2010 Silly Season

[Spidey]

ok, he majorly messed up in estoril '06 and he has no (american) personality, but, seriously, what is so wrong with pedro?  i don't get it.

[EvilSteve]

I'm with gm2. My big issue with Pedrosa is actually Puig. It's fun to make fun of Pedro but in reality he's very fast & a very talented rider. I'm fine with him being on a Ducati. I'm also fine with making him the butt of jokes.

[gm2]

yeah, i don't mind making fun of him... ... but in reality i think he's an incredibly fast, determined little dude.

i'm sure that if i were 5' 90-whatever lbs and i got hurt even a fraction of what he's been through in the last couple years i'd be out permanently

and i've seen him give spanish interviews... certainly his personality is a bit stoic, but he does have one.  not that i really care one way or the other.

[Spidey]

He's a great rider.  There's no doubt about that.  I actually think he's better than a lot give him credit for, and on par with Lorenzo, Rossi and Stoner (if anyone can really be on-par with Rossi).  And there's no doubt about his determination.  In fact, he's so determined that he won't even let his championship-contending teammate get in his way.

I dislike him for Estoril.  If he apologized (I'm sure he did, but I don't remember), he didn't do it loudly enough that I remember it.  make the beast with two backs that.  And I'll always hold against Douchey McHalfSize that Puig said it was Nicky's fault.  For example. as much as I wanna vomit down Douchebrizio's throat and kick his mom in her junk, at least he ran over to The Ben and immediatey apologized.  And apologized.  And apologized.  Ben wasn't even his teammate, and Fabrizio is in the championship hunt.  Pedrosa's move on Nicky, in contrast, was TOTALLY inexcusable and without sufficient remorse.  He deserves to be hated for that. 

I also don't like that the make the beast with two backser can't smile.  I don't need racers to be clowns ala Rossi (circa early 2000s) or Haga, but I'd like them to have a shred of personality.  Jeebus, you get to race motorcycles for a living, Dani.  At least grin without it looking like you're having a hot poker shoved up your ass.

As far as on track, I don't really like watching his riding style.  I'm not sure why, but I get bored by him on track.  There's rarely a good dice and he likes to lead from the front.  He's also really controlled, which is amazing technically, but not as fun to watch.  I can't explain it more than that.  Maybe it's my off-track dislike of him carrying over.  On the flip side, there is some interesting stuff.  He takes totally different lines than everyone else (because he weighs little more than a watermelon), and he's absolutely the best as visibly and dynamically picking the bike up to drive out of turns.  I also like it when he put himself into the airfence like a Looney Toons character. 

Did I mention him taking out Nicky and not being able to smile?

[EvilSteve]

I'm a Kimi fan so the no personality thing doesn't phase me in the slightest. One of my favorite moments in the 2007 season was watching the post race interview when Kimi actually smiled, it was awesome!

The incident that most people hate on Pedrosa for is more down to Puig, he's the one who said it was Hayden's fault. Puig is the reason there's any doubt that Pedrosa wouldn't be at HRC next year. To put it bluntly, Puig is a self serving asshole living his failed racing dreams through one of the most talented GP riders. He's latched on to the kid body snatchers style & in reliving his pathetically failed life he's make the beast with two backsing up Pedrosa's chance at glory. He's a make the beast with two backsing world-class, grade-a douchebag for which Pedrosa seems to be blamed more often than not.

[zooom]

Puig is a self serving asshole living his failed racing dreams through one of the most talented GP riders. He's latched on to the kid body snatchers style & in reliving his pathetically failed life he's make the beast with two backsing up Pedrosa's chance at glory. He's a make the beast with two backsing world-class, grade-a douchebag for which Pedrosa seems to be blamed more often than not.

I would say as more of an incubus or a succubus (depending on the level of "pregnant dog" you assess to Puig in his general presence) than a body snatching leech or moreso like a tick on a dog.

[Jester]

You know, even going back to Pedro's flop in Estoril.... he 'did' have a mathematical chance at the championship, and Honda had no team orders.  Pedro 'could' have possibly won in 06' if the cards fell right.  Racing is exciting because we have no idea what's going to happen on any given weekend.  Lets say Pedro wins Estoril and Hayden bins it anyway.  Nobody knows.  Hell if Rossi doesn't bin it at Valencia, he probably takes the championship.  Those guys race to win, not to hand over trophies to other riders.  Hell, imo Rossi binned it at Valencia pushing too hard trying to get past a batshit fast Casey Stoner.  Its ironic.  Or what if Elias decides to gift the win to Rossi since he has no chance to win the championship.  The racers typically have no interest in handing anything to anyone.  Team orders are crap for the sport anyway.  Its motorsports.  Let the best man win, and not because his teammate is ordered to hold up other drivers or backoff.

I am by no means sticking up for Pedro, but there is more than one viewpoint to what happened during Estoril in 06'.  Pedro didn't mean to take out Hayden, it just happens.  I'm sure Fabrizio didn't want to take out Ben and would have liked gaining on Haga himself, but well, you know... it um, happens. 

Nicky Hayden: Yeah, well this son of a pregnant dog just slammed into me.
Albert Puig: No, no, he didn't slam you, he didn't bump you, he didn't nudge you... he *rubbed* you. And rubbin, son, is racin'

[gm2]

according to nicky he did apologize sufficiently.  but i agree, on-track and on-camera would have been a LOT better.  he also helped nicky at valencia (team orders or not, i'm sure he could have gotten away with not doing that), so that was cool.  i mean, too little, too late.. but still cool. 

i guess i just don't stay that mad for 3 years. 

that being said, spidey, your reasons are both funny and reasonable. 

[potomacduc]

So, even assuming Stoner comes back to compete for the full slate in 2010, Ducati cannot put all of their eggs in his basket.  I like Stoner and and I am still rooting for him, but there is clearly a crack in his armor.  That doesn't mean he can't or won't win another championship, but it does mean he is a riskier proposition.  In the cold hard world of competition, that is untenable.  Therefore, Ducati needs a true contender on its second bike.  If Pedrosa re-signs with Repsol Honda who does that leave?  While Nicky is looking better, I think his days of being a true contender are over. The only problem with scrathcing him off the list is that I'm not sure there are any other options.  DeAngelis has looked good on satellite rides, but is overall unproven.   Hayden vs. DeAngelis is the basic "known commodity" vs. "upside" scenario.  While DeAngelis is not that young, this is only his second season in MotoGP and he does seem to be improving.  There is the (admittredly) slim hope that he has the untapped potential to be a race winner andnot just grid filler.  The question for Ducati is do you go for the little upside that DeAngelis offers or do you keep Nicky and his US fan base around?  These are not two great choices, but they seem to be Ducati's two best.  Hopefully Stoner comes back strong and finishes the season with a couple of wins and locks in on next year and makes this entire conversation moot.

[gm2]

So, even assuming Stoner comes back to compete for the full slate in 2010, Ducati cannot put all of their eggs in his basket.  I like Stoner and and I am still rooting for him, but there is clearly a crack in his armor.  That doesn't mean he can't or won't win another championship, but it does mean he is a riskier proposition.  In the cold hard world of competition, that is untenable.  Therefore, Ducati needs a true contender on its second bike.  If Pedrosa re-signs with Repsol Honda who does that leave?  While Nicky is looking better, I think his days of being a true contender are over. The only problem with scrathcing him off the list is that I'm not sure there are any other options.  DeAngelis has looked good on satellite rides, but is overall unproven.   Hayden vs. DeAngelis is the basic "known commodity" vs. "upside" scenario.  While DeAngelis is not that young, this is only his second season in MotoGP and he does seem to be improving.  There is the (admittredly) slim hope that he has the untapped potential to be a race winner andnot just grid filler.  The question for Ducati is do you go for the little upside that DeAngelis offers or do you keep Nicky and his US fan base around?  These are not two great choices, but they seem to be Ducati's two best.  Hopefully Stoner comes back strong and finishes the season with a couple of wins and locks in on next year and makes this entire conversation moot.

the other major factor you're leaving out is that, saving maaaybe nicky (we hope... the whole dirt track background thing is why everyone thought him getting the ride was a good idea in the first place), no one besides casey can ride The Career Killer.  riders are actively saying No to it.

[pennyrobber]

the other major factor you're leaving out is that, saving maaaybe nicky (we hope... the whole dirt track background thing is why everyone thought him getting the ride was a good idea in the first place), no one besides casey can ride The Career Killer.  riders are actively saying No to it.

Fine... I'll ride the damn thing. I can't do much worse than Marco did.

[gm2]

Fine... I'll ride the damn thing. I can't do much worse than Marco did.

true.  even if you're 5 minutes back, last is still last.    =)

[potomacduc]

the other major factor you're leaving out is that, saving maaaybe nicky (we hope... the whole dirt track background thing is why everyone thought him getting the ride was a good idea in the first place), no one besides casey can ride The Career Killer.  riders are actively saying No to it.

Perhaps, but there simply aren't many other rides left out there.  My premise was that Pedrosa signs with Repsol.  That means two of the three teams that have won races this season are full.   The second tier Honda team is full (Melandri and Simoncelli).  Beyond those three teams, I think it's hard to argue that anyone else offers a better chance at winning than Ducati.  The third tier Honda teams (Scot, LCR) don't. Suzuki doesn't and they're full anyways.  I don't think Hayate is going to be around for 2010.  That leaves the two open slots on Tech 3 as the only slots that are arguably better than the Ducati factory team.  So, while the Ducati may strike fear into the hearts of many racers, it still is a rare commodity: a seat on a full factory MotoGP team.  To a talented rider who thinks he's a contender, that has to be appealing.  A rider like that is not going to slink off to WSBK.  The GP riders who have done that, notably Biaggi and Checa, were on the downward ends of their careers.  I don't think a young rider with promise and an ego to match would  turn down the chance for a full factory ride to ride WSBK. 

[pennyrobber]

 The second tier Honda team is full (Melandri and Simoncelli). 

Hell yeah, team Marco!

[derby]

I don't think Hayate is going to be around for 2010. 

you haven't heard the rumors that they may lease yamaha motors?

That leaves the two open slots on Tech 3 as the only slots that are arguably better than the Ducati factory team.  So, while the Ducati may strike fear into the hearts of many racers, it still is a rare commodity: a seat on a full factory MotoGP team.  To a talented rider who thinks he's a contender, that has to be appealing.  A rider like that is not going to slink off to WSBK.  The GP riders who have done that, notably Biaggi and Checa, were on the downward ends of their careers.  I don't think a young rider with promise and an ego to match would  turn down the chance for a full factory ride to ride WSBK. 

kallio did just that a few weeks ago AND he's already on the duc.