...Pressure...

[Dark Angel]

...It's beginning to show now..!

Casey Stoner had a minor "off" yesterday - running into the gravel trap at the top of the Corkscrew and only just failing to keep the bike upright. Normally, this type of incident would probably raise no more than an eyebrow - but back in his garage, Stoner's body language told the story of a very edgy young man, potentially on the verge of becoming demoralised. I hope the lad doesn't lose his confidence - but I fear it might already be too late.

Hayden (according to comments made by Randy Mamola yesterday) is also very edgy and is determined to impose himself again at his home GP. From the early standings, I guess KR Jr. will have something to say about that - not to mention Colin Edwards, whose form could receive a timely boost from Rossi's (allegedly) expressed preference for him as his team mate for next season.

Speaking of the great man himself, Rossi also hit the gravel trap at the corkscrew - and managed to ride safely through! After his universally acclaimed demonstration of his talents in Germany last time out, I wonder if his Lucky Star is in the ascendency again? Maybe - maybe not - he seems to have hit the usual brick wall as far as setting the bike up is concerned, but it's interesting to see Edwards featuring in sixth place and amazing to see Pedrosa doing so well in his first-ever appearance at the Laguna Seca track.

It's gonna be another goody!! :yo:

Combined free practice times below.

1. Kenny Roberts Jr USA Team Roberts 1min 23.859 secs
2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 1min 24.125 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 24.194 secs
4. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 1min 24.223 secs
5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 24.253 secs
6. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 24.310 secs
7. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 24.339 secs
8. Casey Stoner AUS Honda LCR 1min 24.360 secs
9. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 1min 24.494 secs
10. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 24.608 secs
11. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 24.674 secs

 

[Gerrard]

Hayden

...It's beginning to show now..!

Casey Stoner had a minor "off" yesterday - running into the gravel trap at the top of the Corkscrew and only just failing to keep the bike upright. Normally, this type of incident would probably raise no more than an eyebrow - but back in his garage, Stoner's body language told the story of a very edgy young man, potentially on the verge of becoming demoralised. I hope the lad doesn't lose his confidence - but I fear it might already be too late.

Hayden (according to comments made by Randy Mamola yesterday) is also very edgy and is determined to impose himself again at his home GP. From the early standings, I guess KR Jr. will have something to say about that - not to mention Colin Edwards, whose form could receive a timely boost from Rossi's (allegedly) expressed preference for him as his team mate for next season.

Speaking of the great man himself, Rossi also hit the gravel trap at the corkscrew - and managed to ride safely through! After his universally acclaimed demonstration of his talents in Germany last time out, I wonder if his Lucky Star is in the ascendency again? Maybe - maybe not - he seems to have hit the usual brick wall as far as setting the bike up is concerned, but it's interesting to see Edwards featuring in sixth place and amazing to see Pedrosa doing so well in his first-ever appearance at the Laguna Seca track.

It's gonna be another goody!! :yo:

Combined free practice times below.

1. Kenny Roberts Jr USA Team Roberts 1min 23.859 secs
2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 1min 24.125 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 24.194 secs
4. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 1min 24.223 secs
5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 24.253 secs
6. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 24.310 secs
7. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 24.339 secs
8. Casey Stoner AUS Honda LCR 1min 24.360 secs
9. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 1min 24.494 secs
10. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 24.608 secs
11. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 24.674 secs

Hi Eric.
I see you are looking through those rose tinted glasses again, don't forget the 10 second start for the rest of the field.
Perhaps you have forgotten Donnington Dani had to wait for Rossi to catch him up so as not to make Rossi look too slow.
I too saw last nights reveiw of the practice with JW talking, and Jeremy had a word to say about Haydon. His version was that Haydon was in fact getting pissed off and not edgy, as the bad results Hayden is having is due to riding with too many devolopment bits on his bike. JW went on to say had Hayden been on the same bike as Pedrosa, Hayden would have been a lot futher in the lead than he is now. He also commented that Haydon is the most consistant rider so far this year, and that as his contract is finished at the end of the season - watch this space. I too feel that Haydon wants a fair crack at winning the title on a full spec race bike, and not a bit parts bike like he has now.
Lets hope Honda sees sense and signs him as a race rider or he might clear off and take Edward's place at Yamaha..

all the best from 40? :-:
Zippo the truth sayer and racing correspondent in Trabuco s04pb0x6

 

[El Diablo]

Still Looking..........

Graphite...............


I am still searching the world for someone who agrees with you....re Rossi

having searched the jungles, beaches and Muy Thai Gyms......tonight......I will check the bars..........in the infamous Bangla Rd..........nothing is too
much trouble .............. brok3

Looking forward to see if they will all wait for Rossi again......


I shall now go out and rev up my Honda Wave 125 and race up Patong Hill
known locally as........... "Death a Day Hill"...........


AkA ..........Gatso'shy

Hi Eric.
I see you are looking through those rose tinted glasses again, don't forget the 10 second start for the rest of the field.
Perhaps you have forgotten Donnington Dani had to wait for Rossi to catch him up so as not to make Rossi look too slow.
I too saw last nights reveiw of the practice with JW talking, and Jeremy had a word to say about Haydon. His version was that Haydon was in fact getting pissed off and not edgy, as the bad results Hayden is having is due to riding with too many devolopment bits on his bike. JW went on to say had Hayden been on the same bike as Pedrosa, Hayden would have been a lot futher in the lead than he is now. He also commented that Haydon is the most consistant rider so far this year, and that as his contract is finished at the end of the season - watch this space. I too feel that Haydon wants a fair crack at winning the title on a full spec race bike, and not a bit parts bike like he has now.
Lets hope Honda sees sense and signs him as a race rider or he might clear off and take Edward's place at Yamaha..

all the best from 40? :-:
Zippo the truth sayer and racing correspondent in Trabuco s04pb0x6

 

[Dark Angel]

I see you are looking through those rose tinted glasses again, don't forget the 10 second start for the rest of the field.

...They're not rose-tinted, M8...They're Rossi tinted!

...He didn't give them a ten-second lead this time, either - just ten places! :neenaw:

I must admit, though, the view through my special specs isn't looking too bright at the moment after last night's disaster. The tyre problems wouldn't have stopped Vale from earning a few points, but even he needs an engine if he's to be competitive!

Six GP's to go...It Ain't Over Yet!!!

 

[Gerrard]

Rossi

Gatso.
Jimbo mate, all that rain and those ladyboys have gone to your brain and you're talking bollox again.
So where did Rossi finish at Laguna Seca then? Sorry? Where? OH HE DIDN'T? Well that's a shame, I'm really, really sorry.... :neenaw:
I can here all the excuses that will be along later, but the point is.... EERRRR NO POINTS.

Zippo The racing correspondent from Trabuco...and allround good guy.
PS..Hope you selling plenty to all them peeps out there.
Laters.


PS Hi Jim, it's me, still got all your money, no sign of Tony :tosser:

 

[Gerrard]

Rossi

PS
DAs.. not saying a lot either

That was a hard race, I wish someone would have a chat to Stoner about falling off it would be a shame to see him relegated to a lesser bike or even sacked.
Hard luck to Chris on the Suzuki I bet he's gutted as well.
Zippo..Lazing by the pool today :-:

 

[shropslad]

GP Title

I think that was Rossis last chance,, don't think he will be this years world Champ,, Hayden has been the most consistent all year,, great ride by mini me,, first time at laguna :yo:

Just shows how easy those Hondas are to ride d04l1ng man8um . Bet rossi wishes he had stayed at Honda now.
Still think he would have got a third if his Yama ha ha had kept going. All the Rossi fans wll want Haydens element of luck to change me thinks with a couple of DNF's.

 

[Dark Angel]

PS. DAs.. not saying a lot either

A-rrr...I refer the Honourable Gentleman to my comments (above) which I had already posted be-fore he managed to find the energy to drag his lazy ass away from the pool in order to offer his opinions on this forum!! :f

I wish someone would have a chat to Stoner about falling off it would be a shame to see him relegated to a lesser bike or even sacked.

(SIGH!) DO try to keep up M8!

...When he (Stoner) stops crashing...He'll be awesome...!

...Has Stoner lost his job...?

To win the Championship now will require a superhuman effort and an unimaginable run of luck for Valentino. His undeniable fortitude and determination to win will drive him on to seek to achieve the impossible - and I'll be cheering him on every step of the way!!
s04pb0x6

(OO-ooo...Aren't I the defensive one, then?!) sp1ttt3

Six GP's to go...It ain't over yet... :lick:

...COME ON...

COME ON, VALE!!! :yo:

 

[Samster]

It's a shame for VR, but I think he's chances are over due to two mechanical failures on his M1 this season.

If by some miracle he does manage to win it this year he would be the only man to ever hold a 990cc world title.

The pressure is now well and truly on Nicky Hayden not to fuck up!

 

[Gerrard]

Title Race

If Hayden had any sense of fun he would let Rossi win a couple of races, and Pedrosa and Melandri one each then let them all fight it out between themselves taking points off each other. Then all he would have to do is finish 2nd or 3rd and take the title.
I can't see Dani winning all 6 races which is what he would need to do as he is the nearest title challenger but more than 25 points behind.
And though I hate to say it, if Nicky has 2 DNFs it could get interesting!
Dani will still fight to the end and the more Rossi wins the easier it will be for Hayden, so come on Hayden and Pedrosa do your stuff, a nice one/ two in the championship would be great

Zippo - who would like to get out on the bike but has been too busy!

 

[Gerrard]

Stoner

Well I was agreeing with ya Eric :bow: Strange but true. man8um
Zippo. Erics lazy ass mate by the pool :neenaw:

 

[Dark Angel]

Bet rossi wishes he had stayed at Honda now.

Bwahahahahaha! Yeah....Right!!!

All the Rossi fans wll want Haydens element of luck to change me thinks with a couple of DNF's

Nah! Hayden's done enough to win the championship - the figures below don't lie. Vale's year seems to be ending in the same way that it started, with a bike that doesn't handle, doesn't like qualifying and (sometimes) doesn't even finish the race!
sh1tehppns
The battle may (or may not) have been won, but I don't think that wishing ill on Hayden is the way of MotoGP fans. Give the lad his due... and the rest of 'em, too... k1ap


1. NICKY HAYDEN REPSOL HONDA TEAM 194
2. DANI PEDROSA REPSOL HONDA TEAM 160
3. MARCO MELANDRI FORTUNA HONDA 150
4. VALENTINO ROSSI CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM 143 :cry:
5. LORIS CAPIROSSI DUCATI MARLBORO TEAM 126
6. CASEY STONER HONDA LCR 91
7. COLIN EDWARDS CAMEL YAMAHA TEAM 84

Well I was agreeing with ya Eric

...Trudi!!!....Stop impersonating Paul...!!! :t :} :beer:

 

[Oldbull]

Vermulen was the fastest man out there all weekend and it was a real shame that his tyres didnt last (sadly expected) as he deserved at least a podium....

Rossi cannot moan about his luck because he has had some unreal good fortune in his title winning years and if its supposed to even itself out then he still owes a bucket full h1d1ng2


Hayden will win the title and deservedly so... b0x2

 

[Gerrard]

Title

Vermulen was the fastest man out there all weekend and it was a real shame that his tyres didnt last (sadly expected) as he deserved at least a podium....

Rossi cannot moan about his luck because he has had some unreal good fortune in his title winning years and if its supposed to even itself out then he still owes a bucket full h1d1ng2


Hayden will win the title and deservedly so... b0x2

True words matey... true words. :yo:
Zippo....By the pool cos I can...

 

[Dark Angel]

Vermulen was the fastest man out there all weekend and it was a real shame that his tyres didnt last (sadly expected) as he deserved at least a podium....Rossi cannot moan about his luck because he has had some unreal good fortune in his title winning years and if its supposed to even itself out then he still owes a bucket full...Hayden will win the title and deservedly so...

Bollox! p0pc0rn41

Rossi is the fastest, most consistent rider of the MotoGP era, be it on an Aprillia, a Honda or a Yamaha ? or on a two- or a four-stroke machine. That makes him (certainly) the fastest and (probably) one of the most consistent riders of all time, regardless of machinery, technology and/or development initiatives?

?We?re talking seven years here?not a solitary weekend? b0x1

There?s nobody better qualified than he to say whatever he likes about MotoGP, ?luck? or the lack of it. He has nothing to prove and, having done more for motorcycling as a sport and as a pastime than anyone in living memory he owes not a thing ? save to the loyalty of his fans.

Hayden might win the title?.but if he does it will be Honda?s championship?.

Even with a grid loaded with V5's against Rossi... ?It took ?em long enough, dinnit?? (Some might say?when it?s all over?if Honda do win, at last?)

Rant over! :rant:

BRING IT O-O-o-o-on-nnnnnnn!!! d04l1ng :neenaw:

 

[shropslad]

well said DA

Like I said B4,, anyone can ride a Honda GP bike,Most of the pros even say the Honda is a far superior machine but no one can ride a bike on worn tyres like Rossi,,,,,, :yo: he gets faster as the race goes on.

He has nothing to prove and, having done more for motorcycling as a sport and as a pastime than anyone in living memory he owes not a thing ? save to the loyalty of his fans.

even more More than foggy in the UK( up his own arse to much)IMHO
He always has a wave for the fans when most other riders have there mullet faces on( noticed in Le mans) .

 

[Gerrard]

Bollox! p0pc0rn41

Rossi is the fastest, most consistent rider of the MotoGP era, be it on an Aprillia, a Honda or a Yamaha ? or on a two- or a four-stroke machine. That makes him (certainly) the fastest and (probably) one of the most consistent riders of all time, regardless of machinery, technology and/or development initiatives?

?We?re talking seven years here?not a solitary weekend?

There?s nobody better qualified than he to say whatever he likes about MotoGP, ?luck? or the lack of it. He has nothing to prove and, having done more for motorcycling as a sport and as a pastime than anyone in living memory he owes not a thing ? save to the loyalty of his fans.

Hayden might win the title?.but if he does it will be Honda?s championship?.

Even with a grid loaded with V5's against Rossi... ?It took ?em long enough, dinnit?? (Some might say?when it?s all over?if Honda do win, at last?)

Rant over! :rant:

BRING IT O-O-o-o-on-nnnnnnn!!!

Your Honor...
As you have such a short memory shall I just remind you that it was, in fact, our own and much loved Barry Sheen who brought bike racing out of the dark ages and made it what it is today.
Plus, given your thoery (and don't shoot yourself in the foot here!) if it were to be Honda's championship and not Hayden's as you have said, then in the past it must have been Yamaha and Honda who have won the championships and not Rossi.
Hoist with your own petard methinks. Correct?

Zippo, soothsayer, teller of truth and tea drinker extraodinaire.(Tetley)

 

[Lebowski]

There?s nobody better qualified than he to say whatever he likes about MotoGP, ?luck? or the lack of it. He has nothing to prove and, having done more for motorcycling as a sport and as a pastime than anyone in living memory he owes not a thing ? save to the loyalty of his fans.

What has Rossi done for the sport?

Win races and? :dunno:

Attract more people to it by appearing on TV and in the newspapers? :dunno:

Sorry, but to suggest he is anything other than a genius on a motorcycle is taking things waaaaaaaay to far.

:neenaw:

 

[Dark Angel]

Your Honor...
As you have such a short memory shall I just remind you that it was, in fact, our own and much loved Barry Sheen who brought bike racing out of the dark ages and made it what it is today...Plus, given your thoery (and don't shoot yourself in the foot here!) if it were to be Honda's championship and not Hayden's as you have said, then in the past it must have been Yamaha and Honda who have won the championships and not Rossi.
Hoist with your own petard methinks. Correct?

Zippo, soothsayer, teller of truth and tea drinker extraodinaire.(Tetley)

Listen ?ere, Tetley 'ead! p0pc0rn41

Sheeny did bring bike racing out of the Dark Ages ? no doubt about it. He brought the same sense of fun, mischief and disdain for ?authority? that Rossi has demonstrated throughout his own career. The most significant difference between then and now is that then, in Sheeny?s day, if you didn?t have a competitive factory bike you couldn?t win anything. If ?the factory? didn?t like you, you were sidelined ? and that was it, as far as your career was concerned.

Now, though, not only has Honda sought to defeat Rossi but also, upon his defection to Yamaha, Honda promised: ?We will destroy Rossi? ? and it wasn?t an idle threat! Honda have done their best to make good their promise by loading the grid against Rossi to the point of what would have been impossible odds to any other than this most extraordinary racer. Remember; what we have witnessed has been not only a battle of wills: it has also been a battle of philosophies.

Valentino has always insisted that ?The rider is more important than the machine?. Until their humiliating defeats, Honda had always insisted that the machine was the crucial element in any competitive situation. Rossi proved them wrong to the point that even Honda executives admitted, when others who inherited the RC211V found it ?difficult?: ?We appreciate now that Valentino was so good that he was able to ride around the faults of the machine?. It?s taken almost three years, without Vale, for Honda to find a way to develop the bike to the point where somebody else could begin to compete with him (as long as he gave them a four-race start and rode a fifth race with a broken wrist on a bike that wouldn?t work!).

Short memory? Don?t you remember the complaints of only two seasons ago from Gibernau, Melandri and Biaggi, that the RCV was ?over-hyped?? Don?t you remember the general consensus that the Yamaha M1 was "uncompetitive" before Rossi took it to two, consecutive championship titles? Don?t you recall that only last season, Rossi and Yamaha won the Rider?s, Team and Constructor?s championships, respectively? Why? Because of Rossi, of course!

Why can?t you appreciate that Rossi has caused all the factories to acknowledge and to accept his assertion that the most important element in racing is the human element? Even Ducati changed their ways and started to listen to Loris Capirossi's opinions when Valentino started winning on the M1! Do you understand now why, when riders change teams, they take their engineers with them? It?s all down to Valentino Rossi!

Hailwood, Agostini, Sheen, Doohan, Fogarty ? none of them, either individually or as a group ? ever made the same level of impact upon motorcycling that Rossi has made during his unique career. For example, allegedly, sales of Yamaha motorcycles increased by 5 million units when Rossi switched from Honda. Televised broadcasting of motorcycle racing increased, world-wide, and coverage of MotoGP was introduced by the BBC as a direct result of the ?Rossi Phenomenon?. My dad watches bike racing; my son watches bike racing and my wife is a MotoGP nutter and more countries around the world want to host the MotoGP championship than ever before: all because of Rossi!

Congratulations to Rossi for winning the 2006 years championship.

I'll say it now as the championship is all over bar the shouting after the crashes at the Catalyna GP, and Rossi will win the title...Hayden has a slim hope to no hope of winning (and I think Slim just left town) Not counting this season Hayden has been in GPs for 3 years and I think the statistics stack against him. Totting up 17 races per season and the 7 races of this year plus an odd few in his first year, that's about 60 GPs under his belt BUT he has only won one. Rossi on the other hand in 60 odd races has won 35 plus, are you getting the picture...... For Hayden to win the championship he will have to pull at least 3 wins out of the bag from the remaining 10, which I can't see him doing given his track record....It's just too pie in the sky, I just cant see Hayden winning 3 GPs...But from now 'till the end of the championship Rossi has got all the aces stuffed firmly up his Italian sleeve...So well done Rossi for winning this years championship.

Shoot myself in the foot? g0nn3

Hoist on my own petard? :dunno:

I think not, my dear friend and surreptitious tea-slurper ? I think not! man8um

 

[Gerrard]

The story so far...

Your Honor...
Has your wig slipped over your eyes, you seem to be not to be seeing things too clearly?!

In a previous post you quoted that Rossi said - "the rider is more important than the bike", but another time you said it was Honda's bike that was winning and not Hayden. Surely you can't have it both ways, it's either one or the other my learned friend!
So going straight into the summing up - when Rossi wins, it's him and when Hayden wins it's the bike well that?s just pants your Honor, furthermore I will go on to say that in fact Hayden ain't on the best bike anyway as that privilege goes to Pedrosa , Melandri and Stoner, so there are only 4 Hondas that have a chance of winning the championship. Hayden?s bike is a development bike made up from bits and pieces, just as J. Mc Williams said a week ago. Plus if Yamaha only want to field 3 bikes well I suppose that?s up to them.

I concur, Rossi did do a good thing when he started the trend of taking his mechanics with him and also demanding the say on what he wants, and for that I take my hat off to him :bow: , but all that proves to me is Rossi is now competing on a bike designed to his spec and gives more kudos to riders in years gone ?cos they had to ride what they were given!

Now then, as for none of the others making the same impact - Really your honor, why has Ago?s run of 19 consecutive race wins not been beaten by Rossi?? He can?t even beat Doohan?s record of consecutive wins, or even the 14 in a season attained by Freddie Spencer. Also Spencer won the 250 and 500 championships in the same year and unless Rossi manages to bag his self a Tardis he ain?t never gonna match that!! . :tosser:
Also why if he is so great have the crowds gone from 125,000 at Donnington down to 75,000, don?t people in the UK want to see him?
Even knob-head Foggarty won the IOM TT and broke the lap record, has Rossi ??
Hailwood won GP?s in both bike and car classes, has Rossi ??
So there you have it. In his time Doohan rode with more injuries than Rossi?s got hairs on his head!!
I know I said Rossi would win this years Championship, and you know why I said that? Well I took YOUR advice your Honor, and you led me right up the garden path, cos you told me that Rossi was the best there ever was and I nearly believed you. That?s why I said he would win the championship! I still stand by what I said about Hayden, I know he will have to win 3 more GPs , he?s won 2 and I think he needs one more to capture the title. I thought it might have been a bit of a tough call for him to win 3 GPs but the boy has done well and he isn?t on the best bike either.
So to sum it all up then, if Rossi is The Man why is the championship not his then? Don?t say its the bike... after all its won the last 2 titles...

Zippo..Waiting for a reply from my Honorable Friend :bow: ..Plus I need to get to a chemist as i've got a headache as well.