Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics – MotoGP Edition
Earlier this week HRC released an info graphic on their Twitter account comparing the performance of their World champion rider, Casey Stoner, and another former World Champion, Valentino Rossi and well, it all went downhill from there.
No doubt Honda had good intentions. After all, despite his enormous success in MotoGP (2 World titles, winningest 800cc rider etc..) Casey Stoner is not well liked by fans and Honda just wanted to point out that during the period 2006-2011, Stoner won on average once every three starts. The problem?
The problem was the comparison was to Valentino Rossi, MotoGP legend, aspiring GOAT (Greatest of All Time) and 9 time World Champion. Although numerically correct, the period chosen (2006-2011) covers the entire MotoGP career of Casey Stoner, however by the time Casey started with Honda in 2006, Rossi was already a 7 time champion.
The period also covers the 2010 season where Rossi missed races due to his leg fracture (to be fair it also includes the races Stoner missed due to a mystery illness, now thought to be lactose intolerance). It also, of course, covers the disastrous 2011 Ducati debut for Rossi where he failed to take a victory for the first time in his career and the championship winning season for Stoner on the factory Honda.
Most bizarrely as David Emmett of MotoMatters points, the HRC sponsored info graphic rams home just how singularly effective Stoner was on a Ducati, a feat that no-one, to date, including the mighty Valentino has even come close to emulating. So Honda were correct, but removed the tweet following the furore from Rossi fanatics the world over.
Perhaps Honda need to realize that the perceived lack of recognition for the achievements of their World Champion has more to do with his interpersonal style than any lack of achievement on track.
Source: @HRC_MotoGP (subsequently deleted) via Asphalt & Rubber
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[...] released some interesting numbers comparing Vale and Casey. Lies, Damn Lies and Statistics – MotoGP Edition | Ducati News Today __________________ cheers paul __________________________________________________ _______ 916 [...]
Facts are facts. Don’t like the truth, block your ears and cover your eyes. Rossi has always played the media and politics very well, if you like that (See why he kept #46 when he won the title).
You mean YOU and the other queerbaits don’t like Stoner much!! Don’t speak for the rest of us!! Stoner is King of motorcycle racing and will prove it once again this year. Wiping the floor with everyones arse INCLUDING Rossi again!!!! Easily.
you are a moron comparing Casey to Rossi when Rossi is so much older!!!! If you have been racing longer of course you will have more wins