GIBERNAU RETIRES!!!!!!

From Superbike Planet

Sete Gibernau Retires From Racing
by dean adams
Wednesday, November 08, 2006
This has been rumored all week in Europe and yet again the rumors are true. Sete Gibernau, 33 has retired from racing. Gibernau finished second in the championship in both 2003 and 2004.

At a press conference this morning in Europe, GP and MotoGP rider Sete Gibernau announced his retirement from racing. Gibernau had offers to race in 2007 MotoGP, but refused to 'just race for money' and decided instead to retire. Few remember it but Gibernau actually recieved his top GP class break by riding for Wayne Rainey Yamaha.

Gibernau raced for Ducati Corse this season in MotoGP, but suffered several bad crashes, damaging his body each time. WSBK champion Troy Bayliss rode his bike at Valencia and won the race hands down.

Gibernau's rivalry with Valentino Rossi is well known, as is Rossi's prophecy, uttered after one heated battle with the Catalan rider that "Gibernau will never win another race."

And he didn't.

ENDS

Sete gets a lot of **** from people but I personally like him a lot. For the last few years (this year excepted), he's been the only guy to take the fight to Rossi on a consistent basis. And he did it on a non-factory team.

The seminal moment that made him a personal favorite to me though was when he won his first premier class race at the Valencia GP on the Suzuki 500 just days after 9/11. On his victory lap, he had picked up both a Spanish flag and an American one. At one corner, he got off the bike, walked into the gravel trap with a flag in each hand, fell to his knees, and plunged both flags into the gravel in a show of solidarity. It was one of the most emotional victory celebrations I've ever seen. I think another victory from him would've been another. I really hate that Rossi's prophecy is going to become a reality and we'll never get to see it.

I really hate that Rossi's prophecy is going to become a reality and we'll never get to see it.



That is just adds to the Rossi legend and is another good story to talk about at the pub...

I think repeated injuries (3 or 4 to the same shoulder) had more to do with this than the Doctor's curse but Rossi definitely got in his head. I'll miss seeing his hot GF in the paddock :love10:

I thought Ducati should have kept Checa. I don't know how good an idea Stoner is..... Maybe someone can "talk" to him. Sete will be missed. This last year was agonizing to watch. Hey maybe if Max has a good year on the Suzuki he can come back to haunt Rossi in GP. Just kidding.

I have nothing against Sete, he showed great talent in 2003-2004, it's sad to see him go.

It is time though, he seemed drained all year, both physically and mentally.

This also means less work for the corner workers :occasion14:

With Sete and Biatchi gone who will we have to rag on in 07?* Well I guess we still have Pedro and Crash Stoner... :dontknow:

I don't like to say it and I don't want to see it but, the "Little Gnome" Pedrosa will be Repsols #1 rider by the end of next season. Unless FIM makes a rule change that all riders will have equivalent weight. Kinda like Robby Gordon complaining about Danica Patricks weight. I don't watch Nicecar but I understand that Gordon is a bit pudgy. Off topic sorry.

How quickly we forget in racing. Todays hero (or at least great hope ) is next years forgotten loser.

Sete was, for several years, the only guy out there who could consistantly take it to Rossi and even beat him straight up on several occasions. This is more than can be said of almost every rider on today's grid.

He was awesome ... but Rossi's show has the effect of making everyone else seem third rate.

PS next year will be a Pedrosa, Rossi and (maybe) Stoner show

2007 Top 5

Rossi
Pedrosa
Capirossi
Melandri
Hayden

With Sete and Biatchi gone who will we have to rag on in 07? Well I guess we still have Pedro and Crash Stoner... :dontknow:


+1 so sad. I got into GP about 5 years ago and those have been the two guys I've always loved to hate. No one around like that now.

I think Pedro and Stoner had problems trying to adjust from the 250's. That's a pretty big jump. Word is the 800's are a good bit more manageable than last years bikes. I think with that and the year of experience, you'll see stoner and danny do a lot better with their crashing problems. Hopefully all the manufacturers will be on top of development and some of them won't noticably be lagging behind in like in the past... *cough cough* suzuki *cough cough*. I see a lot of riders having a good chance next year to be contenders.

As another posted already said, Sete is the only rider to challenge Rossi to date heads up. It's a shame that bad luck and injury have ended his career on such a low note.

That being said I think Pedrosa and Stoner will be the new whipping boys. Stoner for his "win it or bin it" riding (not unlike Biaggi), and Pedrosa for having no personality (again not unlike Biaggi).

Kitty litter worldwide is now much safer. The pwnage of Sete is now complete. :tard:





Still sorry to see him go, as he was the only rider with the cajones (at least for a couple years) to take Rossi on head to head. Wonder who Rossi will find to focus his angst on?

Biatchi gone


:laughing4: LOL yeah, I am was actually suprised at some of the interview and things I saw and read from Biaggi this last part of the year! He seemed almost mellowed out, maybe that will help him, I doubt it though, guys like that get their power from being complete a**'s!

I know Sete and Rossi had their battles, but i thought his exit was VERY classy. I gained new respect for the man. I too believe the physical side of things forced the retirement this year.