This will be the forum for the musings of Father Miller and those who choose to
engage his wisdom. Sixty nine words or less, include your first name, age, location.
Father Miller is bored to tears. He needs to hear from you.
(He is old and pathetic and counts on your letters to confirm his purpose.)
Father_Miller@MotoDeity.com
Nicky H. 26yo, Owensboro, KY
Dear Father Miller,
When will MotoGP be broadcast in High Definition?
FM:
Excellent question Nicky, and one which thousands of racing fans are asking lately. I suspect MotoGP
is already in VERY High Definition for you. However, the rest of us continue to suffer the terrible
picture which is the current fare of SPEED. My suggestion is this: If all fans would write to DORNA,
(who own and produce MotoGP) they may get the idea that there is something to be gained in the fact
that current fans will be even more impressed and new fans will be attracted in spite of themselves.
If you have watched ESPNHD or Discovery HD Theater (Discovery Channel's HD offering) you know
what I mean. Fans should write (pleeeease!) to the TV Production and Marketing folks at DORNA.
http://www.dorna.com/eng/contacts.html
______________________________________________________________________________________
Mario USAF
Dear Father Miller,
I'm a Rossi fan, perhaps not a worshipper. I'm was starting to agree with all the people who said he is
the GOAT. But then he crashed chasing Nicky Hayden for the title in '06, couldn't develop the bike
and overcome Stoner's/ Ducati's/Bridgestone's dominance in '07, and now in '08, on equal tires with
Stoner, STILL couldn't chase him down at Qatar. Hmmm…perhaps the crown is slipping off the
head of the great one? If he doesn't win the championship this year, I will definitely take him off my
list of potential GOATs .
Giacomo Agostini---winningest rider ever. Most championships.
Mike Hailwood---unequaled brilliance on all types of bikes, epic comeback at IoM after years and years
of not racing.
John Surtees---only man to ever win world championships in both cars and bikes.
Freddie Spencer---only rider in the modern era to win two championships in one year. Most people
underestimate what that really entailed.
Kenny Roberts----ushered in the modern era with a new style of riding and racing.
Valentino Rossi---championships in 125, 250, 500, and 990s. Amazing.
FM:
That's a great list, for sure. I've followed this closely from the early 70's, so I'm a little biased. I had
Kenny as the GOAT before Valentino arrived. I watched him race short track, 1/2 miles/miles, and
TT's...along with developing the TZ 700-750's to dominance in road racing. If Kenny would have had
a Harley for the 1/2 miles and miles instead of the Shell-Thuett 750 Yamahas, he'd have dominated
the grand national scene rather than just (just!?) winning the 73 and 74 championships. I think his
mental toughness, ability to think outside the box ( experimenting with engine location, swing arm
pivot points, tires, etc etc.......WAY ahead of his contemporaries ) and his race craft, taken in total
was the best............ until Rossi.
Hard to take one era and compare it to another, but look at the number of World Champions making
up the grids of MotoGP today. From 125, 250, WSB and MotoGP.
I think for sheer raw talent, the grids of the last ten...or even twenty years are RICH with it. Add to this
the increasing parity of machinery and you have an environment where it is extremely difficult to rise
above the competition, consistently, for so long, in the way that Rossi has. Keep in mind as well, the
way in which Rossi got to where he is. The many times he rode around ill handling or outright
inferior machines. Overcame shagged tires, or his own silly mistakes.
In addition, no one else could have learned the 500 quicker or better and no one else could have won
championships on the Yamaha M1.... (hello Jeremy Burgess!). As for Valentiono's race craft?
There is none better.
As far as Valentino taking his spot back at the top this year? I'm betting on it. With the pneumatic
valve motor, and finally getting on skins that allow him to set the fastest lap times at the end of the
race, like China..... it's time for the young guys to be humbled a little. When Bridgestone comes up
with decent dry Q-tires, they will once again have to deal with Rossi from front row starts......
consistently. Also, he has that gleam in his eye again, and I'm detecting a little swagger. I believe the
psychological games and pressure he LOVES to initiate will be an intangible. Ask Pedrosa or Lorenzo
who they fear the most in the closing laps of a close race........ The answer will be GOD ( Valentino)
All the best, FM
engage his wisdom. Sixty nine words or less, include your first name, age, location.
Father Miller is bored to tears. He needs to hear from you.
(He is old and pathetic and counts on your letters to confirm his purpose.)
Father_Miller@MotoDeity.com
Nicky H. 26yo, Owensboro, KY
Dear Father Miller,
When will MotoGP be broadcast in High Definition?
FM:
Excellent question Nicky, and one which thousands of racing fans are asking lately. I suspect MotoGP
is already in VERY High Definition for you. However, the rest of us continue to suffer the terrible
picture which is the current fare of SPEED. My suggestion is this: If all fans would write to DORNA,
(who own and produce MotoGP) they may get the idea that there is something to be gained in the fact
that current fans will be even more impressed and new fans will be attracted in spite of themselves.
If you have watched ESPNHD or Discovery HD Theater (Discovery Channel's HD offering) you know
what I mean. Fans should write (pleeeease!) to the TV Production and Marketing folks at DORNA.
http://www.dorna.com/eng/contacts.html
______________________________________________________________________________________
Mario USAF
Dear Father Miller,
I'm a Rossi fan, perhaps not a worshipper. I'm was starting to agree with all the people who said he is
the GOAT. But then he crashed chasing Nicky Hayden for the title in '06, couldn't develop the bike
and overcome Stoner's/ Ducati's/Bridgestone's dominance in '07, and now in '08, on equal tires with
Stoner, STILL couldn't chase him down at Qatar. Hmmm…perhaps the crown is slipping off the
head of the great one? If he doesn't win the championship this year, I will definitely take him off my
list of potential GOATs .
Giacomo Agostini---winningest rider ever. Most championships.
Mike Hailwood---unequaled brilliance on all types of bikes, epic comeback at IoM after years and years
of not racing.
John Surtees---only man to ever win world championships in both cars and bikes.
Freddie Spencer---only rider in the modern era to win two championships in one year. Most people
underestimate what that really entailed.
Kenny Roberts----ushered in the modern era with a new style of riding and racing.
Valentino Rossi---championships in 125, 250, 500, and 990s. Amazing.
FM:
That's a great list, for sure. I've followed this closely from the early 70's, so I'm a little biased. I had
Kenny as the GOAT before Valentino arrived. I watched him race short track, 1/2 miles/miles, and
TT's...along with developing the TZ 700-750's to dominance in road racing. If Kenny would have had
a Harley for the 1/2 miles and miles instead of the Shell-Thuett 750 Yamahas, he'd have dominated
the grand national scene rather than just (just!?) winning the 73 and 74 championships. I think his
mental toughness, ability to think outside the box ( experimenting with engine location, swing arm
pivot points, tires, etc etc.......WAY ahead of his contemporaries ) and his race craft, taken in total
was the best............ until Rossi.
Hard to take one era and compare it to another, but look at the number of World Champions making
up the grids of MotoGP today. From 125, 250, WSB and MotoGP.
I think for sheer raw talent, the grids of the last ten...or even twenty years are RICH with it. Add to this
the increasing parity of machinery and you have an environment where it is extremely difficult to rise
above the competition, consistently, for so long, in the way that Rossi has. Keep in mind as well, the
way in which Rossi got to where he is. The many times he rode around ill handling or outright
inferior machines. Overcame shagged tires, or his own silly mistakes.
In addition, no one else could have learned the 500 quicker or better and no one else could have won
championships on the Yamaha M1.... (hello Jeremy Burgess!). As for Valentiono's race craft?
There is none better.
As far as Valentino taking his spot back at the top this year? I'm betting on it. With the pneumatic
valve motor, and finally getting on skins that allow him to set the fastest lap times at the end of the
race, like China..... it's time for the young guys to be humbled a little. When Bridgestone comes up
with decent dry Q-tires, they will once again have to deal with Rossi from front row starts......
consistently. Also, he has that gleam in his eye again, and I'm detecting a little swagger. I believe the
psychological games and pressure he LOVES to initiate will be an intangible. Ask Pedrosa or Lorenzo
who they fear the most in the closing laps of a close race........ The answer will be GOD ( Valentino)
All the best, FM
The Tabula Rossi
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