Supercross 2012

[Rhinestone Cowboy]

Looks kinda fast to me..

Yah...kinda like warp speed.

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[pdailey]

We'll all find out soon enough, won't we?

[ROTCORP]

The pressure is all on Stewart to perform....The moment of truth starts this weekend. Is Stewart a head case or was the Yamaha really that bad????

Also, heard there were some rumblings about a possible law suit coming from the Yamaha camp regarding the defamation of their bike/ brand..........

[MXShea]

Where did you hear that? Who would they sue? Chad Reed, Tim Ferry, Jason Thomas, Ryan Dungey? Those are the riders who said the bike was garbage. Stewart never commented on the bike until after he was out of the contract in an ESPN interview where he, Yamaha and Gibbs are all still fine with eachother. In the interview he makes it very clear that this particular bike didn't work for HIM. Yamaha actually asked if there was anything they could do to make him stay and he said redesign the bike.
You can't sue someone for not liking your product or saying your product does not work for them. You couldn't sue any of those other riders for their opinions on the bike (which they tested and then chose not to ride that bike based on trying it) either. Who does that leave? Fans...who happen to agree with Reed, Ferry, Thomas, Dungey, etc. Can't sue them either.
The Yamaha guys in the states who know MX would love to change the YZF. The guys in Japan WILL NOT abandon their push for the revolutionary bike. Everyone understands this and Yamaha is taking enough of a hit with what's happened in the last year, IF they tried to sue someone it would make them look even worse.
I guarantee you they aren't interested in a lawsuit and would have no case even if they were.

I agree there is a lot of pressure for him to do well...but the fastest guys are out right now. If RV, CR and TC were racing everything would be different. JS has only 1 of the "fast 5-6" guys to deal with...for now.
Can't wait for everyone to be back!

[ROTCORP]

Where did you hear that? Who would they sue? Chad Reed, Tim Ferry, Jason Thomas, Ryan Dungey? Those are the riders who said the bike was garbage. Stewart never commented on the bike until after he was out of the contract in an ESPN interview where he, Yamaha and Gibbs are all still fine with eachother. In the interview he makes it very clear that this particular bike didn't work for HIM. Yamaha actually asked if there was anything they could do to make him stay and he said redesign the bike.
You can't sue someone for not liking your product or saying your product does not work for them. You couldn't sue any of those other riders for their opinions on the bike (which they tested and then chose not to ride that bike based on trying it) either. Who does that leave? Fans...who happen to agree with Reed, Ferry, Thomas, Dungey, etc. Can't sue them either.
The Yamaha guys in the states who know MX would love to change the YZF. The guys in Japan WILL NOT abandon their push for the revolutionary bike. Everyone understands this and Yamaha is taking enough of a hit with what's happened in the last year, IF they tried to sue someone it would make them look even worse.
I guarantee you they aren't interested in a lawsuit and would have no case even if they were.

I agree there is a lot of pressure for him to do well...but the fastest guys are out right now. If RV, CR and TC were racing everything would be different. JS has only 1 of the "fast 5-6" guys to deal with...for now.
Can't wait for everyone to be back![/QUOTE]

MXShea, please note that I agree with most of your statements. However, it is important to realize that there is often a desparity between what is written in RacerX, Transworld MX, ESPN and what is really going on behind the scenes. This is the reason why high profile personalities hire publicist and PR personel to manage there image/ brand in mainstreme media. Stewart is playing the boyfriend that just broke up with his girlfriend by saying " it isn't you, it is me" to the media. The newest fan to motorcycle racing can see right through that statement!

I concur that there is not much of a defamation case for a public brand such as Yamaha, however, I am not an attorney and don't know how they are viewing this situation at the present time.

Finally, you are spot on about the Japanese and their stubbornness. North American executives for Japanese brands have very little power to change the minds of those in Japan. Its a Japanese business culture that I have never understood! This mentality has the potential to be detrimental when compared to a certain Austrian based company. This Austrian company has given DeCoster majority of the decision making capabilities for North American racing and bike developement....why because he is here and understands what it takes to succeed in this racing environment...

Just my 2 cents

[MXShea]

Didn't he say it's the bike and him? You can't let your rider out of a contract and then sue him for not wanting to ride your bike. if they were interested in saving face from the matter, they would have binded him to a contract, not let him ride the bike of his choice - more than likely have more success and THEN sue him for defamation.
I agree that MX journalism isn't the best source for accuracy and honesty, but it is the only time he has ever spoken about the bike publicly.
So, where did you hear it?