Topic: Alonso's head may be a bit swollen...

[No H2O]

This Alonso guy is getting better all the time...

LONDON, March 15 (Reuters) - MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi has challenged Formula One champion Fernando Alonso to a high-speed duel to see who is quickest.

The 24-year-old Renault driver said last month he was unimpressed by Rossi's Formula One tests for Ferrari and felt it would be very hard for him to switch from two wheels to four.

"He might finish fifth or even get on the podium some time but I could do the same on the bikes if I was given enough time to practise," the Spaniard told a news conference.

The words appeared to have stung Rossi, who was quoted by British weekly Motorcycle News on Wednesday as saying he wanted to put Alonso to the test.

"I read that if Alonso is able to make some practice then he can put a MotoGP bike on the podium with me," said the 27-year-old Italian."

"Well, I think we should drive a Formula One car, a World Rally car and a MotoGP bike, add the times together and then we will see who is the fastest."

Rossi, winner in motorcycling's top category for the past five years, has tested repeatedly for Ferrari including a session in February with other drivers.

The charismatic Italian has also competed in rallies and Ferrari's seven times world champion Michael Schumacher has said Italy's highest-paid sportsman has the talent to make the switch to Formula One.

Alonso won Formula One's season-opening Bahrain Grand Prix at the weekend.


My take on this is I think that "one championship" wonder should concentrate on surpassing all the records that Michael Schumacher now holds instead of thinking about Moto GP.

But who cares. Every racer finishes as a "has been" at some point in their life. They may hold records, but they're never the fastest forever.

[initial_D]

Settle like Big Boys.

Go thru the Race of Champions

http://www.raceofchampions.com/

Add a couple of different bikes to the race, both a dirt bike and a Race Circuit bike. The loser fork over a full year's salary, to a charity.

[No H2O]

Settle like Big Boys.

Go thru the Race of Champions

http://www.raceofchampions.com/

Add a couple of different bikes to the race, both a dirt bike and a Race Circuit bike. The loser fork over a full year's salary, to a charity.

Rossi seems to be pretty down to earth. All he did is put in some good laps in an F1 car and have some fun and some of the F1 guys are in a snit. What, they can't handle competition? Some sportsmen!

And why would anyone say he hasn't paid his dues if he is already a lot faster than the guys at the tail end of the F1 grid?

Rossi already beat some notables in a WRC...see post #24 in this thread...
http://www.cartalkcanada.com/forum/index.php/topic,40830.0.html

It should be fun.

[G0dspd]

Alonso being coc-ky is not a big suprise ... he's a F1 driver (They're not all like that) and he's from Spain. 

His win in Bahrain was due to his pit team ... if he came out of the pits 1 second later ... Schumie would have won.  The Ferrari was faster than the Renault at the start of the race.  Malaysia was another story ... with all the engine replacements and the blowouts ... diffcult to make predictions.  Don't get me wrong ... Alonso will probably win another championship.

I can't wait for next year ... Alonso with McLaren and Kimi with Ferrari (rumours) after Schumi replace Todd. 
Also, we shouldn't forget Rosberg ... that kid has game, he just needs a decent car.

Kimi can't get a break ... blowouts last week and fakin Klein this week .

[initial_D]

A WRC rally driver, maybe Colin McRae, made a challenge to Schoot-me a few years back, racing a F1 car and a Rally car (on gravel) to determine who is the fastest driver. 

Rossi did a couple of actual WRC races, for a Private Team running 206s. He was DNF though.  Crashed out at the Rally Great Britain on the second stage, and went off the road at the Rally Italy on the 2nd day.

Now he came in second in the Rally Monza Show, McRae was 3rd. Rossi was in a Subaru Impreza, and McRae was in a just newly developed Skoda Fabia, lack in some serious pace, possibly 0.5 second per Km. Besides, McRae had been out of any serious competition for 2 years, and he is a lot better on loose surfaces (gravel, mud) than a sealed surface. Not to take anything away from Rossi, rally races should run on gravel surfaces to determine who is faster.

Rossi against Alonso, I will bet a cup of Timmie’s on Rossi.

[No H2O]

Also, we shouldn't forget Rosberg ... that kid has game, he just needs a decent car.

Yes, who is that guy.

I'm not glued to F1 or Moto GP on a regular basis, so please fill me in. His background?

[No H2O]

Not to take anything away from Rossi.

That is for sure. I don't think I've ever seen anyone that can ride like him and he isn't winning championships due to a lack of competition or a faster bike. Remember when Honda told him he was winning because of their bike?   Well he showed them the following year when he switched to Yamaha and won with them. I bet you if he could run half the races on a Honda and the other half on a Yamaha, he'd still win the championship. He can just take it that one step further and win, sort of like Schumi.

As for Rossi in a car, I'm sure most of us wouldn't mind having his judgement and ability to adapt.

[Drivesideways]

Yes, who is that guy.

I'm not glued to F1 or Moto GP on a regular basis, so please fill me in. His background?

He's Keke's son.  You know who Keke Rosberg is, right?  Finnish driver...won the '82 driver's title with Williams.  Nico's won the 2002 BMW championship and last year's GP2 series, but flies German colours I believe and grew up in Monaco.

[safristi]

After that Photo I bet more than his head was swollen.......

[No H2O]

He's Keke's son.  You know who Keke Rosberg is, right?  Finnish driver...won the '82 driver's title with Williams.

That is what I was wondering but the country didn't make sense. 1982 was the first time I started going back to the Canadian GP (Montreal...boring) after I went to the Canadian GP in 1974 at Mosport (a real track)...the battle between Lauda and Fittipaldi; Lauda spun out a few laps from the end.

I think Lauda and Rosberg both bought their own private jets at about that time.

[Drivesideways]

Keke married a German girl, according to what I read, and Nico's assumed that nationality.

[safristi]

So he's a lil BRAT_WURST then.....MIT ROSSI & Keke onna side......

[initial_D]

Mirror Mirror on the wall
Who has thee Biggest ego Head of them all?

[No H2O]

Keke married a German girl, according to what I read.

Smart guy!

This just in the mag I got today...

Rossi driving a 2004 restricted Ferrari posted the 15th quickest time in Valenica during a two day test which is only 1.411 seconds off Alonso's fastest time. Looks like he is slowly taking those seconds off. He has a way to go if he even decides to make the switch or gets bored in Moto GP (kind of hard to imagine).

[Snowman]

Look at the sky scrapers that Senna and Mansell have.

[ghost]

I find all F1 drivers to be cocky.

btw Top Gear did a challenge b/t a sportsbike vs a 911 at a race track. the porsche won!!!
this puts to rest that cars are faster than bikes on a race track. 

[No H2O]

I find all F1 drivers to be cocky.

All? I wouldn't say that about Piquet, Prost or Mansell amongst quite a few others. Some are more personable than others.

btw Top Gear did a challenge b/t a sportsbike vs a 911 at a race track. the porsche won!!!
this puts to rest that cars are faster than bikes on a race track.

Are you sure? Two runs were done at tracks, stock versus stock (OK, so we were nice and let the car guys use performance tires); one against a Corvette and the other against a Viper. The bike won on both counts and by quite a bit per lap. In fact, corner times were recorded and except for a very few corners (two, I think it was), the bike was faster. Quite amazing what they've done with bike tires. BTW, this was brought on by the "cocky" guys at Car & Driver. Motorcyclist magazine took the bait and humbled them. Ouch! They even put the Corvette on one side and all the bikes you could buy for the same money on the other side.

But then I really don't care. I'm not suffering from "Short Pecker Syndrome". I ride my bikes on some of the best roads in the world, enjoy life and take in the incredible scenery.

[G0dspd]

All? I wouldn't say that about Piquet, Prost or Mansell amongst quite a few others. Some are more personable than others.

  ... Irvine was funny, especially in the last years with Jag!  "This car is complete garbage please kill me now!" 

These days Kimi is the more down to earth ... since he doesn't talk to the media! 

[No H2O]

... Irvine was funny, especially in the last years with Jag!  "This car is complete garbage please kill me now!" 

That is quite the comment...and they didn't fire him on the spot?

These days Kimi is the more down to earth ... since he doesn't talk to the media! 

You mean due to his lack of podium appearances or because he is anti social? Whenever Kimi speaks, he sounds like a robot, but if you've ever listened to anyone speak Finnish, that is the way the language sounds...very broken/hacked. He could crack a smile now and then, but that is also very typically Finnish...they don't show emotions.

I've always liked Piquet and Prost.

[ghost]

Not refering to the old boys of course. Back in the Prost/Senna days, the drivers were truly drivers. Now they are just there for show. WE all know that it's all remote controlled cars from the pits. I can see Jean Todt and Frank Williams going at it.... And Tamiya is behind all this. 

Just head out to finalgear.com, the 911 really beat down the sports bike. It was ridden by a GP fellow. I don't follow moto racing since 18. So no idea who. I was surprised too. Can't compare. the vette and the viper can't handle for on the track compared to a 911 GT3. Except the new Z06.