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Having dropped his Ducati for the third race in a row yesterday during the Grand Prix at Misano, Casey Stoner was running out of excuses. After the race he explained that they “took the decision to put one lap on the race tyre in warm-up this morning to get it scrubbed in.”
Apparently they had done this before and never had a problem, but Stoner complained of a major lack of grip early on in the race (that must be why he disappeared into the distance and built up a 3-4 second gap after only a couple of laps). However, he went on to say: “after a few laps it started to feel better and I was gaining confidence but it let go.” So what’s going on?
If you want my opinion Stoner panicked. Like he had done at Laguna Seca, and at Brno. It’s all very well saying that he is always on the limit and therefore more likely to stack it. But isn’t it a little more than a coincidence that the moment that he has lost it, in the last three races, was when Rossi started closing the gap?
The ever-humorous Italian did admit after the race at Misano that he may not have been able to catch the Australian, but crasher Casey wasn’t to know that was he?
So Rossi leaves his home Grand Prix with a 75-point advantage and is set, without any major mishaps, to take the 2008, and possibly his greatest Championship.
Stoner’s quick, as is Rossi. The Ducati is hard to ride right (you only have to look at poor Marco Melandri to see how difficult), but at the end of the day is blisteringly quick. The Yamaha is getting faster, especially with Rossi leading the development, which is only helped by the fact that he is now using Bridgestone rubber, which is so much better than Michelin that at times it’s almost embarassing for the French tyre manufacturer. But the main difference is that Vale has years of experience and in my eyes is just a better rider. And Stoner knows it.
Peter Spiers, September 1st, 2008 at 6:17 pm
Agree totally with Ed’s comments. Stoner can’t handle the pressure Valentino is piling on at the moment. It must be so infuriating for him that Rossi is able to do this while appearing to have fun doing it !
andrew lynch, September 2nd, 2008 at 1:20 am
I tend to agree, Stoner gets rattled by Rossi. Stoner established a 3 second gap, but that did not increase, it stabilized. I believe Stoner became frustrated, defensive or just not concentrating at the level required because of Rossi. He didn’t want to get into another dogfight with him eg. Laguna Seca
Rossi is a past master of mind games (Biaggi and Gibenau to name but two) but Stoner is the equal of Rossi and is the most formidable challenger Rossi has faced to date.
I agree with Stoner that Rossi’s tactics were questionable at Laguna Seca, but you don’t win as often as Rossi has by being nice about it.
There is more than a hint of demon / devil beneath Rossi’s facile smile.
dave orrell, September 2nd, 2008 at 3:14 pm
Having watched several reruns of Laguna Seca I fail to see what Rossi did wrong. This is world Championship racing. Stoner, it seems, expects it all his own way, as in 2007. Rossi’s tactics at Laguna were just hard racing, when you’re up against a faster bike it’s the only way. The Ducati however does seem to be hard work, not wanting to turn in, hence the excuses about front tyres. There is a good pic on yamaha racing’s web site page 4 or 5 that illustrates this very well. Casey just has a lot to learn yet.
dave orrell, September 2nd, 2008 at 3:28 pm
Just to add to my previous comments, Rossi is the best of all time. Hailwood was always my hero, but after Rossi’s switch to the dreadful Yamaha and two subsequent titles I was forced to think again. I suspect that “Mike the bike” might have agreed. No shame in that Casey.