The Doctor...Valentino Rossi
You have to hand it to Valentino Rossi...the man is a student of the sport of motorcycle racing. At this point he has equalled the #3 MotoGP racer of all time, Mike Hailwood, in number of races won, 76. Now he is chasing after the two all-time leading MotoGP winners: Angel Nieto with 90 wins and and Giacomo Agostini with 122 wins. The amazing thing about Rossi is how he doesn't make the same mistake twice...he is constantly learning. For example, it wasn't that long ago that Rossi just couldn't win in the rain. I remember him crashing out of many rain races. This year, he won two rain races: The Grand Prix of China and the British Grand Prix...both with a commanding lead. Moreover, he has won the championship with both Honda and Yamaha. He seems to conquer rivals...first Max Biaggi, and now currently Sete Gibernau. Relagating these great riders to no-win status. I hope Rossi's next great rival is Nicky Hayden. Hayden won the U.S. Grand Prix (OK, no surprise since he is a former U.S. Superbike champion who has raced at Laguna Seca many times before), but he took pole at the Alice Moterrad Grand Prix of Germany at Sachsenring and claimed a podium spot there. He seems to be doing what it takes to get to the top, only time will tell.
Anyone interested in being the best, or better, the best of the best, should study Rossi. He does what it takes to win, time and time again. He studies where he is weak and removes that weakness. He may not take pole at every circuit, but he seems learn during a race and ends up taking the top spot at the end...he knows how to win races. He is most certainly the best there is today, and maybe the best there has ever been.
Anyone interested in being the best, or better, the best of the best, should study Rossi. He does what it takes to win, time and time again. He studies where he is weak and removes that weakness. He may not take pole at every circuit, but he seems learn during a race and ends up taking the top spot at the end...he knows how to win races. He is most certainly the best there is today, and maybe the best there has ever been.
Posted by gianchi on September 24, 2005 at 04:15 PM PDT #
Posted by motor on July 17, 2006 at 09:01 PM PDT #
I also think it will be even harder for Hayden to win next year with the engine size reduction. Rossi is lighter and that will help him somewhat with the smaller 800cc motor, even with Honda's historically more powerful engines. Right now is Hayden's best chance. If he wants to win, he'd better get focused and determined.
BTW, Hayden (I think) proves he has what it takes to at least challenge Rossi. He showed that at Laguna last year. He won last year convincingly. I think part of that was Hayden's determination to win the U.S. race. Part of it, of course, is that Hayden knew the track and (I believe) it was Rossi's first time at Laguna, but at their level, the riders learn the tracks quickly. This year, both will have some learning to do as they've changed the track slightly. The straight leading up into the corkscrew has been modified somewhat for safety. It should be a good race.
Posted by Darryl on July 18, 2006 at 01:32 PM PDT #