PI testing...

Wow, is it true Bayliss is considering retirement? If that's really going
through his mind, he migt not be a factor at all this year. Shame.

Interesting to see Doohan's comments on Biaggi (well, several people seemed
to voice similar views on the Faster DVD), saying he doesn't think Biaggi
can steer bike development, and claiming Rossi is the only one that can
truly do that in today's MotoGP field (which is a devastating criticism of
the entire field, by the way). I sort of expect Hayden to emerge as number 1
quite quickly, this really could be the year. Biaggi just sounds a bit
dettached (consistently talking about Honda as "they" when he's in the works
team) and seemingly is still not in the best physical condition after his
injury. Not good signs from Biaggi.

....pablo

 

I really doubt Hayden will do better than Biaggi or Sete. But we shall
see. I hope I am wrong.

I would like to see Bayliss back in WSB myself. He is never going
to do anything on a 10th place bike. He looked ok in year 1 on the Duc,
then the Duc sucked last year, he leaves and now it looks to be
a bit better.

I think the top 5 points will end like this:

1) Rossi (the rest of the wins)
2) Biaggi (maybe 3 wins)
3) Sete ( a couple of wins)
4) Edwards (winless)
5) Hayden (maybe 1 win)

 

Eventually, it is inevitable. Merely a question of age. However, I think
this might be the year. Hayden is very methodical and smart in his approach.
That he's fast, he's proven often in the past. It's the other two elements
that are very encouraging about him. Biaggi seems to be already setting
himself up for failure. Instead of psyching his opponents with statements of
planned dominance, he's going all ho-hum. Injury, the bike has problems...
shut up, Max, you're on Number 1 HRC, the most winning team and bike in
MotoGP history. Do you job and the title is within reach. Every other claim
is crap.

Hold on there, *both* Camel Hondas scored wins last season... Nothing
indicates they're as hopeless as you indicate. The problem here seems to be
Bayliss, not necessarily the bike, and it is a clear indication that MotoGP
*does* have a very high level, which Bayliss has repeatedly acknowledged in
the past himself. One great thing about Bayliss is that he seldom makes
excuses, and openly gives kudos to his peers.

Oh, it's true, with a few weeks to go we should get the predicitions thing
going. I am waiting until after the next test...

....pablo

 

I agree that the Camel Hondas won last year, but I think Troy's bike
will be more like Colin's bike from last year as far as support is
concerned.
I just do not believe that Troy's bike will be nearly as good (relative to
the other Hondas) as Tamada's or Biaggi's bike from last year.
'
Shane

 

Well, Troy is having problems with chatter like Colin did. I know
that all of Honda riders have mentioned problems with chatter, but
the top riders seem to have that problem much less. Last year
Honda promised equal support for everyone and that didn't happen.
This year they have promised not to give equal support. I do not
think anyone would say that Troy will get the support of Hayden,
Biaggi, or Sete (or Tamada). Already he is at least 5th in
the pecking order. I am not making excuses for Troy though. I
think his results so far in testing have been pretty bad. Even
at his home track.

 

Maybe to him the race itself is all he worries about. Maybe other people's
psychs don't impress him.


--
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Thanks, robots.

 

Nobody's mentioned an odd little scene on the 3rd day. Sete had some
chassis bits that Max hadn't tested. So the HRC guys remove them from
Sete's bike and put them on Max's. Sete has nothing else to test so he
doesn't even bother to go out and fly's home early instead in a huff.

Seems to me Honda are playing exactly the same games they played last
year. Max is the only #1. No, Sete's fully supported, no Max is #1. Oh
dear Sete is #1 in points. Yes but Max is #1. So if you want a
prediction, Rossi will get some wins and be consistently top 5 on his
off days. Max and Sete will get some wins but will have some terrible
off days and will take some points off each other. Edwards, Hayden,
Tamada, Capirossi, Checa, will get podiums, might even get a win but
will take more points off Max and Sete than they will off Rossi. Rossi
will take huge delight in screwing with Max and Sete's heads while
talking up Capirossi. Honda will try and solve all this by throwing more
money and technology at Max mid season until Max's head is spinning
trying to work out what to do and what works. Max then falls off one too
many times, gifting the championship to Rossi.

But what if it rains?

--
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I think it's more of an evidence of how fortunate the connection between
Rossi and Doohan in rossi's first years in GP was. They obviously speak the
same language and that put Rossi/Doohans team right on top. This sport has
so many factors and apart from rider skill. The cooperation between team and
rider is one of the more important.
That's my first objection against rating/explaining positions based on rider
skill and equipment alone.

/MBE

 

I actually think Doohan rode *much* harder around a bike's problems than
ever rider since. Rossi, superior to the rest of the field as he is now, in
my opinion represents the new generation of higher paid, more glamorous, yet
less ruthlessly reckless riders. He does what he has to do to win. If there
was still someone of the caliber of Doohan or Lawson or Rainey around, I
think Rossi would be riding at a safe distance behind, but with a smile on
his face enjoying riding as much as ever.

That has always been the case, though. It's easy to forget, looking back on
MotoGP history, that it wasn't always the "purest best natural rider" that
won the title. Long and venerable history of the beter connected rider
beating the public's darling. Remember Roberts got better Yamaha's than
Sheene ever got. Read got better Honda's than Ivy got. Etc etc...

That's however how all us fans rationalize away our particular biases. I
still maintain Lucchinelli would have won 6 titles with proper factory
support. And all that is cool.

....pablo