It's early but I'm glad to see Kallio and Hayden doing decent times. Hope it bodes well for 2009.
Joined Feb 2007
11K Posts | 2K+
Tennessee
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Nov 28 2008, 05:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I actually don't have a problem with there being only 3 frontrunners (admittedly I don't have much of a problem with there being only one as long as it is casey). If they are fairly evenly matched, don't suffer injuries and the championship is well in play till late in the season this would be closer than most seasons for the last 20 years or so when only one winner has seemed likely from quite early in the season. In the history of gp racing in how many seasons would there have been large numbers of riders of a quality sufficient to challenge the likes of valentino rossi anyway?
I hear ya,when was the last time we even had 3 guys at the front with a shot at the title with 3 races to go.Im not talking about a mathematical chance,real world,ive got to finish ahead of this guy stuff,not,if he has 3 straight DNF's and i win them all crap.Even WSBK was anticlimatic this year and there was like 7 different winners.Bike racing in general just doesnt lend itself to tight points finishes.Never really has.Sure,ever once in a while a set of circumstances arises and you get exciting down to the wire racing but not often.One of the best if not the best, head to head, all out racing finishes was Edwards and Bayliss.Not a lot since then in any series.2006 had Drama but it wasnt head to head,it was circumstances.
I hear ya,when was the last time we even had 3 guys at the front with a shot at the title with 3 races to go.Im not talking about a mathematical chance,real world,ive got to finish ahead of this guy stuff,not,if he has 3 straight DNF's and i win them all crap.Even WSBK was anticlimatic this year and there was like 7 different winners.Bike racing in general just doesnt lend itself to tight points finishes.Never really has.Sure,ever once in a while a set of circumstances arises and you get exciting down to the wire racing but not often.One of the best if not the best, head to head, all out racing finishes was Edwards and Bayliss.Not a lot since then in any series.2006 had Drama but it wasnt head to head,it was circumstances.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sally @ Nov 28 2008, 02:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>However, I am taking <u>Lexicon's</u><span style="color:#FAFCFE. attitude towards Nicky and applying it to the 2009 season. Let's be incredibly pessimistic, so it can only get <strike>better</strike> worse. <span style="color:#FAFCFEThe Transcontinental Congress was the beginning, now it's moved out of the basement, it's called Project Mayhem
It's hopeless, Sally.
It's hopeless, Sally.
JT nice and close to the pace of the also rans (anyone not named Rossi, Stoner or Pedrosa). Good to see he's adapting well.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Nov 28 2008, 09:48 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I read that he did ride it
I did too,after i posted ,somewhere.Sorry.
I did too,after i posted ,somewhere.Sorry.
I wouldn't look too much into that 1 second gap yet. The other guys will have it easier to get that gap down than those 2 (or 3) to get it bigger.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Nov 28 2008, 11:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I wouldn't look too much into that 1 second gap yet. The other guys will have it easier to get that gap down than those 2 (or 3) to get it bigger.
It better be easier, beacuse I can't see any reason why they should even care about rest until they are a couple of tenth's behind at most. Until then they can consentrate on beating each others, and increasing the gap to the rest is the least of their worries.
However, it does worrie me. The key to close racing is 4-5 guys really fighting at the top level becuase a couple of them are usually droping off the pace at race day for one or the other reason. That leaves 2-3 actually racing each others, and an occational "wild-card" that got it absolutly perfect that time. With a second or more in general difference, even the "perfect day" won't help those runner ups so even on a bad day these guys will easily pick up the last podium spot and fight off any competition. With only three of them we will more often then not have one or two riders going away. Often without an internal fight, just the endless train. That's what we had this year and that's not what we want for next year.
I would like it if Hayden/Kallio, Lorenzo and Dovizioso all could step up to that top level end fight it out with Rossi, Stoner and Pedrosa. With more riders it's bound to be more action. Style and bike set up will force different paces during the race and thereby som real action.
It better be easier, beacuse I can't see any reason why they should even care about rest until they are a couple of tenth's behind at most. Until then they can consentrate on beating each others, and increasing the gap to the rest is the least of their worries.
However, it does worrie me. The key to close racing is 4-5 guys really fighting at the top level becuase a couple of them are usually droping off the pace at race day for one or the other reason. That leaves 2-3 actually racing each others, and an occational "wild-card" that got it absolutly perfect that time. With a second or more in general difference, even the "perfect day" won't help those runner ups so even on a bad day these guys will easily pick up the last podium spot and fight off any competition. With only three of them we will more often then not have one or two riders going away. Often without an internal fight, just the endless train. That's what we had this year and that's not what we want for next year.
I would like it if Hayden/Kallio, Lorenzo and Dovizioso all could step up to that top level end fight it out with Rossi, Stoner and Pedrosa. With more riders it's bound to be more action. Style and bike set up will force different paces during the race and thereby som real action.
Joined Jul 2008
2K Posts | 14+
Tweed Valley Australia
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (povol @ Nov 29 2008, 01:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Sure,ever once in a while a set of circumstances arises and you get exciting down to the wire racing but not often.One of the best if not the best, head to head, all out racing finishes was Edwards and Bayliss.Not a lot since then in any series.2006 had Drama but it wasnt head to head,it was circumstances.
Amen brother - but IF (and I love that meaningless hypothetical) Xaus hadn't put Bayliss up the wall at wherever it was then it would have been a little different. Bayliss won 11 races to that point. After that he slowed right down and racing came on the back of a slump in form for the dominant guy
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Nov 29 2008, 04:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It's hopeless, Sally.
I'm not going to disturb your peasant luck speak bad hope good thing Lex BUT Casey didn't top the timtsheets on the Duc until testing in February (In 2007 that was P.I and home track). All the end of season 2006 testing was slower than Loris.
He was running basically top 7 at the preseason tests until FEBRUARY.
Nicki is following the template, getting a feel, improving, and he is already seconds quicker than Marco ever was on the bike.
Amen brother - but IF (and I love that meaningless hypothetical) Xaus hadn't put Bayliss up the wall at wherever it was then it would have been a little different. Bayliss won 11 races to that point. After that he slowed right down and racing came on the back of a slump in form for the dominant guy
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Nov 29 2008, 04:00 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It's hopeless, Sally.
I'm not going to disturb your peasant luck speak bad hope good thing Lex BUT Casey didn't top the timtsheets on the Duc until testing in February (In 2007 that was P.I and home track). All the end of season 2006 testing was slower than Loris.
He was running basically top 7 at the preseason tests until FEBRUARY.
Nicki is following the template, getting a feel, improving, and he is already seconds quicker than Marco ever was on the bike.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Sally @ Nov 28 2008, 10:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>However, I am taking Lexicon's attitude towards Nicky and applying it to the 2009 season. Let's be incredibly pessimistic, so it can only get better.
that has got to be one of the most dark and depressing ways to live. to have "fullness" of life, you need to experience both side of it, ie joy and sadness, not just perpetual sadness, or joy.
that'll be £100 next?
that has got to be one of the most dark and depressing ways to live. to have "fullness" of life, you need to experience both side of it, ie joy and sadness, not just perpetual sadness, or joy.
that'll be £100 next?
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BigAl @ Nov 29 2008, 12:57 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>that has got to be one of the most dark and depressing ways to live. to have "fullness" of life, you need to experience both side of it, ie joy and sadness, not just perpetual sadness, or joy.
that'll be £100 next?
Sorry mate, I'd rather spent my 100 quid on new high-heeled boots especially as I know it works: I applied it to F1 this season as F1 has been pretty boring in terms of racing for a right few years now. And got rewarded with the most nail biting of championship finishes ever.
that'll be £100 next?
Sorry mate, I'd rather spent my 100 quid on new high-heeled boots especially as I know it works: I applied it to F1 this season as F1 has been pretty boring in terms of racing for a right few years now. And got rewarded with the most nail biting of championship finishes ever.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Nov 28 2008, 06:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Valentino and Pedrosa are on another planet. If these two and Stoner keep this up it's going to be a boring year
How does having three front runners make it a boring year?
How does having three front runners make it a boring year?
Joined Mar 2005
7K Posts | 20+
Woody Creek
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (pacman @ Nov 29 2008, 07:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>How does having three front runners make it a boring year?
Because when the leaders have a second in hand over the entire field it greatly diminishes the chances of anyone else nabbing a win barring some sort of catastrophe. Sure, it's possible that Valentino, Pedrosa and Stoner could have some great battles but 2008 didn't lend much help to that theory. Obviously you are always going to have guys consistently pacing quicker than the field but I enjoy watching the likes of Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Hayden get up there and shake it up.
Because when the leaders have a second in hand over the entire field it greatly diminishes the chances of anyone else nabbing a win barring some sort of catastrophe. Sure, it's possible that Valentino, Pedrosa and Stoner could have some great battles but 2008 didn't lend much help to that theory. Obviously you are always going to have guys consistently pacing quicker than the field but I enjoy watching the likes of Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Hayden get up there and shake it up.
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Nov 30 2008, 06:38 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Because when the leaders have a second in hand over the entire field it greatly diminishes the chances of anyone else nabbing a win barring some sort of catastrophe. Sure, it's possible that Valentino, Pedrosa and Stoner could have some great battles but 2008 didn't lend much help to that theory. Obviously you are always going to have guys consistently pacing quicker than the field but I enjoy watching the likes of Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Hayden get up there and shake it up.
I will have similar sentiments if there are only 3 frontrunners and stoner is not one of them. However, I would not be giving up on lorenzo yet (barring team orders/restrictions on new developments) or hayden (with a similar caveat).
I still do think it is a forlorn hope whatever the regulations for there to be large numbers of riders closely competitive with rossi.
I will have similar sentiments if there are only 3 frontrunners and stoner is not one of them. However, I would not be giving up on lorenzo yet (barring team orders/restrictions on new developments) or hayden (with a similar caveat).
I still do think it is a forlorn hope whatever the regulations for there to be large numbers of riders closely competitive with rossi.
