Joined Oct 2006
25K Posts | 4K+
Your Mom's House
Every year, we have a newcomer that is touted as the heir apparent to the thrown, last year it was Pedrosa, and he didn’t disappoint being that he was rookie of the year. Just like when Rossi entered the series, and God knows he made it. And then there was Nicky Hayden who many thought he couldn’t make the transition from an unlikely V-twin championship in the AMA to MotoGP. He became rookie of the year and proceeded to improve every year finally winning the title from the great and seemingly invincible Rossi. At the moment, we have Stoner, who didn’t win a 250 championship and was highly suspect last year, but is now on his way to possibly winning a title (nothing sealed yet but it looks good).
On the other side of the coin, there was Capirossi and Biaggi. Both dominating and spectacular 250 champions who were also highly touted to be successful in the premier class. Though I think they have been highly successful, for various reasons they didn’t/haven’t yet won a title at this level, which by a superficial gauge would be considered not to have met the hype and expectation.
Well it seems we will have a dramatically different grid next year. So I know its early, but what the hell, I’m a bit bored. Of the new talent in MotoGP next year, which do you predict will be:
1. Rookie of the Year?
2. Who do you think will be the biggest flop?
3. Rank then in order in which you think they will have success.
Here are the newcomers (I think):
Lorenzo
Toseland
De Angelis
Dovizioso
Please feel free to add anybody I missed, or anybody who you think might be in by the time its all said and done. I wanted to put Ben Spies in there but he isn’t coming until 09. I also thought of putting in West, but nothing is official.
Ok, here are my answers:
Lorenzo will be Rookie of the Year. Not so much because he is talented but because he will be on perhaps the best package compared to the rest. I don’t think he will accept development duties as have other Rossi teammates.
The biggest flop will be Toseland. Not so much because he lacks talent, but he will have the biggest hill to climb because of the adjustment needed due to his superbike background and he will be on a satellite team.
Ranking in order:
Lorenzo
Dovizioso
DeAngelis
Toesland
Note: if West makes the grade, I would put him ahead of Dovisioso.
What do you think?
(BTW, I would have made one of those fancy polls so you could vote, but I'm not techy enough to do it, maybe a mod can help.)
On the other side of the coin, there was Capirossi and Biaggi. Both dominating and spectacular 250 champions who were also highly touted to be successful in the premier class. Though I think they have been highly successful, for various reasons they didn’t/haven’t yet won a title at this level, which by a superficial gauge would be considered not to have met the hype and expectation.
Well it seems we will have a dramatically different grid next year. So I know its early, but what the hell, I’m a bit bored. Of the new talent in MotoGP next year, which do you predict will be:
1. Rookie of the Year?
2. Who do you think will be the biggest flop?
3. Rank then in order in which you think they will have success.
Here are the newcomers (I think):
Lorenzo
Toseland
De Angelis
Dovizioso
Please feel free to add anybody I missed, or anybody who you think might be in by the time its all said and done. I wanted to put Ben Spies in there but he isn’t coming until 09. I also thought of putting in West, but nothing is official.
Ok, here are my answers:
Lorenzo will be Rookie of the Year. Not so much because he is talented but because he will be on perhaps the best package compared to the rest. I don’t think he will accept development duties as have other Rossi teammates.
The biggest flop will be Toseland. Not so much because he lacks talent, but he will have the biggest hill to climb because of the adjustment needed due to his superbike background and he will be on a satellite team.
Ranking in order:
Lorenzo
Dovizioso
DeAngelis
Toesland
Note: if West makes the grade, I would put him ahead of Dovisioso.
What do you think?
(BTW, I would have made one of those fancy polls so you could vote, but I'm not techy enough to do it, maybe a mod can help.)
