Who Will Win The 2008 MotoGP Series:

**SimJen** · 25th September 2007, 12:16

Originally Posted by NZsarge

I also beg to differ

Damon Hill was lucky and thats about it and Jacques Villeneuve was and is a no talent hack (and VERY VERY lucky) ,sorry he had talent....at moaning his arse off! Schuey ran away with those campionships because of one obvious reason (despite these allegations of cheating)his talent as a driver was greater than anyone else, you can argue all you like to the contrary, but that would be pointless because the FACTS speak for themselves. By the way i've heard that Kimi is quite the hard case when away from the public eye.

I beg to differ....again.
Damon and Jacques did what it took to get a championship which makes them no less a champion than anyone else......
Schuey knocked both Damon and Jacques off the track, effectively handing himself the championship on two different years. These are'nt allegations, I saw it with my own eyes.....pitiful driving.
Yeah I heard Kimi was a mad man once he's had a few. I've heard that about lots of Fins!

**mynameis** · 25th September 2007, 12:35

It will definitely be an interesting year with a new kid on the block Jorge Lorenzo alongside Valentino Rossi. I am guessing Rossi will not be in the scene for too long and if the kid, Lorenzo gets along well with Rossi, he'll learn lots and has a good chance of winning. He's got too much fire in his belly and is very aggressive and does have a chance to win. Yamaha should hopefully provide them with a good machine to match Ducati.

Having said that Casey Stoner is too good and has a long way to go. He would be hard to beat, as everything is working in his favour, the machine, him being a awesome rider ect. On the same note Rossi will want to leave on a high and show them who the man is and you can never dismiss the old guns in my opinion.

My pick would be a close one between Rossi and Stoner but Jorge will definitely fire things up in the series. And with new advancements in bikes and a new fresh year who knows perhaps someone from Kawasaki, Suzuki or Honda might prevail. All up definitely a good year for us spectators!!

**codgyoleracer** · 25th September 2007, 12:40

If Yamaha have a site down & a complete re-think, then Rossi would be my pic, He is still quicker going in & also at mid turn than Mr Stoner, but the electrickery of the Duke coming out of corners & the HP in a straight is very impressive.
If Rossi does do it then - Stoner 2nd & Vermullen 3rd.

Fly in the ointment - Lorenzo & Davitsioso ? , who knows he may jsut click with it............

**cowpoos** · 25th September 2007, 12:50

Originally Posted by codgyoleracer

the electrickery of the Duke coming out of corners & the HP in a straight is very impressive.

I don't actually reckon thats the case...theres more than one ducati out there with a top rider on board!!...but theres only one at the pointy end consitantly...I think it was stoner that made the difference...on a good bike [probally not the best one]...with a good team...and good suport that won him the championship this year...I'm really keen to see how the kawasakis go next year!! and I think the hondas will be back in the running!

**codgyoleracer** · 25th September 2007, 13:00

Originally Posted by cowpoos

I don't actually reckon thats the case...theres more than one ducati out there with a top rider on board!!...but theres only one at the pointy end consitantly...I think it was stoner that made the difference...on a good bike [probally not the best one]...with a good team...and good suport that won him the championship this year...I'm really keen to see how the kawasakis go next year!! and I think the hondas will be back in the running!

Yeah I suppose the best scenario is those two riders on the exact same bike & tyres to really prove who has the skill.
If that was the case I would still pick Rossi based on his experience & entry / mid turn speed. (although some of that could be in the tyres)
Great to see Stoner do it though aye & at least bring the cup home to "roughly" to this part of the world.

**denill** · 25th September 2007, 14:26

Before setting up the poll I thought about listing all the probable and possibles.
But after just a liitle contemplation, at this point of time there really are only two real choices and most of you seem to agree.
Bring on 2008

**Brian d marge** · 25th September 2007, 14:40

Yamaha are already testing next years bike ,,good move

Got to love that desmodromic set up ,,50 yrs old and still doing the biz

wind tunnel testing ..Yamaha /ducati ... cant see signs of Honda testing ( they have a tunel not far from here ,,,but I havent heard any whispers

electronics ... Marrelli weber are investing a bit , though I did hear that they were a bit sharp when they kicked in ( would love to find out a bit more on that )

Tyres
Sylvan Gintolli ... dunlop ,,,watch that space ( interestingly the Michiin rain tyres lasted quite well in the drying track , better that I think the bridgestones who have been testing specifically for this )

Who is a champion . WELL I WANT TO SEE A NEW ZEALANDER ON THE PODIUM

NZ need to get its shit together , to put a champion ( and we do have the talent ,,,I know we do ) on that first step

failing that ..... being a pom Dan Linfoot for champ

Stephen

**NZsarge** · 25th September 2007, 16:59

Originally Posted by SimJen

I beg to differ....again.
Damon and Jacques did what it took to get a championship which makes them no less a champion than anyone else......
Schuey knocked both Damon and Jacques off the track, effectively handing himself the championship on two different years. These are'nt allegations, I saw it with my own eyes.....pitiful driving.
Yeah I heard Kimi was a mad man once he's had a few. I've heard that about lots of Fins!

I don't know that if I was in the same position as Schuey I would'nt contemplate doing the same, remember your in the heat of battle so to speak and you under a great deal of pressure. It's all very well to say pitiful driving, cheat! cheat! but until your in that position and believe me, both you and I never will be, it's hard to say how one might react. Take Alonso as case in point, he is supposed to be a goody good guy but i've seen him doing some dodgey shit too when the pressure is on and what about the McLaren debacle?
When there is so much on the line and we've got no idea just how much there is "on the line". Michael has always been the hardest of racers and did as you point out "did what it took" to become champion and in the heat of the moment went too far. If you think he is the only one in that paddock that would of done what he has done in the past you'd be sadly mistaken, there is cheating on all level going on in virtually every sport and buisiness for that matter.
I dont condone cheating but im not about to say that given the same pressure on me and if I was the of the same ultra competitive spirit I would 'nt cross that line, it's not life and death. It's about time some people stopped dragging out the same old shit time and time again to try and prove he is not a great driver because even if you take away the two championship you dredge up he would still be five times a world champion.

**denill** · 25th September 2007, 20:29

Interesting to know who are the 'Someone Elses' that have been voted for?

But hey it could well be a wild card.
Who would have bet Stoner to win with 3 races in hand this time last year.

**delusionz** · 25th September 2007, 21:13

Being a Kawasaki man I'd love to see a green bike doing better than 6th to last but since that's not likely (Damn it give the Ninja to a man who can ride!!!!) and being from Aussie I'd have to say Gooooooo Stoner!!!!!!!!!!!!

**Toaster** · 25th September 2007, 23:02

Gotta love watching the GP... and I only really have sky sport to see the superbikes each month

love it!

**Kickaha** · 26th September 2007, 06:31

Originally Posted by denill

Interesting to know who are the 'Someone Elses' that have been voted for?

Tony Elias or Dani Pedrosa

**mynameis** · 26th September 2007, 10:41

keystone19 will win motogp in 08

**pritch** · 26th September 2007, 10:50

I can remember some of the comments by the pundits in the Brit mags before the start of the season.

Honda would be very strong early. They would have an advantage regarding engine details such as cylinder head form, since they were expected to arrive at an 800cc engine by simply removing one cylinder. The new engine size was even stated to be a Honda plot engineered to give them an advantage.

Stoner's numerous crashes the previous season had gained him joke status...

The guys who write this stuff are supposed to have insider contacts, some have ridden in GPs...

I don't think anybody foresaw the impact that the new tyre rules would have, certainly Michelin don't seem to have. Then there was the new rule limiting fuel which gave (is giving?) all the teams problems.

I'm not sure about Yamaha, before Rossi joined them they usually finished 10th 11th 12th or thereabout. After Rossi joined them they finished 1st and 10th or similar. Lorenzo may be on a learning curve next year so it may still be 1st(?) and 10th for a while.

Be interesting to see if Yamaha can get their new engine to hang together over the winter and to see if Kawasaki can come up with something competitive.

Roll on the 1998 season...