Pressure, pressure, pressure...

Keshav said:

In this "mudialito of pressure" I'd say Spies would be the least affected.

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Yeah, I think you're right. I suppose I just grouped together the three riders because I thought they were all coming out of contract at the same time, but Spies would have to have a very poor season--we're talking Marco Melandriesque, here--not to be offered a new deal.



Speaking of mudialito, although this is going completely off topic, I think I've finally pinpointed the starting date for it: Aragon. I chose Aragon, because this makes it a three way fight.



Lor Ros Sto

-----------------------------------

13 10 25 Aragon

13 16 25 Motegi

16 25 --- Sepang

20 16 25 Phillip Island

25 20 --- Estoril

-----------------------------------

87 87 75



Right now, before a wheel has turned in practice, and not knowing the weather conditions, I could picture Valencia finishing like this: Stoner 1st, Lorenzo 2nd, Rossi 3rd. That would make the final points tally in this mudialito: Lorenzo 107, Rossi 103, and Stoner 100. Make of that what you will!

Jumkie said:

Great thread again Sun. BTW, I thought Nicky had signed a 2 year contract. That would put him safe until the introduction of the 1000s. At which point his stock may or may not go up.

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As Agile pointed out, my mistake. No wonder no one thinks Hayden will be under any pressure in 2011; he won't be! So much for my early silly season prediction!

J4rn0 said:

I know Lorenzo says he does not care too much about Rossi, that he just concentrates on winning; I wonder if he is aware that he's repeating what Stoner used to say at the beginning of 2008. Same psychological pattern there... I think all these younger champions are actually very much obsessed with beating Rossi, whatever they may say. And that gives Rossi his motivation to go on

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Well, the media certainly promote it that way, since they are the ones always asking questions about Rossi this and Rossi that--I wonder if it's the same journalists asking the same questions as in 2008?--and Rossi has a vested interest (and ego) in playing it up as well. Rossi obviously has the psychological edge when it comes to dicing for position since, I think, only Dovi (twice) and Stoner (twice) of the current riders on the grid have come out on top in battles where the riders have had equal pace. If, going forward, we were to see more close battles (let's hope so!) I'd agree that this obssession with beating Rossi would become much more real, becuase it would be much harder!

Rising Sun said:

It's interesting, isn't it, because as Povol (and J4rno) pointed out there are different kinds of pressure. For the riders, in terms of pressure from their employers, Dovi, Hayden and Spies will be under the microscope the most, since they are all out of contract at the end of the season. But the media drives the pressure talk for the general public, in terms of championship contention--and whoever gets off to a slow start next season you can be sure will cop it. In a forum like this, you'd expect the pressure to reflect the tone of the community--and I thought that would mean Stoner and Lorenzo would be the prime candidates; but that hasn't been reflected in the voting so far!!

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Spies is currently under contract through 2011....but I am sure Yamaha will have no problem signing him for another 2 years so they can get the best possible jump on the 1000cc bike. Yamaha lost Rossi/Burgess who did very well with the 990cc, and Lorenzo has never raced a 1000, so Yamaha will want Spies to help them on this project.



Hayden.....I hope he does even better next year, and them starts to shine again with a 1000cc bike. Rossi, Hayden, Spies and Edwards need a bigger bike to help with their bigger frames against these little jockeys (Pedrosa/Lorenzo) on the 800. I know Rossi took 21 wins 46 podiums and 2 titles on the 800, but he had to ride the bike at the limit for so much longer vs when on the 990.



fun fact....Rossi has 46 MotoGP wins on the Yamaha and 46 podiums on the Yamaha in the 800cc class.

I voted for Pedrosa.



He needs to have a stunning, injury-free season next year to actually challenge for the title.



His former rivals in the lower classes, Stoner and Lorenzo, have both won the Premier Class title ahead of him, so he'll have more to prove, both for himself and for the fans.

A very good thread........



Pressure of some sort on all of them, but I voted Stoner ( I wished otherwise)



Rossi has a massive number of fans with high expectations, but many of them suspect that the Ducati is flawed, and will cut VR some slack until 2012.



Lorenzo has to prove that he is fast without Rossis input into the Yamaha, but he has just won a title and can be expected to relax a bit.



Pedrosa will want to beat the new guy, who is only there because DP has not delivered a title yet. But everybody knows he is short on ultimate talent, or maybe just short.



BUT, Stoner has underachieved for 3 years with the possible excuse of an uncompetitive bike. The current Honda is the fastest bike out there and seems to handle pretty well. Stoner will have no excuses next year, so the most pressure is on him. I just hope he doesn,t read my stuff.

Pressure on Dorna to get more bikes on the grid.. 12 bikes is pathetic

Bunyip said:

Pedrosa will want to beat the new guy, who is only there because DP has not delivered a title yet. But everybody knows he is short on ultimate talent, or maybe just short.

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Que? How so?

xx CURVE xx said:

Pressure on Dorna to get more bikes on the grid.. 12 bikes is pathetic

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i agree with you that the pressure is or should be on dorna the most, and with the earlier post that there is plenty of pressure on ducati.