91Èȱ¬

I support Lorenzo's sentiments that racing at 200+ mph can hurt when aggressive riders punt you, but I also agree with Simoncelli that Lorenzo picked a bad example. Stoner on the other hand........I no longer know what to say; I applauded his comment to Rossi after Jerez, and scorned the appalling interpretation skills of those who knocked him afterwards for having the audacity to say it.

But some things he says go all wrong. Being fair, people only knock him for it because, like Lorenzo, he can beat Rossi regularly. If DanPed begins to beat Valentino comprehensively, Im sure Rossi's fans will pick up on stupid things.....like Pedrosa's scowl, his height, the superiority of Peds current bike vs the Ducati.

I swear too that in 2008, when James Toseland was racing Vale at the front of the field, Valentino, whilst graciously complementing JT, went on to add that James raced far too aggressively. Last thing I saw, James never pulled something on Valentino that would involve contact.

I disagree with Jorge and Casey and think they are all too quick to moan. This is Grand Prix racing and they know the risks. You get a lot worse incidents every weekend in 125s and 250s (Now Moto 2) when those guys were coming up the classes so they should be used to it.

The facts are that Lorenzo, Stoner and Pedrosa aren't battlers. They never have been, they have always been about bolting off into the distance. Lorenzo I suppose you can say is a more clever racer and has come out on top in a lot of last lap battles with Dovi in 250s but he's not one to get his elbows out.

Its gamesmanship from Lorenzo and Stoner. They are trying to make these good mates Rossi and Simoncelli look the bad guys here. I respect Marco in much the same way I respected Senna and if the other guys frightened of racing him then they know what to do, brake earlier and let him by but then they are not true racers.

Also the example above, I take it your referring to JT at Phillip Island, his racing their was fine and not aggressive at all and his move he made to repass Rossi into turn 1 was a thing of beauty and he deserved an higher finish than 6th in that race. Hopper and Dovi moaned about JT's aggresive riding at Jerez in 08, wrongly again in my opinion. I just think that it's a case of people in life looking to blame other people for their own shortcomings.

I agree with #2 - I think DanPed's too dinky to brake late let alone bang fairings with anyone, and Lorenzo's far too special for anyone to compete with him. Jorge and his bike were the most consistent all last season but get over yourself - someone wins the title every year and you're not Mourinho LOL. Stoner just seemed like having to wrestle with the Ducati and then have other riders on less trying bikes passing him too was just unfair on his little self, but he's not on the thing anymore so why's he still whining? If you watch the last race closely, just after the camera angle changes between turn 1 and 2 you can see all four of the Hondas behind Lorenzo had a moment on that little jink to the left between the turns, and to me it looks as though Stoner was the one who nearly took Simo out rather than him being the cause of anyone else's accidents in that race. Din't hear any whining from SuperSic afterwards about it though.

MotoGP was lost to me between 2003-2009 but I'm glad as heck I was back into it by Catalunya 2009, I think JT was still in the class at that point and as he was always at the back of the pack and JL, CS & VR were always at the front he wasn't going to upset any of them anyway. I don't remember the Aus race that year so can't comment on that one.

It annoys me Stoner being so whiny 'cos he's every bit as exciting to watch as Dovi, flinging the bike sideways on one wheel into corners and stuff - that's real skill, I just wish he and Lorenzo'd quit griping about everyone else. It's a race; everyone in it's a racer - they will all try to win and if, as with Valencia last year, you happen to be ahead of someone in the 5th, the last or any other corner you don't have to allow them to overtake however jewel-encrusted their helmet is.

Going slightly off the rivalry topic, is it just me aggraveted by the use of "we" so much by the riders? I know the mechanics, the bike and the rider each represent 33% of the package but what's wrong with saying "the bike was a peach and I rode it awesomely" or "the bike was good, I was bad" or whatever? It just seems like false modesty when things go well, and sounds a bit weaselly when things go badly.

PS: Can we have MotoGP in HD at all on the 91Èȱ¬? I did see recently that the facilities & OB co's you're now using have upgraded their gear to HD on the strength of getting the contract, so there's no technical reason why not..... Does it just require a loud enough clamour? F1's broadcast in HD and that's pants by comparison with MotoGP.

PPS: For daggersfan to applaud Stoner's shoulder/talent comment to Rossi is a puzzler. Surely Casey'd really need to have been World Champ 10 times to get away with that? Call Vale a insert-expletive-of-choice by all means, but surely you need to be better at something that someone you're patronising or you just mug yourself off and the reaction Casey got for it was about bang on.

I agree entirely with your first two paragraphs; to be honest, that was not what I'm getting at though. Cutting off someone elses line at the first corner, or jostling for position without using your opponent as a human brake is fine. Like Motegi last year, that was good from Valentino.

But it's them other incidents, such as the 2005 Spanish GP when Vale passed Gibernau, Sepang last season when Simoncelli didnt even care that Aoyama had the racing line, and just accelerated right into Hiroshi. Of course, the Sepang incident was not so bad, at turn 2 they only do 30-40 kmph anyway. But even to an extent, Rossi passing Casey at the corkscrew in 2008 was unacceptable; as with Jerez 2011, Vale had no hope of making that corner. Everyone remembers that pass, but no-one remembers the fact that Stoner got better drive out of turn 5, then passed Rossi round the outside with a wonderful move on the way up the hill to the 'screw. If Vale had been insufficiently talented, awareness of risks or not, Casey would have been hurt. Of course racing incidents are racing incidents, and there should be no bad blood, but taking contact like a successful block pass and being the target for human cannonballs are two entirely different things.

I respect Simoncelli (but no longer Rossi) really as he does not moan about spontaneous moments in racing now that he has graduated. And Marco is definitely not overambitious when he races. That failed pass at Jerez from Vale is foreshadowed though, look at Motegi back in 2005 when he attempted to get Melandri.

@randomuser: I am sincerely serious that Casey can say such a thing to Valentino. As Casey himself elaborated later, Valentino ran out of talent at that moment, not that he has lost it all and will never ride well again.

I am not camped as a supporter of Stoner, or for that matter Lorenzo, I simply love MotoGP as a competition, and any Brit who we have going, whether they be strong or weak. But stepping back and looking at the Jerez accident as a whole, that jibe from Casey was apt. Maybe the helmet should have come off first if what Vale wanted was acceptance............

PS. The shoulder comment was bang out of order for a man who can fall ill from a glass of Cravendale.

I find it surprising that a fan of MotoGP can lose respect for Rossi. And Stoner's Jerez comment on Rossi was not funny, it was simply a poor disguise for his bitterness. It wasn't remotely clever because it is unfeasible that Rossi is lacking in talent. The man reigned supreme across 3 classes for years and brought unparalleled attention to the sport.

Well there was nothing like seeing Rossi and Biaggi playing kissy kissy and swopping paintwork around DoningtonPark. What would Moto GP be without the handbags? This must be the most exciting spectator sport in the world. And they are all heroes putting their very lives on the lie every time they race for glory.

Well, I should have thought without rivalry and trying to get the upper hand, sport is pointless. I don't see the reason for some (like Schumacher) for some to win at all costs, whatever the collateral damage, that's when it stops being rivalry or sport and is just plain dangerous.

This sort of thing is recognised in football, a referee can blow for a foul even if just there is an "intent" to commit a foul. The same needs to apply to motorsport, after all it's not a broken leg, it is potentially people's lives.

For above post read line rather than lie. It is a typo.

I have a long journey to make today, and the Cravendale comment will hopefully keep me laughing all the way. Thank you for that.

Seconded on the HD thing too. Without wanting to sound like a letter to Points of View..Dear The 91Èȱ¬, why oh why must we have children's programmes on the other HD channel you have lying about most Saturday/Sunday afternoons? Last year was fantastic, you could even tell whether it was Stoner or Hayden falling off the Ducati from a distance without having to wait for the commentators to catch up.

I think the bad or good guy with the best charisma will always win me over. Simoncelli is frankly hilarious for so many reasons, he also comes across as what you see is what you get. Lorenzo however is becoming a proper little Prince, and reminds me now of a more successful Biaggi. Always been a fan of Valentino, and his chirpy little interviews...but if the going's not to his liking he won't give an interview at all. The marketing of the guy is phenomenal, so sometimes I do wonder how much is for show. But he's always going to be the "nicer guy" over whoever his rival is, he's cornered the market, so he's got me hooked.

Spies is a nice guy, but a bit too boring to listen to sometimes. He needs more lessons from Edwards. His Twitter & Facebook feeds are seemingly being edited by a higher power and not the rider himself, even though sometimes it pretends to be him - perhaps it's both - so in a way he's less personable...or just plain busy, who knows. Can't see him ever having a rival particularly. He's even tolerating Lorenzo!

Well said Matt. The best Rivalries in MotoGP are between Rossi and Biaggi and Rossi and Gibernau. But none of them won the Elite title.

I have seen the live video when Biaggi slapped Marco. That's absolutely no sporting spirit at all. Biaggi said to Journalists that Marco did the same thing in the past and I didnot want to to discuss about it.

But if the rivalry b/w Simoncelli and Jorge become just like Rossi and Biaggi and then it would be great.

But once again you reminded me all those great battles in MotoGP and F1.

I mean none of them means Biaggi and Sete for above comment.

Like most people I prefer Vale to Stoner, who’s a bit of a whinge bag. But I do think that after the Jerez incident many people here (and elsewhere) have taken the opportunity to be deliberately obtuse in the way they interpret Stoner’s comments.

To my mind Stoner stood up, walked over to Rossi (who should have removed his lid), shook his hand and enquired after his shoulder. Vale apologised for the off, Stoner accepted pretty graciously, then went on to observe that in that instance alone, (angle, pace, rain, etc) Rossi’s ambition to make that pass outweighed his talent TO MAKE THAT PASS. It didn’t look to me for one minute like Stoner was trying to make a sweeping observation about Rossi’s talent on the whole, or question his ability as a world-class rider – few are better placed than Casey to know only too well just how peerless Rossi has been over the years, after all.

I think many are using that one throw-away line as a big stick with which to beat Stoner, who it must be said falls into the ‘boy who cried wolf’ category, given some of his previous bleatings. I just feel that on this occasion he was being pretty genuine and gracious under the circumstances.

Lorenzo is sheer class and I think he will prove more than a one-title wonder over the next few years, as much is it pains me to say, as he isn’t very likeable. And he did have a point about the dangers involved – we have to go back less than 12 months and the death of the Japanese lad in Moto2 to emphasise this. Buuuut, Simoncelli had me in tears as he confronted Jorge, who looked so shocked and stunned that anyone would dare to answer him back! Agree with poster above who called Lorenzo a proper little prince – he’s in danger of alienating himself from every other rider on the field, as well as the paying public, and needs a little more humility. It’s OK to be arrogant and pig-headed when you’re top of the tree, but I imagine that when he starts going through a lean spell, as all do at times, the paddock will seem a very lonely and uncomfortable place to be.

Simoncelli seems to call it as he sees it, isn’t cowed by the big names, and rides confidently and ‘balls to the wall’. Aggressive, maybe. But I don’t think he’s deliberately careless or dangerous, and nothing I have seen suggests he would willingly endanger anyone else on the field. He just pushes things as hard as he is able, which is commend

.....................He just pushes things as hard as he is able, which is commendable.

These rivalries are fantastic, and give any sporting contest an intriguing edge. It’s all too rare in these PR-heavy times to find sportsmen/women prepared to speak up if they genuinely don’t like someone, call them out and put their own reputation and ability on the line. (Modern boxing being the exception here, where some of the cooked up rivalries are so corny they actually make you cringe – was a relief to see Pacquiao & Mosley doing the opposite this week and conducting themselves like gentlemen ahead of knocking seven shades out of each other this weekend!)

One of me favourite sporting rivalries? Magic Johnson (Lakers) vs. Larry Bird (Celtics) in the late 80’s. Not too personal, but extremely intense and the very embodiment of what real competition is all about.

All these guys are suerhuman when it comes to riding these bikes, but not only is Stoner always complaining, he does it in a monotone, ozzy drone, which just doesn't make for good viewing.
His sarcastic applause at Rossi in Jerez was telling. The man has no class.

And sure, there is a large facade to Rossi, and the mask rarely slips, but it's a mask that's more entertaining than most in MotoGP. Couple that with his huge talent, and the ability to go just that little bit extra to get the win, is what endears him to most viewers.

Lorenzo's a great rider, but he's a complete fake.
Pedrosa's a great rider, and a nice guy.
Simoncelli's a great rider, and a little bit nuts.

Don't know where I'm going with this, except maybe to say, MotoGP needs them all.

On second thoughts, even though I don't like some of the MotoGP guys, it could be a whole lot worse. We could have the walking PR billboards they have in F1, who never say anything remotely interesting.

Yeah, bitch and whine all you want Stoner, and Lorenzo. All your doing is setting up the good guys for some funny one liners.

Great article and great comments above.

My humble opinion on the subject being a doohan and big time rossi fan: nothing is better than having strong rivals in sport. We've all seen what excitement it brings to the racing in motogp. None more so than the 2009 season where I almost had an heart attack in front of the tv watching rossi and lorenzo pushing the boundaries in a season long battle with the GOAT coming out on top when most thought that he could no longer hold off the younger riders coming through. Last year we were robbed of a repeat of that with no one able to step up to jorge who re- doubled his efforts from the previous year.

This year though its shaping up to be a classic super battle that im sure we all have been craving for a long time- with having a solid 4-5 championship rivals for the title.

Valentino and Marco definatly bring the excitment with their riding styles. Although I enjoy the way both Jorge and Casey engage with their bikes- Jorge ultra smooth and Casey all out ragging, I don't like the way they actually race. Dani can be placed with J and C too- they are the best at getting the super fast TT style lap times but when it comes to scrapping it out on track they are all lacking. And especially Jorge and Casey will complain. I would say if you are bothered by the close contact of racing then you are definately in the wrong job. If any of the incidents were out and out dangerous- surely the riders would be investigated and reprimanded.

I say keep the rivalries alive- laguna seca 2008, catalunya 2009, japan 2010 have been the most exciting races in the past 3 years (coincidentally involving the GOAT) and if every other race was like those involving other riders too- well I think we would be blessed...

... also I believe that personalities are the biggest part of any sport. History is kind to those who have helped the sport grow through what they bring to the table. Characters like Barry Sheene, Muhummed Ali, Michael Jordan, Ayrton Senna, Mick Doohan, Pete Samprass, Michael Schumacher and now Valentino Rossi have elivated the standard set before them. The current clash of rivalries in motogp today has brought together the champ vs the new blood vs the GOAT vs the fastest vs bravest vs the proven- all the main riders can be placed in those brackets and I 'hope' they will all clash in pursuit of victory.

daggersfan3 how can you possibly respect Stoner for making a comment like that. "Your ambition far outweighs your talent", surely that would reflect Stoners performances far more appropriately. The man who consistently pushes his bike too hard and crashes out, opposed to one recent racing incident in wet conditions. And I think you'll find no he can't beat Rossi regularly, he can beat Rossi on a superior bike. And the only season Lorenzo has out performed Rossi was last season when Rossi missed races and wasn't ever at full fitness.

The true test for Lorenzo will be adapting the Yamaha for the coming seasons without Rossi and Burgess. Rossi and Ducatti may well have to write this season off as far as the championship. But the true test for Lorenzo and the Honda drivers will be next season after Rossi and his team have had chance to develop the Ducatti and the now inferior Yamaha team will be regretting not doing more to keep them. I don't know where this over confident arrogance has come from for Stoner and Lorenzo. Scared? Rossi will be back and Simoncelli promises to be the next unbeatable force after consistently outperforming the Repsol on effectively the satellite bike. I think if either of them finished their careers with their current record of a championship each it would still be far too flattering.