The Race for the 2008 MotoGP Title: SPOILER!

**Mr.R** · 10 Mar 08, 12:19 AM

I just thought I'd pop in and ask how my £20 is doing Steve Imola Duke?
I know it's early days but I'm feeling a bit more confident than I did earlier today.........
The new young guns were impressive, Toseland didn't do to bad, Mr 'It's all Michelin's Fault' didn't go too well on his new secret weapons (Bridgestone tyres) and young Stoner KICKED AR*E on the factory Ducati !
The 1st Ducati home was 10 places in front of the next one, do I here you ask why?
I think it's because the Honorary Brit Stoner has far bigger ba*ls than the other riders.
Old 'It's never my fault' Rossi is looking very much like yesterdays man to me.
What did you think Steve?

Steve

**Imola Duke** · 11 Mar 08, 12:37 AM

Our little bet is looking good for you steve.. after the first round

Toseland did very well running last years Engine. ( he will get the 08 spec engine soon)
Stoner went well and pulled away..... Dont get me wrong steve... i want Ducati to win ... But
i think Stoner is a .................

but thats my opinion and hey who cares

i would of much prefered another rider to do the biz for ducati.

Rossi......... Even the greats have come backs........... !
And for Stoner to be a great he will have to leave Ducati as number 1
jump on the Honda (again) Yamaha or suzuki and do it again...... one thing
Doohan didn't do or have the balls to do.... do you think casey has the balls......
.............?

Feel for Bradley Smith... But a few more brits have finished well up in the 125's
Best race of the weekend by far

**ohlins916sp** · 12 Mar 08, 12:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

And for Stoner to be a great he will have to leave Ducati as number 1
jump on the Honda (again) Yamaha or suzuki and do it again...... one thing
Doohan didn't do or have the balls to do.... do you think casey has the balls......
.............?

So you don't think Doohan was one of the greats? How about Foggy? He didn't fair so well in WSB on the Honda, but I certainly consider him one of the greats (even though we know the Ducati was superior to the competition).

Stoner has a long way to go before being classified as one (his performances in the other classes showed he's not all round success like Rossi). Perhaps he's only now got the maturity and confidence to not put it down the road so much as previously, but he'd never go (willingly) to a 'lesser' class again, so we'll never know.

And in the end, what's the point of leaving a successful make? Money. That's why. Bugger making a point to the nay sayers. It doesn't matter how well he does, he'll never make believers of his critics.

Doohan, like Foggy, is an arrogant bugger (they have their moments though) and why not? - if you're going to be the best in the world, then you need to believe you're better than everybody else. This usually translates to arrogance, but Rossi is the exception to the rule (and many more).

Rossi is the complete package. He's consistant, adaptable, personable and marketable. It seems to me that Stoner cops so much flack simply because he's getting great results, but can't say 2 sentences without putting people to sleep.

He's not the complete package that Rossi is. Why would he be? Because we've been spoilt by having Rossi to idolise for so long, that's why. It's because we expect perfection on and off the track (except maybe when filing a tax return).

**Kirky_999** · 12 Mar 08, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

Our little bet is looking good for you steve.. after the first round

Toseland did very well running last years Engine. ( he will get the 08 spec engine soon)
Stoner went well and pulled away..... Dont get me wrong steve... i want Ducati to win ... But
i think Stoner is a .................

but thats my opinion and hey who cares

i would of much prefered another rider to do the biz for ducati.

Rossi......... Even the greats have come backs........... !
And for Stoner to be a great he will have to leave Ducati as number 1
jump on the Honda (again) Yamaha or suzuki and do it again...... one thing
Doohan didn't do or have the balls to do.... do you think casey has the balls......
.............?

Feel for Bradley Smith... But a few more brits have finished well up in the 125's
Best race of the weekend by far

Personal opinion for sure mate, I am a rossi fan but love to see an aussie doing well....hoping suzuki get it in gear too an vermulen gets up there!

**ziggi** · 12 Mar 08, 11:36 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mr.R

II think it's because the Honorary Brit Stoner has far bigger ba*ls than the other riders.

Why on earth do you think Stoner is some sort of Honorary Brit? Yes, Stoner is talented world champion and that deserves respect. I'm glad Ducati are doing well but Toseland is a REAL brit and deserves all the support. I don't care what he's riding. I'd never write off Rossi - never. The guy is pure class.

Toseland, Rossi and Stoner all on Desmosedici's - that's what i'd like to see.

**rupert** · 12 Mar 08, 11:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggi

Toseland, Rossi and Stoner all on Desmosedici's - that's what i'd like to see.

Now that would be an interesting, if unlikely, situation. Looking forward to race 3 when Toseland gets this year's engine. must have been very demoralising for him to be up with the pack through the twisty bits and then have to watch them pull away on the straights

**Mr.R** · 12 Mar 08, 05:12 PM

[quote=ziggi;157654]Why on earth do you think Stoner is some sort of Honorary Brit?

I don't really but it winds up the some of the guys on here, especially some of the colonials.
Isn't the Queen still their head of state, if not she should be IMO.
Didn't you notice the tone of the rest of the post?
There's an ongoing bet which includes a lot of banter, leg pulling and outright crowing rights, if your guy wins that week.
My money's on Stoner and the Ducati, so this week at least, I'm doing the crowing!

Steve

**Imola Duke** · 12 Mar 08, 06:27 PM

[quote=Mr.R;157778]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ziggi

Why on earth do you think Stoner is some sort of Honorary Brit?

I don't really but it winds up the some of the guys on here, especially some of the colonials.
Isn't the Queen still their head of state, if not she should be IMO.
Didn't you notice the tone of the rest of the post?
There's an ongoing bet which includes a lot of banter, leg pulling and outright crowing rights, if your guy wins that week.
My money's on Stoner and the Ducati, so this week at least, I'm doing the crowing!

Steve

Crow as much as you can Steve

My turn will come

Roll on Spain!

Nothing personal you Aussies..... Doohan did not Leave Honda...
Rossi did......... A Great in my eyes.... Foggy left Ducati and wished he hadn't !
Greats in there own right.. but not as great as Vale.... But the BIG GREAT imo is Hailwood

**diamondbrit73** · 12 Mar 08, 08:03 PM

Have you heard the news?!! Ducati have been found with illegal fuel conflicting with Regulations!!!!

Stoners bike was found to contain dingo DNA in the high octane fuel!!

Fair play to the boy! it looks like he had to prove a point and i think he did very well!

Its always nice to see ducati win, its a shame Marco didnt run better seeing as he was the fastest duke!!

Its will be an interesting season! looks like Rossi has had a wake up call too!

i guess its all those panini's ah ID!!LOL

I think the betting should start based on who (if any!) will run out of fuel first!!! LOL

**Imola Duke** · 13 Mar 08, 07:21 PM

Yes Brit fa too Panini's lol

for those who don't realise what this thread is about....
Mr R and myself have a £20 bet running.
Mr R thinks Droner will win the moto gp championship
I bet Rossi will

The £20 will go to charity, my choice is a childrens charity..
Mr R... A TT charity.. not sure which one ?

Anyone want to join in ? If Steve's ok with that ?

Droner 1
Rossi 0

**Cess pit** · 18 Mar 08, 07:59 AM

I would like to join in please...£20 to a charity sounds a good.

My money, greatly influenced by my heart, is on Rossi. I would never bet against the doctor, but on form, looking at last year and the first race Im afraid Stoner looks very very strong.

It's a real dilema, love to see Ducati do well but I don't like Stoner, nice enough lad but you don't go from zero to hero overnight without a big dollop of help....thats in the shape of the incredible Desmo.
Two identical bikes, I think Rossi would win. Two bike without electronics...Rossi would whoop his arse.
Only my opinion mind.

**Mr.R** · 18 Mar 08, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Imola Duke

Yes Brit fa too Panini's lol

for those who don't realise what this thread is about....
Mr R and myself have a £20 bet running.
Mr R thinks Droner will win the moto gp championship
I bet Rossi will

The £20 will go to charity, my choice is a childrens charity..
Mr R... A TT charity.. not sure which one ?

Anyone want to join in ? If Steve's ok with that ?

Droner 1
Rossi 0

My cash goes to the TT Riders Benevolent Fund, it's a good place for it IMO.
Outside of this bet I donate to the Cornish Air Ambulance (There's a good chance that I'll need it some day). After that I give to the 'Sally Army', I'm not into any kind of god, but my Grandfather who survived all 4 years of WWI, always said they were always there for the 'Tommies' when things got really bad, but he never ever saw anyone else!
So I give to them out of respect for the old boy, he's long gone now as is my Father, but 'Dad' also followed this path.

Steve

**Imola Duke** · 31 Mar 08, 11:25 AM

I'd say its 1-1 on the betting front Steve

As i predicted Stoners feeling the pressure.

**Mr.R** · 31 Mar 08, 10:27 PM

Hi Steve,
Well done on your 1st DD outing, how many toilets rolls did you get through?
I'll give you 1-1 so far on the bet.
Stoner wasn't happy all weekend but was still running in 3rd place before heading for the kitty litter.
I thought he did well to hold it and then hunt down the points before Tamada? run him off at the very same corner, he still got back on the track without losing any more places...
The Ducati team manager said "It's not so bad it's only the 2nd race and we've already won the 1st race".
The seasons still very young, I still think he'll be in there at the end.
At the end of the day I'll always want the 'BIG RED BOLOGNIA EXPRESS' to win, even if Rossi comes out of the closet and rides for them.

Steve

PS It dosen't make him a bad boy, just as long as he's not behind me if I drop the soap in the communal shower!!!

**Ghost** · 31 Mar 08, 10:35 PM

Its Kerry Katana you don't want behind you, she read that post of yours.

I was still smiling at that an hour later.