A Top Ten Guide...

Brillant as usual Sun! Loved the transcript!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ Sep 29 2008, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow...this guy Rising Sun is pretty full of himself.
Ever heard the phrase "if you have nothing good to say then keep quiet"?

Rising Sun does not have to do these reports - he did one for the first race last year and we've badgered him to keep doing it.

Amazingly he fronts up with another report each and every race.

We all enjoy them - you are the first person in this thread to add a negative comment.

So I'd say that it's you that's pretty full of <strike>....</strike> yourself. This kind of trolling us pretty common in all your posts, but to do it in this thread is ridiculous. Please just STFU.

BTW Sun - excellent as usual, looking forward to the next installment.

I have never praised Sun on this thread because I haven't been on the forum long enough and all of that, the seniority on this one is important. It’s for the long termers, we are (irrespective of age) newbies and that’s that. We haven't earned the right to praise this thread yet - let alone rubbish it.

One of the great points of this thread is intelligent and witty people provide us with good humour and an outlet for a shared passion free of charge and for this we should be thankful. I have mates who (unlike me) aren’t prone to effusive fits of storybook grandstanding but simply log onto this site to read Sun’s comments.

You however have been on about as long as I have and you have defiled this "Ten Reasons" thread this its first ever criticism. I have been loath to engage you in argument because your weak logic and facile conclusions are only worthy of humorous disdain at the best but this shows that apart from being an opinionated ..... you are a ....... of the highest order.

You are the biggest ......... in the entire universe Shinya

4936:John_Edw...uth_Park.jpg]

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ Sep 29 2008, 11:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow...this guy Rising Sun is pretty full of himself.

You have by far overstepped the mark here. The most honorable thing you can do now is to ban yourself from this thread.

Maybe you can make a "Top Ten Guide To How Stupid Shinya Is". There's heaps of posts you could lampoon, or maybe you could just ignore him for the dimwit he is.

BTW, excellent as always.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goldwing @ Sep 29 2008, 09:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You have by far overstepped the mark here. The most honorable thing you can do now is to ban yourself from this thread.

You kidding me right? Say that you are...... because I'd hate to see people who blindly follow suit not knowing where their destination ends, letting someone dictate their destiny. Remember........be a leader, not a follower.

You need to ignore SS56, he's just a lonely guy looking for attention online.
He's insulted nearly every rider in one way or another, insulted quite a few members and argues with any popular point of view just for the hell of it.
He's obviously desperate for people to pay him attention.
It's quite sad really.

Brilliant Sun! ...Oh and keep on going buddy! I'm (we're) with you!...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ Sep 29 2008, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow...this guy Rising Sun is pretty full of himself.


Wow this guy SuperShinya is a ....!

Pete

Thanks for 'leaping to my defence' guys, although you might be over-reacting a little. I mean, I've been waiting 18 months for a negative post, and this first one was a bit lame...



p.s. Andy Roo... praise or rubbish at will, sir! Seniority is fine and good for post-whores like Jumkie and roger-m, but you've posted more on this forum than I have...

p.p.s The Motegi edition is about half done!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SuperShinya56 @ Sep 29 2008, 05:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow...this guy Rising Sun is pretty full of himself.


SS56, I know your mommy never gave you enough attention, and its tuff when everyone knows you have ADD. Its ok, We understand. You need help





































































Here it is....

Crap, I hoped Sun had posted the Motegi write-up.

keeps refreshing till he has

Sun this made my week. Only just got round to reading it so if you post Montegi today that'll be a double treat!!!
(making puppy eyes at you now!)
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Sep 21 2008, 03:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But, gimpy foot and all, Hay Bales was determined to put on a good show for 4,000 of his closest relatives who traveled up from Owensboro to fill a 2,000 seat section of the main straight stand.

Surely you meant 2000 relatives who filled up a 4000 seat section???? We're talking about guys from the US here aren't we???
(Just taking a dig at people who proclaim themselves to be from the USA!! USA!! USA!! and have the nerve to talk crap about you on this thread)
You go Sun!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bikergirl @ Oct 3 2008, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sun this made my week. Only just got round to reading it so if you post Montegi today that'll be a double treat!!!
(making puppy eyes at you now!)
I tried so very hard because of those puppy eyes, but couldn't get it done last night. But at least I finished it before the race! Posting it shortly...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bikergirl @ Oct 3 2008, 06:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Surely you meant 2000 relatives who filled up a 4000 seat section???? We're talking about guys from the US here aren't we???
Ha! I see what you did there.
Me, I went the low(er) road and did a Tasmanian joke!

A Top Ten Guide to Motegi, Japan, 2008

10. de Drinking Game. de Pissing game was more like it this time round. My body couldn’t take any more rum or tequila after becoming paralytic during the Indianapolis GP, so it was back to beer for the Motegi edition. But for the second—incredible!—race in succession both de Idiots totally de Failed to de Crash. 5-6 laps in I had a nice buzz going, but after half-distance I was ‘draining the dragon’ with depressing regularity (luckily the tense opening laps of the race had petered out into a typical 800cc snooze-fest by then). At one point, de Rainbow running off track gave me a brief glimpse of hope, but he managed to keep it upright, and by race-end I had once again spent far too much time in the smallest room in the house on a race-day afternoon (although for slightly different reasons this time).

9. Andrea Dovizioso. Fresh from signing his new deal to ride for the factory Honda team next year, Andrea ‘Rocky Balboa’ Dovizioso (does Stallone know you’ve nicked his hats?) surely impressed HRC bosses at their home circuit with his 9th place, finishing behind such luminaries as Shinya ‘Grid Filler’ Nakano, Colin ‘Set-up woe is me’ Edwards and Loris ‘Spies made me look old, slow and stupid last time out’ Capirossi. According to Dovi the race was decided in the early laps (shouldn’t that make Pedrosa or Stoner the winner, then?) and after that he got ‘tired.’ Tired? Tired? You’re ....... kidding me. How can something that is soooo easy to do (riding an 800cc tiddler) make you tired? At this rate, you’re going to be little more than Pedrosa’s punching bag in 2009, Dovi... which is sad, on so many levels.

8. Kosuke Akiyoshi. 2.9 seconds of the pace during practice, and 3.1 seconds down on the pole time during qualifying, the Suzuki test rider-cum-MotoGP-wildcard (what does he test for Suzuki, scooters?) nevertheless managed to outdo his practice ineptitude by a staggering margin in the race itself. Not only did he fail to finish the first lap, he didn’t even make it to the end of the first bloody sector of said first lap, crashing out of last place entirely on his own. No doubt Melandri was overjoyed to go into the first turn for once not dead last, so at least someone got something out of Akiyoshi’s participation in the event. But the question foremost on the lips of outraged Americans (do they come in any other flavour?) who watched this debacle has to be: why doesn’t this poster child for (so-called) token Japanese riders—currently sitting in a strong 3rd position in the JSB 1000 series—have a factory slot lined up for 2009?

7. Tyres. Let’s talk about tyres. Tyres are cool. They’re black and round, kinda shiny looking, and sticky to touch. They melt when they get hot, hot, hot. Mmmmm... tyres are sexy. Tyres are also an integral part of Grand Prix Motorcycle racing. Those super-sticky qualifiers are the only reason lap records fall. The bike manufacturers can prattle on all they like about competition and innovation among themselves, but all their fancy electronics and refinements are designed simply to get the best out of the tyres. It’s all about the tyres, baby, and has been for a long, long time. Tyres are what have made Grand Prix racing what it is today. And Carmelo wants to take all this way, in the name of ‘Safety and Cost.’

6. Tyres. Let’s talk more about tyres. What is your favourite make of tyre? Did you thrill to the news of Dunlop being fastest on day one of practice at the 2007 Brno GP? Whose autograph would you wait in line longer to get... Jean-Philippe Weber or Hiroshi Yamada? Doesn’t it warm your heart to know that ex-riders like Masao Azuma still have gainful employment, and get to travel to each Grand Prix? Are you a fan of the Michelin man? Of course, you are... what is not to love about a big, white, fat simpleton? Isn’t it a great storyline that Michelin, a company whose duplicitous tyre allocations, special treatment to favoured riders, and all-round general Frenchness, after being dominant for so many years were laid low by the ‘little’ Japanese company that could? Does it keep you up at night wondering why Bridgestone doesn’t have a mascot, when it is normal for all things Japanese to have one? Do you see now what is at stake, and what will be lost if Carmelo is not stopped?

5. Tyres. Let’s talk some more about tyres. By now, I think I have your attention... you know how important and wonderful tyres are. But, just in case there are still some out there who doubt me, let’s wind the clock back twelve months. At that time, a certain rider was allegedly threatening to walk away from the sport unless he could change his brand of tyres. That’s how important they are! This pious soul, being a fair-minded individual, only wanted a level playing field (of course, we all know how important it is to want a level playing field when you’re standing on the down-slope; when you’re standing on the up-slope (as this rider has been for 95% of his career)... not so much). So, now that everyone’s on board with the importance of tyres, let’s talk about the importance of 3%.
Meetings about tyres always seem to take place at Motegi... because it’s a long way from France? Because Bridgestone executives don’t like to fly? Who knows? Anyway, the supposed future of the sport was hammered out on race weekend, and went through a few unexpected twists. Apparently there is/was/may yet be a ‘gentleman’s agreement’ between Michelin and Bridgestone... some kind of bollocks about a 60/40 split of the grid. At the start of the year it was Bridgestone 61% and Michelin 39% so it seems 1% didn’t matter then. Of course, rat-Pedrosa jumping the sinking ship after Brno means it’s now 66% to 33%. You see what I mean about the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ being a load of bollocks? [I recall this so-called ‘gentleman’s agreement’ was previously based on Bridgestone supplying to whatever teams wanted them, but hands off the factory Yamahas and Hondas or Michelin would quit; we all know how that turned out.] But wait, there’s more. Ezpeleta decided to insert himself (again) into this ‘gentlemen’s agreement’ (translation: use it to get what he wants), by demanding the ‘gentleman’s agreement’ be strictly enforced with a slide rule. But before you could say ‘control tyre,’ Ducati and Kawasaki decided that maybe things would be better with Michelin (Livio Suppo is no fool; speaking during the race in Qatar 2007, he mentioned many thought that the team should have gone with Michelin that season, but he wanted something to separate Ducati from the competition (i.e. Rossi), and knows that it’s a mug’s game (for a variety of reasons) trying to beat said competition on the same equipment). However, with 4 Ducati, 2 Kawasaki and the extra Duke for 2009, that made it: Bridgestone 63% (no walled garages for the Prima Donnas in 2009, and apparently assuming everyone else goes with Team B too?!?) and Michelin 37%. Oh, for a lousy 3%! The appearance of a third Kawasaki (which has often seemed as much of a mirage as a third Suzuki) on the 2009 grid would make all the difference, but Aspar was unable to find a Spanish rider stupid enough to kill his career to ride it. So, on the cards is a single tyre manufacturer for 2009 (not a control tyre, which is an important difference—and one that conspiracy theorists will have a field day with next season if it comes to pass). The fact that tyre manufacturers had less than a week to submit a proposal (and would be required to front up with tyres for post-Valenica testing) was clearly designed to eliminate the chance of Dunlop or Pirelli or anyone else being involved in the tendering process. And with weight of numbers of Bridgestone’s side, Michelin’s less than stellar financial health, the meetings all taking place in Japan, all roads point to Bridgestone as the likely winner of Carmelo's rubber stamp contest. Here’s hoping they’ll have a mascot in time for next year.

4. Jorge Lorenzo. What has Fiat Yamaha done with ‘Loopy’? The guy riding #48 is clearly an imposter, and has been for quite some time. There’s been no ego, no tantrums, no whining in the press about not having Bridgestones. Instead, he speaks modestly, with humour, and respect for other riders (obviously the conversation never touches on Pedrosa). He hasn’t tried to win a race on the first corner of the first lap since Qatar, nor on the first lap since Laguna Seca. He hasn’t even knocked off another rider this season—the old J-Lo would have slammed into Pedrosa on the last lap, probably taking them both out, in a death-or-third-place maneuver; instead he checked the pass, and crossed the line delighted with 4th. He even made the effort to go over to park ferme after the race (park ferme at Motegi is not a quick stroll down the end of pit lane; it’s a little island off by itself, with its own post-code) to warmly congratulate Rossi on winning the championship. I think that Yamaha (no doubt urged on by Uccio) put cement casts on Lorenzo’s injured legs after Laguna Seca, and sent him swimming with the fishes. Over the summer break they force-grew a Rossi clone, slapped some makeup and J-Lo mask on it, and sent it out at Brno. Obviously the clone was all at sea for the first race, but its been on a Rossi (circa 2000) tear since then—including ‘Lorenzo’s’ first ever wet-race podium in his career at the previous race. Apparently without the J-Lo mask on, only Uccio can tell the two of them apart.

3. Dani Pedrosa. Did you see the little git standing on the podium, chuffed to be wearing a red Bridgestone hat that was a few sizes to big for him? Did you see him receive his birthday cake the day after the race as well? Talk about being able to have your cake and eat it... Still, Americans (and other non-Pedrosa fans) can console themselves with this fact: it was his first podium after a five race/three month drought, and the first time for him to lead a race since he attempted ... with an air fence in Germany; I’m guessing y’all enjoyed 12 weeks of Pedrosa failure.

2. Casey Stoner. It was an interesting race for the now ex-world champ. He jumped to an early lead, as is his wont, but Pedrosa somehow managed to get past him and then go slower, allowing Rossi to catch up. Thus, when Stoner finally ‘oops, sorry about that, Dani... that’s racing, heh heh’ re-passed Pedrosa he didn’t have any gap over Rossi. Although, all that meant in the end was that Rossi passed him at about half distance, rather than at two-thirds distance. Afterwards, Stoner seemed reluctant to mention the ‘w’ word (that’s wrist, btw, not wanking; ’cause we know that’s not happening for him anymore after the ‘friendly stranger’ debacle at Misano), instead talking about ‘his physical condition.’ A curious choice, but you can only applaud him for expanding his vocabulary and starting to use more multisyllabic words. He was quite gracious towards Rossi, with genuine-sounding praise for the 8 time champion, though I did see a brief scowl on his face as he scanned the back of Rossi’s championship victory t-shirt and failed to find his name. Fair enough, too; couldn’t Rossi and chums find space on the back to add this to the list of ingredients: 3 rolling Stoners?

1. Valentino Rossi. Leading two sets to none, up 5 – 0, and serving at 40 love, Valentino stepped up at Motegi and took the championship with an ace. Congratulations, Vale, on a brilliant season! Well, brilliant in the sense that you rode like Hayden (2006 model) for the first few races, later on winning using the Stoner/Pedrosa formula (gap the field as soon as you can), um, quite a lot; occasionally settling for Hayden 2006-type positions when that wasn’t on the cards. Your Capirossi (vs. Harada) impersonation at Laguna Seca was certainly epic, though. Meanwhile your principle rivals fell by the wayside, suffering from occasional mechanical problems, wrist injuries, tyre and/or set-up difficulties and the odd crash under pressure, er, I mean, the odd crash not under pressure. Does any of this sound familiar?
Quite the multi-faceted individual is Valentino, which is probably what makes him so fascinating. His tribute to Norifumi Abe (one year on from his shock passing) was a thoughtful gesture, well-appreciated by the locals, which he also managed to combine with his sticker fetish and attention to detail (the sticker showed Abe’s bright green wildcard Honda from that unforgettable 1994 race at Suzuka). And then he comes up with statements like this: “But in 2006 and 2007 I learnt to lose and this has been very important.” You what?!? You learnt to lose? Uh, no, Vale, you didn’t ‘learn to lose.’ YOU LOST! You make it sound like the 2006 and 2007 seasons were a journey of self-discovery and, with that journey now complete it was time to collect another title in 2008. The ego has landed...
This brings us, finally, to his post-race championship victory celebration. The T-shirt (sense of entitlement and all) was very cleverly done, front and back. While the ‘meeting’ with a ‘lawyer’ named ‘Ottavio Ottaviani’ succeeded as only theatre of the absurd can, it wasn’t exactly laugh-out-loud TV. However, AGV probably enjoyed the (free?) publicity as Rossi meticulously signed a helmet with a camera pen and then had it stamped with his #46.
And now that Valentino has grabbed the championship cup tightly with both hands, hugged it to his chest (after giving it that big sloppy kiss), and taken it back to his motor-home for some quality alone time, we can (hopefully) look forward to three great races to round out the season because points don’t matter anymore, only wins...


















The Top Ten Drinking Game: take a shot every time you read the word ‘gentleman’s agreement.’ See, tyres can really be fun!
It was announced on Saturday, October 4th that Kawasaki will run a 3rd bike in 2009 (though no mention that Aspar is involved). All I can say is: watch this space!

Thanks Sun. Great stuff.

Probaby the best of 2008 so far. Loved the tyre entries!

And this had me spit out my yoghurt

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>the first time for him to lead a race since he attempted ... with an air fence in Germany;

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Oct 4 2008, 12:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And then he comes up with statements like this: “But in 2006 and 2007 I learnt to lose and this has been very important.” You what?!? You learnt to lose? Uh, no, Vale, you didn’t ‘learn to lose.’ YOU LOST! You make it sound like the 2006 and 2007 seasons were a journey of self-discovery and, with that journey now complete it was time to collect another title in 2008. The ego has landed...
This brings us, finally, to his post-race championship victory celebration. The T-shirt (sense of entitlement and all) was very cleverly done, front and back. While the ‘meeting’ with a ‘lawyer’ named ‘Ottavio Ottaviani’ succeeded as only theatre of the absurd can, it wasn’t exactly laugh-out-loud TV. However, AGV probably enjoyed the (free?) publicity as Rossi meticulously signed a helmet with a camera pen and then had it stamped with his #46.
And now that Valentino has grabbed the championship cup tightly with both hands, hugged it to his chest (after giving it that big sloppy kiss), and taken it back to his motor-home for some quality alone time, we can (hopefully) look forward to three great races to round out the season because points don’t matter anymore, only wins...