Top 10 MotoGP Riders - #10 is Haystack

Crash.net's Top 10 MotoGP Riders - Number 10

countdown to number one.

Nicky Hayden's first year with Ducati may not have been perfect, but his gradual improvements over the season are rewarded with a top ten place in your vote to find the top rider from the 2009 MotoGP season
After a career spent pedalling Hondas in various classes, most notably his MotoGP World Championship title win in 2006, Nicky Hayden embarked on a change of scenery for 2009 – with mixed results.

Taking on the bike that Marco Melandri couldn't wait to hand over after a dismal single season on the Desmosedici, Hayden had high hopes of replicating some of the form that took him to title victory, but the reality proved somewhat different.

Despite some promising noises in testing, Hayden endured a difficult start to the season, getting mired outside the top ten for the first few rounds.

In his defence, Melandri's stellar performances on the unfancied Hayate went some way to suggest Hayden's issues were down to a similar incompatibility with the Desmosedici. Nonetheless, with Casey Stoner up at the front, Hayden needed to at least get closer to his team-mate.

Hayden plundered on and the results slowly began to pick up as the year wore on, posting a top ten finish in Barcelona, before popping into the top five at his home round at Laguna Seca.

Inspiration on home soil was also the motivation behind his one and only podium of the season at Indianapolis as Hayden finished a fine third, the American also enjoying his status as lead rider following Stoner's absence through illness.

Top five results in the final two rounds lifted Hayden's spirits further, but it wasn't enough to see him end the season higher than 13th in the standings.

Nonetheless, by voting Hayden three positions higher in your end of season vote, you have recognised that he finished just 11 points off seventh overall, a position he would have likely achieved had he not been innocently involved in three first lap incidents.

It means Hayden, who has been re-signed by Ducati for another year, can go into the off-season with something to build on - even if he knows he will have no excuses in 2010 if he doesn't…

Statistics:

Team: Ducati Marlboro
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP9

Championship position: 13th
Points: 104

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 0
Podiums: 1
Best results 3rd
Points finishes: 15

link

Nicki showed heart and what could be given the rather anodyne description of "work ethic".

He just didn't give up.

He is top 10 material and when the 1000cc bikes are back he'll nail it.

Number 9 Capirex
While the 2009 season didn't yield that long-awaited 100th grand prix podium, Loris Capirossi is still worthy of ninth in your MotoGP vote
Thinking back to February when the countdown to the 2009 MotoGP season began in earnest with a test at the Sepang, big things were expected of Loris Capirossi and Rizla Suzuki.

Indeed, at the time, Capirossi was showing tentative signs of being a consistent front runner in 2009, challenging Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner for the honour of topping the timesheets in Malaysia, raising hopes that Suzuki could finally get on terms with its Yamaha, Ducati and Honda rivals – even Capirossi was predicting wins…

Roll on nine months and the reality was somewhat different. No wins - not even a podium – had come Capirossi or Suzuki's way during the 2009 season as they battled indifferent form that, by the season's end, had dipped markedly.

Of Suzuki's two riders, Capirossi enjoyed the better results, occasionally bridging the gap between the 'big four' of Rossi, Lorenzo, Stoner and Pedrosa, but more often that not finding himself on a factory bike surrounded by satellite machines.

Nonetheless, at his best, Capirossi showed there was a fast bike beneath him, the Italian veteran managing fifth place on four occasions and even finishing just three seconds behind the winner at Mugello.

However, that 100th grand prix podium was never forthcoming, while a trio of poor results at the end of the year – coupled to three DNFs over the season – conspired to leave him ninth in the standings, exactly where you place him in your vote here.

Even so, Capirossi remains where he is for 2010, where he will no doubt be kept on his toes by newcomer Alvaro Bautista. With Suzuki visibly stung by its disappointing showing in 2009 – particularly after such a good run in testing -, such promises will need to be fulfilled next year…

Statistics:

Team: Rizla Suzuki
Bike: Suzuki GSV-R

Championship position: 9th
Points: 110

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 0
Podiums: 0
Best results 5th (x4)
Points finishes: 14

Top Ten MotoGP Riders - 8th Toni Elias

He may not have a MotoGP ride for 2010, but Toni Elias at least found favour with Crash.net readers by being voted your eighth top rider for 2009
Is the 2009 MotoGP season destined to be Toni Elias' last?

Well he certainly won't be on the grid in 2010 for the first time since 2004 after being ousted from his ride at San Carlo Gresini Honda, despite finishing as the second highest satellite rider in seventh position overall.

In fact, Elias' 2009 season was his best on record in terms of his overall finish, even if his sole podium at Brno was less than he last managed at Gresini Racing back in 2007 and at Pramac Racing the season before.

Consistency was Elias' strength by the season's close, the Spaniard putting an indifferent start to the year behind him to finish inside the top ten in nine of the final ten races. Enabling him to climb his way up the order to eventually prevail in a seven-way tussle for seventh in the standings, it wasn't enough to help Elias from landing another ride after Gresini showed its 2010 hand early on.

Part of this may have been down to Elias not making the most of his Honda RC212V, which was of a higher specification than that of team-mate Alex de Angelis, who finished just four points behind in eighth overall.

Still, with Gresini not willing to pass up the opportunity of snaring Marco Melandri and Marco Simoncelli for 2010, Elias has been forced to make way.

Nonetheless, he will remain in the grand prix paddock in 2010 after confirming he has landed a ride in the new Moto2 series. An enforced relegation it might be, but a good performance there – coupled to what remains a respectable record at MotoGP level – could well see him back in the top flight sooner rather than later.

Statistics:

Team: San Carlo Honda Gresini
Bike: Honda RC212V

Championship position: 7th
Points: 115

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 0
Podiums: 1
Best results 3rd (Brno)
Points finishes: 15



Top 10 MotoGP Riders - 7th DOVI
In the year that he became a MotoGP race winner, you vote Repsol Honda's Andrea Dovizioso as your seventh top MotoGP rider for 2009
Whether you consider Andrea Dovizioso's sophomore season in the top flight a success depends on which headlines you read.

On the one hand, the Italian became a MotoGP race winner with victory in the wet at Donington Park, he finished inside the top five on nine occasions and his 2009 points tally was higher than that of predecessor Nicky Hayden's in 2008 - albeit aided by the American's injury woes.

However, considered from another angle, Dovizioso's victory was his one and only podium, he finished outside the top five in the overall standings and his 2009 points tally was lower than he managed in 2008 aboard the satellite JiR Team Scot Honda.

Rewarded for his mighty efforts on the privateer Honda RC212V in 2008 with a chance to join the factory Repsol outfit, Dovizioso was tipped to get on terms with team-mate Dani Pedrosa in 2009, but found it difficult to get comfortable on the bike.

In his defence, Dovizioso's score sheet is a fairly positive one, his race results (including six fourth place finishes) proving nothing if not consistent. Trouble is, Dovizioso often found himself as the bridge between the big four of Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa and Stoner, without ever really getting on terms with them.

Donington Park aside, when treacherous weather conditions fortuned the brave more than anything else, Dovizioso was unable to climb onto the podium at any other stage in the season.

Furthermore, a disappointing end to the year would see him suffer the indignity of being edged by Tech 3 Yamaha's Colin Edwards in the standings, the American exerting revenge for having been beaten by Dovizioso to British Grand Prix glory.

A busy winter of testing beckons now for Dovizioso, where he will look to get back on terms with the front runners. Recognising he needs to up his game in 2010, Dovizioso will certainly have something to prove.

Statistics:

Team: Repsol Honda Team
Bike: Honda RC212V

Championship position: 6th
Points: 160

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 1
Podiums: 1
Best results: 1st (Donington Park)
Points finishes: 13

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2008: 4th

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2009:

8 - Toni Elias
9 - Loris Capirossi
10 - Nicky Hayden

Capirossi should be a bit higher imo. but it seems fair enough so far.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Dec 16 2009, 06:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Capirossi should be a bit higher imo. but it seems fair enough so far.
Agree, he's always underestimated.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Dec 17 2009, 01:29 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Capirossi should be a bit higher imo. but it seems fair enough so far.


Hard to rate anyone (in motogp) properly when they are on a Suzuki

Top 10 MotoGP Riders - 6th MARCO

Marco Melandri's reputation soars in 2009 as he shows Kawasaki what could have been by turning Hayate Racing into competitive podium winners
Hayate Racing (née Kawasaki) and Marco Melandri were full of surprises in 2009.

From the shock announcement that the manufacturer was pulling out of the series, to the revelation it would make a tentative return as a slimmed down operation under a different banner, this was a story that ran throughout the off-season.

However, the biggest surprise wasn't that Hayate made it onto the grid. No, the biggest surprise was that it was present and it was competitive…

The turmoil surrounding Kawasaki's withdrawal attracted plenty of column inches, not least because the rumours surfaced just days after the team gave its 2009 machine its first outing and after Kawasaki had put in a considerable amount of effort acquiring the services of Melandri and John Hopkins.

With the manufacturer's demise prompting some furrowed brows at Dorna as it faced the prospect of a dwindling grid, Hayate would eventually emerge from the ashes with a single bike for Melandri. There was no room for Hopkins.

Following a desperately disappointing single season with the factory Ducati team, the uncertainty around the competitiveness of the largely untouched ZX-RR (a bike that wasn't particularly quick in 2008) meant little was expected of the Melandri-Hayate pairing.

It didn't take long for the Italian to prove why he is a race winner at MotoGP level though, Melandri thriving in his status as underdog to quickly establish Hayate as the mid-field contenders Kawasaki had rarely been.

Top six finishes at Motegi and Jerez caused ripples in the paddock before Melandri used his experience in difficult conditions at Le Mans to take a shock second place finish.

However, with the development process on the bike slowing down, Melandri wouldn't get close to replicating that feat again as his and Hayate's form became inconsistent as the season wore.

Despite this, Melandri remained well in the fight for seventh in the overall standings until the final round, when he was eventually forced to settle for tenth.

With Kawasaki electing not to change its MotoGP policy, Hayate's endeavour is destined to end after a single season, but Melandri reputation is enjoying a much-needed revival. A ride at Gresini Honda duly awaits where Melandri will look to build on the respect he has gained in reminding Kawasaki what it could have achieved if it had stuck around ust a little bit longer…

Statistics:

Team: Hayate Racing Team
Bike: Kawasaki ZX-RR

Championship position: 10th
Points: 108

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 0
Podiums: 1
Best results: 2nd (Le Mans)
Points finishes: 14

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2008: N/A

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2009:

7 - Andrea Dovizioso
8 - Toni Elias
9 - Loris Capirossi
10 - Nicky Hayden

Top 10 MotoGP Riders: 5th PEDDLER

While it wasn't quite the title challenge both he and Repsol Honda had targeted, Dani Pedrosa overcame injury in 2009 to add two more wins to his growing tally
As the man once touted to take the fight to Valentino Rossi, Dani Pedrosa's thunder has been stolen somewhat in recent seasons by the likes of Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo as they continue to make a convincing pitch for the role of 'pretender to the throne'.

It was a similar story in 2009, Pedrosa getting slightly overshadowed as the attention focused in on Rossi versus Lorenzo, even if by the season's end he was beginning to regularly get on terms with his rivals.

For the most part, Pedrosa enjoyed a good season on the Repsol Honda, particularly given he spent the majority of the pre-season recovering from injury. Save for a tentative 11th place finish at the Qatar curtain raiser, Pedrosa was straight back on form for Motegi with a third place finish.

Second on home ground at Jerez followed, while a third at Le Mans put Pedrosa in a good position in the standings overall.

Crucially, however, retirements in two of the next three races would see Pedrosa slip out of contention, and while he would make some amends with victory at Laguna Seca, it still left him too much ground to make up over the remainder of the year.

A fall from the lead at Indianapolis, on a weekend Pedrosa otherwise dominated, didn't aid his cause either, but a run of five podiums in the final five races – including a win at the Valencia season finale – served as a reminder that the Spaniard and the Repsol Honda are still a competitive force.

Stoner's warm-up lap accident also helped Pedrosa leapfrog the Australian to third in the standings to make it a trio of 'medals' in the overall standings. However, with Honda itching to get on terms with Yamaha, Pedrosa recognises third won't be good enough in 2010…

Statistics:

Team: Repsol Honda Team
Bike: Honda RC212V

Championship position: 3rd
Points: 234

Races: 17
Pole positions: 2
Victories: 2
Podiums: 11
Best results: 1st (Laguna Seca, Valencia)
Points finishes: 15

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2008: 6th

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2009:

6 - Marco Melandri
7 - Andrea Dovizioso
8 - Toni Elias
9 - Loris Capirossi
10 - Nicky Hayden

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Dec 16 2009, 01:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Top Ten MotoGP Riders - 8th Toni Elias


Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2009:

8 - Toni Elias
9 - Loris Capirossi
10 - Nicky Hayden
Thanks for updating this thread Pigeon.

I find it interesting that the 8th best rider, at least in this pole, is out of MotoGP. I think he deserves a ride. Anybody else agree?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Dec 17 2009, 05:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Thanks for updating this thread Pigeon.

I find it interesting that the 8th best rider, at least in this pole, is out of MotoGP. I think he deserves a ride. Anybody else agree?
Toni is devastatingly quick.....when he wants to be - which is usually come contract time. He was damn spectacular on a 250, and although these 600's bear scant resemblance to their predecessors I think that he'll hit the ground running in Moto2 as opposed to hitting the ground on a regular basis in MotoGP. The riding style that he's needed on an 800, and his extensive experience setting up a bike around a rigid gp chassis should stand him in good stead in the new class - where in my opinion he'll be more suited than a Moto GP bike. Toni was too erratic and inconsistent, and he failed to make the most of the semi-factory ride, (albeit a bike ostensibly cannibalised from Pedders and Dovi's leftovers). If he wins the championship in his maiden season, and either of the Marco's underwhelm, Fausto will soon promote him back into the fold. I think this is progressively better for him than remaining/stagnating where he was.

Wow so is 4th is going to Edwards or what?!

That's a bit surprising.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Wander @ Dec 17 2009, 08:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow so is 4th is going to Edwards or what?!

That's a bit surprising.

Edwards might be third.
depends on how many voted for a peep going fishing instead of riding.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Dec 17 2009, 11:16 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I find it interesting that the 8th best rider, at least in this pole, is out of MotoGP. I think he deserves a ride. Anybody else agree?
Elias constantly gets the short end. He's had a new bike every year since he was a rookie. Yamaha M1 in 2005, Honda RC211V in 2006, Honda RC212V in 2007, Ducati GP8 in 2008 and redesigned RC212V in 2009. I don't think it's a question of motivation or the contract bit like many do. I think it truly takes him that long to acclimate to a new bike. I certainly wouldn't say Hayden was performing better in the final third of the season because it was contract time. It's an adjustment period, and Elias has never really gotten to ride a bike much past his adjustment period.

There's no doubt he's mercurial, but when he's comfortable and things are right, he's not far off the aliens. It's too bad, I'd really like to see what he could do on a couple of consecutive years with a supported 212.

For the record, I think this poll is proving quite a bit about the regular readers of Crash.net.

I'm dying with anticipation to see who's number one .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Austin @ Dec 18 2009, 05:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>For the record, I think this poll is proving quite a bit about the regular readers of Crash.net.
I'm curious Ooost... what's it saying to you about the readers?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mick D @ Dec 17 2009, 07:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm curious Ooost... what's it saying to you about the readers?
I check in to Crash.net from time to time, so I won't act as if I never read it. But as it's just press releases for the most part, I think there are better places to find news.

That being said, I think Pedrosa is underrated by a position. I think Elias could slide up a position or two. I think Melandri is vastly overrated. I understand the Kwak didn't get any updates throughout the year but he wasn't terribly impressive in the second half of the year. And from everything I read, the ZX-RR wasn't as much of a dog as Ant West and John Hopkins led everyone to believe. I don't know if I have him in the top 10. I think Dovi deserves a top 10 place. As much as I love Capirossi, I'm not sure he deserves a place in the top 10.

I guess what I'm saying is that there is a lot of bias (obviously) and the readers/voters have not taken results and context into consideration. For me, a top 10 would look something closer to this:

1. Valentino Rossi
2. Jorge Lorenzo
3. Casey Stoner
4. Dani Pedrosa
5. Colin Edwards
6. Toni Elias
7. Andrea Dovizioso
8. Nicky Hayden
9. Alex De Angelis
10. Loris Capirossi/Randy de Puniet

Dani shouldn't be ranked lower than 4th, in my opinion. He could have even been 3rd, considering that he's worked harder than Casey this season.

Perhaps CS and CE got the sentimental votes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pigeon @ Dec 17 2009, 08:28 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Edwards might be third.
depends on how many voted for a peep going fishing instead of riding.

Top 10 MotoGP Riders: 4th Casey the ppl have voted


Although his season was ruined by a 'mystery illness', Casey Stoner still claimed four race wins in 2009 as he proved he remains a force in MotoGP
Having been forced to concede second best to Valentino Rossi during an occasionally erratic defence of his world championship crown, Casey Stoner headed into 2009 determined to reclaim his spot at the top of the MotoGP hierarchy.

The early signs were certainly encouraging for the Australian. A rapid end to the 2008 season was followed by a dominant performance in testing, while his obliteration of the competition at the Qatar season opener saw his title odds slashed significantly.

Slowly, however, things began to unravel for Stoner. His results remained good – he won again at Mugello -, but he was not the force that many had expected, particularly after his Qatar walkover.

His drop off wasn't a coincidence though, Stoner complaining of unusual fatigue at the end of races, a recurring ailment that saw him undergo doctors tests to pin point exactly what was wrong with him. A diagnosis of mild anaemia followed, but with Stoner visibly struggling by the mid-way stage in the season, the decision was taken for him to skip three events.

Up to that point, Stoner – the only title contending rider not to have retired in any race – was still riding high in the standings, but his sabbatical put an end to any hope he could wrestle his MotoGP crown off Rossi again.

While that 'mystery illness' will no doubt define Stoner's 2009 season, his spectacular return to competition – two wins and a second place finish in the final four rounds – was a timely reminder that he remains a big threat to the Rossi et al.

His embarrassing final round retirement aside, compared to the previous year, Stoner put few wheels wrong in 2009, but was ultimately let down by his own body.

Nonetheless, if he can carry that renewed form and fitness through to next season, Stoner promises to be another big threat in 2010…

Statistics:

Team: Ducati Marlboro
Bike: Ducati Desmosedici GP9

Championship position: 4th
Points: 220

Races: 14
Pole positions: 3
Victories: 4
Podiums: 8
Best results: 1st (Qatar, Mugello, Phillip Island, Sepang)
Points finishes: 13

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2008: 2nd

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2009:

5 - Dani Pedrosa
6 - Marco Melandri
7 - Andrea Dovizioso
8 - Toni Elias
9 - Loris Capirossi
10 - Nicky Hayden

Top 10 MotoGP Riders - 3rd Colin gets Bronze


You vote Colin Edwards as your third top MotoGP rider of 2009 after his impressively consistent season yields fifth position in the overall standings
While there was plenty of chatter off the track leading up to the new season, mostly about his apparently fractious relationship with team-mate James Toseland, Colin Edwards's most convincing argument came when the lights turned green as he firmly established himself as Tech 3 Yamaha's number one rider.

While he was initially openly critical about the swap of crew chiefs over the winter, ironically Edwards would go on to enjoy his best MotoGP season in five years as by finishing the season fifth in the standings – a feat you have duly recognised by voting the American as your third top rider of 2009.

Consistency was Edwards' strength in 2009, the former World Superbike champion failing to finish just one race. Indeed, save for a coupe of lacklustre performances elsewhere, Edwards was regularly the top satellite rider on the grid, producing a set of results that included three fourths, three fifths, one sixth and five sevenths.

He was also back on the podium with a run to second position at a sodden Donington Park. Although he just missed out on that long awaited first victory to Andrea Dovizioso, it was Edwards' best MotoGP result since he managed an identical result at the British Grand Prix in 2007.

Edwards would ultimately have the last laugh over the Italian though by pulling off a significant scalp in edging the factory-backed rider in the standings overall by the smallest of margins.

Edwards would also have the last laugh over Toseland, ending the season with an almost perfect record against the outgoing Briton. He faces a new challenge in 2010 though with the arrival of Ben Spies, the American having already shown his countryman of his capabilities with a star turn at the Valencia season finale.

Nonetheless, with the Yamaha M1 proving the bike to beat overall, it's safe to assume Edwards will be an ever-present threat again next year – and who knows, that first win may well follow…

Statistics:

Team: Tech 3 Yamaha
Bike: Yamaha YZR-M1

Championship position: 5th
Points: 161

Races: 17
Pole positions: 0
Victories: 0
Podiums: 1
Best results: 2nd (Donington Park)
Points finishes: 16

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2008: 8th

Top 10 MotoGP Rider of the Year 2009:

4 - Casey Stoner
5 - Dani Pedrosa
6 - Marco Melandri
7 - Andrea Dovizioso
8 - Toni Elias
9 - Loris Capirossi
10 - Nicky Hayden