HAYDEN THROWING IN THE CROWN ALLREADY?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (R-46 @ Jun 5 2007, 10:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hayden says Stoner heir to MotoGP crown
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AdvertisementReigning world champion Nicky Hayden has nominated Australian young gun Casey Stoner as the man to inherit his MotoGP crown.

Hayden's concession comes on the eve of what will be an emotion-charged home race, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, for Stoner's Ducati team this Sunday.

Stoner will be in search of his fourth win from six races this season, although he must wait until October's Australian GP at Phillip Island for his own home race.

Hayden says that it was Stoner's most recent performance, a clever and calm third in a rain-soaked French GP, that makes him the man for the world title.

"Rides like Stoner's at Le Mans can win a championship, that's for sure," said Hayden as his title defence drowned in a wet race crash in France.

"I tell you what, they can say what they like about Stoner, but at Le Mans that Ducati engine didn't help him in the rain and he rode a really smart, championship race - hats off to him.

"A lot of guys don't like to give riders credit, they like to find a reason like the bike or tyres, but that was a really good ride in the rain."

Stoner's third, behind a superb debut GP victory by fellow Australian Chris Vermeulen, took him to 102 points, 21 clear of nearest rival Valentino Rossi. Hayden is out of the running in 11th on 30 points, after a dismal season with the Honda team.

Hayden says that the super-fast Mugello track will be ideal for Stoner to use Ducati's speed to overpower his rivals.

And despite a recent engine power upgrade Vermeulen's Suzuki team are still short of the Ducati performance level.

However Stoner remains restrained when championship talk arises, and that he is the first Ducati rider to lead the points going into their home race at Mugello.

"I'm not thinking about the championship," Stoner said.

"If I'm leading the points with five races to go, not after five races, then maybe that will be the time to look at it.

"Mugello is one of my favourite tracks and it would be a nice one to win but it's going to be really tough work beating the rest of the Italian riders.

"But I feel the Ducati and I are fast enough. There's a nice main straight and some fast and flowing corners and I got my first-ever pole position there (in the 125cc class)."

Hayden is not looking forward to the surge from Ducati at their home race.

"I'm not looking forward to those big straightaways, hopefully Honda can bring me something I like for the bike, I'm just trying to stay positive," Hayden said.

© 2007 AAP
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WTF is this about?

Well - well - Like the commentators are starting to say - Casey is riding "mature-races" - maybe that's why Alex Barros blew by to take 3rd place. Since slow-hand NH's "consistent-podium-runner-up" performance from 2006 gained him the title there is a shift from the will to win = be 1st to collecting points. Casey is good - better than both Repsol riders, then put Rossi on a Ducati and revise the rules to give special prizes for 2nd, 3rd & 4th places

I think Casey is good because it is the bike that works well for him. Repsol Honda bikes need some work on still. I wonder what is the problem with there bikes?

Hayden has no shot at the title and he knows it. One thing I like about Hayden is his honesty, hes not in Shrek 4 starring Colin Edwards. Edwards is in a fairy tale where he saves the princess, only to get back to the pits to find out its his sister and she has herpes. So he shoots his mouth off "Yamaha 1-2" then "Mugello just doesn't have any luck for me". .........

I still think Rossi will overhaul Stoner after Donington and build from there. Stoner has done a great job, no-one expected the results he's gotten so far for Ducati. As far as Barros goes, well the guy has been riding in grand prix since 86' (except 88 and 06), this is his 20th season! So shouldn't Barros be beating Casey at every round?

Wow. Alex Barros has been around for sometime then? Still he is an alright rider. Has he won any Moto GP titles in the past or came close to winning one?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ Jun 5 2007, 03:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hayden has no shot at the title and he knows it. One thing I like about Hayden is his honesty, hes not in Shrek 4 starring Colin Edwards. Edwards is in a fairy tale where he saves the princess, only to get back to the pits to find out its his sister and she has herpes. So he shoots his mouth off "Yamaha 1-2" then "Mugello just doesn't have any luck for me". .........Nice

its a pitty because comments like this make me think hayden has lost his confedance with only 5 races raced, wonder if he still feels like casey's going to be the champ after watching the 6th round in mugello.
he also says that he was not looking forward to the long straight and it would suit the ducati yet pedros bike was a rocket there,(how different are the 2 repsol bikes ?) also strikes me as a bit funny that he thinks stoners 3rd place finish in the rain at le mans was a championship ride whan he got creamed by mole.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (The Fizz @ Jun 6 2007, 12:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow. Alex Barros has been around for sometime then? Still he is an alright rider. Has he won any Moto GP titles in the past or came close to winning one?

Barros has finished 4th five times. Not bad, but I think his track record says Im not a championship winner, you're hiring me for sponsorship reasons or the odd podium finish.

To the original poster, RE: WTF...

Hayden is saying nice things about Stoner, because Stoner was sitting next to him at the time. The atmosphere at this pre-event press conference was quite light-hearted, with Hayden joking that he should've switched to Ducati because they told him last year how fast the 800 was going to be.

I also think you, and some of the other posters on this thread might've got sucked in by the headlines, which bears no relation to what Hayden actually said.

"Rides like Stoner's at Le Mans can win a championship, that's for sure."

does not equal

'Hayden says Stoner heir to MotoGP crown' or 'Nicky Hayden has nominated Australian young gun Casey Stoner as the man to inherit his MotoGP crown'

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 6 2007, 12:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>also strikes me as a bit funny that he thinks stoners 3rd place finish in the rain at le mans was a championship ride whan he got creamed by mole.
That's how you get to be a cruisin' caretaker...

I can see what Hayden's saying, though. If Stoner had crashed out of a safe 3rd place in a vain attempt to catch up with Melandri and Vermeulen he would have been--rightly--criticised by all for being stupid. The championship was won by only 5 points last year, remember? (I suspect you'll never forget ) 16 points might come in very handy by the time Valencia rolls around...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 5 2007, 05:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That's how you get to be a cruisin' caretaker...

I can see what Hayden's saying, though. If Stoner had crashed out of a safe 3rd place in a vain attempt to catch up with Melandri and Vermeulen he would have been--rightly--criticised by all for being stupid.

The championship was won by only 5 points last year, remember? (I suspect you'll never forget ) 16 points might come in very handy by the time Valencia rolls around...


1.

2. yes thats a fair point.

3.damn right i will never forget, i flew out to valencia to watch rossi loose dont think i will ever forget.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 5 2007, 06:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i flew out to valencia to watch rossi loose& Were your arms tired?

WTH, it's a long season and with Nicky being so consistant he's still in the hunt to be awarded another title to watch over.








I could'nt hold it in.

SS

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 5 2007, 10:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>with only 5 races raced
...... u meant 6 of course did'ny u rog...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Jun 5 2007, 10:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>after watching the 6th round in mugello.
ooops......... never mind

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Jun 5 2007, 11:30 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I also think you, and some of the other posters on this thread might've got sucked in by the headlines, which bears no relation to what Hayden actually said.

"Rides like Stoner's at Le Mans can win a championship, that's for sure."

does not equal

'Hayden says Stoner heir to MotoGP crown' or 'Nicky Hayden has nominated Australian young gun Casey Stoner as the man to inherit his MotoGP crown'
That's how you get to be a cruisin' caretaker...
yes the media spin doctors out to get u to read what they write!

nicky's head seems well and truly down to me. his bike is frankly ..... and nothing he does is going to change that.

Pedrosa is going to be this years blue eyed boy and any developments that Honda and Michelin make are going to go to him first. Nicky will get it sooner or later and that must be frustrating.

He's gotta believe he can do it - even if no-one else does.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Jun 5 2007, 08:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> ...... u meant 6 of course did'ny u rog...
no i didnt,because he said that before mugello.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>Hayden's concession comes on the eve of what will be an emotion-charged home race, the Italian Grand Prix at Mugello, for Stoner's Ducati team this Sunday.

ah, just read the other part of you post frosty

I bet Hayden wishes he took the Ducati contract now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (R-46 @ Jun 5 2007, 03:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>"I'm not thinking about the championship," Stoner said.

yeah, and im the queen of sheba mate!