Lorenzo ahead now, but on the other hand I expect him to start falling
off again when he starts to put pressure on himself. When he isn't
quite as fast he still believes he is... at least that's been his
pattern. Let's see.
Rossi is close enough -as always- to pounce and take advantage of any
mistake.
Ducati must be very happy with Hayden's results. Stoner is looking
like a total rookie, and given his pattern he can't continue to blame
it on bad luck alone. He is fast, but much like Lorenzo he tries to go
too fast too often.
Dovizioso finishes ahead of Pedrosa, again, and is ahead on points.
The days of Pedrosa at HRC should be numbered. HRC must know he is not
a rider that can get them the title unless they magically hand him a
bike that is very superior... and he does not know how to contribute
to bike development, period. His years in HRC betray that fact.
Spies for now seemingly and very disappointingly following the pattern
of WSB greats that underperform in MotoGP. Hopefully the trend changes
soon, but he is entitled to a learning season. Or two. :)
The bottom ten positions are quite close to each other in points, it
will be interesting how the season develops. And it is shocking to see
just how far ahead the official teams are, with the possible exception
of Melandri and De Puniet.
pablo wrote:
> Lorenzo ahead now, but on the other hand I expect him to start falling
> off again when he starts to put pressure on himself. When he isn't
> quite as fast he still believes he is... at least that's been his
> pattern. Let's see.
I wouldn't make that assumption just yet, I'll give him the benefit of
the doubt and consider he might well be maturing into a serious
championship challenger. In the post-race press conference he seemed
quite aware of the impact of mistakes.
> Rossi is close enough -as always- to pounce and take advantage of any
> mistake.
Still, with Lorenzo's team changes and his winter injury and the growing
wall in that garage, one might have assumed Rossi would have a nice
little lead at this point, instead of being down 9 points to his
teammate. One might almost consider Mugello to be a must-win situation
for Rossi now, at least in the psychological war.
> Ducati must be very happy with Hayden's results. Stoner is looking
> like a total rookie, and given his pattern he can't continue to blame
> it on bad luck alone. He is fast, but much like Lorenzo he tries to go
> too fast too often.
I found the post-race interview at MotoGP.com to be rather odd - Casey
seemed to be blaming the bike for his crash, and said Nick isn't going
fast enough to be any help in terms of dealing with the problems he's
got, and that he was the only guy who could have run with Jorge today,
that Jorge made the others "look silly". Kind of seemed like he is in a
bit of a state of denial. I also wonder if he's sort of "tone-deaf" when
it comes to front-end grip, he's crashed so many times on the front, and
at rather odd times.
Hayden, on the other hand, must have already made the other aliens sit
up and notice, make them realize the Ducati isn't a career-killer after
all, which could change the silly season math materially. Not to mention
that he's going to start to factor in that math as well, if he continues
to progress as he has to date. I believe 4th is the best he's ever done
at Le Mans (he was 5th in 2006, the only non-podium in his first 8 races
that year), his worst track, which is another good sign. Can't wait to
see how he does at Assen and Sachsenring, where he goes good, or even at
Silverstone, where everyone will be off their usual game.
> Dovizioso finishes ahead of Pedrosa, again, and is ahead on points.
> The days of Pedrosa at HRC should be numbered. HRC must know he is not
> a rider that can get them the title unless they magically hand him a
> bike that is very superior... and he does not know how to contribute
> to bike development, period. His years in HRC betray that fact.
Not sure what to think about Dani. On one hand, he's had everything
given to him at HRC and hasn't delivered, but on the other he's had a
lot of issues with tires and bikes, a bad time to be at Repsol (see
Hayden); but they were also making that bike just for him, but it didn't
really work, yet he's had some good races and makes a real effort, it
seems. Dunno, it's hard to say which alien I'd be least interested in if
I was hiring for next year, Dani or Casey.
I do think you have to put Pedro's performances relative to Dovi in the
winter testing context and acknowledge the suspension problem he's had.
Given that, I'm a little surprised he's done as well as he has, and has
fought very hard at the end of the last two races not to give up a
position to guys with superior pace.
> Spies for now seemingly and very disappointingly following the pattern
> of WSB greats that underperform in MotoGP. Hopefully the trend changes
> soon, but he is entitled to a learning season. Or two. :)
Eh, I don't see that at all, although to the extent that the SB guys
don't do better because of the disadvantages in effect imposed on them -
size/weight, Super250 bikes, 2nd-tier status, on top of lack of track
knowledge, etc. - I don't know that Spies won't be yet another victim.
Seems like things have very much gone off track for him since race day
at Le Mans, yet his pace was quite impressive on Friday. I'd say it's
just one of those things that happens, he still looks to be in another
leauge compared to the 250-sourced rookies.
> The bottom ten positions are quite close to each other in points, it
> will be interesting how the season develops. And it is shocking to see
> just how far ahead the official teams are, with the possible exception
> of Melandri and De Puniet.
Well, there are only 17 riders, and you have six serious factory guys
and six rookies, which only leaves five guys to fill the gap.
Anyway, three races in and the two guys who are most surprising
(relative to what expectations might have been before the season
started) are Lorenzo and Hayden, followed by Pedrosa and Spies, I think,
and the biggest disappointments are Stoner and then maybe Edwards
(really bad home round for Herve). Well see where it goes from here...
>I also wonder if he's sort of "tone-deaf" when it comes to front-end
>grip, he's crashed so many times on the front, and at rather odd times.
Except that the rear spun out on him this time. Spalding speculated the
same thing and that Ducati had put so much effort into rear grip that it
was now overpowering the front. Then had to eat his words when we saw
the helicopter shot a few seconds later.
>I think, and the biggest disappointments are Stoner and then maybe
>Edwards (really bad home round for Herve).
Edwards has had a pole and podiums at Le Mans. Like Haga, was last year
his last best shot?
--
Julian Bond E&MSN: julian_bond at voidstar.com M: +44 (0)77 5907 2173
Webmaster: http://www.ecademy.com/ T: +44 (0)192 0412 433
Personal WebLog: http://www.voidstar.com/ skype:julian.bond?chat
Untouched By Human Hand
> >I also wonder if he's sort of "tone-deaf" when it comes to front-end
> >grip, he's crashed so many times on the front, and at rather odd times.
> Except that the rear spun out on him this time. Spalding speculated the
> same thing and that Ducati had put so much effort into rear grip that it
> was now overpowering the front. Then had to eat his words when we saw
> the helicopter shot a few seconds later.
Except that in his interview with the BBC during the race, and in the
comments he made quoted on the MotoGP.com site, Casey says it was a
front end problem. I've got to admit it looked like the rear going in
the pictures. So is it possible that the front went first? Could the
racers in the group comment on whether it is possible for a rider to
mistake a rear end crash for a front end crash?
XML Sitemap
> off again when he starts to put pressure on himself. When he isn't
> quite as fast he still believes he is... at least that's been his
> pattern. Let's see.