The MotoGP season is one third complete. I think it`s safe to say it`s been a pretty unpredictable season so far. But here`s what I`ve been thinking about: It`s really staring to get to the business side of the season, does Rossi have enough time to claw his way back to the top? I don`t doubt his determination or his skill, but he`s still 34 points behind the leaders. If Hayden remains consistent, it`s going to take a long time for him to catch up. It`s been said that because there`s so many contenders this year, it will work in Rossi`s favour because they will rob points from each other and make it easier for him to climb back up. But there`s some disadvantages to Rossi having so many rivals, too. For example if it was just Rossi vs. Capirossi, with no other real threats, and Loris crashes out of a race that Rossi goes on to win, then he`s shaved a whopping 25 points off the gap just like that. But seeing Hayden`s also at the top, if he comes second in that race, Rossi only climbs up the ladder by five points in relation to the leaders.
Another thing to consider is he`s not running away with them anymore. LeMans was obviously a diffrent story, until the Yamaha gave up. But he was riding with everything he had at Mugello, and he still only just beat Capirossi. Point is, you can`t rely on him dominating every single round from now on the way he was set to dominate LeMans. Hayden and Pedrosa both have home rounds coming up, where they will both no doubt be very strong, not to mention rounds where certain riders will be stronger than usualy, like Hayden in Germany, and Melandri`s going to Valencia with a win under his belt. If Nakano`s bike and Tamada`s head are all in place at Motegi, (Hopefully) we`ll see some blood at Motegi from those two, and even if they can`t keep up, which is more likely, Melandri and Capirossi are going to be strong there, and the HRC Yakuza (I like that, Teo) will be pressuring it`s riders to get back some pride at Motegi after last year Foreign bike winning in Japan incident. What do you think? Rossi`s gonna need all his skill, determination, balls, brains and luck to pull this one off. The odds are starting to stack up against him. Can he ride his way out of this one?
On another note, Hayden`s big chance is coming up soon. Germany one week, then off to Laguna Seca the next week. Here`s hoping Hayden can pull at least one win (Better yet, two) from those rounds. I think it was Scott that said "Just when you get tired of waiting for Nicky to do somthing, he goes and does it" It`s been true in the past, and I`m sure Nicky`s fans are hoping it will be so again in July.
Capirossi has been looking strong this season, but I`m questioning the circumstances. I mean, after Rossi`s off at Jerez, he was there and ready to take advantage. Maybe he would have won the race even if Rossi was in the running, but I`m sure Rossi falling back to play around with guys like Hoffmann and Ellison didn`t harm Capirossi`s chances at all. And you can always count on him being strong at Mugello. Lemans was another race where Rossi`s bad luck was his good luck. Still a great rider and definately a front runner, but he`s had his share of luck this season, and Rossi this season is proof that luck can run out at any time.
As for Melandri, we`re still waiting. Sometimes winning, other times hardly on the radar. He really needs to improve that consistency if he want`s the title this year (Which anyone in the top 5 is still capable of doing) I don`t know what his problem is. I mean, we`ve seen this kind of transformation before, on different levels. Going from the hottest thing without a number 46 on it one season, then losing out the next season. But there`s always been a reason. With Gibbers it was Rossi and bad luck, and Tamada it was t(Y)res. Melandri`s fall from grace hasn`t been as bad as those two (I mean, he`s still winnning) but there`s gotta be somthing holidng him back, whether it`s him or the bike. Anyone got any ideas?
And Pedrosa, well he`s still doing a great job for a rookie, podiums, a win, regualrly beating his teammate, but I don`t think he`s gonna walk away on top this year. Anything`s possible, and Dani is a superb rider, but there`s a lot of tooth and neck fighting to be done, especially now that Rossi appears to be back in for. I`d say he`ll easily beat Stoner for Rookie of the year, be a podium regular and he might even score another win or two, and he`ll still be spectacular for a rookie, but the water`s getting hotter and hotter, and considering Dani only just learning to swim in it, you can`t count on him taking it to the chapionship leaders this year. 2007 onwards will be a different story, though......
Well I think it`s safe to say that this is going to go down to the last few races and regardless of the result, it`ll be a season to remember. That`s about the only accuarate prediction I can make.
Another thing to consider is he`s not running away with them anymore. LeMans was obviously a diffrent story, until the Yamaha gave up. But he was riding with everything he had at Mugello, and he still only just beat Capirossi. Point is, you can`t rely on him dominating every single round from now on the way he was set to dominate LeMans. Hayden and Pedrosa both have home rounds coming up, where they will both no doubt be very strong, not to mention rounds where certain riders will be stronger than usualy, like Hayden in Germany, and Melandri`s going to Valencia with a win under his belt. If Nakano`s bike and Tamada`s head are all in place at Motegi, (Hopefully) we`ll see some blood at Motegi from those two, and even if they can`t keep up, which is more likely, Melandri and Capirossi are going to be strong there, and the HRC Yakuza (I like that, Teo) will be pressuring it`s riders to get back some pride at Motegi after last year Foreign bike winning in Japan incident. What do you think? Rossi`s gonna need all his skill, determination, balls, brains and luck to pull this one off. The odds are starting to stack up against him. Can he ride his way out of this one?
On another note, Hayden`s big chance is coming up soon. Germany one week, then off to Laguna Seca the next week. Here`s hoping Hayden can pull at least one win (Better yet, two) from those rounds. I think it was Scott that said "Just when you get tired of waiting for Nicky to do somthing, he goes and does it" It`s been true in the past, and I`m sure Nicky`s fans are hoping it will be so again in July.
Capirossi has been looking strong this season, but I`m questioning the circumstances. I mean, after Rossi`s off at Jerez, he was there and ready to take advantage. Maybe he would have won the race even if Rossi was in the running, but I`m sure Rossi falling back to play around with guys like Hoffmann and Ellison didn`t harm Capirossi`s chances at all. And you can always count on him being strong at Mugello. Lemans was another race where Rossi`s bad luck was his good luck. Still a great rider and definately a front runner, but he`s had his share of luck this season, and Rossi this season is proof that luck can run out at any time.
As for Melandri, we`re still waiting. Sometimes winning, other times hardly on the radar. He really needs to improve that consistency if he want`s the title this year (Which anyone in the top 5 is still capable of doing) I don`t know what his problem is. I mean, we`ve seen this kind of transformation before, on different levels. Going from the hottest thing without a number 46 on it one season, then losing out the next season. But there`s always been a reason. With Gibbers it was Rossi and bad luck, and Tamada it was t(Y)res. Melandri`s fall from grace hasn`t been as bad as those two (I mean, he`s still winnning) but there`s gotta be somthing holidng him back, whether it`s him or the bike. Anyone got any ideas?
And Pedrosa, well he`s still doing a great job for a rookie, podiums, a win, regualrly beating his teammate, but I don`t think he`s gonna walk away on top this year. Anything`s possible, and Dani is a superb rider, but there`s a lot of tooth and neck fighting to be done, especially now that Rossi appears to be back in for. I`d say he`ll easily beat Stoner for Rookie of the year, be a podium regular and he might even score another win or two, and he`ll still be spectacular for a rookie, but the water`s getting hotter and hotter, and considering Dani only just learning to swim in it, you can`t count on him taking it to the chapionship leaders this year. 2007 onwards will be a different story, though......
Well I think it`s safe to say that this is going to go down to the last few races and regardless of the result, it`ll be a season to remember. That`s about the only accuarate prediction I can make.
