Topic: Hero Worship....

[tsflstb]

I think Rossi is 12 points down.  There's 2 races left and he's going to let it all hang out.  It's his title again -- I think the point breakdown is 25 for 1st, 20 for second, 16 for third...etc.  So he can make up the deficit pretty easy.

Nicky Hayden is a hell of a guy.  I had the chance to ride little XR100 dirt bikes with him a few years ago before he was super-famous.  His ability to control a sliding motorcycle is incredible.  He has the raw talent to make a motorcycle go fast, but at the top level you need more.

Any rider on the MotoGP grid has the talent to win when his bike is set up perfectly, but the bikes are never set up perfectly.  The big difference between Rossi and everybody else is that he is always fast, every weekend.  The Yamaha has setup problems like every other bike, but you never hear him #$%*ing.  Look at Colin Edwards, rides the same factory bike as Rossi, but he's down around 8th or 10th every week. 

Rossi's crew may not give him the best bike every race, but he has the ability to ride around whatever problem he is having.  That's why he is the man to beat and has been all of his career.  Nicky may get to that point, but he doesn't have the raw talent Rossi has.  The only other rider I've seen like Rossi was the Australian Anthony Gobert.  He could win on inferior equpment, he could win in the rain, he could win when he was 30lbs overweight.  It all looked effortless.  It's a shame he liked to smoke weed more than he wanted to be a world champion.

[nickjtc]

The only other rider I've seen like Rossi was the Australian Anthony Gobert.  He could win on inferior equpment, he could win in the rain, he could win when he was 30lbs overweight.  It all looked effortless.  It's a shame he liked to smoke weed more than he wanted to be a world champion.

And what happened to him? He seems to have disappeared.

[tsflstb]

I thought he was racing Aussie Superbike a little.  He also had a wild card ride in one round of World Supersport earlier this year.  I think he finished 6th or 8th, which isn't bad.  He's been past his prime for a few years now and has burned his bridges with a lot of manufacturers.  I don't think anyone is going to give him another shot at the big leagues.  It's a pretty sad story.  He seems like a pretty well grounded guy, he just made some bad choices.

[ieism]

Hayden is the only one this year who scored point every race. He got lucky, that's the only reason he's still ahead off Rossi.
Hayden is not even that fast most off the time. Rossi, Capirossi and Pedrosa have been beating Hayden's times almost every race (pole position & fastest racelap).
IMO Hayden is not as talanted as Rossi. What amazed most people this year was not Rossi's victories, but Pedrosa's! It's so easy to forget he's the rookie this year.

[nickjtc]

What amazed most people this year was not Rossi's victories, but Pedrosa's! It's so easy to forget he's the rookie this year.

Especially lately with a chunk out of his knee.

[tsflstb]

Hayden is the only one this year who scored point every race. He got lucky, that's the only reason he's still ahead off Rossi.

Agreed.  Rossi and Caparossi both had like 3 or 4 DNF's this year, so they've spotted Hayden a good head start.  He is being smart about protecting the points lead, but I'd really like to see him mix it up with those guys and show what he's got.  Hopefully we'll get to see those three racing in close quarters at the last two tracks.

I think Pedrosa is some kind of genetically engineered experiment Honda made to win the championship.  He has the talent to dominate the series.  I think he's still a little timid at times when he needs to get past a slower rider.  Some of that may be he's just not used to the big size and power of the bike.  We do forget it's only his first year.  He's doing a hell of a job.

I think with the 800cc bikes next year, Pedrosa may be the man to beat.  He will have the best bike.  Honda's massive budget for racing always gives them a jump on the competition when the rules change.  The smaller displacement bikes will behave more like the 250's he's used to.  It will be interesting to watch and see how Rossi adjusts to the changes too.

[nickjtc]

It will be interesting to watch and see how Rossi adjusts to the changes too.

Yes, especially since he has historically spent a year 'trying out' the new class before going on to dominate it, as he did from 125 to 250 and from 250 to 500.

Here is an interesting overview of motorcycle racing champions:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Grand_Prix_motorcycle_racing_World_Champions

So, who is 'the one' in your opinion. Rossi? Doohan? Roberts? Hailwood?...................over to you

[ieism]

Agostini

[nickjtc]

Agostini

Good choice.....but did he have much serious competition for some of his peak years?