stand it would maybe have been set on fire. Outside of his handful of fans - the guy was hated not just disliked. I have never, ever seen any other rider boo'd around a track on a cool down lap, but he was at Donington Park
Although, both Rossi and Lorenzo tried to win championships on Ducati and failed. Stoner won championships for all the manufacturer's he rode for, and has been the only rider to get a championship on a Ducati. TB
I've never met them, Chris. I refer to them being interviewed on TV. The TV interviews never interested me. I do remember Toseland being a musician of sorts. I could perhaps have enjoyed a chat with him. Unless he was into rockabilly. I draw the line at rockabilly.
