Will Hayden Retain the title?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ Nov 5 2006, 11:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That was a psychological thing. Nicky's done a lot to get to where he is now, but there's a lot of biased Rossi media in the world, and it had rubbed off, and there was this image of Hayden being "Just the nice guy with the smile" on my mind. It continued as Hayden had his bad luck this season, which came in smaller doses and more subtle ways, which, compared to spectacular, horrifying incidents

Nicky himself said after that race "You don't just hand 8 points to a guy like Rossi". Even though Hayden was not out of the race by any means, the media mind-control bug was working wonders in my somewhat empty head. How can Hayden beat Rossi?

Nicky won, in the cool headed, Rainey-style, do what you have to and don't risk a world title way that he's been using most of the season. Rossi cracked under pressure. So he is human, after all. Well, I won't be letting that media scum retake my brain anytime soon.

Oh yeah and http://www.motogpforum.com/forum/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/.....gif The Rossi loving press. This is one dull brain that you ain't getting back.

Hey Richo, I had you all wrong. I use to think you were a smart guy...











but now I realize, you're a Genius.

(what a great post).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Electric Mofo @ Nov 6 2006, 01:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Did anybody watch the season review yesturday? I was suprised by some of the issues Hayden had with his bike. Apparently he had the 14th fastest bike bike at Mugello but still managed to come third. And Honda were testing parts all season long, hence his performances at Brno, Malaysia, Donington, Motegi. Hayden testing parts and still wining the world championship is an amazing feet, espicially when he was not on the best bike (Sorry Yamaha fans).

IMO Hayden can retain the title!

Ho Mofo, where have you been? Ive been waiting for your to chime in. I didn't get to see the year in review, do you know if they will play it again? Do you know if I can watch it on the net?

(Great Post)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. Shupe @ Nov 4 2006, 11:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The point is this: where did Hayden consider himself as Rossi's equal? Is he just supposed to not say anything about his ambitions for next year?

Sounds to me like you are on the defensive, trying to remind everyone that Rossi is a good rider. Don't worry, we know.

Hi Mr. Shupe. The reason nobody is answering this question is because it didn't happen. Hayden did not and does not consider himself equal to Rossi, if anything he has shown great respect for Rossi's accomplishments. Which is in keeping with his humble character.

While I would love to see Nicky win next season I don't see it happening.
Rossi will return with a new resolve and be pissed and will be dominant again. Also Dani will be very strong and become a real thorn in Rossi's side for the entire season. Nicky will remain consistant but it won't be enough this season. He will spend the season fighting Edwards...Yes Edwards. Ducati will also be up front.

Wow what a season we are in store for...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Electric Mofo @ Nov 6 2006, 10:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Did anybody watch the season review yesturday? I was suprised by some of the issues Hayden had with his bike. Apparently he had the 14th fastest bike bike at Mugello but still managed to come third. And Honda were testing parts all season long, hence his performances at Brno, Malaysia, Donington, Motegi. Hayden testing parts and still wining the world championship is an amazing feet, espicially when he was not on the best bike (Sorry Yamaha fans).

IMO Hayden can retain the title!

This is what I don't understand. When Rossi or Max, anyone are the No1 factory rider and get access to all the new parts it is a "huge" advantage, when Nicky finally get the No1 ride, using the new stuff suddenely become a huge disadvantage? Go figure.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Mr. Shupe @ Nov 5 2006, 08:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>^^ Here is a question that has been bugging me lately: What kind of racer feels the need to play the "psychological" game? Shouldn't the greatest racer of all time simply be able to beat everyone on the track?

What kind? Any kind of racer that fight for victory. Racing is on one hand a team effort but none the less it is also a very selfish sport. The rider is put up front of the team and every thing are done to accomodate that rider. His job is to be in front of the others and my experience with the race track is that every rider make sure that have all the advantages they can get. Most limit themselves to legal advantages a few doesn't. The psycological game is usually a friendly and fun "battle" outside the track. I enjoyed that fight and participated as "all" others did. Those that didn't wasn't in the battle on the track either. Part of what makes it fun is that there are so many really selfish primadonnas that race and putting them down a little can sometimes make the whole difference on the track.
But the real fun starts in international racing. I'll never forget the faces of the leading guy's team in the European Championship when we delibratly cut of 2 sec off our guys lap time when we put the bord out in plain view of the other team. The buzz around those Italians when their star came in and they thought he was more than a second off the pace of the hunting rider was priceless :-D

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Nov 7 2006, 08:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This is what I don't understand. When Rossi or Max, anyone are the No1 factory rider and get access to all the new parts it is a "huge" advantage, when Nicky finally get the No1 ride, using the new stuff suddenely become a huge disadvantage? Go figure.

I think Max had his fair share of problems, too. Just no one paid any attention because it was Max saying it, sort of like the boy who cried Wolf. And the argument that Nicky's been getting the bad stuff comes from the fact that the new stuff this year is 800 parts, with claims that Nicky's RC211V was up to 80% RC212V at times. Of course I don't know if that's true, but it's somthing to think about. Nicky has a history of being stronger in the last part of the season, but he went backwards this year, so it seems credible to me. I guess it just comes down to what you belive.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Nov 7 2006, 08:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But the real fun starts in international racing. I'll never forget the faces of the leading guy's team in the European Championship when we delibratly cut of 2 sec off our guys lap time when we put the bord out in plain view of the other team. The buzz around those Italians when their star came in and they thought he was more than a second off the pace of the hunting rider was priceless :-D

How long did it take the "pros" to figure out that they'd been duped?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Electric Mofo @ Nov 6 2006, 09:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Did anybody watch the season review yesturday? I was suprised by some of the issues Hayden had with his bike. Apparently he had the 14th fastest bike bike at Mugello but still managed to come third. And Honda were testing parts all season long, hence his performances at Brno, Malaysia, Donington, Motegi. Hayden testing parts and still wining the world championship is an amazing feet, espicially when he was not on the best bike (Sorry Yamaha fans).

IMO Hayden can retain the title!I watched it, it's funny the things you forget. Hayden rode like a lion all year, the Mugello race was very impressive. All of this on a bike that HRC told him wouldn't be capable of winning races let alone the champoinship. It's like Richo said, the press had us focusing on Rossi/Pedrosa/Capirossi at the start of the season anyway so you kinda missed how hard Hayden was working and as the year progressed, how much Stoner was crashing, and what insanely bad luck Rossi had.
It's eurosport, of course it'll be repeated.