MotoGP results (30 October) Unbeleevable

[SimJen]

Exactly Erik, like I said earlier perhaps it was more than just a simple mistake.
Rossi isn't the type of bloke to lay blame....

[pritch]

I'm still amazed that a racer can ride for the top HRC team for 4 years, only win 3 races in those 4 years and still end up with a world title?

I know consistency wins chamionships but I'm still struggling to get to grips with this one.

[denill]

stop whining like little bitches, Rossi is undisputedly the best rider but it's a marathon, not a sprint, to the world title and it is a combination of rider and teamwork.

Hayden deserves the title, he's done his job.

Yep, Hayden did what he had to do and the proof is - HE IS THE 2006 WORLD MOTOGP CHAMPION!!!!!!

But hey, how much money would you have put on Bayliss to come up with the goods.

AND: No matter how much Ducati piss in his pocket - THEY SACKED HIM!!!!

Yeah, a script writer couldn't come up with a more dramatic (and tearful, if like me you're a Rossi fan) scenario.

[denill]

I'm still amazed that a racer can ride for the top HRC team for 4 years, only win 3 races in those 4 years and still end up with a world title?

Yeah. Good point Gav. And as Honda were happy to re-sign a rider who, in loose terms was a loser, one can only presume that Honda KNEW that they did not have the best (read - winning) package.............

[ninjac]

Faaaarrrk!! My tape stopped before the race even started

[L.L. Cool M]

Somewhat interesting, though largely speculative:

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~For...~id~139685.htm

From watching the race I'd pretty much have to agree that without the crash Hayden would have still got it. Not that I'm happy about that mind you.

[merv]

Yeah so how come in three years of trying Bayliss just couldn't do it until now?

As for Hayden I just read this interview with Dani Pedrosa and it shows just what a humble guy Nicky is - a true champion in my view, but undoubtedly Rossi is the man as per an earlier thread quoting how he had won something like 45 races out of 50 something run. What is it about Italians, Rossi is achieveing so much like Ago did in the 60's and 70's?

Here's the Pedrosa interview at the previous round if you haven't seen it straight from Hayden's website http://www.nickyhayden.com Pedrosa was the new man and I guess felt pretty stupid doing what he did in front of his bosses so came out firing to help Hayden in the last round.

INTERVIEW WITH DANI PEDROSA - October 23, 2006

Interview with Dani Pedrosa

"I WILL BE NICKY HAYDEN'S BEST HELP IN VALENCIA"

¥ "Repsol Honda is one team and that's something we've always shown"

¥ "I always want to win but I've never done it by trickery"

¥ "Nicky still has many chances and I will help him"

¥ "Nicky has taught a lesson of professionalism behaving in an excellent way"

His competitive character has never gone against his sporting spirit, his humbleness and naturalness. But now, despite his three world titles, 25 Grand Prix victories and despite racing for the most successful team of latest times - or maybe therefore - Dani is experiencing a pressure that is not easy to stand. With the calmness provided by days going by, the Spanish rider speaks openly, showing us his most human side.

What were your feelings when you woke up on Monday morning?

I thought that it had been a heavy blow, especially for my team mate Nicky, but also for me, for Honda, for Repsol, for the mechanics and for all the fans that have been following us throughout the season. I'm very sad about what happened in Estoril. I know that there's nothing I can change now, but there are still many chances for my team mate Nicky Hayden to become World Champion. Repsol Honda is one team and we are going to show it in Valencia, as we always do. I'll do everything I can to help him. We have a big challenge ahead but we can make it.

Nicky's behaviour and reaction on Sunday afternoon was really praiseworthy, he behaved like a gentleman. Have you thought about how you would have reacted being faced with a situation like this, i.e. if he would have hit you with you leading the overall standings?

I've thought a lot about it. He didn't want to start any kind of controversy through the media and despite everything that had happened and how angry he was, he managed to calm down and behave like a great professional. Nicky has taught a lesson of professionalism behaving in an excellent way. He accepted my apologies when I went to see him in his motorhome and he didn't foster the media, nor did he want to make a big deal out of this. I know what he told the media and despite them trying to get good headlines, Nicky didn't say a single negative word about me. And to tell you the truth, I would have understood. It was his right.

Let's talk sincerely about the incident on Sunday. Now that some days have passed and you're able to analyse it from a cooler perspective, what can you tell us about what happened in corner number 6 of the Estoril Circuit on lap five of the race?

I made a good start; I passed Nicky and put myself behind Rossi who was pushing hard. I knew that Rossi wouldn't be able to escape and also that Edwards was there and that he would try to stop us to help Rossi. Suddenly Edwards passed me, almost taking me off my line and I had a big fright. Shortly after it happened again with Nicky, so I decided not to take part in the battle so soon and stayed fourth, waiting. There was a lot of race left and it wasn't the time to start absurd fights. Valentino was not escaping and being fourth was alright. My plan was to control Valentino and let the laps go by to attack towards the end.

So, I understand that your final attack was aimed at taking the victory?

Yes, that's right. Alberto [Puig] and I had talked about the different possibilities and our aim was scoring 50 points in the two remaining races. Honda had given us freedom to decide and we had mathematically chances. Nicky could fail in one of the races and the Yamaha had already shown along the season, that the engine is fragile. So our plan was to score those 50 points, considering that there were two circuits ahead in which we could be very competitive, and just watch what Rossi and my team mate Nicky would be doing. I'm a race rider and I obviously want to win, but all those who follow me and know me, know that I have never done it by trickery. I had never knocked down anyone in the six years I've been in the World Championship. Not even in my worst dreams would I have thought that something like what happened on Sunday could ever happen to me. I wanted to win, but in no way hindering my team mate from continuing with his fight for the title. He has been working very hard this season, he has been very regular and he had big chances to win the title. I also race to win and as long as Honda wouldn't say anything different, I had to try.

You were saying that staying fourth waiting for what would happen was alright?
Yes, that was my plan, to control the situation, to observe and to play my cards towards the end. But suddenly, in corner 6, a left-hander after the second longest straight of the circuit, I arrived too fast at the braking point and my rear tyre was up while I was operating the brakes. It was only a question of a few seconds; I noticed what was going to happen, I went through the inside looking for space enough to brake and when the front tyre lost grip I just prayed to God to be the only one to crashÉ It was an instant, some tenths of a second, but I remember perfectly well how my team mate was on the asphalt and his despair.

Many people used those moments to level criticism, sometimes heartless, at Dani Pedrosa. What does Dani have to say about everything that has been written about him these days?

I just can say that I'm terribly sorry about what happened. Nicky didn't deserve something like this. I have already apologised to whom I had to, and I publicly commit myself to doing all I can to help my team mate to achieve the title. I will be Nicky Hayden's best help in Valencia.

[SimJen]

Somewhat interesting, though largely speculative:

http://www.crash.net/news_view~t~For...~id~139685.htm

From watching the race I'd pretty much have to agree that without the crash Hayden would have still got it. Not that I'm happy about that mind you.

Knowing how Rossi always gets faster as the race goes on, I find it hard to believe that crash.net could speculate that Hayden would have still won the race. Rossi has come from almost the back of the pack on many occasions and won races or been on the podium. His immediate pace is not always the tell-all of his overall race pace.

Yeah so how come in three years of trying Bayliss just couldn't do it until now?

Probably to do with the development of the bike, it obviously has moved on a lot from a cantankerous fire breathing bitch of a thing to something a little more mellow. No doubt helped by the development put in by Capirossi.
On another note Gibernau wasn't exactly value for money for Ducati.....

[denill]

Yeah so how come in three years of trying Bayliss just couldn't do it until now?

I dunno. But history will be recorded that after being dumped and in the wilderness - unless you count when he came back to SBK, the 2nd best class of motorcycle racing on the planet - he came back and won the 2006 Valencia MotoGP!!!

To me, pretty remarkable as there is no such thing as a fluke in that arena.

[nsrpaul]

nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo rossi nooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

well done to haden but it still blows

[gav]

Yeah. Good point Gav. And as Honda were happy to re-sign a rider who, in loose terms was a loser, one can only presume that Honda KNEW that they did not have the best (read - winning) package.............

Well, I think at the start of this season HRC would probably have conceded that they werent going to beat Rossi for the title. The HRC president was even quoted last year that the only rider who could threaten Rossi for the title was Dani Pedrosa, and he was still on a 250 at that stage! Really this year was to be a learning curve, Hayden's job was to develop the new bike, testing and racing with items that could go to putting together a new 800 for Pedrosa next year. Dani was to spend this year getting to grips with the power of the bigger bikes and developing into a MotoGP for next year. I truely think this would have been the Repsol Honda strategy at the start of the season.
However, after the Yamaha team struggled early on with chassis and tyres. engine blow ups, crashes, Rossi getting knocked off at the first race, Capirossi, Gibernau and Melandri struggling with injuries etc, as the season progressed everything seemed to fall into place for Hayden, who just kept racking up the points. In the end, he won an unlikely world title!
Possibly may be a bit embarrasssing for them as Hayden had to fight to get HRC to agree that he would have equal status with Pedrosa for next year. Remarkable really for a rider leading the world title, to not get top billing!
Anyway, having a big #1 on his bike next year just might remind HRC who there #1 rider is!

[BarryG]

It sounds to me like the main shit disturber is Alberto Puig. Dani seems to be in awe of him, and Alberto shoots his mouth off on his behalf.
I worry for the future of MotoGP if riders like Pedrosa will be the ones to replace the fun loving genius of Rossi. It could never sink to the level of F1, but I worry, nonetheless. It's all so bloody corporate, with minders and layers of political correctness replacing the nutters. Rossi is a throwback, really, or the last in a long line following on from the Hailwoods, Sheenes, Mamolas, Foggys (yes, even him!).
Cheers
Barry