Everyone's entitled to their opinion, of course, but this list offered by Arrabbiata1 and Jumkie (who evidently agrees with the first 5) seems over the top to me.
1/ Continued subservience to Puig in spite of the fact that Sachsenring '08 was almost tantamount to manslaughter
So much hyperbole in one sentence... where to start? Subservience? I haven't noticed Pedrosa walking two steps behind and a bit to the left when Puig goes for a stroll, and Puig doesn't have his hand up Dani's arse every time #26 speaks to the media. Sachsenring tantamount to manslaughter... have you been at Gobert's stash? It's hardly Alberto's fault that Dani crashed out; pitboards are hung out every race weekend telling riders to push. The fact that Pedrosa-Puig use a unique method of motivation (saying the gap behind is smaller than it is) is completely up to them, and if you think Pedrosa isn't aware of that you don't realise how long they've been using that method. Whether Pedrosa actually needed to push in that situation is a different matter, but he's the guy on the bike, and ultimately the decision rests with him.
Besides, as has been well doucmented, Dani just doesn't bounce. It's hard to imagine any other rider--not named Wayne Gardner--sliding off in the wet like that, into an airfence, no less, not getting up and walking away brushing the mud and gravel off their leathers.
Puig is Pedrosa's mentor/manager who's been with him since day one. He's doing whatever it takes to ensure the best for Pedrosa--pretty much the job description for someone in his position. We may not agree or like his methods and/or personality, but, as someone famously said, "That's racing, Casey."
2/ Petulantly walking out on the first day of a Michelin tyre test in '08
At the end of 2007 it was strongly argued on this forum that changing tyre brands was just like changing socks, that if Michelin couldn't deliver... then .... 'em. So what was the big deal with walking out on the post-disastrous-race-for Michelin-Brno test when it was clear that Michelin had nothing in the way of improvements to offer? Besides, motorsport at the hightest level for some reason tends to attract prima dona types, why single out Pedrosa for this?
3/ Alleging that Nicky was stealing his data - and fully sanctioning the wall in the garage long before Rossi got the same idea at Yamaha
Can't argue with you there, especially since I've read that Pedrosa has something along the lines of 'I can see your data, but you can't see mine' in his contract. Maybe that's just a rumour, because I don't understand why HRC would allow something like that. I think the Ducati method of allowing even the satellite teams to look at all the data is the best. Still, on the flipside, I can see how another rider suddenly going faster than you--using your settings--might mess with your head.
4/ The personality and the charisma of a hatstand
Wait, because he doesn't wear clown pants or mug for the camera that's earned your particular dislike? I tell you what, I have the business opportunity of a lifetime for you: immediately buy 10,000 hatstands and rush them to Spain; you'll make a killing--I hear hatstands are extremely popular over there.
5/ Being wholly responsible for the Pedrocycle perhaps the worst race bike from HRC since the oval piston affair and pretty much the entire raison d'être behind the emasculated 800cc era and the HRC driven MSMA pushing for such an atrocious formula
And we're back to the hyperbole again. He's wholly responsible for the Pedrocycle (and what a myth of epic proportions that ........ name is)? He's the reason why we had the 800cc formula? That tin-foil hat you borrowed from Lex must be fitting a little tight; I suggest you hang it up on one of your new hatstands. HRC--and just so I'm clear here--we are talking about the mighty, all powerful HRC, who claim that "it's all about the bike; the rider just sits on it, twists the throttle, and backs it into corners with/without using brakes," and Valentino you can .... off to Yamaha and prove us wrong, that HRC, right? That same HRC not only designed, built and tested with their riders in Japan a bike for Pedrosa that he only got to touch at the same time as Hayden (though Hayden couldn't actually test after Motegi in 2006, because he hadn't yet signed a new contract), but knew building a bike especially for him would not be enough, so first, they used the tragic death of Kato as a bargaining tool to usher in a new formula all for the benefit of one Daniel Pedrosa, a rider that, at that stage, hadn't even signed for their MotoGP team?
Your particular dislike of Pedrosa really must be a pathological hatred to come up with that. Also, the 1988 500cc Honda was at least as bad as the 2007-2009 iterations of the 800cc bike.
6/ Failing to secure a title despite being in his seventh year on a Repsol Honda - which ultimately is the subject of this thread
You have a particular dislike of a rider because he hasn't won a championship, despite being on one of the best rides in the series? I'm guessing you weren't much of a Mamola fan, either.
Pedrosa will never be a popular rider on this board; the fact that there is still fallout from Estoril '06 is proof of that. One thing I am curious about, however, and this is basically a quesiton for baturro: how is Puig and his relationship with Pedrosa viewed in Spain?
