So what are Hayden's chances?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 15 2008, 11:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>What do you think are Nicky's chances?

Nil I'm afraid. Don't wish to be cruel to Nicky. But too much working against him and too much competition. I honestly don't see him getting in front of Stoner or Rossi or even Pedrosa on his current package.

I can't believe I'm going to say this, It is sad to see HRC struggle.

It's not Valetino,Casey, Ducati, Nicky or even Dani, Hondas fault I believe they put all of their eggs into one basket(motoGP) and it is hurting the big picture for them. To many important people are focusing into one spot. I can't even imagine the pressure team Repsol is under.

All I can say is keep at it Nicky!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Feb 16 2008, 04:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yes, you're right. Those were special circumstances.

As far as I know he is the only development rider to ever win the title.

When are you gonna realize the list of things he had to overcome was so long, he wasn't going to win it without a little help.

Funny, when others, like Rossi gets the new parts he is the perferred rider getting all the good stuff, when Nicky gets them he's a low ranked test rider, right?
Hayden '06 bike were as much a development bike as any top factory rider gets. They get the new bits first, for better or worse, there are no such thing as a low priority test rider in factory teams, what those guys get are what the factory hope is the best out there, nothing less, nothing more.
But, it was his bike alone, with no one else to interfere, and that made it good enough to win the CS.

You keep on bitching about wrong bike, tires and engine, but how bad is it really?
The engine was on par with Ducati's last year and the revised spring valved version this year should be a mile ahead of what yamaha were at the beginning of last season. As for the the rest of the bike it looks like an old problem comming back:
Honda lack a guy that is clearly in front of the others, a guy that is able to give them the input too further develop the bike. It has had front end problems now for how many years?
Reminds me of Honda in 2000 and Yamaha < 2004, not to mention Ducati < '07.
IMHO the bike is good enough, allthough it lack the right persons to set the dammned thing up for championship contenders and like it or not but the problem shows more clearly with Hayden than Pedrosa. The satelite teams are doing reasonably well on lesser equipment and support, but the results for the factory team doesn't shine. The team is the problem, and with that I don't mean Puig, he's a too small part in a whole that dosen't work right.

http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_new...3&section=1


i think hayden is going to surprise you all

this coming from someone that used to hate hayden. however his heart is so into this sport that its almost impossible for me not to root for him. all things considered, 2008 is a season that is not catering to him very well at all but i truly expect him to come out on top.

rossi also has my support. honestly as long as pedrosa has a miserable season i am happy

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Feb 16 2008, 03:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Funny, when others, like Rossi gets the new parts he is the perferred rider getting all the good stuff, when Nicky gets them he's a low ranked test rider, right?
Hayden '06 bike were as much a development bike as any top factory rider gets. They get the new bits first, for better or worse, there are no such thing as a low priority test rider in factory teams, what those guys get are what the factory hope is the best out there, nothing less, nothing more.
But, it was his bike alone, with no one else to interfere, and that made it good enough to win the CS.

We need an emoticon with face sporting a pair of huge yellow spectacles.

There is a big difference between having the parts you asked for delivered, and having the parts you didn't ask for delivered.

Look at the end of Rossi's 2007. That's what happens when you put a hyper-talented high maintenance legend on testing duty. 1 win, 1 podium, lots of bitching, and an injury for nine rounds worth of work.

But that was the bike's fault right?

Case closed. Hayden is a trooper. His legacy should be of someone who works for and deserves every little bit of success he has.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Feb 17 2008, 03:55 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> We need an emoticon with face sporting a pair of huge yellow spectacles.

There is a big difference between having the parts you asked for delivered, and having the parts you didn't ask for delivered.

Look at the end of Rossi's 2007. That's what happens when you put a hyper-talented high maintenance legend on testing duty. 1 win, 1 podium, lots of bitching, and an injury for nine rounds worth of work.

But that was the bike's fault right?

Case closed. Hayden is a trooper. His legacy should be of someone who works for and deserves every little bit of success he has.
I think it is easier to argue there were "unusual circumstances" in 2007 than in 2006. Even if nicky eventually proves to have only got it all together for that one year, the fact of the matter is that he did so for that year. That is the way things go for some sportsmen. His championship does not make him as good as rossi, but is still a considerable achievement.

As far as I know he didn't cheat . He didn't crash in the last race with the championship on the line. It wasn't a year with a new engine formula or a new tyre rule. He possibly could have won more races including the last race of the season if he really had needed to. He probably didn't have the best bike; I suspect the factory ducatis and pedrosa's bike were better at least some of the time. He also must have been fairly prominent among the riders rossi considered he could beat on inferior machinery when he made his decision to move to yamaha to prove his philosophical point, so you can't then turn around and complain his bike was better than the yamaha. More power to nicky I say.

Don't really have any expectations of Nicky. I'd like to see him leave next year for a ride elsewhere. I suspect Kawasaki will be the only factory team with an open slot, Tech 3 could be an option when Edwards doesn't finish 1-2 with Toseland.

I'd like to get an idea of what he can do on something else. If he sticks with Honda, Stoner and Rossi have his measure comfortably.

Despite not being a true nikki fan I do like the guy and wish him well but unless honda make changes to their priorities he will not be world champ again and I think he might be looking for a ride next season.

That being said I have a lot of respect for the guy as he is not publicaly complaining like his short team mate.....