Katana Owners Club U.K.

Is it because of what happened to MARCO ??

Yeah, think his missus has put her foot down.

whatever you thin of him, world champ, cant argue with that.

The lad can definately ride a bike, but think we know who wears the kecks in that relationship.

Lad I worked with at Hein Gericke raced in the same 125 series, Casey Stoner lived in a caravan, so has come a long way in a relative short space of time , but he has spent his whole childhood and teenage years getting there , so I can understand not risking everything when his priorities change.

He said its to do with changes to the way things are done and rule changes. For sure the guy is a great rider, but turn off all that electrickery and he would be on his arse, just look at what he was like on 500, jumps on the Ducati with all the goodies and hey presto instant hero. Still takes more skill than I ever had but he trusted what it would do for him and he stayed sunny side up. Brave of him to walk away at the end of year, so good luck to the lad. It must be hard knowing your never going to out do Rossi on the stats sheet.

not too sure. if ever there was a rider in the modern era that could develop and win on any bike and could ride round a lot of the problems that put other riders back in the pits, it was rossi, yet even his prodigious talent couldnt get him to the top of the podium on the ducati. all the bikes now have the electronics, so i dont think thats how he won, otherwise the duke would be topping the podium every week, but its not.

I was saying that he went from crasher to winner in 1 step. Basic aids on the 2006 Honda to full on traction control on the Ducati 2007 bike which was miles ahead of all the other teams (electronically) and on the best rubber for the year. Yes he won again on the Honda, but by 2011 they had the Ducati electronic engineers working for them. He has embraced the electronic controlled bikes and that's what made him a winner.

perhaps the ducati just suited him, some bike /rider combos are like that, a rider gets on a bike that he is confident in and it all comes good from there. the same can work in reverse as rossi is finding, its no lack of talent, just that a bike that others have been dominant on doesnt 'suit' them, its not the bike, or the rider, its just the mix of the 2.

Strange tho' that he couldn't keep the LCR (satellite) Honda right side up, but now he's back on the Repsol (full factory) Honda he can.
Have to agree with Mick here, he's a very talanted rider but I've never liked him