I started watching 500s as a kid, back when Gardner was champ. I've also been watching Rossi since he was a punk kid, quickly became a fan, loved the way he played with the field and loved the schooling he gave Biaggi, especially on the slower Yami. After all his wins, last year was difficult to watch for a Rossi fan (Hayden champ? C'maaaahn ... ).

But, at the end of the day, Rossi's had 7 ch/ships and he's already a legend. Now, there's my favourite flavour of bike (much improved from the last couple of years) with a young Aussie on it, showing a great deal of class. I've loved Ducatis since before I could ride and I was stoked when they announced they were returning to GP racing. Now I have this double hope of another Aussie GP champ to follow Gardner & Doohan, this time riding a Duke (not to mention as the two Troys in the SBK series). Couldn't really get better than that for me

Quote from danowat :

Trust me, I know the advantages (and the rather large disadvantages) of V-twins compared to IL4's

One sounds nice and feels fast, the other sounds fast and is fast?

Quote from Christofire :

One sounds nice and feels fast, the other sounds fast and is fast?

Pfff.......typical riceburner

Heh. I did want to comment on the race, but I can't remember much of it. I did watch both GPs while I was over at the TT and remember enjoying them, but wasn't "sober" for either of them.

Just FYI in case not everyone knows, all of the MotoGP bikes this year are 4 cylinders, either inline or V, even the Ducati.

Ducati: V4
Yamaha: Inline-4
Honda: V4
Suzuki: V4
Kawasaki: Inline-4
KR: V4 (Honda motor)

As I recall, DUCATI with there 'V' four with desmodromic valve gear, always gave better handling than the in-line four.

Desmodromic valves open and shut mechanically, hence the speed of the Duke.

Rossi and company suffer valve bounce with the in-line four cylinder engines trying to keep up with the DUCATI'S.

I raise my hat to 'Stoner', he could win the championship using his present form?

Put 'Rossi' on the Duke though and they wouldn't see what way he had gone!

Ducati: very fast bike
Yamaha : very good maneuverability

It's like a trade off, and since both racers are awsome and don't really make mistakes, it's the track that will select the winner (that's waht i think).
A faster track will allways suit Stoner, while a twisty and slow track will favour Rossi.

Quote from g7usl :

As I recall, DUCATI with there 'V' four with desmodromic valve gear, always gave better handling than the in-line four.

Desmodromic valves open and shut mechanically, hence the speed of the Duke.

Rossi and company suffer valve bounce with the in-line four cylinder engines trying to keep up with the DUCATI'S.

I raise my hat to 'Stoner', he could win the championship using his present form?

Put 'Rossi' on the Duke though and they wouldn't see what way he had gone!

Not strictly true, the desmo system has been around for yonks, it was originally developed to cure one of the age-old issues with V-twins, and that their reluctence to rev very high, the desmo valve gear was introduced to overcome this.

I wouldn't say the duke is quicker because of the desmo system, just like I wouldn't say the IL4's are slower because they suffer valve bounce, their tech guys would either fit stiffer springs, or lower their rev limiters.

Dan, Randy Mamola's words not mine.

Randy Mamola's a former rider turned commentator, not a mechanic or an engineer. He also hasn't raced a GP bike in over 15 years.

Don't get me wrong, I like him as a commentator, but I don't think engine internals are his specialty.