By Paul Gover
02feb05


MICK Doohan says only a gamble on young talent will end Valentino Rossi's unbeaten run at the top of MotoGP racing.

The five-time world champion says there is no one in the field who can challenge Rossi and he questions Honda's decision to make Max Biaggi its MotoGP spearhead this year.

Biaggi has never beaten Rossi and, even though he will have the No. 1 Repsol-Honda bike this year, Doohan doesn't see anything changing.

"It just doesn't make sense," he said yesterday.

"He had better results when he was on the Yamaha.

"It would be better to gamble on somebody new. But, for me, it's not a gamble.

"Finding the right guy to beat Valentino is tough."

Doohan has ended his long-term contract with Honda with "no bad feeling".

He will spend more time in Australia with his family while Honda seeks a fresh direction.

"All good things come to an end," Doohan said.

"There are a whole bunch of different people there now from the ones I was working with.

"I've been with the Honda guys for 15 years."

Doohan, Honda adviser since the massive crash that ended his riding career, helped groom Rossi when he joined the company. He worked with young American Nicky Hayden last year.

He said he had been winding back his Honda commitments for some time and last year attended only six races.

"Honda and I have had a great association. We just couldn't agree on anything going forward," he said.

"I'm just going fishing. I'm a washed-up motorcycle racer.

"I'd like to set up a life outside motor racing.

"I don't want to pretend to be anybody."

Doohan will attend 4-6 MotoGP races this year and cover major motorsport events for Network Ten.

He has worthwhile views on the situation in MotoGP.

He is a keen student of Rossi, his successor at the top of the sport, and what it will take for anyone – including Honda – to topple him.

"It's going to be difficult for any of today's crop of riders to get on top of Valentino," he said.

"I don't think they've got the right guys on the bike.

"A couple of guys can win occasionally, but they cannot do it week in and week out.

"You have to be doing it week in and week out to win the championship.

"The biggest thing the sport needs to do is to create new products, not recycle the old stuff."

Doohan admits he has not found a successor to Rossi, but says it is vital to keep looking.

"We knew Valentino was good, but who knew just how good he was going to be before he got on to the bike?" he said.

"Until you find the right one, you don't know who has the ability to replace Valentino."

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Lo Zio Tazio

"Io vi daró tutto ... basta che non domandiate nulla!"

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sospetto fortemente che abbia ragione doohan.

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Lo Zio Tazio

"Io vi daró tutto ... basta che non domandiate nulla!"

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"Anche un maialino se viene adulato può salire su un albero"

<img src="http://www.gt-art.co.uk/images/rossi_biaggi_welkom2004_s.jpg" width="150" height="106"> ]

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Non smettere di cercare cio' che ami, finirai per amare cio' che trovi.

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Non smettere di cercare cio' che ami, finirai per amare cio' che trovi.

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per capì capisi...l'è quand che pisi che capisi no che pisi.......

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Non smettere di cercare cio' che ami, finirai per amare cio' che trovi.