106 replies to this topic

[FerrariAlonso]

Vale has been my favourite since I was a little child. On one side I was hoping for him to stay at Ducati, because the duo of the best Italian driver and the Italian squad was fantastic, on the other side it was hard to accept that he has been out of the fight.
I think Vale left Yamaha cos he never ever liked Lorenzo too much, that is why it is a bit curios to see him going back to the roots again. However, Vale said a couple of days ago their contact was never as bad as the press wanted to show.

Quick edit: the third answer sounds correctly as "No, cos he would have needed to support Ducati for some more years".

Edited by FerrariAlonso, 10 August 2012 - 12:22.

[Smile17]

I'm still very surprised Rossi couldn't make it work with Ducati. I really thought he would get on top of it. Back to Yamaha seems like a good choice, hope he can battle Lorenzo again.

[hotstickyslick]

Quite an anti-climax I feel. If he wants more success than going back to Yamaha is the right choice, but if he wanted to prove himself on a bad bike then staying with Ducati and finishing what he started would've been better.

[Trust]

Ducati is a history. Only Stoner was talented enough to ride it.

It is right choice for Rossi to come back(competetive bike), but I think he is now too old to beat Lorenzo. Hope I'm wrong and we see the old Doctor's magic.

[TimRTC]

It is a risky move in one way. At the moment when he loses we can blame the bike. He has no excuse now not to win races.

Still I think he has made the right move. Better to sink or swim on the Yamaha than just drift around until retirement on the Ducati.

[Wander]

Ducati was never going to work. I was skeptical from the day it was announced and after the first few races I knew they would never make it. Not surprised that they aren't any better this season.

In terms of success, Yamaha was the only option so yes, if he wants continue, he made the right choice. Some seem to think he should have retired, but he still wants to win. It is going to be extremely tough now against Jorge, but at least he'll be able to measure himself against the best current rider one more time.

[jeze]

Jorge will destroy him but it's cool he still wants to do it

[Wander]

Jorge will destroy him but it's cool he still wants to do it

Jorge should destroy him, but I wouldn't be 100% confident.

[Ralliart]

Rossi is looking for challenges. He went to Ducati with the challenge to win the title. He can't get on with his bike - it looks like Stoner was the only one who could tame it - so his next challenge, I'd think, is to win some races next year (and win the title?) with Yamaha and battle for the championship in '14. I'd think many of the suits at Yamaha are the same as in '09, so Rossi isn't handicapped in that way, knows the Yamaha way of doing things, etc. Anyone know if Jeremy Burgess is going with Rossi to Yamaha? Anyone have guess when Rossi will be able to test a Yamafa? This year or from 1 January on?

[Atreiu]

He did right in the sense of finding a competitive ride as quick as possible before retirement. But he won't have it easy against Lorenzo. OTOH, Yamaha did right because they have a very strong pair and either one can - I assume Rossi hasn't lost that much even if he lost something - easily pick up wins if the other gets injured or has a bad weekend. It just depends on the bike being up to it.

It's also good for MotoGP/Dorna because a run away Lorenzo title in 2013 would definitely not be in their interest, especially after losing Sic, Stoner and Spies in such a short time and facing trouble with processional races. And then the JLo and VR battles might be enough to hold the doomsday predictions still for a while.

I do expect Lorenzo to come out on top. Like others have said, he is in the zone and it has become HIS team now. Not to mention he still is their bet for the future, but he'll be more pressured by Rossi than by Spies. Destroying is not a word I'd use, not yet.

Ducati lose more than Rossi with this failed experiment, but VR's resume won't ever look shining bright and impecable even if he does win some more. He'll probably loath Stoner even though the guy won't be racing anymore!

[manmower]

Better to sink or swim on the Yamaha than just drift around until retirement on the Ducati.

+1

[Atreiu]

By the way, there was no mention of WSBK, right?
I hope he goes there as well.

[ghost]

Even if Jorge destroys him, he did the right thing.

[TFLB]

For him it's a good move, but I can't help but feel that it will be a rather one-sided battle at Yamaha. Rossi's reputation will suffer, he should have retired on a high a few years ago in hindsight.

[rossbrawn]

Regardless of whether or not Rossi gets destroyed, his passion and desire to win is still there; hence the move.

[TFLB]

Regardless of whether or not Rossi gets destroyed, his passion and desire to win is still there; hence the move.

Or he wants more money.

[rossbrawn]

Or he wants more money.

Can't say I agree with that sentiment.

[TFLB]

Can't say I agree with that sentiment.

Maybe you would if leaving Motogp would mean you lose a large amount of your circa £30000000 per annum pay.

Edited by TFLB, 10 August 2012 - 19:34.

[DutchQuicksilver]

Jorge will destroy him but it's cool he still wants to do it

Rubbish. I'd say it's more likely it will be an intra team battle like last time they were teammates. Sure, Lorenzo's evolved, but Rossi still has a lot of fighting spirit in him. Otherwise he wouldn't have signed this deal.

[Atreiu]

Or he wants more money.

Yeah, the exact reason he turned away from Phillip Morris.

[rossbrawn]

Maybe you would if leaving Motogp would mean you lose a large amount of your circa £30000000 per annum pay.

If you think money was his main motive behind moving back to Yamaha, you're utterly clueless - if it was, why'd he leave said team in the first place?

[TFLB]

If you think money was his main motive behind moving back to Yamaha, you're utterly clueless - if it was, why'd he leave said team in the first place?

I didn't say it was his main motive. I think it was one of his motives. I'm sure there's a part of Rossi that is worried that maybe he won't be as competitive as when he was last on the Yamaha - he's not getting any younger - but doesn't want to leave Motogp because it is so lucrative for him.

Regarding why he left in the first place, it seemed clear at the time that he wanted to finish his career with Ducati and that it would be a match made in heaven. Unfortunately it wasn't.

[rossbrawn]

I didn't say it was his main motive. I think it was one of his motives. I'm sure there's a part of Rossi that is worried that maybe he won't be as competitive as when he was last on the Yamaha - he's not getting any younger - but doesn't want to leave Motogp because it is so lucrative for him.

Regarding why he left in the first place, it seemed clear at the time that he wanted to finish his career with Ducati and that it would be a match made in heaven. Unfortunately it wasn't.

I'll refer you back to my first point:

Regardless of whether or not Rossi gets destroyed, his passion and desire to win is still there; hence the move.

The only seemingly possible way that he will win, is to move to a team that will provide him with a motorbike to do so: i.e. Yamaha.

[TFLB]

The only seemingly possible way that he will win, is to move to a team that will provide him with a motorbike to do so: i.e. Yamaha.

To clarify my position, I think Rossi is past it and will be thrashed by Lorenzo. His reputation will suffer. I believe a part of Rossi knows that and would like to leave Motogp, but the other part can't stand to lose most of his thirty million pound per year pay. Of course there's no way of knowing that, it's just the impression I get. We'll see at the end of next season.

[rossbrawn]

To clarify my position, I think Rossi is past it and will be thrashed by Lorenzo. His reputation will suffer. I believe a part of Rossi knows that and would like to leave Motogp, but the other part can't stand to lose most of his thirty million pound per year pay. Of course there's no way of knowing that, it's just the impression I get.

Well, that is your opinion. I'm under the impression he wants to fight at the front, again.

We'll see at the end of next season.

We will.

[Seanspeed]

but VR's resume won't ever look shining bright and impecable even if he does win some more. He'll probably loath Stoner even though the guy won't be racing anymore!

I was waiting for something like this. You were being uncharacteristically complimentary to Rossi otherwise.

[drag]

He made it pretty clear when he said its difficult to keep motivation high when they cant find improvements.....must be the right choice then when he wants to compete at the high end,after all he is going back at Yamaha where he felt like his motogp home even though Honda(HRC) was his first motogp team.

[Lennat]

It was the only resonable choice.

The Ducati was crap (for him at least), and Honda would not offer him a proper factory ride. I expect Lorenzo to come out on top, but who knows...

It's still his best chance to win some more races and possibly even championships.

[Atreiu]

I was waiting for something like this. You were being uncharacteristically complimentary to Rossi otherwise.

What should/could I have writen?
He did have an impecable resume, winning on everything he ever threw his leg over. Until now. =P
He still has a chance for more great feats. What if he does beat JLo? How big would that be?

[LukeM]

we saw on Ducati how overrated Rossi was, he never had any good competition back in his "prime". Lorenzo is gonna wipe the floor with him.

[Disgrace]

Even if Jorge destroys him, he did the right thing.

Indeed, and it remains a big "if" which makes the line-up interesting. I think Jorge will prove to be a formidable opponent, and Rossi will need to be at his best, and the first indicator of that will be the first race next year.

[Mc_Silver]

we saw on Ducati how overrated Rossi was, he never had any good competition back in his "prime". Lorenzo is gonna wipe the floor with him.

[DrProzac]

He did right. Though it's a shame that the Ducati thing didn't work.

[motorhead]

It is a risky move in one way. At the moment when he loses we can blame the bike. He has no excuse now not to win races.

I don´t know, first you have to beat your team mate no matter what bike you ride...

[RRT]

hmm.. should Schumi go back to Ferrari? another Spaniard waiting for him there..

[Fatgadget]

What aboot his engineer Jeremy Burgess and the other personnel that moved to Ducati with him? Will Yamaha take em back also?

[FerrariAlonso]

What aboot his engineer Jeremy Burgess and the other personnel that moved to Ducati with him? Will Yamaha take em back also?

Vale would like them to move with him to Yamaha, but nothing has been confirmed yet.

[Tonka]

How long until the wall goes up in the Yamaha pits? I can't see Jorge wanting to give away a years hard work.

[juandiego]

Maybe you would if leaving Motogp would mean you lose a large amount of your circa £30,000,000 per annum pay.

Ok, I'm clueless but, isn't it a bit too much for a MotoGP raider? I think neither top notch drivers in F1 earn that much.

[TFLB]

Ok, I'm clueless but, isn't it a bit too much for a MotoGP raider? I think neither top notch drivers in F1 earn that much.

Valentino Rossi highest paid Motogp rider

[MikeTekRacing]

How long until the wall goes up in the Yamaha pits? I can't see Jorge wanting to give away a years hard work.

Jorge is employed by Yamaha though and not the other way around

[Lazy Prodigy]

Yes. Of course. While he might not be beating Jorge in the point standings he will be fighting and being competitive. Thats what he wants. Running 6th- 10th on the Ducati is no fun for a man who has proven his worth already.

[AMG FAN]

Jorge is employed by Yamaha though and not the other way around

that didn't stop Rossi last time around.

[AMG FAN]

Indeed, and it remains a big "if" which makes the line-up interesting. I think Jorge will prove to be a formidable opponent, and Rossi will need to be at his best, and the first indicator of that will be the first race next year.

imo there is only one guy that is a match for Lorenzo right now,Stoner...he would destroy anyone else with the form he is on,apart from the crash has he had any poor race that he wasn't running in the top 3? i have alot of respect for Rossi and what he has achieved but nothing lasts forever,the man to beat now is Lorenzo and Stoner.

Edited by AMG FAN, 13 August 2012 - 02:59.

[seahawk]

We have not seen Stoner on the Yamaha.

Stoner is awesome on powerful and raw bikes, like the Duc and the Honda (well at least the Honda is less controlled and smooth than the Yamaha), I am not sure he would love the smooth Yamaha.

Edited by seahawk, 13 August 2012 - 06:24.

[rhukkas]

Stoner would do as well on the Yam as he would on the Honda/Duc. What are you guys on? He just rides fast at all times.

[hotstickyslick]

Stoner would do as well on the Yam as he would on the Honda/Duc. What are you guys on? He just rides fast at all times.

I'd wager that if he was on a Yamaha right now he'd be leading the championship.

[juandiego]

Valentino Rossi highest paid Motogp rider

Thanks for the link, TFLB.
I wonder whether one of them could give me just one. If I had 30 cents in my pocket I wouldn't hesitate to give away one to whomever.

Seriously, that's much more than I thought and an undoubtedly good reason not to call it a day as soon as you're not as good as you were.

[Disgrace]

I'd wager that if he was on a Yamaha right now he'd be leading the championship.

I cannot agree with that. J-Lo has finished in the top two in every race bar one (taken out). It would be tremendously tight if, as you say, Stoner would get along with the Yamaha without issue. I would say this just solidifies my opinion that Rossi will have his work cut out to match George.

Stoners retirement really is a tragedy.

Edited by Disgrace, 13 August 2012 - 10:30.

[hotstickyslick]

I cannot agree with that. J-Lo has finished in the top two in every race bar one (taken out). It would be tremendously tight if, as you say, Stoner would get along with the Yamaha without issue. I would say this just solidifies my opinion that Rossi will have his work cut out to match George.

Stoners retirement really is a tragedy.

Because Lorenzo is on the best bike which hasn't suffered the problems the Honda has this year. Lorenzo's been beaten by Stoner on an inferior bike a few too many times this year, Laguna Seca is a testament to that. A happy Casey Stoner is an unstoppable one.


I think Rossi will instantly show Lorenzo's weak points next year.

Edited by hotstickyslick, 13 August 2012 - 10:40.