-
Home
-
Latest Headlines
-
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
-
Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Games
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
- Home
- TV Shows
-
TV Schedule
-
SPEED Showcase
-
- NASCAR
- Formula 1
- Auto Racing
- Moto Racing
- Cars
- Bikes
- Store
- Social
- Mobile
- Deals
- Videos
- Photos
MotoGP
MOTOGP: Does Doc Still Got It? Even Rossi Unsure
Valentino Rossi admitted that even a return to Yamaha is no guarantee he'll be able to meet the challenge of Jorge Lorenzo in 2013.
Yamaha-bound Valentino Rossi (Photo: Ducati Corse)
PROGRAMMING NOTE: Three straight hours of coverage of the Red Bull Indianapolis GP from Indianapolis, IN will air on SPEED on Sunday, August 19th starting at noon ET. MotoGP QP will air Saturday, August 18th at 10:30pm ET. #MotoGPonSPEED
Casey Stoner's scathing words concerning Valentino Rossi's failure to produce results during his tenure with Ducati seem a bit more like an on-point critique -- at least in part -- after the Italian openly admitted that his potential to reemerge as legitimate title threat is a fair question, and one he himself shares.
Rossi's preseason shoulder injuries and subsequent early-season leg break in 2010 made it impossible to gauge whether or not the sport's new breed of superstars -- Jorge Lorenzo and Stoner -- had surpassed him already that season.
The question has remained unanswered ever since as Rossi has since suffered through a disastrous 2011 and an equally difficult first half to 2012 -- both with Ducati.
The nine-time world champion's once undoubted development skills have been tarnished by the inability of Rossi and his famed crew chief, Jeremy Burgess, to make significant progress with the Desmosedici (even if Ducati Corse has absorbed the lion's share of the blame).
But have Rossi's sublime riding skills also diminished during that time -- either due to age, injury, and/or a loss of edge due to repeated beatings?
The world will find out come 2013 when Rossi throws a leg over a 1000cc Yamaha M1 -- arguably the strongest bike in the field and the direct predecessor of the machines the legend took to four world crowns.
But for now, even Rossi is uncertain.
Asked about his goals for 2013 and 2014, he admitted, "For sure, the world title is a dream -- but it is also the target. But in my condition now, especially you have to understand if I'm still a top rider, if I'm still fast, and if I can fight for the front row, if I can still fight for the podium. I don't know, because after two seasons like this, nobody knows. So before I speak about the championship, I have to understand if I can fight from the front row and I can podium. We will see.
"I have always had a great relationship with Yamaha… I trust them 100% in for next season. So I know that Yamaha will give me the right bike, the right material. Being with Jorge is difficult at this moment as he rides very strong and in a fantastic way. But, you know, I have to try the bike at the end of the season, try to understand (the bike), and try to understand if I can be fast like in the past. But we have to wait to see the result on the track, like always."
Casey Stoner's scathing words concerning Valentino Rossi's failure to produce results during his tenure with Ducati seem a bit more like an on-point critique -- at least in part -- after the Italian openly admitted that his potential to reemerge as legitimate title threat is a fair question, and one he himself shares.
Rossi's preseason shoulder injuries and subsequent early-season leg break in 2010 made it impossible to gauge whether or not the sport's new breed of superstars -- Jorge Lorenzo and Stoner -- had surpassed him already that season.
The question has remained unanswered ever since as Rossi has since suffered through a disastrous 2011 and an equally difficult first half to 2012 -- both with Ducati.
The nine-time world champion's once undoubted development skills have been tarnished by the inability of Rossi and his famed crew chief, Jeremy Burgess, to make significant progress with the Desmosedici (even if Ducati Corse has absorbed the lion's share of the blame).
But have Rossi's sublime riding skills also diminished during that time -- either due to age, injury, and/or a loss of edge due to repeated beatings?
The world will find out come 2013 when Rossi throws a leg over a 1000cc Yamaha M1 -- arguably the strongest bike in the field and the direct predecessor of the machines the legend took to four world crowns.
But for now, even Rossi is uncertain.
Asked about his goals for 2013 and 2014, he admitted, "For sure, the world title is a dream -- but it is also the target. But in my condition now, especially you have to understand if I'm still a top rider, if I'm still fast, and if I can fight for the front row, if I can still fight for the podium. I don't know, because after two seasons like this, nobody knows. So before I speak about the championship, I have to understand if I can fight from the front row and I can podium. We will see.
"I have always had a great relationship with Yamaha… I trust them 100% in for next season. So I know that Yamaha will give me the right bike, the right material. Being with Jorge is difficult at this moment as he rides very strong and in a fantastic way. But, you know, I have to try the bike at the end of the season, try to understand (the bike), and try to understand if I can be fast like in the past. But we have to wait to see the result on the track, like always."
Grand Prix of The France
LATEST HEADLINES: MOTO-RACING
-
AMA MX: Thunder Valley Stats
Facts and figures heading into this weekend's second round of the… -
WSBK: Punch Of The Penguins
A handful of home track favorites took part in some good-natured… -
WSBK: Donington Park Pre-Event Ticker
Notes and quotes heading into this weekend's Superbike World Championship… -
AMA MX: Hangtown Specialty Award Winners Announced
Justin Barcia, Eli Tomac, and Cole Seely were among the award winners… -
MOTOGP: Noyes' Notebook - Yamaha Falling On Hard Times
The balance of power has shifted firmly back in Honda's favor. Do… -
AMA MX: Villopoto Leads Into Thunder Valley
Ryan Villopoto rolls into Lakewood, Colorado for Round 2 of the '13… -
AMA FT: Series Prepares For Springfield Mile
Round 4 of the AMA pro Flat Track Championship will take place this… - More News
