Vale is one of the most savy, politically aware, manipulating, Psych-Out animals in the pits.
He's also one of the best guys for setting up a bike since KR and Sheene. If you've listened to Casey recently you would probably have reached the conclusion that he doesn't have a clue how to set up a bike. Everytime he's taken a pole he said something like: "we just kind of stumbled on the right setup". I don't know whether he's just being glib but his results suggest he isn't.
Watch Lorenzo go backwards next year without Vale to set up the bike for him. Pedrosa isn't much better.
P.S. For the Stoner fans: I'm not anti-Stoner. Indeed I think of the grid he's probably the most talented on it, it's just that guys who can set up a bike properly and regularly are rare. Hailwood couldn't set up a bike. He rode whatever it was at ten tenths. I doubt Doohan could set up a bike. Of the Aussies I suspect Curruthers was one of the few that could. Peter Williams was superb at it, so were Saarinen and Newcombe. But few today can do it.
Wow up there Big Boy. I think you underestimate Casey. Casey would give Vale a very close run in the Head Games stakes. One of the features of Casey's raise was that he wasn't intimidated by Vale despite Vale's best efforts (at the time when he had smashed Sate and Max with the Head Game).
I think Casey plays down how well he is setting the bike up. I think he purposely has Vale and other wondering 'how much it is the bike' and 'how much it is Casey'. And having them wondering and being even a little bit distracted is the name of the game.
Gee, if Casey is so bad at setting up a bike how is he consistently 1-2 seconds a lap faster than his team mates - both in practice and racing. Either he is good at setting up a bike or he is outrageously by far the best rider out there.
We'll have a bteer idea this time next year (bring it on). You might notice the Head Games have already started - and who started them? Why it was Vale of course.
Vale to the Italian press "Casey is not getting the most out of the Ducati". (implying Casey is presently a nobody failure and 'I will next year')
Casey's retort; (laughs) "The Ducati is at the end of it's development cycle and there is no money to further develop it. If you can do better next year, do it. But Ducati just blew it's year's budget paying your wages so good luck". (Implying; I'm abandoning a sinking ship and I'm going to the richest 'hungerest' team, with the fastest most underdeveloped bike at the right time - beat me if you can).
