| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
Lorenzo is signed through 2009 with Yamaha. Hopper is improving with every race... he'll be up with the front runners soon enough. He's already doing better than the Rizla Suzuki guys this season... | ||
| Benm2 |
If Lorenzo gets the championship, I suspect he might be a target for a re-negotiation. I'm sure his contract has some sort of buy-out provision, its just a question about how much it might be. I appreciate that Hopper might be learning the bike, but both him & Lorenzo were on new-to-them bikes this year. I'm still trying to wrap my head around Rossi as an underdog. | ||
| Jaimec |
By the way, I suspect it's more a case of being afraid of ripping out something important, than a case of not being able to rip the wire out at all. You'd be amazed what someone can do in anger when his body is pumped full of adrenaline (as you suspect it would be when hurtling down the track at close to 200mph on a two-wheeled missile).  | ||
| Benm2 |
I doubt I could tear off anything thicker than 14 ga wire, and even that would be a stretch with one hand. That's about the size where you THINK you can, and end the pull with a really sore hand & wire-burn... Plus at 200mph my adrenaline would be focused on WHATEVER was in front of me, but that's cause I only ever get to go that fast when the airplanes take off. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Lorenzo looks great, but it will be interesting to see how things unfold as the season goes on. With Lorenzo on Michelin, and Rossi on Bridgestone we should get a good direct comparison of how much advantage is gained or lost in the tires themselves. Don't crown Michelin king just yet,still a long way to go. Despite his problems, 6th place was not a bad finish for Stoner. He seems to struggle a bit on the technical tracks, but he is still in the hunt, and will have tracks coming up that suit him better. Yamaha and Honda have both stepped up the pace quite a bit from last season, but the Yamaha (and its riders) have been really impressive so far. | ||
| Trojan |
I doubt I could tear off anything thicker than 14 ga wire, and even that would be a stretch with one hand. That's about the size where you THINK you can, and end the pull with a really sore hand & wire-burn... The cameras are not 'hard wired' into the bikes but have connectors that can be pulled out. Stoner yet again lashed out at other riders (including pole setter Lorenzo) for 'getting in his way' in qualifying. He was never going to win this race, or even trouble the top three, so making excuses and throwing hissy fits isn't very fitting in this case. | ||
| Jaimec |
Matt, that's what I was thinking. Even if you can't tear the wire, you can certainly (with a good swift yank) tear the wire out of whatever it is connected to. Even if they're held in place with screws, they can be yanked out. I know this from experience (and I'm HARDLY "Arnold Schwarzenegger"). Stoner could do more to study Hayden and Rossi in defeat than try to emulate Max Biaggi, I think (Hayden's "Hissy Fit" when Pedrosa almost knocked him out of the championship notwithstanding). | ||
| Benm2 |
that's insane. To imply that Stoner kept the camera in place to have an excuse for a poor finish? Geez, he could have just pitted with a "tire problem" or some other such baloney. Whether he throws hissy-fits or not, to imply that he was too dumb or too weak to remove the camera is nuts. Hayden had a hissy fit? Geez, that was nothing. YATES knows how to throw a hissy fit. | ||
| Trojan |
that's insane. To imply that Stoner kept the camera in place to have an excuse for a poor finish? Nobody is suggesting that he deliberately left the errant camera in place in order to have an excuse, but it certainly provided the excuse he was looking for at the end anyway. I agree with Jaimec, Stoner is the sorest loser I have yet seen in motoGP (and I have been watching for many years indeed!). Even Kocinski pales in comparison. Casey needs to get his arse in gear and ride rather than getting bogged down in petty squabbles and blaming others for his misfortune. When Rossi loses a race he is almost always the first guy to congratulate the winner (yes I know there have been exceptions) and is usually genuinely pleased for the guy who wins. If the reason for his poor showing is mechanical/tyres then he will say so, but if he rode badly he is also big enough to admit it. Stoner always looks like he has been cheated somehow and is invariably petulant and sulky in defeat. There is more to being a true champion than just winning races. | ||
| Blake |
For sure. | ||
| Doerman |
Isn't there and age and maturity factor involved? The young'ns seems to lose composure when things don't go well. | ||
| Azxb9r |
Stoner could do more to study Hayden and Rossi in defeat Rossi's comments in the post race interview are a perfect example of how to conduct yourself. Isn't there and age and maturity factor involved? }I am sure there is, along with a lot of pressure that he does not seem equipped to handle at this time. | ||
| Benm2 |
I guess I need to pay closer attention. I hadn't seen him as even approaching Biaggi yet. | ||
| Jaimec |
Yeah, saying he's the sorest loser in MotoGP is a BIT of hyperbole. I never actually said that. He has a LONG way to go to be the second coming of Max Biaggi... | ||
| Jaimec |
AHA!!! I KNEW IT!! http://motorcycledaily.com/24april08_rossiquestion s.htm | ||
| Benm2 |
THAT's typical Rossi, being vocal about it to spur Bridgestone on. I bit embarrassing for them to be sure. The same guy that said Giberneau would never win another race. I don't think he said flattering things about Michilen last year though. | ||
| Jaimec |
No, he didn't. But Jeremy Burgess said on several occasions that he was confident Michelin would respond to the Bridgestone domination. I think last year Michelin's BIG problem was NOT technology, it was adapting to the new rules in place. One magazine pointed out the Michelin grew spoiled by having the majority of the races in their "backyard." That gave them the ability to overnight tires straight from their factory to suit their riders. Bridgestone NEVER had this ability with their factory in Japan so they HAD to be able to guess what was needed for their riders. In other words, Bridgestone was perfectly prepared for last year's rules changes and Michelin was not. Now that Michelin fully understands "the game" the racing should be a LOT closer (as it has been so far). My thoughts, anyway. I could be proven wrong. (Message edited by jaimec on April 25, 2008) | ||
| Clarkjw |
New to the board, but wanted to share as a MotoGP fan. I went to Jerez de la Frontera a bit ago. It was one of the most exciting experiences eva! It's a great track site and the women in Sevilla are uber hotties. It's far from everywhere in Spain, but with 30k bikers/bikettes making the long trip from all around Spain/Europe, its so worth it.FWIW, Stoner was the most impressive rider (despite mishaps, when you saw him push back, he was unbelivable). Also, I really want to see an 800cc 4 cyl Buell with like 160+ horses and 80+ tourque in all carbon with the 1125r body (MINUS THOSE GOD DAMN UGLY SCOOP. ERICK!). The idler pulley could ease rider complaints about abrupt and overpowering tourque allowing better corner powering. An underslung titanium Drummer exhaust and a Brembo-ZTL brake would be sooo sick. Kinda like the Desmodecci but a Buell. | ||
| Benm2 |
Rossi's' comments from TWO GP's last season, after 10 minutes of hunting. I'm sure there are more. Valentino Rossi Position: 6th Time: 1'22.605 Laps: 30 (Sachsenring) "I was quite confident of a better qualification today but unfortunately we had a problem with our qualifying tyre and I lost some time at the end. It's a difficult weekend because everyone is very close and the level is very high! I think we can expect another great battle tomorrow. My pace and rhythm is quite good, not the best but still not so bad, so I think that if I can make a good start then I will be able to fight at the front. The problem here is that it's a hard track to overtake on and now the fast right, which was a good place for passing before, isn't so good with the new 800s. Anyway, we have some modifications still to make and we have to decide on the right tyre, so hopefully we can still improve more. Looking at the times it seems that Pedrosa is very strong here, with the best pace, and actually this is encouraging because he's on Michelin's too. Of course with Stoner on pole we know that he too will be a hard rival. Anyway, sixth is not so bad - last year here we started tenth and in Assen eleventh and we won both times so we're definitely not too worried! It's going to be hard, especially if it's hot like this, but we will do our best as always." Valentino Rossi Position: 4th Time: +30.664 (Laguna) "Today was incredibly disappointing because, with the tyre situation like this, it was like our rivals were in a different race. My team and I worked very hard, especially after yesterday's crash, and we did the maximum we could to have our bike in the best possible condition. However without grip it was impossible to fight with the leaders. I rode the best race I could and I was very happy to pass Pedrosa, but I couldn't catch Melandri; we just didn't have the right rhythm or grip today. I'm very sad for last weekend in Sachsenring because there Michelin was strong and we missed a chance to make up some important points there. After today we can see just how important! It seems that tyres are the deciding factor for this season and this is a pity for the fans and for the show. We are not giving up; there are seven races left and we know that Michelin are going to work as hard as they possibly can in order to make the situation better for the second part of the season, but Stoner is very strong and we know it will be very hard. Anyway, we have some holidays now and we will be back in Brno to fight as hard as we can until the end." | ||
| Jaimec |
Rossi fastest on Day 1, but Lorenzo apparently broke his ankle in a high side accident today in Shanghai... | ||
| Trojan |
Lorenzo's crash......Watch it and wince. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sYFOmviJbpg&eurl=ht tp://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults /mcn/2008/may/1-4/may0208chinamotogpjorgelorenzosu ffersankleinjuryinfirstp I'll give him 8/10 for artistic impression but a big fat zero for technical merit It appears that that he will try to qualify tomorrow too! | ||
| Azxb9r |
That was some impressive elevation on that full twisting back=flip, didn't stick the landing though. Rossis reaction was great, it was almost as if he felt Lorenzos pain. | ||
| Jaimec |
He's been there before so he knows what it feels like... | ||
| Clarkjw |
Go easy on the rear brake Jorge! Come into the corner a little slower next time! | ||
| Jaimec |
GO COLIN!!!! | ||
| Blake |
I second that motion! http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Edwards+on+pole +for+Shanghai+race | ||
| Smoke |
looking forward to seeing Colin on the sharp end of the MotoGp freight train. Go Colin go!!! tim | ||
| Smoke |
congratulations to Vale!!! tim | ||
| Jaimec |
That was VINTAGE Rossi yesterday... setting the fastest laps of the race at the END of the race when everyone else's tires were going off. I am curious about one thing though... if Pedrosa is this fast on the spring valve engine, what is he going to be like on the pneumatic valve engine?? And Lorenzo taking fourth with two busted legs! That is just AMAZING! | ||
| Azxb9r |
Interesting question here regarding tires. Lorenzo had been faster than Rossi in the first few races. Rossi thought that China would be a good race for Bridgestone, and judging by his result(and Stoners improvement) maybe it was the tires. Too bad Lorenzo had that get-off, we have no way of knowing how much it may have slowed him down. Pedrosas consistant results may nullify the whole tire question. I like the stories within the story, it definately keeps thing interesting. |
