<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Sep 18 2007, 11:02 PM) [snapback]91565[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Equal machinery? About as equal as now I'd say.
First we have to agree on what the "edge" is is about. Are we talking psycological edge or rider ability?
Psycological:
Last year doesn't count for much. Stoner has won more races than he crashed out last year and that says a lot. I'd say that todays standing and his eight wins this year count for a lot more than a few lost fights last year. Why should Stoner dwell over a few fights last year when he can nuture his ego with all his victories this year? No winner would do that ... ever.
Rider ability:
Again, last year counts for little. Stoner are not only on a new bike, but also on a new team and a year older. A year that seems to have done miracles. He is a different person this year. Pedrosa might experience the same thing in the future but as of today he is much the same rider as last year. Pedrosa of last year might have drawn the longest straw on his HRC Honda against the one bike team lowest on the pecking order with Stoner of last year on board. Pedrosa of today on his HRC is no match for Stoner on the Duc. Equal machinery is an illusion. Even if they were equal, one machine suites one rider, another machine suits the other rider. Pedrosa has been able to cope with the dubious Honda front of the last two years, others don't. That doesn't make him a genious, just a particular rider with the ability to cope with that particular problem. The Duc on the other hand obviously fits Stoner perfectly and he is able to squeeze out every hundreds of a second inside that machine like no one else can. Doesn't make him a genious either but he's doing pretty well.
Both are young and if they can use the advantages they have and work around the weaker points with different machines in different situations we have something close to geniouses. Time will show.
As of now I would put my money on Stoner both in rider ability and psycological edge.
I am also glad to see you back with a typically intelligent post. I think pedrosa is as talented as anybody, and would not count him out at all in the future, but i agree with several others that he has not shown sufficient appetite for a fight as yet in the premier class.
I agree that stoner has the edge at the moment (perhaps the stoner fanboy in me coming out) . Even if pedrosa did have the advantage on stoner a few years ago, people can improve , particularly when they are teenagers. If this were not so, they could give the championship to the best 16 year old five years later, and not bother having the races.
Equal machinery? About as equal as now I'd say.
First we have to agree on what the "edge" is is about. Are we talking psycological edge or rider ability?
Psycological:
Last year doesn't count for much. Stoner has won more races than he crashed out last year and that says a lot. I'd say that todays standing and his eight wins this year count for a lot more than a few lost fights last year. Why should Stoner dwell over a few fights last year when he can nuture his ego with all his victories this year? No winner would do that ... ever.
Rider ability:
Again, last year counts for little. Stoner are not only on a new bike, but also on a new team and a year older. A year that seems to have done miracles. He is a different person this year. Pedrosa might experience the same thing in the future but as of today he is much the same rider as last year. Pedrosa of last year might have drawn the longest straw on his HRC Honda against the one bike team lowest on the pecking order with Stoner of last year on board. Pedrosa of today on his HRC is no match for Stoner on the Duc. Equal machinery is an illusion. Even if they were equal, one machine suites one rider, another machine suits the other rider. Pedrosa has been able to cope with the dubious Honda front of the last two years, others don't. That doesn't make him a genious, just a particular rider with the ability to cope with that particular problem. The Duc on the other hand obviously fits Stoner perfectly and he is able to squeeze out every hundreds of a second inside that machine like no one else can. Doesn't make him a genious either but he's doing pretty well.
Both are young and if they can use the advantages they have and work around the weaker points with different machines in different situations we have something close to geniouses. Time will show.
As of now I would put my money on Stoner both in rider ability and psycological edge.
I am also glad to see you back with a typically intelligent post. I think pedrosa is as talented as anybody, and would not count him out at all in the future, but i agree with several others that he has not shown sufficient appetite for a fight as yet in the premier class.
I agree that stoner has the edge at the moment (perhaps the stoner fanboy in me coming out) . Even if pedrosa did have the advantage on stoner a few years ago, people can improve , particularly when they are teenagers. If this were not so, they could give the championship to the best 16 year old five years later, and not bother having the races.
