Comments on: MotoGP Smackdown… http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89 Scattered thoughts Fri, 17 Apr 2026 04:31:08 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.1 By: Alanf http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-569 Alanf Thu, 14 Apr 2005 06:37:01 +0000 http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-569 Hey Greg - I agree with all your comments. Things between Rossi and Sete went from bad to worse last season with the run in at Assen and the cleaning incident from Losail. Rossi was able to clean up his riding with Biaggi, after the FIM jumped their case in 2001 because of "the ringer incident" and "the fight" incident. Maybe the same will happen with Sete. Hey Greg -

I agree with all your comments. Things between Rossi and Sete went from bad to worse last season with the run in at Assen and the cleaning incident from Losail. Rossi was able to clean up his riding with Biaggi, after the FIM jumped their case in 2001 because of “the ringer incident” and “the fight” incident. Maybe the same will happen with Sete.

]]> By: Alanf http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-567 Alanf Thu, 14 Apr 2005 06:23:47 +0000 http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-567 Hey Pavol - Thanks for the comment. I agree that Gibernau left the door open there. I think he was going into that last turn really hot and just couldn't keep his line as tight as he probably originally intended. However, the fact that Rossi was an opening doesn't make it okay to barge through. It is always the responsibility of the riding initiating a pass to do so safely. I think Rossi was riding with a lot of heart and had his brain turned off for that instance. He saw the hole, dove for it and then realized there was no way to make the corner without hitting Gibernau. That is still a mistake on his part. As for Edwards, I think that is a sign of just how hard Rossi is riding to stay with the Hondas. The second best finishing Yamaha was 9th and next after that was 12th, both over half a minute back from Rossi. The Yamaha still isn't the bike that the Honda is and Rossi is still the best rider on the track. I just hate that he went that little bit too far in his quest to beat Sete over the finish line. Hey Pavol -

Thanks for the comment. I agree that Gibernau left the door open there. I think he was going into that last turn really hot and just couldn’t keep his line as tight as he probably originally intended. However, the fact that Rossi was an opening doesn’t make it okay to barge through. It is always the responsibility of the riding initiating a pass to do so safely. I think Rossi was riding with a lot of heart and had his brain turned off for that instance. He saw the hole, dove for it and then realized there was no way to make the corner without hitting Gibernau. That is still a mistake on his part.

As for Edwards, I think that is a sign of just how hard Rossi is riding to stay with the Hondas. The second best finishing Yamaha was 9th and next after that was 12th, both over half a minute back from Rossi. The Yamaha still isn’t the bike that the Honda is and Rossi is still the best rider on the track.

I just hate that he went that little bit too far in his quest to beat Sete over the finish line.

]]> By: Greg Lewis http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-566 Greg Lewis Wed, 13 Apr 2005 20:38:57 +0000 http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-566 As they say in the UK (no rhyme intended)...Sete was hard done by Rossi. Fairly, in my opinion, but hard. The problem is that if it was Hopkins or someone else, there would be a penalty, suspension, etc. Rossi, being the champion and a "franchise player", can get away with it. Sete may have left the door somewhat not closed, but Rossi's move was desparate and dangerous. Maybe it was a highspeed payback for Losail. Yeah, this is racing...but it's not NASCAR! Maybe we're seeing the other side of Rossi. As they say in the UK (no rhyme intended)…Sete was hard done by Rossi. Fairly, in my opinion, but hard. The problem is that if it was Hopkins or someone else, there would be a penalty, suspension, etc. Rossi, being the champion and a “franchise player”, can get away with it. Sete may have left the door somewhat not closed, but Rossi’s move was desparate and dangerous. Maybe it was a highspeed payback for Losail. Yeah, this is racing…but it’s not NASCAR!

Maybe we’re seeing the other side of Rossi.

]]> By: pavol http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-561 pavol Tue, 12 Apr 2005 17:24:23 +0000 http://www.dorje.com/~alanf/dharma/blog/?p=89#comment-561 I have to disagree with you about Rossi’s final corner maneuver. My interpretation of the replays and photographs I’ve seen lead me to believe that Gibrenau left too much room on the inside. Any racer hungry for a win would have tried to take it. The move was aggressive, but nothing to apologize for, after all this is racing not rush-hour traffic. I think Gibrenau may have hurt him self when he leaned his bike in, maybe in a late attempt to close the hole, and hit Rossi’s handlebars with his shoulder. The contact may have upset the stability of both bikes and pushed them wide. I too was very disappointed with Edward’s performance. If he doesn’t improve this season and get a few podiums and a win, it may be better for his psyche to stop racing and just be a test rider. I can’t see him being content with just circling a track week in and week out just to finish off the podium in the top ten. I have to disagree with you about Rossi’s final corner maneuver. My interpretation of the replays and photographs I’ve seen lead me to believe that Gibrenau left too much room on the inside. Any racer hungry for a win would have tried to take it. The move was aggressive, but nothing to apologize for, after all this is racing not rush-hour traffic. I think Gibrenau may have hurt him self when he leaned his bike in, maybe in a late attempt to close the hole, and hit Rossi’s handlebars with his shoulder. The contact may have upset the stability of both bikes and pushed them wide.

I too was very disappointed with Edward’s performance. If he doesn’t improve this season and get a few podiums and a win, it may be better for his psyche to stop racing and just be a test rider. I can’t see him being content with just circling a track week in and week out just to finish off the podium in the top ten.

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