Final predictions and thoughts for 08

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ Mar 5 2008, 03:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Stoner
What is the world coming to?

You'd at least expect those with "vale", "46" etc in their user name to root for Rossi. Is this a sign of the death of the Rossi fanboy (as BarryMachine has been foretelling the end of the career of Rossi himself) or is this a new slight-of-hand to confuse the Stoner fans before the season opener?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yamaka46 @ Mar 5 2008, 02:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What is the world coming to?

You'd at least expect those with "vale", "46" etc in their user name to root for Rossi. Is this a sign of the death of the Rossi fanboy (as BarryMachine has been foretelling the end of the career of Rossi himself) or is this a new slight-of-hand to confuse the Stoner fans before the season opener?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yamaka46 @ Mar 6 2008, 01:59 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What is the world coming to?

You'd at least expect those with "vale", "46" etc in their user name to root for Rossi. Is this a sign of the death of the Rossi fanboy (as BarryMachine has been foretelling the end of the career of Rossi himself) or is this a new slight-of-hand to confuse the Stoner fans before the season opener?

I'm a fan of Rossi, but I can also see the talent and potential in other riders (unlike Andrew and jazkat). Based on last year and Stoner's consistency and form in testing simply makes him the favorite for 08, the man to beat. I think Rossi will be the only rider to push him all the way.

Of course like any of the predictions here it will most likely turn out to be complete ........

1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Stoner, as it seems not only has he maintained his advantage but that he has extended it.
2. Who will be rookie of the year? If we have a wet year, it will be Toseland.
3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07?Capirossi, can't see it getting any worse
4. What brand will win the constructors title? Ducati
5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki
6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Bridgestone
7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Tech 3 Yamaha
8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? Lorentho
9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Hopkins
10. What rider will crash the most? Toss up between DePuniet & Elias
11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? Hope so, yes.
12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? Nakano
13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi
14. Who will win Indy (new track)? Stoner
15. What will we complain about next year? The paint scheme of the Fiat Kawasaki. & For the Brits at least, how UK coverage has become the James Toseland show.

Final thoughts:No change, in end result anyway. Casey seemed to be 0.3 ahead of everyone all last year, & if winter testing is anything to go by it has doubled. The pace of the B.stone Yamaha appears to be up & down like a yoyo, & I think it's going to be a third season of not knowing race to race how good it will be. Honda are confusing me right now, however the pace of the rookies seems to suggest they are doing well. Anyone else just ain't in it.

Extra special prediction: We will see an accident between Rossi & Stoner. If they hit the front with equal pace it will be immovable force meets immovable force. Hope I'm wrong, or that it's not too bad.

Go Rossi!

Q:Who will get the most pole positions? Hayden

1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? well, i hope it will be Hayden, but as long we have a close Championship til the end i will be happy

2. Who will be rookie of the year? Lorenzo

3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07? de Puinet

4. What brand will win the constructors title? Yamaha - with Rossi and Lorenzo they will win
5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki, but it will not be a shame

6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Bridgestone
7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Tech 3 Yamaha
8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? Lorenzo

9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Marco Melandri

10. What rider will crash the most? Elias

11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? No, they will wait for 2009

12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? Nakano

13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi
14. Who will win Indy (new track)? is this really so important? i will say Stoner

15. What will we complain about next year? technology, lack of close racing


Final thoughts: i want close Races with different winners, and as much possible different guys on the podium. no injuries and maybe some cool Wildcard riders

Yes. Excellent post. I'm glad someone started this I've been busy as of late.

1. I really think this year is a toss up between Stoner and Rossi. I think this season will be more like 2006 with lots of mistakes, risks, unusual performances, and injuries. I think Hayden and Pedrosa will come out firing (except, Qatar, that will be a bogey track) but unless the summer is extremely hot, I don't see them making headway at the tracks B-stone dominated in the summer of 2007.

2. Lorenzo looks too good to stop. Toseland is very fast, but unless the heavy weights (Hayden, Edwards, Toseland) can develop a good tire, the lightweights will continue to run away on Michelins

3. Nakano, obviously. He scored 47 points last year. He's on a vastly improved Honda with B-stones (he's familiar with B-stone construction). DePuniet scored 108 pts last season and had the highest point total ever for a Kawasaki rider. He won't do much better on an LCR that won't get many (if any) updates for 2008.

4. Yamaha - they have 4 up-to-date bikes with 4 solid riders running every weekend. They run both B's and M's.

5. Suzuki. They really choked in Jerez. The bike now has grip problems to accompany its chronic lack of power. No relief for that team as they get swallowed up by the satellite Hondas.

6. B-stone has too many good riders. They will win more races.

7. Tech 3, although it will be slow going. They won't start pulling away (or reeling in) Gresini until the latter part of the season, imo.

8. I really think there might be a track that suits low end grunt and the Michelins. For some reason I think Edwards has another sniff at a win.

9. Hopkins. It is looking more and more like the Kawasaki pitches people off. Hopper is already injured. I don't like his chances if Kwak can't get that bike to stay upright. It seems very hard to ride. He doesn't have a good head either. The satellite Hondas will be all over him early in the season. I doubt he will remain cool and wait for the Kwak to improve as the season goes on.

10. Elias. He's going down at least 4 or 5 times on race day.

11. No.

12. Elias or Hopkins if he can't get healthy

13. Elias

14. Spies

15. Bad races. Tires.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goatboy @ Mar 5 2008, 04:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Stoner, as it seems not only has he maintained his advantage but that he has extended it.
2. Who will be rookie of the year? If we have a wet year, it will be Toseland.
3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07?Capirossi, can't see it getting any worse
4. What brand will win the constructors title? Ducati
5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki
6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Bridgestone
7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Tech 3 Yamaha
8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? Lorentho
9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Hopkins
10. What rider will crash the most? Toss up between DePuniet & Elias
11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? Hope so, yes.
12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? Nakano
13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi
14. Who will win Indy (new track)? Stoner
15. What will we complain about next year? The paint scheme of the Fiat Kawasaki. & For the Brits at least, how UK coverage has become the James Toseland show.

Final thoughts:No change, in end result anyway. Casey seemed to be 0.3 ahead of everyone all last year, & if winter testing is anything to go by it has doubled. The pace of the B.stone Yamaha appears to be up & down like a yoyo, & I think it's going to be a third season of not knowing race to race how good it will be. Honda are confusing me right now, however the pace of the rookies seems to suggest they are doing well. Anyone else just ain't in it.

Extra special prediction: We will see an accident between Rossi & Stoner. If they hit the front with equal pace it will be immovable force meets immovable force. Hope I'm wrong, or that it's not too bad.

Go Rossi!

Q:Who will get the most pole positions? Hayden


OUTSTANDING, Goat Boy!
I have to agree almost completely!!!

The joke on Fiat Kawasaki is GREAT
I actually think nobody should/could win a world title with such bad graphics on the fairing

Only a minor point of disagreement: I do not think Stoner has doubled his advantage on Rossi. I think he does still have a headstart now, at the beginning of this 2008 campaign, but Rossi will be able to eat into it as the season goes on and he gets used to the Stones. He has shown he can already be occasionally faster than Stoner. So if Stoner will be able to build enough of an advantage in the early stages, he'll win. Otherwise we'll be treated to a very hot final race in Valencia, in which your final prediction of two immovable forces could well come true...!

1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Stoner (Rossi, Closer this year)
2. Who will be rookie of the year? Lorenzo because he has full factory support
3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07? Hayden
4. What brand will win the constructors title? Yamaha
5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki
6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Too early to tell
7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Tech 3 Yamaha
8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? None
9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Marco Melandri or West
10. What rider will crash the most? DePuniet
11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? No - but I think they will return in 2009
12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? If it's a dry season - West, if it's a wet season Nakano
13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi & West
14. Who will win Indy (new track)? Depends on tyres long straight will suit Ducati & Honda
15. What will we complain about next year? More rule change threats from Dorna

While Nicky is the guy I want for the title, I think Rossi and Bridgestone will make Casey look like 2006 Casey, as he will take the early points lead.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Frizzle @ Mar 5 2008, 02:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Stoner (Rossi, Closer this year)
2. Who will be rookie of the year? Lorenzo because he has full factory support
3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07? Hayden
4. What brand will win the constructors title? Yamaha
5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki
6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Too early to tell
7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Tech 3 Yamaha
8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? None
9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Marco Melandri or West
10. What rider will crash the most? DePuniet
11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? No - but I think they will return in 2009
12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? If it's a dry season - West, if it's a wet season Nakano
13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi & West
14. Who will win Indy (new track)? Depends on tyres long straight will suit Ducati & Honda
15. What will we complain about next year? More rule change threats from Dorna

+1 on this one. I also think that #6 will be Bridgestoners #9 is Melandri - well he is a dissappointment already for me. #13 - you can add Colin Edwards to that list.

Its going to be a damn good season or else I quit

hmmm

1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Stoner 08 Champ. (Rossi, runner up)
2. Who will be rookie of the year? Dovi, runner up Lorenzo
3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07? Hayden. (Can’t see it getting any worse.)
4. What brand will win the constructors title? Yamaha
5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki
6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Bridgestone
7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Gresini
8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? None
9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Marco Melandri
10. What rider will crash the most? Toss up between Elias/ DeAngelis
11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? Hope springs eternal
12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? Elias
13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi, Edwards and possibly Nakano
14. Who will win Indy (new track)? Stoner/Verm
15. What will we complain about next year? Take your pick: tires, engine, rider comments, rules, technology, lack of close racing, ect., ect. All of the above.


thanks for the template Jumkie

final note/wish. that suzuki can step up to the level of the "big boys". i scincerely hope that the dissappointing tests in Jerez and Losail have given them the kick in the arse that was needed before the start of the season...
Verm for champ...!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Mar 6 2008, 01:26 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hope so. And hope some turn into race wins.


Hayden can sure be the one to do that..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 5 2008, 01:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Do you really think that Spies could win on a level playing field motogp guys, first time out, with a suzuki? Thats a very brave call

It'll be his second race weekend on the Suzuki after Laguna and I have full confidence that Spies will be able to win it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Mar 6 2008, 09:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It'll be his second race weekend on the Suzuki after Laguna and I have full confidence that Spies will be able to win it.

Is there any reason you feel like that, or is it just hope? Although you can't rule out anything, it seems a very wild conclusion to draw in my mind.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 6 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Is there any reason you feel like that, or is it just hope? Although you can't rule out anything, it seems a very wild conclusion to draw in my mind.

Shut up Tom, he's an American in America. HE WILL WIN IT NO MATTER THE CIRCUMSTANCES OK?

1. Who will win the 2008 Championship? Rossi

2. Who will be rookie of the year? Lorenzo

3. Who will be the most improved rider from 07? Hayden

4. What brand will win the constructors title? Yamaha

5. What brand will come last in constructors title? Kawasaki

6. What brand of tire will be most successful? Bridgestone

7. What Satellite team will have best showing? Tech3

8. What rider(s) will have his first premier class win? Toseland

9. What rider will be the biggest disappointment? Hopkins

10. What rider will crash the most? Capirossi

11. Do you think Team Kenny Roberts will return to MotoGP this year? No, never to be seen again

12. Of the current entries, who will be last in the championship at the end of the year? Guintoli

13. Who will leave MotoGP at the end of the year? Capirossi, West, and Edwards

14. Who will win Indy (new track)? Stoner

15. What will we complain about next year? Pedrosa

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 6 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Is there any reason you feel like that, or is it just hope? Although you can't rule out anything, it seems a very wild conclusion to draw in my mind.

I actually don't really know, I just get the feeling that he will win it.

He's in my mind one of the most talented motorcycle riders on the planet, he's proved his dominance in AMA and I think a wildcard win at Indy would prove his future form in MotoGP.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Haga @ Mar 6 2008, 04:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I actually don't really know, I just get the feeling that he will win it.

He's in my mind one of the most talented motorcycle riders on the planet, he's proved his dominance in AMA and I think a wildcard win at Indy would prove his future form in MotoGP.
We get replays of the AMA superbikes in australia and he certainly looks very good; being good may not be much help the way the suzuki is looking at the moment though.