I'll eat my words now.

[cstem]

I replied to a post last December about GP predictions.  I predicted Rossi would maybe get a podium or two ( really I am not wrong yet ;)) and finish top five in points as long as the Yamaha would keep running.  Well I think I am going to be proved real wrong here.  Rossi has proven so far that he is the man, the best ever on a bike and we should all bow before him.  I have a feeling he is not done.  Any bets he goes to Proton and puts that on the box when his Yammie contract is up?

[tigerblade]

Hope you guys can get to this:

http://www.fireblades.org/forums/showpost.php?p=155270&postcount=16

[Nate R]

WOW  :o

I dunno how many other teams he'd go to. After a couple years at Yamaha, I really think he may move to cars. I know he did some testing in the F1 Ferrari, and was only 3 seconds off the lap record at the track he was at! This was the first time he'd ever driven an F1 car!  :o :) I know he's talked about liking F1. I wouldn't be suprised if he did move over to it for the challenge.

[251am]

 I'd like to see him stick to the World Rally circuit, but F1 is dying for a new King and will probably pay him for it. You guys watch the off-road stuff?
 I'd say the Yamaha crew is still sorting out lots of different equipment. VR won't be on the top every week, but who knows? Two poles and one victory so far. I think his crew chief has said somewhere they have about 15 different configurations to experiment with in motor/chassis etc.. What a budget.  

[MadXX]

I think Rossi's success so far at Yamaha is a testament to how important a well oiled mechanic-rider team is to motorcycle racing.  I read earlier that one of the things they did initially was change the firing order and internals of the Yamaha engine to make it smoother and to modify the gyroscopic effect of the crank.  If Rossi didn't take his team of genius builders with him he wouldn't have been close to competitive this year, skills or not.  Each rider starts with a factory racebike and a lot of skill, but its the tuning that makes them able to win races.

[spyderchick]

I've said it before and I'll say again, racers like Rossi are rare. He was smart to take his team with him. If you look at successful racers, WORLD CHAMPION RACERS, they all have common elements. Ayrton Senna, Michael Schumacher, and the Doctor all know how to articulate what needs to be done to the machine to make it faster. They know how to work with their team to make them respond to their input, and they all have an inate talent to put it all toghether when it matters most. Luck? Hell no! Hard work, dedication, and a killer attitude, that's what makes these guys so great.

[Nate R]

all know how to articulate what needs to be done to the machine to make it faster.

Sounds a LOT like what Super Dave teaches us riders to do.  ;D

[Super Dave]

Humph?

Rossi...

As long as he's having fun in motorcycling, he'll probably stay put.  It's fun.

When it stops, will he go car racing?  I don't know.  Do you think that he could really get an absolute top flight car?  Would he have the patience to learn it?

There were rumors of Biaggi going F1 when he did a test with Ferrari.  Lawson drove the Jaguar Daytona cars.  Hayden drove Andretti's car. That's press work...makin' news out of havin' some fun.

Would you rather see Rossi with a team of his own and keep him involved in motorcycling?  Sito Pons has one, Kenny Roberts has one, Rainey had one, etc...

[cstem]

Actually, World Rally (My second favorite motorsport) would be  alogical choise for Rossi.  He raced a few races on the semi-pro level and then in the World series once.  If I recall, he made it about 2miles into the first stage and planted it in a ditch and could not resume.  In his defense, some other more experienced drivers also found good parking in said ditch.  Rally is also a driving sport where a good driver must have a good working knowledge of the car, as they sometimes have to fix it between stages on thier own (or at least describe what is wrong in a fashion that a mech can radio in what to do).  This would fit the Doctor well.

[diesel748]

you have to remember Rossi has one thing that M. Schu???er does't have. He's Italian Ferrari wants a driver who fits that description.
only time will tell.....

[spyderchick]

Oh Believe me, Ferrari has gotten their money's worth out of Schummy. Until Michael proves that his skills are declining, Rossi would only be a #2 to him. Yes, they would love to have an Italian in one of their cars, but winning will always come first.

[tigerblade]

Everything I've read indicates that Rossi is a lot more interested in Rally than F1.  I think F1 needs Rossi more than Rossi needs F1...