Arrabbiata1
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EDIT: Just lost half this post, which is a pisser, because I was defending Pedrosa again.
There was a message the good Lord was trying to make. Like Jonah, I hope you don't end up in the belly of a big fish. But in the unlikely even you do, I'd say you probably deserved it. You may be the Oracle of Racing Knowledge, but the Lord will not be made a fool of, no sir.
Arrabbiata1
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Defending Dani again? Yeah, why not, we need some balance on here. Going into this race I absolutely guarantee that Dani fully entertained the very real possibility of surrendering his Championship lead.
On most of our minor disagreements about racing (a rare thing indeed) its usually a disagreement of degree (as when we debated which was better at the time a M1 or RCV). But this here, I wholeheartedly disagree with my friend. I'm not sure what you mean by "going into this race" to mean, going into this event or the actual race, whichever you mean, I have to respectfully disagree (baring a conversation with him that you might have had). If we are to believe he is in the top form of his life, as you have make the case lately (on the best of the two Japanese factories, assuming you accept this caveat); then, envisioning himself in 3rd or below in hypothetically given a Lorenzo win (if you mean before the "race", while injured and fresh off a 'routine surgery' or before the 'event'
before he ever dreamed the unlikely and shocking event of a injured Lorenzo) is a bit much for me to accept. That is a strong statement, and to describe it as an "absolutely guarantee" means you must have talked to him and he told you in no uncertain terms his calculations to manage the title. Have you been skypeing with the lad? I'm worried about you Arrabi.
Arrabbiata1
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Perhaps he should have capitalised on Jorge's crash more than he did ...easy to say from the comfort of a recliner, prodding posts on a resident keyboard, when all you have to manage is takin' a piss after a dozen cold beers as opposed to a set of tyres that have gone south and a lack of front and rear feel.
Dani dislikes Assen, in spite of the fact that it is renowned for being a 'riders circuit', but then so is Philip Island and he doesn't go particularly well there either. Jorge's crash was a indeed a God send and because of it, Pedrosa still leads the championship.
Are you suggesting Pedro had bum tires?
"Dani dislikes Assen" Again bro, I'm worried about you, are you cheating on me? He either told you or you have deduced this from his performance there. Of the top of my head, I can't really say I considered Assen a 'bogy' track for Dani (as has been our custom to describe such circuits that riders particularly don't like). So you'll forgive me but I needed to look this up on the GP site for stats. Turns out, Pedro hasn't particularly done bad at Assen. In fact he would have several wins at Assen if it were not for Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo (who he came runner up to on several occasions). I looked up his placements and it turns out he has several 2nd places and podiums (and even when he wasn't on the podium, he was 4th--but maybe that was that horrible uncompetitive Pedrocycle's fault, where 07 he came 4th at Assen (like this weekend) and managed a pitiful 8 podiums, 2 of them wins and several runner-ups, Ha!), which confirms my preconception that he had done all right and not particularly bad in the Netherlands. So what is "particularly well", only wins?
Arrabbiata1
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I keep harping back to 2005 because the Dani of now reminds me of the guile, finesse and a racecraft that earned him three world championships and he knows what it takes to win one. Even Dani's greatest critics would be hard pressed to deny that he's a keenly intelligent rider. Dani has one eye on that championship, far from capitulation, given the vague feeling that overcame the bike a fourth is far preferable to a gymnastics display though the gravel or an excursion into an air fence. As our good friend 'Sir Loin' so astutely pointed out, an unexpected nap on an air fence cost him the 2008 title. I have always maintained that. Pedrosa had to finish in front of Jorge, and given the circumstances he was able to do that. Fleeing Schiphol, Dani won't look back, he'll be looking forward...to Sachsenring, Laguna, Brno, Aragon. Sepang, Motegi and Valencia to name but a few.
Yes, I said as much when he 'took the gloves off' during Q. But to suggest he was playing it safe to stay ahead of a injured Lorenzo is a bit much even for me, given I am the resident Dani disparager. He choked at Asssen. I humbly submit to you again, that is not the same as managing the title. Managing the title is what he did when he played conservative after having enough time to get in another couple of laps in Q. When Dani walked into the garage at Q the commentators had worked out he had enough time to go back out, a warm up and a pole attempting lap, he chose to play it safe and I believe this was the strongest indication he was in title management mode. But 4th in Assen on the best machine on the grid with him at the top form of his life? It doesn't jive my respected and honorable friend. (But I'm a ......., and so its possible I'm missing something...and while I'm at it, I'm not done on the Marc pussy footing around Pedro thing either.)
Arrabbiata1
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It strikes me that the Dani detractors are willing him to .... up..believe me, for many reasons I don't want him to lift that title, but I'd sooner Jorge did it instead on his own merit and fair and square on the track.
Ultimately, who still leads the championship and who is best placed for the circuits ahead? Call that circumstance and I'll cite 15 championships off the top of my head that have been secured thus.
Agree
Arrabbiata1
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Might I add to that there has been much made of Jorge's heroics and justifiably so, but the consequences of such a horrific accident could have been much worse. As Krop points out shoulder and wrist injuries end careers - think Foggy at Phillip Island. <span style="font-size:18px;No mention has been made of Bradley Smith's injuries from Mugello which in addition to a finger which looked as though it has been rammed into a liquidiser, includes a fractured scaphoid which is pinned in two places. The sixth place at the Catalan GP, even in spite of the attrition during the race, will stand as one of the rides of the season.
I take issue with the bold part as I have indeed mentioned it. I went through the trouble of finding two of my posts in which I mentioned it. But for the .... of me I can't find the one I was really looking for. Given I have been a bit of a detractor of Smith's promotion and performance to the top class, I felt compelled to mention he is riding hurt and should be admired for the ballsy performances. (Spies, .... him, bum wing my ass...right, quip not direct at you). The post I was looking for was one where I mentioned Smith's injuries were much more performance hindering than some others, where the more popular riders were getting all the lines in the media for escaping supposedly near death while Bradley was an after thought. I mentioned Smith finished the races in a position that was admirable given the pain and discomfort he must have been in while not throwing it in our face every chance to point out his injury. But anyway I found these two, so it will have to do.
CatalyunaGP:
Congrats to Bradley Smith, even though he was gifted several positions, he is riding injured.
http://powerslide.net/forum/index.php?/topic/15855-motogp-2013-round-06-catalunya-spoilers/?p=353911
MugelloGP pre-race: Those crashes looked scary. Marc looked shaken up but fine, however,
in other news... Bradley's looked
worse as it appeared his hand was stuck under the bike.
http://powerslide.net/forum/index.php?/topic/15829-motogp-2013-round-05-gran-premio-ditalia-spoilers/page-3#entry352567
Lyria
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Moi? I thought we were friends!!
That picture of Bradley Smith's finger made my stomach turn over, so thanks for that!! He did ride incredibly well though, Marquez had a broken finger in Assen as well, I doubt it looked as bad as that one though. If it does and anyone has any pictures, I'll pass thanks!
Why yes. Which should put Dani's performance further into perspective...not to mention Bradley's.
