Thanks, Nicky

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(repsol @ Jul 22 2007, 07:35 PM) [snapback]80753[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
fox coverage was ...., thank god that was the last usa network coverage for this year. yeah speed will show the rest but that's international feed & commentry


I did appreciate the better sound, though. I guess they were able to et better volume on the bikes since it was a feed from this continent. The other races have lower volume on the bike sounds (CBS broadcasts had almost no engine sound!).

It's hard to assign blame to anyone.

Stoner wanted to get in there before anyone else, I didn't think he blew anything. Seemed to get a good start and wanted to make sure he got in there before Hayden came charging around the outside. Smart riding in my eyes. I didn't see him running too particularly wide, an anticipated amount for someone late braking into Andretti.

Hayden came around the outside of everyone and wanted to beat everyone else in there, same case as Stoner. Obviously you are going to run a bit wide but then thried to square up the exit and get a run at Stoner for three. I think a great move as there is a real opportunity to square it up and make up time. Did he close in on Hopper's line? Yeah but I would have a hard time believing it was intentional. As I said, I believe he was trying to square it up.

I commen Hopkins for his riding, he went for a move and it would have worked had Hayden not been squaring up the turn and taken a normal trajectory.

It's a shame really, two guys who I really felt had something for Stoner when push came to shove out so early. But that's racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Austin @ Jul 23 2007, 05:37 AM) [snapback]80764[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>

I commen Hopkins for his riding, he went for a move and it would have worked had Hayden not been squaring up the turn and taken a normal trajectory.

It's a shame really, two guys who I really felt had something for Stoner when push came to shove out so early. But that's racing.


Totally agree...but Suzuki stil had a great day!

IMO both were foolish -


Hopkins - Hot headed all weekend, had an issue in qualifying, this is probably the best position hes ever been in to do well in his home grand prix, he has his team mate ahead of him he will have wanted to make an impact quickly.

Hayden - Lot of pressure terrible season , brother racing, all friends and family watching him, wanted to be up at the front to be competitive.

Both probably didnt have a clue about the other, so many accidents happen on the first lap at the first bend regardless of whether or not stoner missed the apex how many times do riders push other riders wide rossi did it himself at assen. Trying to get say 20 bikes round a bend, 10 of which who all want to lead is bound to cause problems.

It's almost as if Hopper wanted to do to well, he seemed more uptight than usual, it's the same old story, if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Phil

I don't really think we should be too hard on Hayden.

He's not an aggressive rider & would never intentionally set out to 'cause havoc like he did.

I don't even think Hayden saw Hopkins there (although really he shoulda looked at least) but anyway...I've seen worse.

I mean, anyone really think Hayden would wanna have himself & a fellow American outta contention.

It's a real shame for them both though.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Desmosedici65 @ Jul 23 2007, 02:59 PM) [snapback]80833[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I don't really think we should be too hard on Hayden.

He's not an aggressive rider & would never intentionally set out to 'cause havoc like he did.

I don't even think Hayden saw Hopkins there (although really he shoulda looked at least) but anyway...I've seen worse.

I mean, anyone really think Hayden would wanna have himself & a fellow American outta contention.

It's a real shame for them both though.


I don't think anyone ment that Hayden did that intentionally.
I agree with those saying it was a racing incident, but even so I still think he was the main contributor to the incident, but that doesn't really matter, does it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Jul 23 2007, 02:33 PM) [snapback]80848[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I don't think anyone ment that Hayden did that intentionally.
I agree with those saying it was a racing incident, but even so I still think he was the main contributor to the incident, but that doesn't really matter, does it.


Oh yeah without a doubt, he was the main contributor to the incident, it's just, I really hope people don't see this as an oppurtunity to hate Hayden.

I mean, take last year, Sete takes out Capirossi, I should have been fuming, but I hold nothing against Sete & would welcome him back to GP infact if he chose that route.

I guess what I'm rambling on about is that Hayden should not be berated for doing something that happens all the time in racing.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(repsol @ Jul 22 2007, 09:35 PM) [snapback]80753[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
fox coverage was ...., thank god that was the last usa network coverage for this year. yeah speed will show the rest but that's international feed & commentry


Hey Repsol

Don't you watch over motogp.com? I couldn't imagine having to watch it any other way. Are you going to Indy next year?

i get the brit vesion of the race on dvd, sent over. maybe ill have to see what's up at the time of year.

Hayden said, "The main thing is that it damaged my brake cable and as soon as I got going after three laps my brakes just went softer and softer and the adjuster was broken which meant I couldn't take any of the slack out of it."

He hit (got hit by) Hoppers on the left side of his bike. how does this affect the "brake cable" as both front and rear brakes are on the right? Also, do the MotoGP bikes used brake cables? I thought they were hydraulic.

Cable actuated adjuster.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(crvlvr @ Jul 23 2007, 06:47 PM) [snapback]80948[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
He hit (got hit by) Hoppers on the left side of his bike. how does this affect the "brake cable" as both front and rear brakes are on the right?

I would assume the damage happened when Hayden came down after being spat up. His windscreen was completely broken so it appears as though he came down on the controls. Just a guess.

I think it was a racing incident....To think that Hayden was more responsible than Hopkins, I would have to disagree. I am sure Hayden HEARD someone to his inside. Why would he look BEHIND him to see if someone is there? You go where you look. He would be consentrating on turn 3....not looking back at the apex of T2.

Suck that both ended up out of the race.....Chit happens in racing and this is one of those times....

Having actually seen the incident now i have reached the conclusion that it was clearly a racing incident. It reminded me of the resent haga and Biaggi deal, Hooper tried an optimistic and not entirely logical move on the inside, Nicky didn't see him coming. A great shame for both riders!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Jul 24 2007, 07:46 PM) [snapback]81156[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Having actually seen the incident now i have reached the conclusion that it was clearly a racing incident. It reminded me of the resent haga and Biaggi deal, Hooper tried an optimistic and not entirely logical move on the inside, Nicky didn't see him coming. A great shame for both riders!

sounds like your laying the blame on hopper then ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roger-m @ Jul 24 2007, 07:49 PM) [snapback]81157[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
sounds like your laying the blame on hopper then ?


I think its not a case of blame, because its a racing incident and it happens. however if you were to identify the emmidiate cause of the incident, it is unfair to hold the rider in front responsible unless he is taking an erratic line or slowing innapropriately.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Jul 22 2007, 03:07 PM) [snapback]80671[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Regardless of what happened in front Hayden still missed the hairpin by even more. He allmost had to back it it up to get through the turn and should have checked before turnig the bike like that. What he got was totally selfinflicted and I feel sorry for hoppkins. He only did what any racer should and must do, try to pass any he can, just to get Hayden torpedo him form the outside.

But more important:
Congrats to Stoner. A power demonstration, Absolutly fantastic.
Congrats to Vermulen, finally fast on dry.
Congrats to Melandri, for making the podium after yesterdays crash
Cangrats to Rossi, as the best Michelin rider.


Because Hayden had a second row start position last year at Laguna Hayden commented (after the Laguna Race) that his brother Tommy told him to go wide in turn 2 and he will gain positions between turn 2 and 3. He tried to do that this year but Stoner pushed him wide and Hopkins tried to fill the gap and the rest in history.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Jul 22 2007, 03:07 PM) [snapback]80671[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Regardless of what happened in front Hayden still missed the hairpin by even more. He allmost had to back it it up to get through the turn and should have checked before turnig the bike like that. What he got was totally selfinflicted and I feel sorry for hoppkins. He only did what any racer should and must do, try to pass any he can, just to get Hayden torpedo him form the outside.

But more important:
Congrats to Stoner. A power demonstration, Absolutly fantastic.
Congrats to Vermulen, finally fast on dry.
Congrats to Melandri, for making the podium after yesterdays crash
Cangrats to Rossi, as the best Michelin rider.


Oh, BTW, in my opinion Stoner pushed Hayden wide on purpose knowing that Hayden was going to gain second place between turns 2 and 3. But what does it really matter anyway, we all know that Hayden would have faded anyway b/c of those damn Michelins.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Franco Fangio @ Jul 22 2007, 03:20 PM) [snapback]80676[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I didnt see the race, just got home, and couldnt tape it, can someone please tell me what happened to Nicky??????


Nicky's start position on the grid was second row (just like last year at Laguna). And just like last year he was going to go wide into turn 2 (as his brother, Tommy suggested to Nicky the year before.......and it worked). Anyhow, he went wide into turn 2 and he was going to gain second position from Stoner, and behind Pedrosa coming out of turn two. In my opinion, two things are possible. 1) Either Stoner went into the turn too hot and pushed Hayden too wide or 2) Stoner saw that Hayden might take position and pushed him wide. Then Stoner tightened back to the inside of the corner but it took a second for Hayden to tighten back up to the inside of the corner after being pushed wide, therefore there was a gap created between Stoner and Hayden which Hopkins tried to fill. Hayden couldn't see Hopkins (to his left) so he turned into the corner, subsequently running into Hopkins. Hopkins crashed, Hayden continued in last place. He gained a few positions and then retired in lap 22 (I believe) due to mechanical difficulties.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nicky_lover @ Jul 25 2007, 02:48 AM) [snapback]81209[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Because Hayden had a second row start position last year at Laguna Hayden commented (after the Laguna Race) that his brother Tommy told him to go wide in turn 2 and he will gain positions between turn 2 and 3. He tried to do that this year but Stoner pushed him wide and Hopkins tried to fill the gap and the rest in history.

Maybe my first words on the matter was a bit harsh, but it must be seen in the light of what I was responding to and what was written about Hopper and how he was the one to blame.
I truly think it was a racing incident and no one is really to blame and I do not hold this against Nicky. I was sad that they both got disabled by the incident.