Rossi Issues Triple-Challenge to Alonso.
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I've already heard Alonso changed his mind and rejected that. Pooop! 
You heard that where?
'Alonso is quoted by the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport as saying he would be up for the triple challenge, adding it would be "something very enjoyable". '
Alonso would kick that uppity pr!ck's ass when it comes to four wheels. You do not become the youngest ever F1 champ unless you are very talented.
I have no doubt with some coaching he would do well on a MGP bike. How difficult would handling a paltry 200hp bike be if you are used to racing (and winning) with 900hp machines?
'Alonso is quoted by the Italian newspaper Gazzetta dello Sport as saying he would be up for the triple challenge, adding it would be "something very enjoyable". '
Alonso would kick that uppity pr!ck's ass when it comes to four wheels. You do not become the youngest ever F1 champ unless you are very talented.
I have no doubt with some coaching he would do well on a MGP bike. How difficult would handling a paltry 200hp bike be if you are used to racing (and winning) with 900hp machines?
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I'm not getting the comments that "Val is arrogant" From what I can extract from the article, Alonso said he could put a bike on the podium.
Val replied, let's race everything. Nature of the beast at this level. I think he knows he is the fastest GP guy around and can smoke Alonson by enough on the bike to make up for any lost time in a car.
Val replied, let's race everything. Nature of the beast at this level. I think he knows he is the fastest GP guy around and can smoke Alonson by enough on the bike to make up for any lost time in a car.
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Re: You heard that where?
You're kidding, right?
I'm pretty sure riding a GP bike is more challenging than driving an F1 car.
What the hell does the weight of the machine have to do with anything? The vehicle dynamics are totally different. Two wheels with far less grip and no inherent balance vs. four wheels and all sorts of driver aids. Even people in F1 admit that the car does most of the work. That's still not the case in motorcycle racing and probably never will be.
None of this is to say that driving an F1 car is easy. F1 drivers are very talented. It's also not to say that Rossi is going to win the F1 championship. But I'd be very, very surprised if Alonso could get within 10 seconds of Rossi's lap time on a bike (and that's assuming he's got some solid experience on a bike, on track) with all the practice he can get.
By the way, not that this matters, but MGP bikes weigh well over 300 lbs.
You're kidding, right?
I'm pretty sure riding a GP bike is more challenging than driving an F1 car.
What the hell does the weight of the machine have to do with anything? The vehicle dynamics are totally different. Two wheels with far less grip and no inherent balance vs. four wheels and all sorts of driver aids. Even people in F1 admit that the car does most of the work. That's still not the case in motorcycle racing and probably never will be.
None of this is to say that driving an F1 car is easy. F1 drivers are very talented. It's also not to say that Rossi is going to win the F1 championship. But I'd be very, very surprised if Alonso could get within 10 seconds of Rossi's lap time on a bike (and that's assuming he's got some solid experience on a bike, on track) with all the practice he can get.
By the way, not that this matters, but MGP bikes weigh well over 300 lbs.
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I'd be rather surprised if Flavio Briatore's contract with Alonso would permit him to ride a MotoGP bike. Think of the consequences for Renault et al if he fell off and broke a collarbone or something. No way. Not during the F1 season anyway.
Re: You heard that where?
"You're kidding, right?"
Not at all. You are confusing road vehicle with race vehicles. Road bikes are faster than road cars, but F1 cars will out accelerate, out brake and out corner a motogp bikes by a huge margin. No contest. (Go check the lap times) Handling 900 ponies is a bit more difficult than 200. F1 cars are notoriously difficult to drive even when you try taking it easy (Just ask Rossi). I am sure most of us will be able to ride a Motogp bike and not wipeout if we take it easy, no?
"What the hell does the weight of the machine have to do with anything?"
?? I did not mention weight. You tell me??
"Even people in F1 admit that the car does most of the work"
Really? Big mouth Rossi spun out first time he drove a F1 car. He must be a total ass since the car does everything no?
"That's still not the case in motorcycle racing and probably never will be."
Mmm Traction control is commonly used in WSB and some time back they played around with ABS.
"F1 drivers are very talented"
Correction, they are the most talented motor sport folks on the planet.
"But I'd be very, very surprised if Alonso could get within 10 seconds of Rossi's lap time on a bike"
I am sure with practice he will get way closer than that. He never said he would beat Rossi; instead he said he would get close. To become the youngest ever FI champ he has to be very talented and I am sure that talent will translate to motorcycling too.
"You're kidding, right?"
Not at all. You are confusing road vehicle with race vehicles. Road bikes are faster than road cars, but F1 cars will out accelerate, out brake and out corner a motogp bikes by a huge margin. No contest. (Go check the lap times) Handling 900 ponies is a bit more difficult than 200. F1 cars are notoriously difficult to drive even when you try taking it easy (Just ask Rossi). I am sure most of us will be able to ride a Motogp bike and not wipeout if we take it easy, no?
"What the hell does the weight of the machine have to do with anything?"
?? I did not mention weight. You tell me??
"Even people in F1 admit that the car does most of the work"
Really? Big mouth Rossi spun out first time he drove a F1 car. He must be a total ass since the car does everything no?
"That's still not the case in motorcycle racing and probably never will be."
Mmm Traction control is commonly used in WSB and some time back they played around with ABS.
"F1 drivers are very talented"
Correction, they are the most talented motor sport folks on the planet.
"But I'd be very, very surprised if Alonso could get within 10 seconds of Rossi's lap time on a bike"
I am sure with practice he will get way closer than that. He never said he would beat Rossi; instead he said he would get close. To become the youngest ever FI champ he has to be very talented and I am sure that talent will translate to motorcycling too.
Re: You heard that where?
"Getting a knee down is something Alonso has no experience with"
Maybe, but he is a very talented racer and you would be naïve to think that his talent cannot translate to two wheels.
"and it ain't for the faint of heart."
If by that you are eluding Alonso is faint of heart you are somewhat ignorant. Competing and winning at F1 takes lots of talent and big [email protected]
"Getting a knee down is something Alonso has no experience with"
Maybe, but he is a very talented racer and you would be naïve to think that his talent cannot translate to two wheels.
"and it ain't for the faint of heart."
If by that you are eluding Alonso is faint of heart you are somewhat ignorant. Competing and winning at F1 takes lots of talent and big [email protected]
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Re: You heard that where?
There was a good Car and Driver article a while back about Nicky Hayden and Micheal Andretti swapping rides. Andretti (an avid sportbiker) was only a few seconds off of Nicky's pace on the bike while Hayden never completed a lap in the champ car without an off-course.
Not that it applies here due Rossi's experience as an F1 tester, but it's a good demonstration of the fact that road bikes are far more similar to their race counterparts than road cars are to race cars.
There was a good Car and Driver article a while back about Nicky Hayden and Micheal Andretti swapping rides. Andretti (an avid sportbiker) was only a few seconds off of Nicky's pace on the bike while Hayden never completed a lap in the champ car without an off-course.
Not that it applies here due Rossi's experience as an F1 tester, but it's a good demonstration of the fact that road bikes are far more similar to their race counterparts than road cars are to race cars.
Re: You heard that where?
Um...I don't think you have all your facts right either.
1. Laptimes don't matter - what matters is how difficult it is to jump in and get competitive laptimes with the top drivers in either sport. Not an expert, but from street riding and watching racing, bikes sure seem like a bigger challenge at that level. Plus at ~326 lbs and 240+ hp (Honda), MotoGP currently has a better power-to-weight ratio (1.35 lbs per hp, versus 1.47). Hp ratings are meaningless without looking at weight too.
2. Correction: Rossi spun out in "his first group outing" this year, but has tested well at various other solo outings over the past few years. Plus later in that same outing this year, he posted very competitive lap times (though using a non-current-spec car). I haven't heard how well Alonso's first group outing on a MotoGP bike went yet
The "big mouth" award actually goes to the F1 driver. This is simply Rossi's reply - "you say you're better, then prove it". Seems pretty reasonable to me.
3. F1 drivers are talented, but "most talented"? I'd say that's subjective, and this challenge might be a good way to settle that. Honestly, bikes and cars are so different it's almost like saying F16 fighter pilots are more talented than F1 drivers...
You think Alonso would win, I think Rossi would win. So it'd be nice to see the challenge happen!
That's my take on it anyway...
Um...I don't think you have all your facts right either.
1. Laptimes don't matter - what matters is how difficult it is to jump in and get competitive laptimes with the top drivers in either sport. Not an expert, but from street riding and watching racing, bikes sure seem like a bigger challenge at that level. Plus at ~326 lbs and 240+ hp (Honda), MotoGP currently has a better power-to-weight ratio (1.35 lbs per hp, versus 1.47). Hp ratings are meaningless without looking at weight too.
2. Correction: Rossi spun out in "his first group outing" this year, but has tested well at various other solo outings over the past few years. Plus later in that same outing this year, he posted very competitive lap times (though using a non-current-spec car). I haven't heard how well Alonso's first group outing on a MotoGP bike went yet
The "big mouth" award actually goes to the F1 driver. This is simply Rossi's reply - "you say you're better, then prove it". Seems pretty reasonable to me.
3. F1 drivers are talented, but "most talented"? I'd say that's subjective, and this challenge might be a good way to settle that. Honestly, bikes and cars are so different it's almost like saying F16 fighter pilots are more talented than F1 drivers...
You think Alonso would win, I think Rossi would win. So it'd be nice to see the challenge happen!
That's my take on it anyway...
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Arrogance and confidence are differenct things. Vale (as smug as he is) is accomplished at MotoGP and Ralley racing. Alonso spoke before the brain cells kicked in and Rossi called him to the mat. If Rossi were in an '06 Ferrari (instead of a de-tuned '04) and raced it against the Renault I think that he'd have better trap speeds in the end.
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