Who should and who should NOT get a ride in 2008

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsraeliRacer @ Aug 1 2007, 10:34 AM) [snapback]82477[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Not "thats all." He was consistent. Full stop. Thats all you need to be.


You need to be a bit more than consistent...like hunger and the fight for position and the win. Consistency only get you so far.

Look at Hopkins, consistent but that is not enough to put them really in the title hunt....Compare him to Rossi and Pedrosa inconsistent but still fight every race for 1 more position even it means 0 points at the end of the day, but they are in the title hunt.

We've seen it over and over again a rider get comfy and decides to get the points or finish over pushing it and fighting. Hayden did it last year and was lucky had such bad luck Rossi with his Yamaha/tyres.
Hopper is doing the same this year...if Hopkins fought more then I bet he'd have more podiums and even a win by now. I think that now John H has a new contract with a new team in 2008 that he should fight fight fight for positions and win or bin it trying.

If you ride for consistency and think you will win the title then your riding for a pay check and that's not what MotoGP is about

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ThePhorest @ Aug 1 2007, 11:05 AM) [snapback]82482[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Don't think so. He has a lot of talent. He will be at the sharp end for a while, like it or not and he deserves his ride totally.


How long do you think Repsol and Honda will see it like that?

I give it until the end of 2008, if they've not starting thinking differently already.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsraeliRacer @ Aug 1 2007, 08:07 AM) [snapback]82465[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Oh boy, a Stoner fan saying that a rider doesn't deserve his MotoGP seat because he crashed. The irony's killin' me! I'm not made for this kind of comedy!

thinking the same thing myself mate, it's also ironic that they say checa is crap cos he crashed, yet when you remind them of stoners poor performance last year they all claim it was the ..... lcr,,go figure

As RJ would say Hayden "Luckiest Man Alive" and I will add Rossi "No luck at all last season and so far this season"

I know neither have any talent, Rossi lucked into his titles and so did Hayden. Damn, maybe I'll make a go at MotoGP next year, I'm feeling lucky!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mylexicon @ Aug 1 2007, 12:46 AM) [snapback]82441[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
RDP - Popping a wheely for 5th place? Nakano snagged a podium on a worse bike in '06. Clearly, you have no idea what's expected of you.



RDP is still fresh to motogp and clearly has a lot of Talent. Randy has shown this season he has the raw speed in the dry to hang with the top 3 in the championship. Not many other guys can say that and he is cleary worthy of another decent ride.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Pinky @ Aug 1 2007, 10:27 AM) [snapback]82475[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
everyone knows hayden was a Lucky motgp winner in 2006, even with everything going his way in 2006 (other than the pedrosa incident) he only marginally won it. he was consistant thats all.



You rarely see a race won with "luck" let alone a world title. Hayden was the best last year.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(MigsAngel @ Aug 1 2007, 08:05 AM) [snapback]82469[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I think Nicky will follow the KRJR path of Champion to mid-bottom of the pile over the next 3 years and eventualy 1 more year at the back of the pack...and it will be a sad thing to watch!

Nicky will finish outside of the top 5, and very likely out of the top 8 this year.
In 2008 he willl end up mid-back of pack (Nakano territory) be out of the top 10 next year and be dropped by Repsol Honda.
In 2009 he will be riding for Roberts, LCR, Minolta, Tech 3, Kawasaki or D'Antin on a year deliver or be dropped deal.
And 2010/2011 he will leave GPs to go back at AMA (Mladin will finaly retire by then) or go WSBK.


Hayden was not lucky last year. Unless "luck" includes watching a 51 pt lead deteriorate while you test crap development parts for your teammates bike, then said teammate rams you at the penultimate round (costing you nearly all the points you won at Laguna), and forces you to ride the race of your life with a broken collarbone. If that's luck, I hope I'm never as lucky as Nicky.

Besides people need to give Nicky his due. The only thing lucky about Nicky's run was that he and Pedrosa discovered Rossi's one weakness. It's the same weakness Stoner is exploiting this season. Apparently, if you set a blistering pace and Rossi feels the race or the championship may be slipping away, he has a tendency to override the bike and fry it or bin it (China 06, Laguna 06, Valencia 06, Turkey 07, Germany 07).

Besides, think about how different things could be for Nicky. If he took the pen out of Domencali's/Suppo's hand and signed the papers, he would have had a chance to be the next Lawson instead of the next KRJR.

In short, he deserves to be in MotoGP no matter how much people hate.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mylexicon @ Aug 1 2007, 05:13 PM) [snapback]82571[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
while you test crap development parts for your teammates bike,


I am Hayden fan, but i am not misguided enough to believe that.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mylexicon @ Aug 1 2007, 09:13 AM) [snapback]82571[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Hayden was not lucky last year. Unless "luck" includes watching a 51 pt lead deteriorate while you test crap development parts for your teammates bike, then said teammate rams you at the penultimate round (costing you nearly all the points you won at Laguna), and forces you to ride the race of your life with a broken collarbone. If that's luck, I hope I'm never as lucky as Nicky.

Besides people need to give Nicky his due. The only thing lucky about Nicky's run was that he and Pedrosa discovered Rossi's one weakness. It's the same weakness Stoner is exploiting this season. Apparently, if you set a blistering pace and Rossi feels the race or the championship may be slipping away, he has a tendency to override the bike and fry it or bin it (China 06, Laguna 06, Valencia 06, Turkey 07, Germany 07).

Besides, think about how different things could be for Nicky. If he took the pen out of Domencali's/Suppo's hand and signed the papers, he would have had a chance to be the next Lawson instead of the next KRJR.

In short, he deserves to be in MotoGP no matter how much people hate.



I agree with you on your entire post! If Nicky had signed with Ducati people would be saying the same thing about him as they are about Stoner " Its the bike not him". Nicky earned everything he got last year. Reguardless to what some may feel, the record books will forever show him as the champ in 06. As far as 07 goes he has had his share or issues, what Honda rider hasnt ( even Dani). He's working his way out of that hole, look out he will be back at the front consistently in 08...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Aug 1 2007, 04:20 PM) [snapback]82573[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I am Hayden fan, but i am not misguided enough to believe that.


Are you suggesting that at the end of 2006 season Honda still had no idea who they would be building the RC212V for?

I think they knew. They knew in 2005 when they signed Pedrosa that he was the basket in which they would be putting their eggs.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mylexicon @ Aug 1 2007, 06:13 PM) [snapback]82605[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Are you suggesting that at the end of 2006 season Honda still had no idea who they would be building the RC212V for?

I think they knew. They knew in 2005 when they signed Pedrosa that he was the basket in which they would be putting their eggs.


I'm telling you that Nicky's 06 990 was nothing to do with Dani Pedrosa, he never touched it or saw any of its parts.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roger-m @ Aug 1 2007, 01:02 PM) [snapback]82500[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
thinking the same thing myself mate, it's also ironic that they say checa is crap cos he crashed, yet when you remind them of stoners poor performance last year they all claim it was the ..... lcr,,go figure


Yes... thats Checa's excuse... its the bike, blame the bike...

Hayden won the title last year because he kept his head and finished in consistent positions throughout the season. Rossi's bad luck made it easier of course, but who handled the pressure when it came to the last race? Rossi fell off, Hayden finished, simple as that.

Randy De Puniet is a quality rider. When he got that 5th place, he had a badly injured leg and could barely walk. Plus, he's managing to stay on the bike a lot more than he used to..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Aug 1 2007, 05:15 PM) [snapback]82606[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
I'm telling you that Nicky's 06 990 was nothing to do with Dani Pedrosa, he never touched it or saw any of its parts.


HRC gives parts to Nicky to test. The parts Nicky tested at the end of last season were for the RC212V. The RC212V was designed and built for Dani Pedrosa. Therefore, by the reflexive property, the parts HRC put on Nicky's 2006 RC211V bike were for Dani's 2007 RC212V.

It's not bulletproof, but it's pretty likely.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(mylexicon @ Aug 1 2007, 07:34 PM) [snapback]82629[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
HRC gives parts to Nicky to test. The parts Nicky tested at the end of last season were for the RC212V. The RC212V was designed and built for Dani Pedrosa. Therefore, by the reflexive property, the parts HRC put on Nicky's 2006 RC211V bike were for Dani's 2007 RC212V.

It's not bulletproof, but it's pretty likely.


That rubbish!

For staters, the parts they gave Nicky to test were clutch parts that he needed only because his riding style counteracted the entire purpose of the slipper clutch and developed more heat than the system was designed for. (considering it was designed for Biaggi). He had a new swingarm briefly at Donny, but chucked it after one day.

Secondly, the 990 parts had nothing to do with the 800, its a totally different bike and not much except the forks is transferable.

Thirdly, i don't think the new bike was built just for Dani, thats just what Nicky fans say to try and make Honda look like the bad guys.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tom @ Aug 1 2007, 11:38 AM) [snapback]82631[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
That rubbish!

For staters, the parts they gave Nicky to test were clutch parts that he needed only because his riding style counteracted the entire purpose of the slipper clutch and developed more heat than the system was designed for. (considering it was designed for Biaggi). He had a new swingarm briefly at Donny, but chucked it after one day.

Secondly, the 990 parts had nothing to do with the 800, its a totally different bike and not much except the forks is transferable.

Thirdly, i don't think the new bike was built just for Dani, thats just what Nicky fans say to try and make Honda look like the bad guys.



This years RC212 isnt all that great no matter who is on it!

If Rossi had won the title last year Hayden would have still beaten everybody else.
The year before he beat everybody but Rossi and Melandri which came down to Marco losing the rear in the last corner of the last race which Nicky was trying to square up but Marco's bobble threw off his line to get a better drive to the finish.
So he came tenths from beating everyone but Marco and Rossi and finished 3rd in the championship.
So to say he is a middle to back of the pack talent is absurd.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JohnnyKnockdown @ Aug 1 2007, 07:53 PM) [snapback]82741[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
If Rossi had won the title last year Hayden would have still beaten everybody else.
The year before he beat everybody but Rossi and Melandri which came down to Marco losing the rear in the last corner of the last race which Nicky was trying to square up but Marco's bobble threw off his line to get a better drive to the finish.
So he came tenths from beating everyone but Marco and Rossi and finished 3rd in the championship.
So to say he is a middle to back of the pack talent is absurd.



I'm slightly biased but I totally agree!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsraeliRacer @ Aug 1 2007, 02:07 AM) [snapback]82465[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Oh boy, a Stoner fan saying that a rider doesn't deserve his MotoGP seat because he crashed. The irony's killin' me! I'm not made for this kind of comedy!



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(L8Braker @ Aug 1 2007, 08:23 AM) [snapback]82520[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
As RJ would say Hayden "Luckiest Man Alive" and I will add Rossi "No luck at all last season and so far this season"

I know neither have any talent, Rossi lucked into his titles and so did Hayden. Damn, maybe I'll make a go at MotoGP next year, I'm feeling lucky!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roger-m @ Jul 29 2007, 08:32 AM) [snapback]82051[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>

well i dont want to see any of them go,infact i want to see more riders and teams on the grid.

well rog i agree with the more riders. theres room for 24 full timers on the grid & we have'nt seen a 24 rider grid in a while. but some of the deadwood must go.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(L8Braker @ Aug 1 2007, 11:23 PM) [snapback]82520[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
As RJ would say Hayden "Luckiest Man Alive" and I will add Rossi "No luck at all last season and so far this season"

I know neither have any talent, Rossi lucked into his titles and so did Hayden. Damn, maybe I'll make a go at MotoGP next year, I'm feeling lucky!


Braker ...we are not saying that Nicky was lucky...(btw I really respect our past champ, he’s a really great guy!!)...but what you have to take into consideration is this:...Nicky’s world championship wim was by a whisker...it was more to Val’s giving the WC’p to Nicky then Nicky wining it...yes I know that my statement is controversial but mate “It’s True”...if that little so and so Elias wouldn’t have beaten Val then it would have been even Steven!!!...so in saying all this it’s not so much Nicky winning the WC’p as it was given to him on a platter!!!...and please don’t come with what about...Pedrobot’s anal mauver etc etc...but and please I’m not trying to drum any cause but....

Now let’s talk about 2007...and if Mr. CS wins the WC’p then “This Is How It’s Done”...perfect comparisons, examples of how it’s done by skill and luck...take your pick mate...I know which I would pick!!!..btw: I predicted after the 2006 season ended (and I was really pissed off with Val for crashing btw!!!) that poor Nicky will never win another gp in motoGP 2007!!!...Sorry Nick I love you!!! But you’re on the wrong bike mate!!!...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsraeliRacer @ Jul 29 2007, 07:45 PM) [snapback]82008[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Funny, I could say the exact same thing about Anthony West o.0 All he's done as far as I recall is won two supersport races, by which qualification Roccoli and Charpentier should both be given a lifetime MotoGP ride. And one or two wet podiums in 250's, by which qualification about 10 250's riders should be moving up next year.

ok 1st thing i am biased an aussie.. but westy has always been leading privateer in the 250's on piece of crap bikes that should be further behind than where he gets. 2nd being on pieces of crap has hurt his belief in himself and he seems to have given up on either himself or ever getting a good ride.... until the kawasaki deal.. which ok he hasn't set the world on fire but he hasn't been too far off depuniet at all which i think is commendable seeings he's had no experience with the electronics setup of a motogp bike which they say is rather important on todays bikes.
he's been thrown in the deep end with no testing bar 1 short test and he has done quite well. i would say good enough to say with more testing and a solid network of believers behind him westy could achieve good things. give credit where it's due he's not a superstar but hes better than some of the other duds in the paddock and deserves 1 chance with the right network behind him so he believes in himself and not wondering am i gonna get paid ? can my team afford to run the next race? all this has to wear on him.. if we're gonna bag someone bag Checa (crasher),Hayden, tamada and i hate to say it because i admire him but nakano is a shadow of his former self this year...

sorry to rave on but i am passionate and love the sport the greatest show on earth...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(roger-m @ Aug 1 2007, 10:02 PM) [snapback]82500[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
thinking the same thing myself mate, it's also ironic that they say checa is crap cos he crashed, yet when you remind them of stoners poor performance last year they all claim it was the ..... lcr,,go figure

i can't believe what i am reading Checa has consistently crashed his whole career because he is spanish he is a preferred rider by dorna he does not deserve it.. Casey crashed alot last year yes but as a rookie just finding his way trying to make an impression and trying too hard not his bike or anything else is to blame he stuffed up a fair bit and admitted it . you can't bring that up anymore has he not silenced his critics yet what is it the bike winning .. or the tyres??? there are other bridgestone runners too!! and yamaha and honda chose michelin tyres not as if he is cheating capirossi is no slouch either and casey has made him look old and slow (hate to say it because i love him a star).. If casey wins the championship (if) he has done it in style winning races and putting it to everyone not by sitting riding for second or third when rossi has pressured him he hasn't cracked like most others before him he has been a revelation it is great for motogp you now have in my opinion 3 genuine stars going toe to toe Rossi (magician, superstar just a born champion), Dani (don't like him but can ride like #$@%) and Casey (just rolled up at the first round and hasn't looked back) add in melandri next year maybe lorenzo it is gonna be something to watch.. but you can't take anything away from Casey he has beaten rossi 1 on 1 this year and been beaten also but he will not be convinced rossi is better you have to admire that in years gone past rossi has just had it over everyone they knew he was better but dani and casey will not be told that will not lay down and will stick it to him when they can it is great for racing....
by the way i love rossi too how can you not he is the best that there is no doubt and what a lovable character that is something dani and casey can definently learn off him....