Joined Aug 2009
1K Posts | 328+
Vancouver
Pedrosa out.... Aoyama in
- Thread starter shovelhead
- Start date
I'd rather see Pedrosa race (that is a statement not often heard) which says a lot about his replacement.
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Aoyama won't really be racing. He's basically riding the bike in a "race simulation" to gather data for Honda. That he hasn't had great success as a MGP rider isn't a crime. Not all riders are suited to it. Don't discount the great stuff he did as a 250 rider; he was a flat out, balls-to-the-wall rider. He should have won both the last two seasons. He would have if Simoncelli hadn't been such a dangerous ....... of a rider. I know it's not a popular opinion - but Simoncelli didn't deserve the one championship he did win. He constantly pushed riders off the track and injured people and if he'd not benefited from so much favoritism by officials who turned a blind eye to ........ he pulled - he'd never have taken that one championship. Aoyama on the other hand - was a clean, ethical rider and won on a non-competitive bike that hadn't any real improvements from Honda for the last two years he rode.
Joined Oct 2008
6K Posts | 5K+
In Cider
I'd love to see an exciting wildcard on that bike, but does such a thing exist these days? The bike's are so complex, certainly electronically, that I think very few 'rookies' could hop on that bike and have it somewhere near the pointy end. Sad really.
Joined Oct 2007
4K Posts | 744+
Tuscany, Italy
You are free to dislike Simoncelli, and yes he was an impulsive guy, but there is no doubt he was a great rider: he was always handicapped by his weight and size (notwithstanding, he was able to beat great riders even in 125, including a certain Stoner...).
The Spanish were worried about him, but more because of his speed than because of his track behavior. Barbera was certainy worse than him, and even a certain Lorenzo when younger wasn't better... They used that pretext to try to stop him somehow.
Saying he didn't deserve his title is nonsense... And where are "all the riders" that he is supposed to have injured? The one time he seriosly misbehaved, Mugello 2008, Barbera (who had provoked him consistently in the previous laps) got off fortunately unscathed. Pedrosa broke his collarbone after colliding with him in 2011, in what was a racing incident like many that happen; and that's about it.
In MotoGP his weight was less of a handicap and he was close to the factory guys, even beating Stoner for the pole once. We have not seen a private Honda fighting with the HRC machines again, after him; Bautista took his bike but was never able to replicate his performance on it.
Joined Aug 2009
1K Posts | 328+
Vancouver
On a different note , the word in the paddock is that repsol honda has filed a protest against ducati regarding the winglets.
They say that they are not conforming to the rules and if honda wins their protest, qatar
results will be adjusted
UPDATE.... I've been fooled as many in the paddock. No protest.
They say that they are not conforming to the rules and if honda wins their protest, qatar
results will be adjusted
UPDATE.... I've been fooled as many in the paddock. No protest.
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Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Agree to disagree. His ability to be fast in the 250 class was largely due to his recklessness (which you spin as "impulsiveness") which resulted in far too many collisions with other riders. You say the Spanish tried to stop him because of this speed and were especially prejudicial towards him because he was Italian - yet I don't recall Rossi being singled out for similar behavior. Both were big crowd favorites and both were treated with kid gloves when they behaved in an unethical manner on the track. He also had the best kit when it came to Aprilia who wanted an Italian star on their bike. Regarding his natural abilities when it came to matching track times with the full factory bikes - it should be pointed out, that he crashed constantly in that class - because he was so "impulsive".
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
Doubt that will happen. Petty sure Ducati has had the wings before in previous seasons and they were not an issue then.
Joined Oct 2007
4K Posts | 744+
Tuscany, Italy
Bad memory, Kesh -- Rossi was criticized a lot by the Spanish (and others), shall we mention one for all: the row about the famous last corner pass on Gibernau at Jerez, the one that was replicated by Marquez on Lorenzo? It's an old rivalry between Italy and Spain and we know it well. Sic was a target in that battle.
He was not a favorite of Aprilia. In 2007 and first half of 2008, Aprilia refused to give him the factory kit, which he received only at Sachsenring: until then he was racing the old LE type. They were kind of forced because of his good results, and he rewarded them with a world title. At Sachsenring, finally on the RSA, Simoncelli won with 10 seconds advantage on Kallio. Without pushing.
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Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
When you said "the Spanish" I took you to mean Dorna. That the Spanish spectators were unhappy with Rossi goes without saying.
Joined Oct 2007
4K Posts | 744+
Tuscany, Italy
All right, let's call them properly "the Spaniards"
I actually love Spain, if only they could give us Marquez I'd be happy... by the way, another pushy rider, uh? But fast...
Joined Aug 2007
11K Posts | 3K+
Pomona NY
All right, let's call them properly "the Spaniards"
I actually love Spain, if only they could give us Marquez I'd be happy... by the way, another pushy rider, uh? But fast...
I wasn't nitpicking about your use of the word Spanish.
Just saying I made the wrong association. MM is talented
for sure. Can't say I was fond of his tactics in Moto 2 days
but thought he was done with that kind of stuff until he
damaged Bautista's bike at Qatar whilst trying to win the
championship at the first race. The kid is amazing.
And yes - I love Spain. I was in Barcelona and Madrid last February.
Had an amazing time.
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Joined Oct 2007
4K Posts | 744+
Tuscany, Italy
It seems that Honda's covert policy is to give Crutchlow a de facto full-factory bike while still keeping him in his LCR team. LCR received significant upgrades since Pedrosa's operation and Cal's performance has shown an immediate boost.
Smart move on Honda's part, I must say. Crutchlow is already eating at Ducati's points.
Still, Cal isn't Casey.
Smart move on Honda's part, I must say. Crutchlow is already eating at Ducati's points.
Still, Cal isn't Casey.
Joined Apr 2015
1K Posts | 731+
neptune
Joined Apr 2015
6K Posts | 5K+
NJ
Hopefully not well!
Anything that might give us another shot of seeing Stoner on a bike, I root for.
Joined Apr 2015
1K Posts | 731+
neptune
Joined Sep 2007
2K Posts | 60+
here
Agree with the desire to see Stoner throw his leg over a GP bike, esp with MM in the field, but can't help feeling that your sentiment is a little hard on Pedrosa. He is the new Mamola, but...
