MotoMatters.com | Kropotkin Thinks

46&Ducati era goes worse and worse in any direction and meaning. As a very exRossi fan I would never wish him to end the career as a result of such circumstances happened yesterday. Rossi can do nothing more than just go thru it. It's clear nobody is guilty, they're all victims now. I feel for Simo, he played with the life and ironically life played with him in sunday, but it never should go like this. Irony with this accident is even greater where all three riders who recently declared fully commitment to sacrifice everything for the cause of hard racing were involved in it.
I think that all paddock, all friends and opponents have learned something yesterday. All of them have something in common - they are just humans after all no matter what way of life they represent.
There's a well known song "Show must go on" so whatever will be, will be.
Good luck and come back soon, Vale.

Who would blame Vale if he chose to hang up his leathers now? Being involved in a crash that kills a friend of yours is a LOT different than a friend of yours getting killed in a race, even if you see it happen. Back in my Superbike days I always figured when "your number's up, your number's up" and what better way to go when it's your time than doing what you love? But I wonder about a guy who's been pushing hard on a bike that doesn't seem able to make competitive lap times? Anyone who's raced knows the quickest way to crash and get hurt is to try to force noncompetitive machinery to be competitive. I wouldn't blame Rossi a bit if he instead decided to race over in SBK where the Ducati bike's proven to be more than competitive and he's claimed he wants to race in a series where the rider is more important and the bikes more fun to ride. If it's no longer fun, he should quit as the next quickest way to crash and get hurt - is racing just for the money when your heart and passion are gone. I hope he comes back with a competitive MOTOGP Ducati next year and kicks a__, then he can retire while on top again. THAT takes guts - to know when to quit while things are going well, BEFORE you trash your reputation and legacy.

David, I haven't read a thing about Colin, how he's doing, or anything about him. Other then reading about his shoulder . . . nothing. You have ANY info on him?

Thanks!

I would think that every rider in Moto GP would go home and take a long look at their assets and then ask themselves: "Is it worth it??". That crash was horrific and absolutely unavoidable. There is a lot more to life than circling a race track…and if any of these guys are in a position to pull the plug, I don't think that anyone could or should be critical of such a decision.

Miguel

speak of irony, rossi... even doctors don't save all their patients, just because they can't

I've been to a few meetings (as a competitor & spectator) which have exposed the brutal side of our sport with the loss of people I knew, and those I didn't - the I.O.M comes to mind with fellow Kiwi's Robert Holden and Paul Dobbs who I used to race against.

Everybody feels very bummed out about a fatality immediately and shortly after questions their own participation. Is it selfish? Well perhaps. But I feel that for all of us that have competed, the sport in someway has defined us as people - certainly in the case of the world guys. Spouses, well they generally enter the relationship knowing their man or women is a racer, it's part of the package for better or worse. Kids, well that's another thing all together and some do hang up the leathers for this reason. Although I chose not to.

Nothing I have ever done makes me feels as alive as the thrill of a race, the win, or a great battle over an old adversary. Part of the intensity of that feeling comes from the fact we know it's dangerous. It's always there, just rarely consciously.

Very few have quit the game at the level these boys play because of fatalities. That's like acknowledging death and fear as the winner. These are highly focused and driven young men. It may sound callous but the next time they grid up at Valencia nothing else will be on their minds when the lights go out than beating the next man to the first corner.

That said, as for no better way to go than doing something you love. No bloody way! Most rational people will plumb for a long and active life quietly passing away in their sleep from old age. We don't really get to make that decision though. Circumstances often get in the way. Simoncelli unfortunately got himself wrapped up in such a freakishly horrid situation.

Honestly I just can't see Vale contemplating retirement right now. If anything, I think this tragedy will only serve to give him added motivation to get a win, and to be able to dedicate that win to his lost friend.....

I'm not sure that it was Parrish that really got the rumours started. I think he was simply expressing what a lot of people (myself included) had already considered a possibility during the aftermath.

I kind of felt guilty thinking about the future when such a tragedy had just happened. What will Rossi do? What will Edwards do? Who will take the seat at Gresini and will it be factory backed? etc etc.

I guess that's just part and parcel in dealing with this tragedy. Why should I feel guilty about thinking about those things? I dunno, but I just do.

I just hope Valentino and Colin are ok in the long term. Most of us really have no good clue about how rough a thing this is to go through.
This is some sad stuff.

I like Steve Parrish. His column went up quite quickly after Simo's death and I thought he did raise the idea of Rossi's retirement with what might be considered indecent haste, but these things will naturally be analysed and discussed in these situations at some stage.

For example: I've been thinking to myself, who will get Simoncelli's ride at Gresini? It might sound callous but your mind does turn to these things. I'm horrified, shocked, devastated at Simoncelli's death, I still can't believe it has happened. I just want him back. Still, I'm thinking about the fact that I would like to see someone get his ride who deserves it and would do it honour. I have some ideas but bringing names up right now is not the point. All I'm saying is it's natural these things will be thought about, and discussed to some degree, even quite early on.

I don't think Parrish should be blamed because I've seen the idea of Rossi retiring being mentioned on forums quite independently of anything that Parrish wrote.

Whatever Rossi's decision, it should be respected. Personally I would like to see Rossi sticking with it and returning to form to take that top-step victory that his mate Marco never quite achieved. I guess when he's at a career low like he is right now, and to some observers the fire doesn't seem to be there anymore, it's natural that people would wonder whether this sort of devastating development would be the trigger for him to pull out. I hope he doesn't.

And I hope Gresini can muster the heart to turn up at Valencia.

“Quit? I do not know who said it, but it wasn't me … Maybe it was to sell more newspapers.

“Marco was great. We shared so many memories, we used to meet almost every day, we'd train together and we'd race against each with any type of machine that had an engine.”

It is unthinkable that Rossi may not participate in Valencia.

Apart from the fact that this is his persona to the core; I can personally confirm this.

On Monday we shared a few hours at the swimming pool. I had an eloquent one word conversation with him:

As I was leaving, Rossi caught my eye: "Ciao" he says. I give him the thumbs up and say 'Forza!' ("Strength" in Italian). He gives a huge smile and thumbs up. "See you in Valencia"

Not ride?! Hell, I expect he will WIN the event!

Hope to see you there (we will be doing a Marco memorial at our Charity party Friday night)