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Melandri ain't pleased with Honda

I don't see what the problem is, really. He's come out and said that the bike is .... and he and his crew have tried everything to sort it out but no matter what his requests or suggestions are, Honda won't step up and find a solution for Marco. This from a guy who, to my knowledge anyways, kept his mouth shut when he was riding for Tech 3 Yamaha in 2003/04. So he doesn't have the history of a complainer as Biaggi does. The other thing he's got going for him is he is only 24 and has plenty of time left. Where as Biaggi was 30-something and widely agreed to be past his prime when he started shooting off his mouth about Honda.

If Honda do indeed take his comments as they did Biaggi's and axe him after the season, he won't be relegated to SBK. Depending on Capirossi, Ducati may be full up for 2008 but I can't see Yamaha and Valentino turning their backs on Marco. He still brings quite a bit to the table.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Mar 30 2007, 04:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If Honda do indeed take his comments as they did Biaggi's and axe him after the season, he won't be relegated to SBK. Depending on Capirossi, Ducati may be full up for 2008 but I can't see Yamaha and Valentino turning their backs on Marco. He still brings quite a bit to the table.
if honda axed marco it would be there loss,but i some how think that will not happen, mabe honda are just fed up with satalite teams beating there factory team so are holding back on parts,i can understand marco being pissed off about that.
biaggi has pretty much moaned aqbout every thing he has ever riden so doesnt get taken to seriously,not the case with marco.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bikergirl @ Mar 30 2007, 02:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>How many of you guys here actually go onto his website and read what he writes for himself??
I'd been meaning to go and have a look at Melandri's diary for a long time, since I always see the link in your .sig; it certainly is an honest, interesting account of what he's feeling.

But I think the diary makes him look worse than any of the media reports. That's one hell of a dummy spit: He climbs off the bike at the end of the race, screams at his team to change the ....... bike anyway, anyhow (for the next day's test) storms off and sulks in his motorhome, having a screaming fit and blasting music from his stereo. He knows he's acting like a baby, when he talks about Locateli's injuries, and mentions apologising to the team later, but still thinks it's all justified anyway because he's sooooo
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furious.

Grow up, .......

"all through winter it was said I would be an official rider on par with Nicky and Dany."

Well, are you? Yes or no? Is it in your contract?

I think not, somehow, or he wouldn't write a sentence like that. In the previous diary (after Qatar) he also describes himself as being in one of Honda's client teams. Marco, if you want full factory spec, get in a full factory team...

Regarding new parts for Jerez, what does he expect? If Rossi [after Qatar], who surely has Yamaha at his beck and call, wasn't expecting any radical improvements in two weeks (because it might be physically impossible in the time), why should Melandri think he's entitled to some?

If Honda were late delivering new stuff for Qatar, do you think it might have anything to do with the fact the bike is not so good and they're having a lot of problems? Melandri probably thinks that if that's the case, then give me the new stuff, and I'll sort it out. Sorry, Marco. It doesn't work that way. Factory guys get that privilege. Even Stoner understood this, which is why he bolted for that Ducati seat as soon as he could, despite everything that LCR had done for him.

Reading through his Qatar and Jerez race analysis it seems like a lot of his problems actually stem from tyres; he's using them up too quickly/they aren't lasting. Oops, those Bridgestones did that a lot last year with the Suzukis. Maybe picking through Valentino's left over Michelins doesn't look so bad now?

The other obvious point is that if the bike is so ....., how did Elias manage to get it to P4 after a bad start? Melandri says he's having problems with feeling in the front and his tyres aren't lasting. Wait a minute, doesn't that sound like someone else? They even have about the same number of points so far this year (19 for Melandri; 17 for Hayden). That's equally piss poor for a supposed-championship contender and a championship defender.

Probably the best thing about his little tantrum was that it seems to have motivated Melandri for the post-race tests. And with Turkey being the next race--a track where he remains undefeated--we might quickly see him back up at the sharp end of the grid.

I don't think Honda will be too ruffled by any of this (riders don't count, remember?), but it is the kind of thing that can sour relations within a team--especially if it keeps happening. What kind of a contract does Melandri have? If Elias (who also finished 4th at Jerez in 2006) actually started putting together consistent performances between now and Portugal, things could get interesting at Team Gresini.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bikergirl @ Mar 29 2007, 02:02 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Motogp "Quotes" Marco as saying 'he's not interested in what the problem is" and also quotes Marco as saying something like "Why will they not spend money on me" crap which is not what he says at all.

And yeah...the original wasn't very pretty I'm afraid. ALthough I do suggest you read the whole thing in its entirety to grasp the spirit in which it all was said (written actually).

What I meant was simply that the motogp one was in actual fact wrongly translated.
An example:
Proper translation: "I just told my crew, sadly in a bad way although I later apologized, that for tomorrow's test, I don't care how where and why, but I want a radical change on the front to try out because we just can't go on like this."
The Motogp.com version:
"Finding out where and and why the problems happened doesn't interest me but what I want is a radical change in the front end because it is nearly impossible to go forward."
Hardly the same thing!!!! Not only out of context, but also badly translated. How do you think people, fans and sponsors will react to a rider saying he's not interested in his problems?

Another example...quite atrocious this:

The proper transtlation:
Have you ever asked yourselves why Yamaha started winning with Valentino??Maybe because they told themselves: Damn with all the money we spent to get him…could it be the case of spending some more to do everything he asks???
The motogp version:
"Has anyone ever asked themselves why Yamaha only started to win with Valentino? Perhaps becaue they realised that they spent a lot of money on him...so why isn't it the case that money is spent to help me do everything that I ask for?"

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
What da f$& was THAT all about???
it's a conspiracy bg. them spaniards over at motogp.com are tryin to get marco in trouble. get him kicked out of the team so he can be replaced by a spanish rider in 08.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Mar 30 2007, 08:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'd been meaning to go and have a look at Melandri's diary for a long time, since I always see the link in your .sig; it certainly is an honest, interesting account of what he's feeling.

But I think the diary makes him look worse than any of the media reports. That's one hell of a dummy spit: He climbs off the bike at the end of the race, screams at his team to change the ....... bike anyway, anyhow (for the next day's test) storms off and sulks in his motorhome, having a screaming fit and blasting music from his stereo. He knows he's acting like a baby, when he talks about Locateli's injuries, and mentions apologising to the team later, but still thinks it's all justified anyway because he's sooooo
<
furious.

Grow up, .......

"all through winter it was said I would be an official rider on par with Nicky and Dany."

Well, are you? Yes or no? Is it in your contract?

I think not, somehow, or he wouldn't write a sentence like that. In the previous diary (after Qatar) he also describes himself as being in one of Honda's client teams. Marco, if you want full factory spec, get in a full factory team...

Regarding new parts for Jerez, what does he expect? If Rossi [after Qatar], who surely has Yamaha at his beck and call, wasn't expecting any radical improvements in two weeks (because it might be physically impossible in the time), why should Melandri think he's entitled to some?

If Honda were late delivering new stuff for Qatar, do you think it might have anything to do with the fact the bike is not so good and they're having a lot of problems? Melandri probably thinks that if that's the case, then give me the new stuff, and I'll sort it out. Sorry, Marco. It doesn't work that way. Factory guys get that privilege. Even Stoner understood this, which is why he bolted for that Ducati seat as soon as he could, despite everything that LCR had done for him.

Reading through his Qatar and Jerez race analysis it seems like a lot of his problems actually stem from tyres; he's using them up too quickly/they aren't lasting. Oops, those Bridgestones did that a lot last year with the Suzukis. Maybe picking through Valentino's left over Michelins doesn't look so bad now?

The other obvious point is that if the bike is so ....., how did Elias manage to get it to P4 after a bad start? Melandri says he's having problems with feeling in the front and his tyres aren't lasting. Wait a minute, doesn't that sound like someone else? They even have about the same number of points so far this year (19 for Melandri; 17 for Hayden). That's equally piss poor for a supposed-championship contender and a championship defender.

Probably the best thing about his little tantrum was that it seems to have motivated Melandri for the post-race tests. And with Turkey being the next race--a track where he remains undefeated--we might quickly see him back up at the sharp end of the grid.

I don't think Honda will be too ruffled by any of this (riders don't count, remember?), but it is the kind of thing that can sour relations within a team--especially if it keeps happening. What kind of a contract does Melandri have? If Elias (who also finished 4th at Jerez in 2006) actually started putting together consistent performances between now and Portugal, things could get interesting at Team Gresini.


....... that was a top-notch post! I'm gonna quote the whole thing just incase somebody missed it.

Well I get on pretty regularly on Marco’s diary. I read everything. I love the guy. My Italian isn't that great though, but I get what he is saying. As far as MotoGP.com chewing it up, well I'm not really buying it, it’s not that bad. Lets not all get so technical that we start splitting hairs and have our love for the guy overshadow the gist of what he is saying by getting all technical. Whoever they are paying to translate isn't working for the UN (where translating to a T might avoid or cause a real conflict). But the translation got the point across. He is pissed off, and he is letting it be known. No excuse for that childish tantrum he threw at his team, who probably stay up nights trying to get it right.

Man I can't improve on all your excellent points Sun, so I won't revisit them but just add a few thoughts. I'm no expert (I just play one on TV) but wouldn't the tire problem he is experiencing be heavily linked to the chassis & suspension and power delivery of the bike? I'm thinking he is chewing up his tires because his bike is not quiet right. Otherwise, Elias would be experiencing the same ware problems on his tires, don't you think? Anyway, just a thought.


Oh, and another thing, I couldn't help but notice, how and why did this thread become a Biaggi bashing dumb ground? The guy's mother abandoned him when he was a little kid, can we cut the guy a break?


<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Mar 30 2007, 09:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>it's a conspiracy bg. them spaniards over at motogp.com are tryin to get marco in trouble. get him kicked out of the team so he can be replaced by a spanish rider in 08.
No you didn't. Hahaha. There were two shooters in the grassy noll...
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Mar 30 2007, 06:35 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Oh, and another thing, I couldn't help but notice, how and why did this thread become a Biaggi bashing dumb ground? The guy's mother abandoned him when he was a little kid, can we cut the guy a break?
No you didn't. Hahaha. There were two shooters in the grassy noll...
firstly i think if someone is being payed to tranlate what motogp riders have to say they better be damn presise no excuses excepted seeming the whole world namely us are reading it

biaggi will always be dragged into a thread that talks about wingers for obvious reasons and boho his mummy left him,mabe he moaned to much for her so she buggered off,give us a break you bloody softy,max has had a lot more privilage in his life than most people mabe thats why he is a spoilt prick.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Mar 30 2007, 10:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>firstly i think if someone is being payed to tranlate what motogp riders have to say they better be damn presise no excuses excepted seeming the whole world namely us are reading it

biaggi will always be dragged into a thread that talks about wingers for obvious reasons and boho his mummy left him,mabe he moaned to much for her so she buggered off,give us a break you bloody softy,max has had a lot more privilage in his life than most people mabe thats why he is a spoilt prick.
I rightly have you pegged as a mindless cheerleader, but man you are cold--you crucify the Roman Emperor. Have some heart man.

Oh, and about the translation thing. Here is my response: You got to be smart enough to understand MotoGP but dumb enough to think it’s important. Jumkie circa 2007

Dude, I'm guilty of that too, but we are splitting hairs on this translation thing. Just because somebody crusades on telling us what was <u>really</u> meant in the original Italian on here isn't necessarily the sole authority. Though I am thankful for the clarification offered (not being sarcastic) but lets take it for what it is in the bigger picture.



Just a final note: One thing that didn't get lost in translation, when you compare the Italian to the English is that he is thinking of "....." or at least "talking" about it. Despite all his troubles, at least he's still thinking with his head--the little one. (for an explination read his diary)
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As always, thanks for the kind words, Jumkie. Kind of late getting back to it, but blame that on a double root canal dental work...
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Mar 31 2007, 02:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm no expert (I just play one on TV) but wouldn't the tire problem he is experiencing be heavily linked to the chassis & suspension and power delivery of the bike? I'm thinking he is chewing up his tires because his bike is not quiet right. Otherwise, Elias would be experiencing the same ware problems on his tires, don't you think? Anyway, just a thought.
Yeah, I'm, sure there's more to it than just tyres, but we've seen that Melandri can put down fast times, but once the tyres go away so do the lap times. Perhaps by trying to ride through the problem he's being too aggressive with his tyres. If Elias could find a solution at Jerez, without HRC help, it shouldn't be beyond Melandri, either.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Apr 3 2007, 04:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Perhaps by trying to ride through the problem he's being too aggressive with his tyres. If Elias could find a solution at Jerez, without HRC help, it shouldn't be beyond Melandri, either.
Am sure Marco will get there....
Apparently Elias is far kinder to his bike. I distinctly remember an interview with someone on gresini's team commenting that in general Marco's tyre temperatures when he's out on track are about 30% higher than Toni's when on same tire and for an equivalent ride. That could be making a big difference right now.
 
Just wondering, does anybody know the tires he used in the last two races? (Hard, Medium, Soft) compared to Elias.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Rising Sun @ Apr 3 2007, 07:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Perhaps by trying to ride through the problem he's being too aggressive with his tyres. If Elias could find a solution at Jerez, without HRC help, it shouldn't be beyond Melandri, either.
Interesting. I just watched the race again (Jerez) did you notice Elias' impossible lean angles. Damn.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Apr 3 2007, 06:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I just watched the race again (Jerez) did you notice Elias' impossible lean angles. Damn.

something like 67 if i recall correctly ? mental !
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Apr 3 2007, 12:46 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Just wondering, does anybody know the tires he used in the last two races? (Hard, Medium, Soft) compared to Elias.
Interesting. I just watched the race again (Jerez) did you notice Elias' impossible lean angles. Damn.

The weird thing about Elias style, to me it is not the leaning angles, but his position…

1491:attachment]

Most riders seem to stick out the Neck (Eduards does it and Tamada used to do it a lot), but Elias seems to keep his chin stock to the tank and his shoulders inside. The open knee is not like wide until touching the ground and just feeling as everybody else’s, but with him it is close to the bike. Although I must say that his bottoms are really reaching for the ground. Weird!

PS. He seems to be sitting on his boot!
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Moving your shoulders to the inside is something widely taught because it in theory make corners easier to take by pointing your body the direction you want to go. But riders need to be comfortable when they ride, and for some they are more comfortable in rather odd positions (see mick doohan). From a science point of view it is valuable to move your body weight inside the bike, but the hips are the bodies centre of mass, so moving his ... inside does the trick nicely.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Apr 3 2007, 10:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The weird thing about Elias style, to me it is not the leaning angles, but his position…
............
. He seems to be sitting on his boot!
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Well Tiny Toni's certainly riding that bike, as opposed to letting it carry him around.

As for Marco, not content with pissing off everyone at HRC, he's now resorted to bashing his dad. Will the kid never learn??
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Apr 3 2007, 01:30 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The weird thing about Elias style, to me it is not the leaning angles, but his position…

Most riders seem to stick out the Neck (Eduards does it and Tamada used to do it a lot), but Elias seems to keep his chin stock to the tank and his shoulders inside. The open knee is not like wide until touching the ground and just feeling as everybody else’s, but with him it is close to the bike. Although I must say that his bottoms are really reaching for the ground. Weird!

PS. He seems to be sitting on his boot!
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Yes, absolutely! That's what I was getting at. Great insight man, you verbalized what I wanted to say. Eso es lo que note de Elias tambien.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rgvneil @ Apr 3 2007, 12:29 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He always rides as if he's about to scrape an ... cheek on the track!
Haha, yeah rgvneil, maybe he should move the puck from his knee to his ..., eh?
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Racejumkie @ Apr 4 2007, 12:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yes, absolutely! That's what I was getting at. Great insight man, you verbalized what I wanted to say. Eso es lo que note de Elias tambien.

No sweat ‘Amigo’!

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