| Author | Message | ||
     Spatten1 |
This is good stuff, and I believe it is dead on. It addresses the Euro Vs. US opinions that we saw on this site. http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Dec/061212-17a .htm It might be old news, but I'm still thinking about the Estoril incident that put Nicky on the ground, threatened his championship and, as we recently learned, actually injured him, luckily not bad enough to stop him from riding at the final round. As someone who has been watching racing since I was five years old when my dad raced professionally, I really need to say that Pedrosa's move in that corner was the most selfish thing I have ever seen a racer do in my life. When your teammate has a great shot at winning the championship, I think every racer with a brain knows that you need to ride with the greater good in mind, you need to think big picture. The way Pedrosa tightened up on Nicky when Nicky passed him and then all-out torpedoed him a lap later was unconscionable. Making matters worse, I was really disappointed by the reaction of some of the people involved in the situation, saying things like Pedrosa had just as good a shot as Nicky for the title, so that justified what he did and, hey, maybe it was Nicky's fault, the crash. Honestly I was sick to my stomach when I read that, because I felt that some people were trying to spin a great wrong into being just a mysterious incident where blame was shared by both riders. Give me a break. } | ||
| Wolfridgerider |
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njUqm33i0IA I'd be pissed too..... | ||
| Macbuell |
That was a cool little piece. In addition to his comments on Estoril, I especially liked his take on Traction Control. I agree that it takes away some of the skill that is what makes those guys so talented. | ||
| Spatten1 |
I most definitley agree about the traction control. To me the hey day of mc racing was in the late 80's and early 90's when the 500's wicked powerbands came on and only a few people in the world could tame the beasts. | ||
| Xbrlaredo |
the crash was fault Pedrosa,he go fast everytime and this time he make a mistake,the same like all riders of GP,(including Nicky) Races are races. Don't tell nothing about teams,je,je.It work in Ferrari or Yamaha GP Any way,Nicky (with the "bad" Honda,don't forget,the really good was for Dani(Honda is like is))was capable of win,simply, the best this year! | ||
| Jackbequick |
The DuHamel family has been nothing less than a continuing series of class acts in every form of racing they got involved in. I look at Miguel now and have to remind myself that I'm still not seeing his father. Truly a gentleman! Jack | ||
| Holling |
I met Miguel at VIR back in august and shook his hand. A class act. | ||
| Rocketman |
And I disagree with his torpedo comment! Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
I don't disagree at all. The man has raced all his life grew up around it. It was a major mistake on Pedrosa's behalf. | ||
| Rocketman |
Just because he's raced all his life doesn't give him any better insight into what occurred. Pedrosa was racing for the title. Forgetting the incident in question, if Hayden had DNF'd in Portugal he'd have entered the last round with 236 points. Had Rossi DNF'd in Portugal too he'd have entered the last round with 227 points. Had Pedrosa won in Portugal he'd have entered the last round with 227 points. If all the above had happened, not so unthinkable as it turned out based on penultimate and last round actualities, Valencia would have seen the grid line up with points..... Hayden 236 Rossi 227 Pedrosa 227 Pedrosa was racing to win. His chances of a title were not as outside as some thought. Passing Hayden in Portugal, Pedrosa might well have been thinking Hayden had to take the fight to Rossi, and might DNF trying. That would leave Pedrosa thinking, if only Rossi got some more bad luck I could be in with a chance at the title. Must pass Hayden. Must pass Hayden. Only Rossi to think about then. Why is it so difficult for some to see why Pedrosa was racing Hayden in the penultimate round? Is the Hayden / American thing clouding your ability to work out the math involved? Rocket | ||
| Bads1 |
Not at all Sean but it seems your one of the few that feel that way. And yes I do feel that gives him better insight. He can put himself in that situation better then you or I. And since he has raced GP and has been a Honda team leader and has been around the block many time's over his opinion is very valid. And get off the American bull crap its getting old. BTW Duhamel is from Canada. There is no math with you its a bunch of If's!!! If Rossi did this or didn't do that.If Pedrosa did this ,if Pedrosa did that. Racing isn't if's. It racing. (Message edited by bads1 on December 14, 2006) | ||
| Spatten1 |
Duhamel an American!!!! Rocket, either you don't know dick about racing or you thought his French Canadian accent was a speach impediment. LOL | ||
| Davegess |
Rocket you are nuts  | ||
| Blake |
"Just because he's raced all his life doesn't give him any better insight into what occurred. " Dude. Your arrogance truly has no bounds.  | ||
| Jackbequick |
"..Is the Hayden / American thing clouding your ability to work out the math involved?..." You keep playing that card, and have ever since this started. Nationality has nothing to do with the pros and cons on that incident, in spite of your incessant sniveling and whining about it. The man made a mistake, get over it. Everyone else has. Jack | ||
| Grndskpr |
Just because he's raced all his life doesn't give him any better insight into what occurred Sooo, i am to understand that just because you do, or work a job all you life, gives you no better idea as to what is happening, in your chosen carrer than the next guy? That amazes me, cause it means i know as much building and starting a motorcycle company as Buell, i know as much about Saabs as you and i know just as much about rockets as Blake In turn however you all know as much about cricket pitches and soocer(ie football)fields as i do fasinating, i think i want to build a rocket to go to the Sun, obviously since i know as much as everybody else than i know it can be done(I prefer it warm, i hate winter) R Oh and Pedrosa let his personal emotion take control, he was out to get Nicky because of the previous laps pass, and as many youth do these days, didnt actually think about what he was about to do. The Spanish are know for that. | ||
| Spatten1 |
"Oh and Pedrosa let his personal emotion take control, he was out to get Nicky because of the previous laps pass" That is exactly what I was thinking. He had emotional blinders on, probably justified in his mind with a tinge of arrogance. He just got way too aggressive, not riding with a straight and logical head. He has enough experience to know better. | ||
| Henrik |
i think i want to build a rocket to go to the Sun, Yeah Roger, but now if you could grow a lawn there - now that'd be truly impressive  Henrik | ||
| Diablobrian |
I guess you'd have to use a "full sun" seed mix to grow grass on the sun right? After all a partial shade mix would get burned up! (See! I'm a groundskeeper too!)  (Message edited by diablobrian on December 14, 2006) | ||
| Spatten1 |
Keeping enough water on it for the first couple of weeks would be the hard part. | ||
| Grndskpr |
Keeping enough water on it for the first couple of weeks would be the hard part. Easy, i will use the frozen water on the polar caps of mars, as it gets closer to the sun, it should melt, hence watering the grass eazy peze lemon squezy R | ||
| Xbrlaredo |
"The Spanish is know for that" you are really wrong.Dani is born in 09/85, Nicky in07/81. 2006 is the first year in GP for Dani,after 3CH. World(125,250 are not a toy,in many places they are MORE FAST than GP or do you think that the 900 GP are a toy in front of your TC(100c.i.) Electra HD? 2006 is the 4 year for Niky(always in HRC,thanks to a Doohan's word?)in '03 is 5,'04 is 8,'05 is 3,and 06 Champion deservedly. I've see crash Nicky in many times this years and Pedrosa is NOT AT ALL know for his falls.I love Nicky ,but he don't will repeat next year(Rossi,Dani..uff they are better riders and the others..anyone can win one GP ,or two) I bet for Dani ,it's Life'Law | ||
| Spatten1 |
I've had great experiences with Spanish people, and don't think citing nationality has any merit in this argument. | ||
| Rocketman |
Firstly, let's get something absolutely straight. What happened in Portugal between Pedrosa and Hayden was a physical event. Science would prove that the two motorcycles fell to the ground because the laws of physics were at work. That cannot be interpreted by Valentino Rossi, Mick Doohan, Kevin Schwantz, Neil Armstrong, not even Albert Einstein. So please explain what Miguel DuHamel knows, other than his opinion based on his profession? Nothing is the answer. So his opinion is no more valid than mine because my eyes and my brain work just as well as his, if not better. Put it another way, he wasn't riding Pedrosa's bike and nor was I. That means only Pedrosa knew what happened that day. What everyone thinks they know is based solely on their own opinion, no matter what experience they have of riding or even racing a motorcycle. My opinion is, Pedrosa was racing. The 'Hayden / American' comment. Would you all share the same poor opinion of Pedrosa if what occurred was the other way around? I doubt it very very much. You'd all be screaming "Nicky was racing. Pedrosa turned in on him". Because Hayden is your fellow countryman the bullshit patriotism here is nauseating. Here's a prediction. Next year Hayden will get well spanked and you'll all be crying in your soup because Pedrosa will be the man doing it. When he wins the title next year I hope Pedrosa says "that's for last year when I was blamed for knocking Hayden off, when in fact he was riding like a prat considering he should have been racing to get in front of Rossi, which is what I was trying to do until Hayden got in the way with his cruising for a position style. If it hadn't been for Hayden I could have been running for the title in Valencia". Realise this. If Pedrosa had passed Hayden in Portugal, and finished 3rd he'd be on 230 points. Assuming Rossi finished in 2nd (as he did) but Hayden had DNF'd without Pedrosa knocking him off that would give Hayden an 8 point advantage in the last round. Assuming Rossi were to have scored only 3 points in the last round (which he did), Pedrosa winning in Valencia would have seen Hayden needing no less than 2nd place to win the title. DuHamel and everyone else who seems to offer criticism for Pedrosa not backing his team mate in Portugal must be stupid. The kid had a good chance at winning the title if his luck had run a bit better. Unfortunately for him, and Rossi too, Hayden got the last big dollop of luck, which absolutely no one (not even DuHamel I bet) could have foreseen. Yes this is racing and that's what Pedrosa has been doing ALL season. Hayden I suspect had a lot of regrets until he saw Rossi's fate in that last round. Rocket | ||
| Rocketman |
I've had great experiences with Spanish people, and don't think citing nationality has any merit in this argument. That's not fair, Senor Hernandez is outnumbered by about 2000 fiercely patriotic Americans  Rocket | ||
| Davegess |
Ah Rocket your still nuts | ||
| Diablobrian |
Uh Rocket, You haven't seen any complaining about the outcomes in the past few years here when Rossi was nearly un-stoppable other than the usual American complaint of "The only racing that get live coverage here is NASCAR!" which most badwebbers care nothing about. Of course Miguel knows more about the applied physics of racing and how that affects a bike at speed. Don't get me wrong, I'm not a Miguel Duhamel fan, but he does know an awful lot about racing motorcycles. He has "been there and do that" for years and that certainly counts for a lot when it comes to assessing what happened during a race. Miguel also has learned a lot about the psycology of racers and there is certainly enough data relating to Dani for it to be very clear how he approaches racing. Dani does not look at racing as a team event other than for research and development, at least before the last race of the season he didn't. The last race showed a marked change in his style and behavior on the track. It was very pronounced. I think he may have had a bit of an epiphany after the crash when he saw the backlash from the fans. It may have made a fundamental change in how he approaches the sport. I hope so. Dani is a talented young man and what he was lacking was maturity. Time will tell if he is destined for the championship. He has the potential, if he learns a bit of patience. (Message edited by diablobrian on December 14, 2006) | ||
| Macbuell |
Rocket, I don't see nearly as much patriotism in these arguments as much I see your blind bias against anything American, and in this case Hayden. Anyone with a RATIONAL mind could see that Pedrosa screwed up. You have lost all perspective with this argument and you keep spewing that irrational argument over and over and over. In fact, you went on record stating that Hayden was going to get his butt handed to him in the last race of the season by Rossi. When the exact opposite of that happened, I don't remember you giving Hayden any credit whatsoever. The only biases on display in these arguments are yours. | ||
| Grndskpr |
don't think citing nationality has any merit in this argument. Your right, i am wrong. This came from personal experiences and has no merit in this argument Please accept my appolgy sorry R | ||
| Rocketman |
I'm sorry but we are not talking about a football team here. Helping team mates. Not something I've ever been a fan of when it comes to racing solo operated motor vehicles for the goal of becoming the best in the world operator of the vehicle in question. The best in the world is the best because they are. Not because they needed a team mate to help them get there. Every man for himself. You talk of Pedrosa like he's an infant at racing. He's a two time world champ, and he's better than the current world champ and could have been the world champ today if it wasn't for a little more luck and a gutsy manoeuvre in Portugal that didn't come off. Had it have done, the racing world would be proclaiming him as the next motorcycling Messiah. Experience or not, all anyone can do is offer an opinion as to what happened in Portugal, unless there's away of scientifically explaining the sequence of events that occurred. DuHamel might well be able to say what his experience tells him, but he cannot say what was going through Pedrosa's mind. My belief is he was racing Hayden. What occurred was a consequence of that. Team orders were not in place and Pedrosa had a small chance of winning the championship. I believe he was going for it and no one will convince me otherwise until I sincerely believe Pedrosa saying otherwise, rather than made to look sheepish after being condemned for what happened to Hayden. Rocket |
