Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
I think the season has lived up to the expectations with the new rules....the spec tire, fuel limit, major electronics, and now engine limit. It was supposed to be a show down between Lorenzo and Rossi carried over from last year, and then Mugello attacked Rossi. The real excitement was now Rossi breaking his leg and seeing if he would return and in top form.....then his announcement to switch to Ducati. Spies getting pole this year on a sat bike as a rookie was really awesome, but I was more impressed with Stoner doing that same feat on a more powerful, less electronic controlled bike with a prototype tire he tested and chose. He did this in his 2nd MotoGP race and with probably less support than Spies is getting from Yamaha (since Lorenzo has all but clinched the title and Rossi has one foot out the door).
IMO the electronics have brought the grid closer together creating more "aliens". Don't get me wrong, Spies is a fantastic rider and will be great, but is he really Rossi/Lorenzo/Pedrosa/Stoner level right now on a true Tech 3 spec bike "with only a couple factory upgrades". I think the engine limit is nowshowing it's ugly head and the top guys will ride now to get max points without blowing up or risk crashing out to screw themselves out of the current race points and the following race points from busting up their last engine.....Spies has nothing to loose running full tilt, but everything to gain. Indy was a great example of this.
I predict Rossi, Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Stoner, Spies/Hayden.....and Capirossi to complete 5 laps.
Really, the only ones who have anything to lose are Pedrosa and Lorenzo. What does Stoner and Rossi have to lose,they are neither one in the title hunt and both have fresh new contracts with different teams. How much more of a green light to go balls out could you get