Will Rossi ever win again?

[Carter Turk]

Local trackday buddies, have bets he will or won't before the season is over.
I didn't put any money down, but feel it's unlikely.
He does seem to do well @ Phillip Is. thou.
At least in the past.
Always cool when the "Grandpa" sticks it to the youngsters or at least shows them a wheel here n there.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

No chance before retirement, not even a podium.
With Vinales and Quatararo riding the same bike to the podium, he's demoralized. Rossi just ain't young no mo.
Marquez freaked him out, he ain't the same since.
"There are old riders and there are bold riders. But there are no old bold riders."

 

[Guest]

The bigger question in my opinion is how will MotoGP fare once Rossi retires? He has that rare combination of both charisma and world class talent. There are still legions of fans worldwide loyal to #46 whether he is on the podium or deep down on the leaderboard.

Marquez may have the talent and world titles but in terms of personality he'll never match Rossi.

 

[RichDesmond]

Local trackday buddies, have bets he will or won't before the season is over.
I didn't put any money down, but feel it's unlikely.
He does seem to do well @ Phillip Is. thou.
At least in the past.
Always cool when the "Grandpa" sticks it to the youngsters or at least shows them a wheel here n there.

Not this year, but maybe next, depending on how much better the bike is

The bigger question in my opinion is how will MotoGP fare once Rossi retires? He has that rare combination of both charisma and world class talent. There are still legions of fans worldwide loyal to #46 whether he is on the podium or deep down on the leaderboard.

Marquez may have the talent and world titles but in terms of personality he'll never match Rossi.

Rossi is definitely an anomaly, it’s extremely rare in motorsports for a star to attract large numbers of fans who don’t have a strong interest in the sport itself. There will be a dip in attendance and viewership for sure, but I don’t think it will be that big. Enough riders have developed strong fan bases of their own and some of the more casual Rossi fans have already drifted away, so the impact won’t be huge.

 

[GregT]

Not this year, but maybe next, depending on how much better the bike is

If the bike's good, he gets out of bed feeling good, it's a track he likes - and enough is riding on it - then. yes, it's possible.

I go back to an obscure bit of F1 car history. BRM - long gone now but very good in their day - got the message in 1960 that the owner would wind the team up if they didn't do better. They were contenders in '61 - and won the World Championship in 1962. Desperate times....
And then we must point to Tiger Woods....

 

[Nessism]

I'd LOVE to see Rossi win again but I'll be surprised if he does. For one thing Yamaha needs to find a bunch more power for next year; both the Honda's and Ducati's simply walk away from the Yamaha's on the straights these days. Assuming Yamaha closes the gap I think Rossi can post some podiums next year. Anything can happen in racing so never say never. Marquez could crash and bust his leg for all we know. He certainly has had his share of practice get offs. Don't mean to wish ill will on anyone, but it's going to take some luck in Rossi's favor I'm afraid for him to be competitive these days.

 

[salty_monk]

Quatararo is going to be the next big contender if Yamaha sort out the engine and once he has the maturity (to not make silly spectactular crashes) of some more wins under his belt...

His dirt tracker style riding is somewhat similar to Mark. He seems like he has the same skillset to go beyond the limit of the bike/tyres & get away with it more times than not.

 

[GS1150Pilot]

Rossi will still be involved, either as a team owner or as a representative for MotoGP, so it's not like his retirement will remove his presence, and his celebrity will take a long time to wane.

 

[salty_monk]

I think I read somewhere he has an option in place for a team already... He already has teams in lesser competition? (and his training ranch...)

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sky_Racing_Team_VR46

 

[GS1150Pilot]

That is super cool!

 

[Guest]

Vale! Vale! Vale! Vale!

Oh, sorry. Getting caught up in the moment.

 

[RichDesmond]

If the bike's good, he gets out of bed feeling good, it's a track he likes ....

Yeah, the track is a big part. Qatar, Assen, Silverstone, Mugello, PI, those would be the ones.

 

[Carter Turk]

Forgot about the 10 second penalty he got for passing on a waving yellow at Phillip Island in 2003 & still managed to win.
Not that this feat has anything to do with him winning again, but the ability to come back from such odds, shows the magnitude of his talent.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

Forgot about the 10 second penalty he got for passing on a waving yellow at Phillip Island in 2003 & still managed to win.
Not that this feat has anything to do with him winning again, but the ability to come back from such odds, shows the magnitude of his talent.

His talent 16 years ago…
2019 Yamaha Riders: Vinales_6 podiums, 176 points. Quartararo_5 podiums, 163 points. Rossi_2 podiums, 153 points.
The thing Rossi don't do anymore is take huge risks. The younger riders have each crashed trying to go faster. Rossi has mostly only been crashed into by other riders.
It's the desperate overtaking risks by Marquez that have scared Rossi, he won't even continue a practice lap if Marquez is riding close behind him.

 

[GregT]

His talent 16 years ago?
2019 Yamaha Riders: Vinales_6 podiums, 176 points. Quartararo_5 podiums, 163 points. Rossi_2 podiums, 153 points.
The thing Rossi don't do anymore is take huge risks. The younger riders have each crashed trying to go faster. Rossi has mostly only been crashed into by other riders.
It's the desperate overtaking risks by Marquez that have scared Rossi, he won't even continue a practice lap if Marquez is riding close behind him.

A lot of that is the current front rubber. When they changed from Bridgestone to Michelin, the chances of losing the front increased exponentially.
If Michelin can produce a front which gives Bridgestone levels of feel and grip, Marquez will come back to the pack's reach.

 

[Redman]

I was going to ask: what was it that Rossi was doing (that others wernt I suppose) when he came on the scene and was winning so much (2007?). And is he not doing that now? Or everyone else doing that....? I suppose can ask same of marcquez (2013?) ( but that is another topic).
BB has mentioned some of what might be an answer .

 

[GregT]

I was going to ask: what was it that Rossi was doing (that others wernt I suppose) when he came on the scene and was winning so much (2007?). And is he not doing that now? Or everyone else doing that....? I suppose can ask same of marcquez (2013?) ( but that is another topic).
BB has mentioned some of what might be an answer .

When he arrived via 125's and 250's the high corner speed, lean on the front style was taking over from the dirt track rear-steerers. His style suited the bikes and tyres of that period. And the bikes were simpler with no electronic overrides.
Since then, electronics have been the big growth area. They've let riders with shall we say, less natural talent, come through. I've never seen Rossi as a great risk taker. Even on the 125's and 250's he wasn't a regular faller - and he was certainly the class of those fields.
Marquez pushes past the electronics limits and is most definitely the leading risk taker at present. Several have tried to match his style - and have earned reputations as fallers as a result. Marquez is a freak.

 

[Buffalo Bill]

A lot of that is the current front rubber. When they changed from Bridgestone to Michelin, the chances of losing the front increased exponentially.
If Michelin can produce a front which gives Bridgestone levels of feel and grip, Marquez will come back to the pack's reach.

Everybody's riding the same rubber, right?
Ok, anecdotal feedback_I see no mention of Bridgestone tires in reviews of the best track & street performance tires. Names I hear mentioned are Michelin, Pirelli and Shinko.
Yeah, that's right Shinko before Bridgestone. The Shinko 003 Stealth poor mans track tire, very good for rain.
One reviewers opinions:

 

[Nessism]

Marquez is a freak.

Wouldn't it be fun to see a young Rossi compete with Marquez on equal equipment? Wow! As it is I think Marquez is on pace to easily best Rossi's MotoGP win record. Rossi changed equipment a few times which set him back but regardless, Marquez is arguably on his level and he's staying with what works (Honda.)

 

[GregT]

Everybody's riding the same rubber, right?
Ok, anecdotal feedback_I see no mention of Bridgestone tires in reviews of the best track & street performance tires. Names I hear mentioned are Michelin, Pirelli and Shinko.
Yeah, that's right Shinko before Bridgestone. The Shinko 003 Stealth poor mans track tire, very good for rain.
One reviewers opinions:

The Bridgestone tyres that were used in MotoGP prior to the Michelin contract were noted as having a very good front but not quite so good a rear. The Michelins are the other way round - and a number of the guys haven't been able to get on with the Michelin fronts.
As far as lower level competition goes, it depends if you're allowed slicks or must use DOT legal rubber. Slicks here, the favoured ones are Bridgestone and Metzeler. Treaded tyres, Pirelli with some Metzeler users. The high performance treaded Michelins don't suit all bikes. I know a guy who ordered a seasons worth of Michelins - and found the bike was unstable in a straight line on them. There are differences in carcase construction which lets them turn better - but then that can make the bike unstable.Then in classic and post classic sizes, treaded tyres, Bridgestones on price and performance, Avons for the wealthy
Shinko don't seem to be sold here. I've never seen one. Interestingly, the 003 designation was used on a soft compound Yokohama some years back....They weren't bad at all.