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Interesting thoughts Kesh, but I seriously doubt this was factored in to Nicky's decision making process. I think it would be harder for Edwards to "psychologically" return to Wsbk, but for Nicky its still uncharted territory. I'm not sure what you mean by riders who "walked away from GP...had really come closed to achieving a WC". Not sure if you mean riders who have left GP for Wsbk were unaccomplished, or riders who rode in GP were unaccomplished in Wsbk. But Melandri was a runner-up in MotoGP, and has something like 5 wins in the series, and should have been a Wsbk WC had he not melted down the last couple of rounds. Checa, ok not quite"coming close to a WC in GP" is also a GP retread with a Wsbk title, not just Biaggi, and, if I can add Sylvain Guintoli, who is poised to win a Wsbk title, also a former GP rider (not high profile given he rode on Dunlops, but that is my point when I make the case about parity in GP leading spectators to make erroneous conclusions about rider's talent). Nori Haga also can be placed in this category of former GP riders, as it may be a bit of a stretch to some, did actually compete two years in GP (again, parity being an issue me thinks), but the man came runner up several times in Wsbk (and should have been a champ in his own right had it not been for some ........ technicality). Ok, perhaps the guys like Nori and Guintoli, were less vested, but not for the guys like Biaggi or Melandri. Who like Nicky are something like outside the country club. Who is in that country club is a mystery, but Stoner, the fastest man on earth at one time was not in that country club, where as Pol Espargaro, a multi year runner-up in a sub-category seems to be a hard-cover card carrying member. Sponsorship money? Have you noticed that Nicky does not have a cap/helmet energy drink logo? Unlike every other high profile rider. Why? All the other "high profile" riders do, so not sure what would diminish, as he hardly has a "boat load of sponsorship money". His pops and mum sell Hayden bro tees and trinkets from a tiny vendors tent. Kesh, I honestly think Nicky's values are at odds in GP, they always have been, thats why the series has ate him up after his 06 title. This humble guy still takes vacations with his entire family, lives on the family plot, doesn't drink alcohol (asked his dad if he could taste the champagne after his first GP win, fact) and apologizes for race moves that he thinks are unbecoming of that dirt track ethic "ah shucks country boy" mentality. Why you think partly driving his decision to stay in GP is because of his addiction of the "taste for the good life" simply doesn't jive with the reality of his actual private lifestyle. Have you seen his girlfriend? This chick isn't a monster energy knock out, but rather humble looking, chosing to stay out of the limelight, unlike say all the other rider's hot GF's. I saw here at Laguna, chilling with Earl, looking so unassuming. (Which btw, reminds me, oh Lordy, do yourself a favor everybody, look up the umbrella grid .... standing next to Bradley Smith at Misano!)Honestly, very few people perceive VR's performance sub par (except us on PS who scrutinize GP in detail). He is still arriving on the podium occasionally, a race win to boot, and the Dorna force TV feed is still obsessed with glamor shots. His hats and Tshirts are still selling like tea in china. He will quit when he wants, because he simply is a cash cow for Dorna, which means he can write his own ticket. I'm pretty sure if we were to ask Dovi privately if he were offered a way out of Ducati onto one of the four factory Japanese bikes, would he take it? He'd leave in a heartbeat. I suppose your point is however that this "rockstar" status is what keeps Nicky in GP. If that were the case, I'd have you (and more importantly him) consider that Nicky would be THEE rockstar in Wsbk. He would be the instant Valentino/Marquez of Wsbk, every pit egress and ingress would be the subject to show us the new and exciting prospect, every slow motion would be subject to watch Nicky's form, every series promo video would prominently have him front center, event posters would have his face and bike plastered as big as life, and the longest lines would be to get his autograph. Think about it, who would rival Nicky's rockstar status if he were in that paddock? Sykes? Guintoli? Laverty? Melandri? Davies? JRea? ...., though most are cool blokes (except Jrea) Non are as accomplished and certainly none as fabulously pretty. Nicky would stand out as the lead singer of that band, the face of the series, thee 'rockstar'.
