Assen, another view...

 I guess none of the Geeber folks want to comment of the torpedo move he
put on Nicky, how quickly you forget! The only difference was that
Hayden has much better situational awareness than Sete did at Jerez, and
pulled up! Colin did the same kind of move on Geeber at the same place,
but it wasn't overly aggressive, like Sete's "move" on Hayden was. Oh
well...

All in all, pretty good race, had Edwards got a better start I think he
would've got Marco before the flag. It looks like Team Yam does have
something going on with the tires, as both riders used the same set up.
I hope Marco was paying attention, because he got one hell of a
"schoolin'" by Rossi.

As far as Laguna goes, you would think Nicky might have an advantage.
He's done well (sort of) recently, but don't count out Colin. Even
though the place hasn't been real friendly to him, well, I got a feeling
all that might change. L/S might also put some innuendo's to rest as far
as Vale goes too, he's never seen the place, but if he kicks ass,
(again) it should put all that crap to bed, we'll see.....

"Hoppy" needs a real ride, the kids bustin' his ass for nothing!

 T3 wrote:

Well, the other differences were that it wasn't the last corner of the
race (Nicky wouldn't have been so generous if it was) and that bend is
faster than the corner at Jerez. That's kind of how one passes at Assen.
But, yes, an "aggressive" move, and Nicky has that one stocked away in
the back of his mind, I'm sure...


Not really, he's just getting closer to the front but got beat by Rossi,
like so many before him. If you're looking foprward to where he might
break through, look to Brno and Motegi later in the summer. He'll
probably have to deal with Biaggi at Brno and Capirossi at Motegi (where
the Bridgestones and Ducati HP will be big) as well as Rossi, and
hopefully Hayden and Edwards riding on momentum derived from Laguna. But
maybe his best chances. Rossi's results got kind of spotty for a while
after his Mugello-Catalunya-Assen sweep last year, and it could happen
again...


At this point last year Rossi went to Rio and qualified 8th and crashed
in the race, and the last time he was at a track he's never seen before
was at Losail, where he also qualified 8th and crashed. If the future is
a reflection of the past, don't bet too heavily on Vale next week...


He's bustin' his ass for a real ride - he's only 22 and it's all about
the future. Could get it next year, because there are a number of old
guys who are on their last legs right now. Guys who look to be
unemployed later this year are Biaggi (replaced by Pedrosa,
unfortunately), Bayliss (probably replaced by Vermuelen), maybe Checa
and Barros. The other guy who should be a hot property is Nakano,
although I don't recall his contract status and you know how peculiar
the Japanese are about hiring Japanese riders from another factory. But
Yamaha would be wise to fill that wasted Xaus seat with this guy, who's
been there before...

 Mark N wrote:

Sete said he didn't see Vale at Jerez, it was obvious Nicky had better
situational awareness at Assen, but I agree, he put that one in the
"gimme box" for a another day...

Trying to stay close to him at the end and not having someone all over
his ass, was *the* perfect time to learn something from the best racer
in the game, if he was smart, he was paying attention...

I remember, but it's hard to put money against him just because he's
never been there, we'll see...

I hope the hell he gets one before he gets hurt on that damn Zuki, WTF
are they doing anyhow?

 T3 wrote:

Yes, I'd agree, but your use of the expression "schooled" had me
thinking of the B-ball sense of the word, of getting shown up,
embarrassed, looking like a rook. That didn't happen to Melandri, which
is what I was saying.


It's more than that, I think. That Mugello-Catalunya-Assen run seems
very important to Rossi. He's swept it 3 of the last 4 years, last year
it put him in command of the championship, this year it essentially
clinched it, and they are probably the three most important races of the
year from the European standpoint, particularly the EuroMed 125-250
crowd. So maybe he's due for a big breath after that. Last year he kind
of slumped for two races after that, and the same in '03.

And it's not just that he's not familiar with the place, unlike Losail
there are fast guys out there who are - Hayden and Edwards, Biaggi and
Capirossi, even Checa and Hopkins. So he's actually at a disadvantage
compared to other guys in terms of track knowledge, which is a first for
him, I believe. He may be up for a race which is a pretty big deal,
particularly after that Indy F1 debacle, so he'll be trying. But my
prediction is that you shouldn't be counting on dominance.

Then again, I've been wrong about Rossi before...


Winning the AMA and WSB championships...

 Mark N wrote:

WTF

I think that much credit goes to Yoshimura, at least for the AMA
dominance.  Privateer Suzukis are near the back of the pack.  And
it doesn't help to have the best rider on the best bike.

But WRT MotoGP, you didn't answer the question -- why are they
content to play and not win?  The bike they have isn't helping
them do squat.