Some are arguing that after Stoner’s crash in the last race, that Rossi should be able to coast into the world championship slot. Stoner himself admitted in an interview this week that it would be tough to come back from a 50 point deficit against Rossi. He added, that if it weren’t Rossi he was chasing, things would be different. Just the same, Stoner was clocking the fastest laps in the first day of free practice, today at Misano. I think that it is a little early to say that Rossi’s world championship is a forgone conclusion.
It seems that the Michellin debacle has been somewhat resolved for this week. The clear inferiority of the Michellin tires, that seemed to be a debilitating factor for so many of the riders, last race, is said to have improved some what, according to Hayden and Pedrosa.