MotoGP Thoughts...and a rant!

Finally, after 5 months of waiting the lights went out in Qatar and launched the 2012 MotoGP season.


The hype was building all weekend through Free Practice and Qualifying with the Aliens (minus one) consistently topping the time-sheets and our own Cal Crutchlow showing that his form in pre-season testing was no fluke.


The race itself was looking like continuing from where last season left off with Casey Stoner grabbing the lead and looking like he might break for home but a problem with arm-pump slowed his progress and the smooth-riding Mallorcan Jorge Lorenzo took a deserved victory from Dani Pedrosa, Casey Stoner in third and a second consecutive 4th Place finish for Cal Crutchlow.


Now for the bit that really matters....


Valentino Rossi had yet another weekend to forget. There are serious problems in that garage and no amount of Jeremy Burgess and crew magic is going to fix it. That Ducati looks like it needs to be ridden a certain way and unfortunately its not the way that Valentino rides...in fact it is completely the polar opposite! Nicky Hayden is finding the new GP12 a little easier to ride as his 'dirt track' loose rear riding style is more suited to the fickle-fronted Bologna Bullet.


VR places a lot of stress on the front of the bike, it's the way he's always ridden, and rather than adjust his riding style to suit the bike he's trying to do the complete opposite but with small changes to his style....and its not working! Clearly, as proven by his team-mate, it is not a bad bike but as to why Valentino can't adapt, only he really knows...


Does this mean the end of Vale? No I don't think so. Was the move to Ducati the wrong one? Yes I think so - but when you've burnt a few of your bridges like he has, then it was really the only move available when he decided to leave Yamaha.


Make no mistake, there is a New World Order. Heroes come and go. We've had Ago, Sheene, Roberts, Spencer, Lawson, Rainey, Schwantz, Doohan and VR, the bulk of which I've been lucky enough to see race. We now have Lorenzo, Stoner, Pedrosa to name but a few and, after Moto3 race yesterday, the future of MotoGP looks phenomenally bright for the next 14 years at least with Vinales, Sisiss, Olivera and Alex Rins all stars in the making - and bear in mind Arthur Sisiss was only a month old when Valentino Rossi made his debut... so in that case, our future prodigy's are literally only just being born, proof if ever it was needed that time moves on!


The one thing I really do hope is that the fans that Valentino Rossi has attracted to MotoGP remain and continue to grow with the sport - there was racing before VR and there will be racing after, and it will still be exciting!


Now, the biggest disappointment of the weekend was the attitude of some of the users of social media. What began late last year as banter between mainly Rossi and Stoner fans reached a new low this weekend. 


Sadly its the Yellow fans that have been the downright rudest both on Facebook and Twitter. One user posting a general question on one fan page only to be met by an incredible response from a VR fan - who ran away with her fingers in her ears when people lept in - that prompted me to post a response in defence of his perfectly simple question.


Not all of the Yellow Army are this way inclined, so I'm not generalising in any way - most VR fans are absolutely some of the nicest people I know and am happy to call them friends. I wrote that she was 'the epitome of a blinkered Valentino Rossi fan' and I stand by that as I truly believe it. She will depart MotoGP when Valentino departs and good riddance to be honest.


To some there is no other rider out there and anyone who dares to question 'the messiah' will be immediately shot at dawn. Well I have news for them, VR is not the Messiah - or a very naughty boy - he's human, he's made a bad choice going to Ducati and he's also caused other riders to raise their game to such a level that he'd find it hard to dominate even if he was back on his beloved M1. His time is coming to an end, not at an end, but its coming - its only natural.


The vitriolic abuse that was directed at Casey Stoner, for example, over the weekend by the minority of the Yellow Army was beyond banter - it was ill-masked abuse. The reigning Champion hadn't even got off his bike before the finger-pointing and intensely personal abuse began. This is simply small-minded and crass. Sorry if this offends anyone but it's my blog and my opinion. Feel free to get a licence, get out on track and go and do better. This is not just because it's Casey, it's because he's a motorcycle racer - nothing more nothing less.


Some of the stuff I've seen about Dani Pedrosa and his Yachting Exam have been nothing short of brilliant, proper banter and harmless fun. A massive difference to what others receive...


Sure I have riders I prefer over others, I'm no big fan of Jorge Lorenzo or Josh Brookes to name but two, but I have the utmost respect for them as riders and I certainly wouldn't think of subjecting them to some of the stuff I've seen this weekend as I know I couldn't do any better!. 


I'm disappointed by the minority this weekend, one or two are genuinely have no clue about racing in general and it shows.


Everyone is welcome to their opinion - some just need to take a breath, understand the concept of respect, and consider what they're saying and how it may make them look before pressing send...


Thanks for reading. Rant over.