That hayseed has to be the most underwhelm and undeserving champion in MotoGP history. For the type of machinery he rode his total results were a joke.
C'mon Talps, that's a ridiculous post - particularly given the utter farce that was 2002. Saying that, there are no 'undeserving' champions (well, maybe with the exception of 2001, 2002 and 2009). A degree of providence, perhaps, and Luccchinelli for one wasn't christened 'lucky' for nothing. Hayden won that championship through consistency on the EVO RCV saddled throughout with testing internals destined for the Pedrocycle. Nonetheless, it was a great motorcycle - (we can debate the technical details if you wish) -although the plan, or should I say, expectation, was for Pedrosa to secure the championship in his maiden year and the skewed support at HRC was very reflective of that.
Vale arrived at Valencia leading Nicky by eight points, the championship was his to lose remember. To Nick, the chips were down and as his leathers read - 'all in'. Sure, Rossi's season had been dogged by ill fate and bad luck, including a wrong direction in chassis development by Yamaha and several tyre failures which raised wry smiles amongst the satellite riders who were often hampered by the lottery of different spec tyres over a weekend or a mismatch combination of different spec rubber. Interestingly, it is your mate Casey who suspects that Valentino may have been dealt a bad hand. His relationship with Michelin was ailing and Stoner claims that the moment the flag dropped you could see that Rossi was in the ..... Something similar happened after the Materazzi stunt remember? Anyhow, Rossi had taken pole and had been fastest in all sessions, where Nicky languished fifth on the grid. The odds were seemingly stacked against him. Stoner believes Rossi was given a dud tyre. As one of six riders to pass him on the first lap he believes the bike was badly out of balance. From a riders perspective it was clear that the rear and front were not working together and the Rossi inexplicably low sided behind Stoner. Stoner famously opined after watching it back 'welcome to our world'.
Speaking of watching it back Talpa, I urge you to find some of Nicky's rides that season and watch again, impartially and without prejudice because frankly your post is a tad rich given your sensitivities about Valentino and the amount of accusations you make about alleged 'haters' on here.
Impeccable English? Not in my personal experience nor from the videos.
Then our experiences clearly differ.
What? Wait. So the Internet wasn't invented by MT1960 AKA KiddyK?
Careful, you'll upset Mike.
Really baffles me how he still will be around for one more year on the Marc VDS.
Apparently the team have repeatedly told him that the data shows he's running in too hot to corners, hence the amount of low sides. He never bonded with the 2015 Kalex and his title defence was appalling as a result. Since coming up he's seemingly simply not adapted his style. It's a great shame, particularly given his tireless work ethic.
