Now that Rossi has parted ways with Ducati and gone back to the M1 and Team Yamaha for 2013, the question remains...can he still win?

There's no doubt he's one of the most talented riders ever but he's getting older and he took a beating both phsically from too many crashes on the GP11/GP12 and mentally from comparisons to Casey Stoner. Stoner won many poles, podiums, outright wins and a MotoGP championship while riding the Ducati while Rossi podiumed only three times last year with no wins and no poles. It also doesn't help that more extreme talent like Mark Marquez is coming to MotoGP racing.

Part of me blames this on Rossi's hubris and that of his crew chief Jeremy Burgess. Recall Burgess' famous comment that they could fix the Ducati in about 80 seconds....after several years of trying they still couldn't make any real progress.

I think Rossi has realized now just how brilliant Stoner's riding was to make the Ducati work, even Hayden was faster than Rossi on the Ducati.

Rossi has a lot to prove and playing second fiddle to Jorge Lorenzo is not going to sit well for him. We may see a different Rossi now, less boastful and confident but more focused and real.

2013 is going to be an interesting year in MotoGP, it'ss going to be make or break for Rossi.

We may see Benny surge on the Pramac Ducati.

And I may reach my ideal weight of 220#.

Rossi's placings will be better on the Yamaha than they were on the Duc, but expecting him to beat Whorehay and the Houndas is asking a bit much IMO. If the Duc is better in '13, so will Spies. He showed flashes of brilliance before breaking or falling in several races last year. He was fast as anyone in the opening laps at Indy (a dead-flat course) before the motor let go, so the bike will be the limiting factor.

Years ago, Roberts Sr. had trouble keeping up with some of the Euros from time to time not because they were faster, but because they weren't as hard on tires and engines. Rossi is an expert at this, but Spies not so much so. It will be interesting.

If anyone deserves a break it's Ben Spies. His year at Yamaha was flat awful through no fault of his own. He had a career's worth of bad luck in one season but hey.... that's racing!

If the Ducati will work for him and Lady Luck chooses to smile on him, I see maybe some podium finishes in 2013 but no championship. This is going to be a make or break year for the lad, I wish him all the best!

We may see Benny surge on the Pramac Ducati.

I hope so, he never gelled on the M1 like he did on the R1. His style may have been part of the problem with the mechanical failures, Jorge is smoother and easier on the machine, especially tires.

If the Duc suits him, Ben will be up front, if not it's probably back to WSBK in '14.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 1/9/2013 @ 6:49 PM *

I don't think the YZR M-1 was up to the physical thrashing Spies' style gave it. Blown motors, disintegrating swingarms, small low-sides cracking the frames. Production based bikes are much more robust (and heavy) and prototypes tolerate less abuse. It's not only tires Whorehay is good as preserving, it's the whole machine. They (protos) all hit the minumum weight, but I would guess the Yamaha Team has to add in quite a bit more residual, strategically-placed weight to do it.

Rossi will win in 2013!! He is one of the sports best. And I truly think he was being held back by the Duck! I know what it’s like to be faster than what you’re piloting and it sucks for sure when you can place and it’s not you. Sure there are younger guys out there more fit or whatever but experience is and will to win is King!

Check this out

http://www.wimp.com/incrediblelap/

You will have to copy and past it because I have no clue how to post a link sorry guys

* Last updated by: Somefun on 1/10/2013 @ 3:33 AM *

http://www.wimp.com/incrediblelap/

Thanks Kruz!!! I Like it and think the same way!!!! :)

That was a great battle and showed just how crafty Rossi can be when he's on his game. Hope to see some more of that in 2013. I don't care for Lorenzo, Pedrosa's OK but Hayden, Spies and Colin Edwards are my favorites. All very quiet, softspoken guys that get the job done. When most of the world thinks Americans are overfed, underworked, loudmouths, these guys are the best abassadors we could have, class acts.

Jeremy and Rossi found that getting Ducati to make necessary changes was a lot harder than they thought it would be. It looks like ditching the carbon non- frame and having Audi on board may change things for the better for Ducati. Let's hope that Nicky and Ben reap some rewards. I think Rossi can still win. he is one of the smartest racers out there, but even he admitted that this is the make or break year for him. He wants to find out for himself if he still has what it takes to win. I'd like to see him atop the podium at least a few more times.
I think Ben on the Duc will be real interesting to watch. A big change for Ben for sure.

Mad

When Rossi last won the championship, what bike was he riding?

It would be great to a regular type of man like Ben Spies get up yeah great attitude IMO

Yah BeanMate, I'm with you, they should call him Gentle Ben, cause he's a gentleman. He's proven he has the raw speed to run with the Aliens but he lacks the killer instinct you need to go all the way to the front of the pack.

BTW, Hayden's the same way, team player and doesn't talk trash on his competition.

Factory team MotoGP riders (6):
Jorge Lorenzo SPA - Factory Yamaha rider until end of 2014.
Valentino Rossi ITA - Factory Yamaha until the end of 2014.
Dani Pedrosa SPA - Repsol Honda rider until the end of 2014.
Marc Marquez SPA - Repsol Honda rider until the end of 2014.
Nicky Hayden USA - Ducati Team until the end of 2013.
Andrea Dovizioso ITA - Ducati Team until the end of 2014.

Satellite team MotoGP riders (6):
Cal Crutchlow GBR - Tech 3 Yamaha until the end of 2013.
Bradley Smith GBR - Tech 3 Yamaha until the end of 2014.
Ben Spies USA - Pramac Ducati until the end of 2013.
Andrea Iannone ITA - Pramac Ducati until the end of 2013.
Stefan Bradl GER - LCR Honda/HRC until the end of 2014.
Alvaro Bautista SPA - Gresini Honda until the end of 2013.

CRT MotoGP riders (9):
Colin Edwards USA - Forward Racing until the end of 2013.
Claudio Corti ITA - Forward Racing until the end of 2013.
Karel Abraham CZE - Cardion AB until the end of 2013.
Randy de Puniet FRA - Power Electronics Aspar until the end of 2013.
Alex Espargaro SPA- Power Electronics Aspar until the end of 2013.
Hiroshi Aoyama JPN - Avintia Blusens until the end of 2013.
Hector Barbera SPA - Avintia Blusens until the end of 2013.
Danilo Petrucci ITA - IodaRacing until the end of 2013.
Bryan Staring AUS- Honda Gresini until the end of 2013.

Rossi may win one or two races - but the Championship will be between Lorenzo and Pedrosa. If Pedrosa can handle the pressue that Marquez will put on him, then I think Pedrosa will be Champion. The Factory Ducati team will consistently finish behind the factory teams of Honda and Yamaha and Tech 3.

After years of having Stoner make a flawed motorcycle look like a contender, Ducati has a big hole to dig out of. "Re-asigning" Preziosi was a good first step in the right direction. If Ducati can put the huge resources of the VW Group to good use and make some headway toward the end of the season - that should be considered a succesful season and set them up for 2014.

As for Spies - well he's going to be fighting to finish ahead of the CRTs (which are no-longer called that by Dorna) and more importantly, in front of his rookie teammate, Crazy Joe. If Spies can't outshine his teammate, Suzuki's only interest in him for 2014 will be WSBK - not MotoGP.

It should be an interesting season - especially with the rookies Marquez (who will likely win a race) and Iannone roughing up the regulars. Be prepared for whining from Pedrosa and Lorenzo (and Stoner from his couch) about the rookies' aggressive riding.

* Last updated by: tbolt on 1/12/2013 @ 12:04 PM *

It should be an interesting season - especially with the rookies Marquez (who will likely win a race) and Iannone roughing up the regulars. Be prepared for whining from Pedrosa and Lorenzo (and Stoner from his couch) about the rookies aggressive riding.

* Last updated by: dragking on 1/14/2013 @ 11:36 PM *

No matter what happens from here on in, Rossi was and always will be a superb world class champion. But his reputation has taken a descent hit in the last two years. If Rossi could have trained his mouth to be half as apt as his riding skills, he'd be in a more positive position right now. Stoner also goes on a bit too much, but has the results to back it up...
And I'm an Australian, but have absolutely no time for Jeremy Burgess...
Skilled? Definitely. But obviously not as much as he thinks! And you would have expected he would have learn't the basic rule of utilizing brain function before activating the talking gear after the embarrassments across the board of year one.
But unfortunately not, same old same old...
I was disappointed when Rossi defected so quickly when things weren't going his way. The iconic Ducati and his origins were aligned so closely and perhaps should have stood for something. But I guess not in the current cut throat world of top class sport and money. It's kind of a shame personal wants over national loyalty can be compromised like that.
Anyone can do well in the good times. It's when the going gets tough that you see the real person come out and what they're made of.
However it can't be denied that the sport needs Rossi back competing at the sharp end of the field.
So lets hope for some good old fashion tough hard competition in 2013 with Rossi taking center stage in it...
And don't get me started on the Dorna proposed MotoGP rule changes for the future or it could get extremely ugly!

* Last updated by: yannih on 1/14/2013 @ 5:01 PM *

Skilled? Definitely. But obviously not as much as he thinks! And you would have expected he would have learn't the basic rule of utilizing brain function before activating the talking gear after the embarrassments across the board of year one.

Yea Burgess really stuck his foot in his mouth with that 80 second comment. Reminds me of the passage from Proverbs: "Pride goeth before the fall". Both of these guys need to shut up and get on with it. Disturbs me that Rossi is already back to his old ways after the disaster at Ducati. Some never seem to learn. As talented as he is...or was, the field has now changed with a lot of very young, very fast and very hungry youngsters looking to take Rossi's place.

* Last updated by: Kruz on 1/14/2013 @ 8:35 PM *

In the context of the true greats, Rossi was a flash in the pan.

privateer; Seriously? Trolling? Here? When he retires you can judge his career.

Only Ago has more premier-class victories and titles. Who are the "true greats" who can claim to be better?

I disagree that Ben doesn't have the killer instinct. Remember him and Mladin going at it?

Mad

Looks like it! Already 3rd in testing. If he manage to stay with Pedrosa and Lorenzo during the races, he has good chances: he has more corones than both combined. Pedrosa will loose it if it's too competitive and we may get flashbacks of a young Lorenzo. He's not going to like Rossi beating him one bit. Especially if he's going to say things like "the bike hasn't changed since I rode it last". Which can be true, given that Rossi was fast on it right away. Furthermore, Lorenzo ride around problems while Rossi needs to fix them. So if the bike improves it'll be more of an advantage for Rossi. Whether it wins or not is irrelevant. It's a win win for us. There will be so much drama, that I'm not going to resist to getting a MotoGP pass for much longer. Now, looks like the American are in for a wild one at Ducati.