Wow... Spies got pole huh? Look for him to drop down the order though, just can't see the guy winnig the race. As for Nicky 'the kentucky squid' Hayden....., he did good to put himself in 3rd position, although I also see him dropping like a stone come race day.... he'll end up around 10th place or so when he crosses the finish line. Lorenzo's taking the race, just can't see anyone stopping him... maybe Pedrosa if he gets a good launch and is able to get some positions going into the first corner and keeps Lorenzo within his sight, but I doubt the little guy will be able to mount an attack on WhoreHey.
My predictions for the race :
1) WhoreHey Lorentho
2) Dani Pedrosa
3) Ben Spies
4) Valentino Rossi
5) Andrea Dovizioso
6) Casey Moaner
7) Randy DePuniet
8) Colin Edwards
My predictions for the race :
1) WhoreHey Lorentho
2) Dani Pedrosa
3) Ben Spies
4) Valentino Rossi
5) Andrea Dovizioso
6) Casey Moaner
7) Randy DePuniet
8) Colin Edwards
god damn texan! did not see the coming at all! hope he gets a podium tomorrow. can't wait for next season.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Neither did Lorenzo. Betcha just now he's thinking he'd rather have Rossi as teammate in 2011.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
nah, he isn't clueless. he knows exactly what he is saying. he wants attention. which is why you should put him on ignore like i did. silence is golden.
Well done big ben!!! 'Parts Anyone'-Lin Jarvis
Colin and Rossi both a second odd off his pace............HMMMMM
Nicky ahead of Stoner-Very happy to see that!
Seriously though, the new interview video with Rossi and Burgess on Motogp.com is quite good, very interesting look at issues like 2007-2008 and current events.
JB still not giving anything away, I now believe though its to prevent the lack of parts flow from Yamaha, which seems to be worsening by the session........he will be with Ducati next year.
Colin and Rossi both a second odd off his pace............HMMMMM
Nicky ahead of Stoner-Very happy to see that!
Seriously though, the new interview video with Rossi and Burgess on Motogp.com is quite good, very interesting look at issues like 2007-2008 and current events.
JB still not giving anything away, I now believe though its to prevent the lack of parts flow from Yamaha, which seems to be worsening by the session........he will be with Ducati next year.
Takes one to know one......
I should follow suit as many others no doubt and do the same with you
The guilty party is clear: “If it were not for that freaking bump in turn six... the Safety Commission has been asking that it be fixed for two years now. It is something you expect on a public road, not on a racetrack..." This was the reaction of Valentino Rossi at the end of qualifying, and after his second crash of the day. "I don't think I have crashed twice in one day since 1996." For the record, that was his rookie season in 125cc.
Americas most famous circuit........
Americas most famous circuit........
Joined Apr 2008
7K Posts | 3K+
Out of Nowhere
Granted he shouldn't have cut the nose off the Pramac bike, but Valentino expresses the same irritation on track over parasites looking to latch on to a hot lap. Trying impetuously, to shake the leeches at Mugello on a cold tyre arguably flung him unceremoniously into the gravel in front of his adoring throng - resulting in his first serious injury of his career and destroying his chances of overhauling Jorge as the great yamaha pretender. Result? - abdication...defection to the already vacated Ducati throne.
OK Rob, perhaps entertain the fact that Vale was an ... for the way he behaved at Yam; from the wall (which thankfully Jorge has pledged to demolish once Spies moves in in order to share data as team mates should); to the ludicrous it's him or me ultimatum. Great shot today of Rossi in his garage unwittingly on camera -the mask had slipped...he looked furious, berating the tyres, or the bike? until he checked his image on the monitor and the whacky clown prince returned. Personally, I think the crown is slipping - and when his realm is threatened you see Rossi at ruthless best. Next year, having resolved the Duc's errant front end during the close season he could well conquer all once again.
Reaquaint yourself with the anti Stoner sentiment on here which is equally as mindless. I was at the Day of Champions in 2007 when Stoner was booed off stage by the custard crowd, and stood in the paddock the year before when Pedrosa was roundly booed by the same disciples of Tavullia for having the audacity to beat an admittedly injured Rossi.
The .... that was spouted on here last year over Stoners lactose intolerance - irrespective on your views on the matter - speaks for itself. I suggest you read it, because although you claim to have been lurking for some time - so far as I'm concerned you were invisible and irrelevant.
Great post.
Selective blindness & selective deafness is what it comes down to.
Why does a fans preference for one particular rider have to mean they must berate & ridicule his adversaries?
Without rivals we have no friggen racing.
Just got home and couldn't believe my eyes. Nicky is 3rd. Highly unusual for Ducati to actually figured out a setup for nicky for qualifying. Must be a only in america setup.
Hey gecko, what was that about stoner having a way more talent than nicky, maybe they swapped bikes.
Glad to see spies on the pole. Maybe this race will have a battle for the lead for once. Hope for nicky to be up there with him. Looking forward to a race for once.
Hey gecko, what was that about stoner having a way more talent than nicky, maybe they swapped bikes.
Glad to see spies on the pole. Maybe this race will have a battle for the lead for once. Hope for nicky to be up there with him. Looking forward to a race for once.
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
What are you on about!?
Stoner showed way more talent today! He was very entertaining, has all the Boppers whinging again thats for sure
In reality though, I find this all abit frustrating about Nicky, all year he seems to be struggling then at Indy ...... bam he out and looks like a front runner. Bit the same for Spies too ( though momentum for Spies last few races makes me question that ). I used to think it was just the Spanish who turned into "unbeatables" in Spain but I guess its everyone.
eg, Stoner at PI
Spies? and Hayden in Indy , though I think why not at Laguna ...... possibly because its a very well known track to most of the "Imigrant riders"?
Pedro and Jorge at .... anywhere in Spain
Rossi in Italy
Brit's in ..... um .....
I guess hometown motivation is pretty high, fair enough, but it does make one think "come on mate! if you can do it there ......"
But I still think Indy is an "odd" place and I expect thr race outcome could be very diferent than the preview that Quali provides.
Joined Jun 2007
10K Posts | 1K+
Norah Head
.......!
Haven't you realised yet that there is a "fly on the wall" in the Yamaha camp now!! ?
Seen here sticking a note "beat me" , on Lorenzo's back ...... See he'snot just working on Rossi
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Mata Jumkie
Even I won't get up at 4. 00 am to watch qualifying, but it looks from the analyses that stoner mostly had the pace particularly in FP2, and nicky did a banzai lap.
That said I would be more than happy for nicky to win this race, but suspect it will be jorge again.
Good points Arrab, however having witnessed recent events and indeed the sport for 25 years or so, any fan realizes that Rossi is extremely ruthless, arrogant and as you suggest 'A wolf in sheeps (or Clowns) clothing'. If he were not he wouldn't have achieved the likes of what he has. I recall many incidents in 2006 were we bared witness to his business nature in the garage. Also on track in 2005 at Herez, an absolutely ruthless display of his seemly undying need to win. Or post race in Valencia 2007 in his Pit when just being pipped to second in the title race by pedders, and then no doubt chastising Yamaha to the Nth degree forcing then to build a better electronics package for 2008, whilst unceremoniously dumping Michelin who VR admits were caught by surprise that year. This of course has led to two, and now probably three more world titles for Yamaha. Not too mention his war with, and destruction of Biaggi which led to physical fighting....'.... Biaggi!' was the repetitious quote I believe.
That being said, its naive to think that PR doesn't play a very large role in modern sport. Tiger Woods is the current high profile example of what can go wrong in your performance when things aren't right, both personally and with your public image. Somehow Rossi has managed, very successfully-though sometimes slipping as you pointed out, to blend his ruthless nature with his other 'happy go lucky' side, the latter of course, is the one which the public sees more of. Jorge Lorenzo knows the power of good PR, he does it very well. Jorge has beaten Rossi quite a lot in the past two years yet hasn't suffered the same retribution from the Rossi faithful as Stoner, when really, as many have pointed out, the Rossi fans should just hate Jorge for the sole reason that he beats VR. Yet they don’t, or at least it isn't anywhere near as apparent.
IMO this is because Casey Stoner has the PR skills of an Echidna, all spikes. Whilst he is amongst the top 4 riders in the world at present on track, his off track persona is not really accepted as 'broadly appealing'. Some accept that he is just a racer and that's how it should be, but the majority think he's an ........ I must admit I'm with the majority on the latter, but I believe even the most ardent of Rossi fans still respect Casey's talent for riding a motorcycle, as I do. But as we know it takes a lot more than just talent these days, and with the media the way it is, it makes sense to play the PR game.....well.
Rossi has done it with great success, and now Jorge is also showing signs of it. Media Manipulation is, whether we like it or not, a key ingredient for success in sport. Thankfully not to the same levels as bike manipulation.....yet.
I also believe that Casey's downfall at Laguna 2008 and subsequent psychological destruction that year- Wasn't just caused by Rossi dominance on track, but more so by Casey's very public dummy spit which only served to make him more disliked, and the results post this incident speak for themselves. Maybe there is some studied that relates PR to performance out there which proves or highlights factors, but from what I've seen in Motogp the two are closely intertwined.
So while you may not like it, Rossi's clown antics have served him well, as has his other side. Though its very presumptuous to say that his fans don't see, or accept, Rossi's the other 'darker' behind the scenes side. Pre/ Post Race Clown antics, while sometimes being mildly humorous don't even come close to the entertainment Rossi has provided during a lot of the races I've witnessed him win over the years, and his darker side has arguably contributed more to this.
What I have to note is that I've witnessed just as ridiculous slander of Rossi here, possibly even more so, than Stoner. So maybe removing reason to prove ones point is just a part of Human Nature…..
