| Author | Message | ||
     Coturi |
Some teammate you've got there Nicky. That sucks. | ||
| Lovematt |
Dani was a bit squirrely previous to the crash...there were a few points in the turns when one end or other did something a bit unexpected. I was pretty pissed when I saw it...not necessarily because I am a huge fan of Nicky (I rather root for the thrill of the competition) but rather that it could have been avoided. I must say the end of the race was pretty exhilarating. | ||
| Coturi |
The crash was completely avoidable, and with a teammate in front of you, that just shouldn't happen. However, the final few laps were great. It was nice to see KR Jr. up front. It looks like they really have a great time racing, like a bunch of kids. | ||
| Holling |
I think ultimately the blame lies with Honda for not ordering Dani to stay behind Nicky. I know this is unpopular with a lot of people but F1 does it and it would have prevented this senseless crash. | ||
| Jiffy |
It was bad luck for Nicky. Keeps it interesting for us watching at home that's for sure. | ||
| Jaimec |
Rossi and Edwards seem to "click" better as a team. Last year Rossi had the chance to pass Edwards at Laguna Seca on the last lap, but decided to hold back and let Edwards take second with Rossi taking an easy third. In the post race interview, Rossi said he MIGHT have been able to take second, but he just had visions of both of them running off into the gravel and decided TWO Yamahas on the podium were better than NO Yamahas on the podium. This year, Edwards has made it clear in several interviews that he will do what he can to assure the championship for Rossi since his own title hopes are non-existant. A much better attitude than the "Every man for himself" at Repsol, I think. I'd expect behavior like that from Biaggi, but you'd think Pedrosa would be better than that. | ||
| Glitch |
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| Eboos |
Troy Corser left an open spot on Biaggi's WSBK team. Maybe Biaggi and Pedrosa might gel well together.  | ||
| Jackbequick |
Pedrosa is a skilled racer but immature in some ways. If he stays in racing he will get older and smarter. And may some day show the common sense and "class" that a champion must have. I'd like to think he is aware of what his error in judgment has cost others and that he regrets that. If he is, we're not likely to hear about it but I think we'll be able to see it in his actions around and relationships with his team and the other racers. I don't see Colin Edwards as having ridden a "team rider" race. He did his best start to finish and those that got around him would not have expected him to have ridden the race any differently. Jack | ||
| Tleighbell |
I haven't followed the season all that closely so excuse me if I am off base, but it seems that Nicky just got a little of the bad luck that plagued Rossi earlier this year. As much as I would like to see Hayden win, I don't think he can beat Rossi on a level playing field in Europe. On the other hand, nearly all the top riders in Moto GP came up from 250's and grew up on the tracks where nearly all the races are held. Hayden seems to be at a disadvantage by not having cut his teeth on those tracks, as evidenced by his domination on his home turf, Laguna Seca, two years running. Wonder how he would do if the Moto GP circuit included a couple more races in the US. | ||
| 12r |
For sure Nicky has had a consistent season while those around him have either crashed or broken down, but last weekend's race was just incredible. The MotoGP podcast shows Hayden putting a very similar move on Pedrosa earlier in the race but that was no excuse for Pedrosa's reaction. Sadly, the fact that there were no team orders just goes to show how much the big H cares about who wins the championship, especially since they've already wrapped up the manufacturer's and team's titles for this year. | ||
| Macbuell |
Hayden's pass on Pedrosa earlier was aggressive but it was clean. Rossi passes people like that a couple of times every race. Pedrosa screwed up big time and there is no excuse for it. None. | ||
| Shinobi13 |
Maybe Dani should make up for this next week by crashing into Rossi...  | ||
| Glitch |
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| Eboos |
Winning the manufacturer's title is not very difficult if you are running 6 (or 7 if you count the KR211V) out of the 19 bikes fielded. There is a 1 in 3 chance you will get first place, and a mathmatical certinty that you will get on the podium. The other manufacturers: Yamaha 4, Ducati 4, Suzuki 2, Kawasaki 2. It would be pretty sad if Honda did not win the manufacturer's title. Now here is the thing: who gives a rat's rearend who wins the manufacturer's title other then the manufacturer? Do you think that the customers know who won? Nobody remembers the guy that came in second place. People will remember the champion, not the manufacturer who scored the most points. (Message edited by eboos on October 17, 2006) | ||
| Ratyson |
HA.. Glitch.. YOU ROCK!  | ||
| Jaimec |
Here's a GREAT article with some insight into Pedrosa's mind: http://www.speedtv.com/articles/moto/motogp/33412/?page=1 | ||
| Eboos |
I kind of wonder if Nicky wants to tell Repsol and HRC to go "F" themselves. | ||
| 12r |
who gives a rat's rearend... Neither you nor I, but the manufacturers do - especially Honda. They don't race for the benefit of any individual. The Japanese factories place enormous importance on the Constructor's championship and the technical advantages they gain from experimenting with prototype motorcycles. Look at Honda's publicity materials for their sportsbikes - there's a blurred picture of Hayden in the background but the RC211V is everywhere. Irrespective of whether Hayden wins or not, the marketing bods can put a great spin on 17 Constructor's Titles (more than MV). Riders come and go, the big H is still here. | ||
| Trojan |
On the other hand, nearly all the top riders in Moto GP came up from 250's and grew up on the tracks where nearly all the races are held. Hayden seems to be at a disadvantage by not having cut his teeth on those tracks, as evidenced by his domination on his home turf, Laguna Seca, two years running. Wonder how he would do if the Moto GP circuit included a couple more races in the US. Hayden has now had 4 years in the factory Honda squad, so has raced and tested at these circuits countless times. He does not have the excuse that he doesn't know the tracks any more. He has apparently 'forgiven' Pedrosa now, but stated that he thinks Dani could make up by finishing ahead of Rossi in Spain. I'm sure Dani needed telling that and couldn't think of it himself! (Message edited by trojan on October 18, 2006) | ||
| Trojan |
Just found this... http://www.superbike.co.uk/imageBank/p/Pedrosa1.jpg Not very PC but very funny methinks  | ||
| Blake |
12r, The two "moves" were not comparable in the least. Nicky got inside Pedrosa and even with him in the turn. Pedrosa approached the turn WAY hot, had his left foot off the peg and instead of doing the rational thing and running wide he chose to near T-bone Nicky. There was ZERO room for Pedrosa's bike and he went down as his tires ran over the painted curbing. It was a really really idiotic rookie ••••••• move. Truly unbelievable. I've never seen anything like it in professional motorcycle racing except maybe for the move Rossi put into Gibernau two years ago. But at least that overly aggressive move didn't take Gibernau out. He just finished 2nd instead of 1st. "I'm sure Dani needed telling that and couldn't think of it himself! " Yeah, well one would have thought that Dani didn't need telling not to run his motorcycle into Nicky at Estoril either.  | ||
| Blake |
The following excerpt from that Speed article nails it:
I don't like gossip, but I'll make a prediction. Dani Pedros will never win a MotoGP world championship. He's too small and weak to handle the more technical tracks; they just plain wear him out. | ||
| Blake |
Here's a video showing various views of the incident. | ||
| Blake |
Nicky Post Race Interview Dani Post Race Interview An honorable man would have simply admitted to making a mistake. | ||
| Jaimec |
At this point ya gotta wonder if Nicky is missing Max Biaggi as his teammate... Great videos, Blake... thanks for the pointers. I missed the race as I was on the road somewhere between Dillon, SC and Daytona Beach, FL on Sunday. | ||
| 12r |
Nice footage Blake, but I still want to know what Hayden says as he walks through the gravel trap  | ||
| Blake |
He was complaining about the lack of warranty service at HRC and how long he was going to have to wait before he could ride again. | ||
| Lovematt |
I just re-watched it......basically the first part was(first he turned away from the camera facing the track and said "something vigorously"): Then he turned to face the camera and said something along the lines of: Dangit....F___ing Bull___.....F___ing Bull___...I don't f____ing believe it! The last part I was able to see was: "Bull____ this was supposed to be my year!" I am hard of hearing and fairly decent at reading lips so I am likely to be close to what was actually said. | ||
| 12r |
Thanks Matt. I thought he said something about a 'sock cutter' but I could be wrong |
