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Eboos
| | Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 04:43 pm: | 
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I truly believe what he said in his interview about taking his chance in 01 to go into MotoGP, because that was probably going to be his only chance. Yes, he did go in too early in my opinion. He was an FX champion, but could have used a couple of years of Superbike first to face stronger competition. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 08:45 pm: |
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Rossi had bad luck last year. Everyone knows that. In every race that Rossi finished behind Hayden in Rossi had tyre or bike problems or was shunted off by Elias only to remount. Rossi was beaten by Hayden in the last race only, but I think he took a dive myself and gave it to Hayden.
As for Pedrosa, it will be him or Rossi World Champ 2007.
Rocket |
Xgecko
| | Posted on Thursday, January 25, 2007 - 10:21 pm: |
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I would root for anyone against Asimov next year. The little s4it is beloved in Spain but laughingly reviled in Italy for not being a team player (I was in Italy for that race and watched in on Italian TV) Being in Jerez 2 weeks ago I got to see all the Pedrosa worship and it's worse than the Rossi worship in Italy. That said if Dani can't win on the Honda I doubt anyone else can, the bike was built around the dwarf and no one else is gonna be able to ride it fast (even Nicky looks like Xaus on it). |
Vagelis46
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 01:25 am: |
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What you say, that the Evil Empire built a bike just to fit Pedrosa, is absolutely true.
I have read the interviews of Hayden and Checa , after the last test in Malaisia, and they both said that the bike does not have enough top speed mainly due to aerodynamics. They are both too big for the new bike, and they have too much drag.
Checa has already asked for a new bodywork. On the other side, robot Pedrosa has absolutely no problem with the size of the bike.
I hope this year the Evil Empire finishes last at the of the season behind Ducati, Yama, Suzi and Kawa (preferably in that order).
About the 800cc capacity......Take last year's RCV 5-cylinder 990cc, remove 1 cylinder......What you have is a V-4 800cc.....So the Evil Empire keeps the same engine geometry, pistons, head design, valves, e.t.c.
All the others have to start designing from a white piece of paper. |
Trojan
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 04:36 am: |
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I think Hopper was thrown into MotoGP too soon. He would have been well-served to have stayed racing in AMA for a few more years
I couldn't disagree more on that one. Too many talented riders spend too long in highly paid domestic championships, where they can be a 'big fish in a little pond', but are not actually learning anything new. Superbikes do not have the same level of adjustability or grip that a GP bike has, and that is one of the major learning curves for new riders in MotoGP. It also takes at least one season to learn the circuits and the setups used in GP.
The younger the rider is when they move to MotoGP the better chance they have of learning the ropes, making an impact and still being young enough to be attractive to sponsors and teams. Most of the top GP teams are now grooming youngsters for top rides from their early teens and giving them a well set out career path from 125/250 and into MotoGP. Remember it takes a couple of seasons just to get to grips with the bikes and the technology, let alone be competitive (How many seasons has Nicky H been on the number 1 Honda before he was truly competitive?).
Hopper definitely made the move at the right time, and provided he can just keep his head down and learn instead of shooting his mouth off, he is in the best place to prove it 
It is a shame that more 'stars' from domestic championships such as Spies/Mladin/Haslam don't or can't make the move to GP/WSB rather than stagnate at home. |
12r
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 06:22 am: |
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...does not have enough top speed mainly due to aerodynamics...
The emphasis now is on improvements in lateral aerodynamics so that the motorcycle turns better at speed. |
Vagelis46
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 09:30 am: |
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I agree that nowdays the MotoGP teams are looking for young and relatively unexperienced (for 200+ hp bikes) riders.
Why ????
In my opinion, because the electonics (anti-spin, anti-wheelie, e.t.c) have replaced experience and propably talent. I am sure if robot Pedrosa and particularly Stoner, entered MotoGP during the 2-stroke GP era they would not stand a chance to be competitive from the first year. They would either try to take it slow and LEARN, or spend a lot of time at hospitals with broken bodyparts.
But now with the electronics it takes little experience (and talent I am afraid) to ride the MotoGP bikes. So the teams are going for young riders. It makes little difference.
Troy Corser stated at one interview at crash.net that electronics have replaced talent!! That is sad !!!!
I hope the next step for MotoGP after the reduction in capacity from 990 to 800cc, would be to BAN electronics once and for all. The same should apply to all the racing classes, WSBK, WSS, AMA, FX e.t.c!!! Motorcycles should not follow the F1 path !!!! Bikes do not need electronics !!!!
This way manufacturers with smaller budgets and talented riders have a chance of being competitive against the Jap Giants. Maybe this way will see more manufacturers (e.g. Buell, Benelli, e.t.c) going racing. |
12r
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 09:53 am: |
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The main purpose of MotoGP is to be a class for prototype motorcycles. It's a proving ground for all types of development without any homologation issues, and within the scope of the regs manufacturers can do whatever they want.
We may never  see electronics that control a road motorcycle in the same way as they do a MotoGP bike, but the proven technology filters through and generally it makes for better motorcycles. The switchable power curve on the new GSX-R is a fine example. |
Glitch
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 09:59 am: |
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But now with the electronics it takes little experience (and talent I am afraid) to ride the MotoGP bikes.
Relative to what?
I would agree that it takes a different type of experience, and a different type of talent, but not less.
As far as age goes, of course you want the young guns, and when you're young you heal faster, you're bolder, and risk is not as much of a factor....when you're young. |
Blake
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 01:49 pm: |
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"In every race that Rossi finished behind Hayden in Rossi had tyre or bike problems or was shunted off by Elias only to remount."
Which is why I stated that Hayden and his Honda beat Rossi and his Yamaha.
But to be true, your statement would need to apply to seven of the seventeen races, over 40% of the competition, and then of course you don't ascribe any such bad luck to Hayden. Apparently we are to believe that everytime Hayden was beat by Rossi it was only because Rossi was the better rider.  You are horribly biased. Thanks for irrefutably proving my point. And he took a dive to give the championship to Nick in the last race?
I'm wondering dear Sean, do you think Hayden is a better rider than anyone else on the grid last year?
Back on topic,
I think if given a competitive team and machine, Hopper could be in contention for the championship.
It sure would be interesting to see some scale photos of the wind tunnel dummy/mannequin that was used to evaluate the new RC212V aerodynamics package. Any bets against it being a near perfect replica of one Dani Pedrosa?
(Message edited by blake on January 26, 2007) |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 02:50 pm: |
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Apparently we are to believe that every time Hayden was beat by Rossi it was only because Rossi was the better rider.
Ain't that the truth?
Hayden is a very very fast rider, and one of the top guns, but I rate Biaggi, Gibernau and Barros better, but they're out of the running????? As for Hayden, it's unfair to suggest he didn't deserve to win the title because he did, but he didn't put the stones to Rossi in doing so. I also think he's a really nice guy and such a personality is good for the sport. He's frank with his interviews. Tells what he can about the bike and the tech stuff. It's great to see his achievements have got the Americans a lot more interested in Moto GP once again too. If he won again next year I'd laugh my hat off in disbelief and total joy. That would be the icing on the cake!
Rocket |
Vagelis46
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 02:53 pm: |
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What I am saying is that during the 2-stroke 500cc era, young riders coming from the 250cc class needed some time to get adjusted to the power delivery of the big machines. They needed 1-2 years to start deliver some results, either podiums or wins.
Now with the electronics young riders, at their first MotoGP year, they can score pole positions, podiums and even wins. They challenge the experienced riders.
The last time I remember someone highsided with the new bikes that use the electonics were......I can't remember. I think it was Hopkins about 1-2 seasons ago.....and that is it.
For me, technological breakthrough for the bikes is one thing, use of electronics to take away the influence of the rider's ability is another.
Bikes do not need electronics. They need good design solutions.......like the XB chassis and the XB front brake, or the new BMW duolever. |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 03:22 pm: |
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It's well out of order to call a young lad a robot or a dwarf. Especially so because he's a great motorcycle racer. How a 40 year old naval employee can stoop so low with that dwarf comment is bloody childish. Did the navy teach you anything? God help us when you get to Iran.
To have talent as good as Pedrosa at his age is a remarkable achievement. These kids put their life on the line nearly every weekend to be hated?
As for Honda building a bike to suit Pedrosa's size. Wouldn't you put your focus on him if he were in your team? I would. He's Honda's best rider.
Rocket |
Sinatra
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 05:37 pm: |
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i also think rossi may have taken a dive....too give himself the challenge of winning it back maybe........ |
Eboos
| | Posted on Friday, January 26, 2007 - 05:52 pm: |
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"He's Honda's best rider."
The results do not agree with you. He placed fifth didn't he? Could he be Honda's best rider? Maybe one day, but right now, Hayden is Honda's best rider. |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 05:56 pm: |
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Rocket sez:
To have talent as good as Pedrosa at his age is a remarkable achievement. These kids put their life on the line nearly every weekend to be hated?
NO, they put their lives on the line for fame, money and little women (I mean who doesn't like little women?).
jimi |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 06:04 pm: |
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Sinatra sings,
i also think rossi may have taken a dive....too give himself the challenge of winning it back maybe........
Why try to explain this using convoluted reasoning, when a perfectly logical explanation is right there in front of your face? Hayden just beat Rossi's butt for the championship, fair and square, straight-up, no hold barred, no black helicopters on the horizon, no terrorists in the wings, no monkey business, no taking a dive (ultimate ridiculousness), no nothin'! He BEAT him...so get over it.
jimidan |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Saturday, January 27, 2007 - 06:13 pm: |
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Rocket sez:
It's well out of order to call a young lad a robot or a dwarf.
Well, Blake called Pedrosa a "dummy/mannequin that was used to evaluate the new RC212V aerodynamics package."
What about that!
jimi |
Sinatra
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 06:58 pm: |
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umm i was being sarcastic...jeesh fellas.....turn on your sarcasm meters.......lighten up....... |
Rocketman
| | Posted on Sunday, January 28, 2007 - 08:23 pm: |
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Hopkins finished 2nd to Rossi, day 3 testing Sepang.
Followed by Capirossi, Pedrosa, Vermeulen, De Puniet rounding out the top six. Hayden 7th.
Wonder what Philip Island will bring. If Hopper beats Vermeulen there that will be a good indication of his strength over his team mate.
Rocket |
Jimidan
| | Posted on Monday, January 29, 2007 - 12:19 pm: |
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Sinatra reprise;
umm i was being sarcastic...jeesh fellas.....turn on your sarcasm meters.......lighten up.......
Then that is what these  are for...we couldn't see you wink.} |
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