[SPOILERS] MotoGP 2009 Round 2 -- Motogei, Japan

[gm2]

Hayden rode out a good race in second place

...third.  bayliss and capirossi were out of reach.

[desmoquattro]

Pedrosa is a douchebag

Come on, Carlos...that's rather cruel to douchebags.

[Desmostro]

Statistics:


Total number of Grand Prix wins by Italians    :   702
208   500cc/MotoGp class
190   250cc class
216    125cc Class

1st place all time wins ITALY

Total number of Grand Prix wins by Americans:  172
153   500cc/MotoGp class
19     250cc class
0     125cc Class

4th place all time winnings USA


Italy has more wins in 125cc than the USA has total.
Nicky's win at Laguna was #153. That's pretty huge if you give it a little perspective.
When Vale wins it's a drop in the bucket.

[derby]

those numbers are skewed by the inordinate number of europeans in the smaller gp classes.

the stats for premier class only aren't so uneven.

[Desmostro]

those numbers are skewed by the inordinate number of europeans in the smaller gp classes.

the stats for premier class only aren't so uneven.

True. It's funny though that I think we in the US kind of tend to discredit the smaller cc classes.
When Vale won his "8th," I heard many people & media say, "uh...no, 6 wins. The first 2 were in the 'baby-GP' class."   

[Jester]

...third.  bayliss and capirossi were out of reach.

I stand corrected.  If memory serves right, Hayden had the pace to fight for victory, but backed off after Rossi was clearly out of contention?  I remember watching that race, but its slightly foggy.  I think Rossi was having a hell of a time getting past Stoner and pushed it too hard... I think.

[Jester]

True. It's funny though that I think we in the US kind of tend to discredit the smaller cc classes.
When Vale won his "8th," I heard many people & media say, "uh...no, 6 wins. The first 2 were in the 'baby-GP' class."   

I know we've gone around on this topic before, but you could almost argue that the lower class championships hold more weight due to the nature of close racing that those machines bring to the table.

[derby]

True. It's funny though that I think we in the US kind of tend to discredit the smaller cc classes.
When Vale won his "8th," I heard many people & media say, "uh...no, 6 wins. The first 2 were in the 'baby-GP' class."   

not me. i only say so in this case because it's rather uncommon for americans to participate in the 125 and 250gp classes.

[GregP]

Slightly off topic, has Vale ever run the number 1 plate?  Maybe back when he won a "baby moto-gp"?

[desmoquattro]

Slightly off topic, has Vale ever run the number 1 plate?  Maybe back when he won a "baby moto-gp"?

I don't believe so. He's always said that #1 is very heavy....

[derby]

Slightly off topic, has Vale ever run the number 1 plate?  Maybe back when he won a "baby moto-gp"?

nope... he's always run his dad's competition number.

[derby]

http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/146074/1/bridgestone_apologises_for_pedrosa_tyre.html

[Spidey]

Holy crap.  How did he ride on that thing?!?

[duccarlos]

Holy crap.  How did he ride on that thing?!?

Cause he's a talented douchebag.

[Grampa]

Holy crap.  How did he ride on that thing?!?

that's nothing
I've personally have been witness to observing Luca ride on a tire with less meat on it.... and doing it pantsless