2010 Silly Season

[swampduc]

i'm sorry, was that test in a hurricane? 

I think The Ben would place 5th in GP. I am basing that on Nothing.

[ducpainter]

I think Ben might beat both Edwards and Yorgie...given equal equipment.

He's more talented than Colin, and a more mature racer than Lorenzo IMO.

He's really impressed me this year.

But I'm not betting on it....yet.

[Triple J]

Edwards sure...I doubt he'd beat Lorenzo. At least not yet.

[gm2]

y'all haven't watched Assen race 1 lately, have you...

=)

[EvilSteve]

I don't know if I'd say Spies is more talented than Edwards. SBK Championship 2002 ring any bells? At this stage in his career I think Edwards will be hard pressed to match or beat Spies.

[ducpainter]

I don't know if I'd say Spies is more talented than Edwards. SBK Championship 2002 ring any bells? At this stage in his career I think Edwards will be hard pressed to match or beat Spies.

If I add 'at this juncture' will it work?

[derby]

well, it seems that the "haga is going to retire at the end of this season" rumors were unfounded:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Sep/090921z.htm

[Speeddog]

Who is this "Farbizio" guy? 

[Spidey]

well, it seems that the "haga is going to retire at the end of this season" rumors were unfounded:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Sep/090921z.htm

Makes sense as a CYA move.  Either Haga wins this year, in which case he gets the championship he's wanted for so long.  Or The Ben wins this year and goes to GP, removing a major obstable to Nori winning next year.

[bigiain]

Makes sense as a CYA move.  Either Haga wins this year, in which case he gets the championship he's wanted for so long.  Or The Ben wins this year and goes to GP, removing a major obstable to Nori winning next year.

What, just like when Bayliss left, or Toseland left, or Edwards left - FFS, how old is Haga? For all I know I could add Fogarty and Kocinsky to that list without being too out of line!

 

{edit}Yep, Haga came 7th the last year Fogarty won, and the WSBK website won't show me stats further back than that - it _does_ tell me he's been riding WSBK since _1994!_, so I can add Troy COrser to that list, but not Scott Russell...

big

[Spidey]

What, just like when Bayliss left, or Toseland left, or Edwards left - FFS, how old is Haga? For all I know I could add Fogarty and Kocinsky to that list without being too out of line!

 

{edit}Yep, Haga came 7th the last year Fogarty won, and the WSBK website won't show me stats further back than that - it _does_ tell me he's been riding WSBK since _1994!_, so I can add Troy COrser to that list, but not Scott Russell...

big

I never said that Nori wouldn't somehow find a way to not win the championship in 2010 if The Ben wins this year.  I just said that it makes sense.    

Yeah, he's old as dirt. 

[derby]

What, just like when Bayliss left, or Toseland left, or Edwards left - FFS, how old is Haga? For all I know I could add Fogarty and Kocinsky to that list without being too out of line!

 

{edit}Yep, Haga came 7th the last year Fogarty won, and the WSBK website won't show me stats further back than that - it _does_ tell me he's been riding WSBK since _1994!_, so I can add Troy COrser to that list, but not Scott Russell...

big

the first four years of that (1994-1997) were (mostly) wildcard spots.

haga and russell were teammates at yamaha for the 1998 season. haga finished higher than russell in the championship that year (6th to russell's 10th).

honestly, haga's best championship shots to date have been 2000 (dq for ephedrine), 2004 (privateer ducati kept breaking and he still finished 3rd), and 2007 (lost to toseland by 2 points)...

[zooom]

  Either Haga wins this year, in which case he gets the championship he's wanted for so long.  Or The Ben wins this year and goes to GP, removing a major obstable to Nori winning next year.

not necesarily so easy....with the looming possibility of JT coming back to WSBK from GP and the Mole and gawd knows whom or what else in the superbike shuffle, it is anyone's game as to whom or what will be at the front of next years grid....

[Jester]

I think Ben might beat both Edwards and Yorgie...given equal equipment.

I think Ben would beat Edwards, but saying he'd step right in and beat Jorge means you're saying Ben is essentially Rossi's equal.  I don't see Ben on that level.  I think he'll need a season to come to grips with the GP bikes.  The tires/grip levels are in another world compared to what he rides on, as are the electronics and power delivery.  I'd have him fighting with Dovi/Edwards for the 5th spot.  If Stoner comes back 100%, he's a weekly top 3 lock with Jorge and Vale.  Pedro is too inconsistant, but still wraps up that top 4 slot.

[COWBOY]

If Ben doesn't have the exact same bike as Lorenzo/Rossi then he won't get within 2 secs of them on race day at least not without one of them making a riders error.  

GP is as much about the bike/package as it is the rider when it comes to winning and placing on the podium consistently.

With a full factory bike and full factory support I'll put my money on Ben.  Without it no way no how.

He's wicked fast AND his racecraft is smart as hell (the last 3 laps of Race 1 last race were great the way he toyed and worked Haga before putting the hammer down last lap)  AND he will fight for a close win.  Noone on the GP grid has all 3 of those to the same level outside of Rossi -- and I like Ben's chances there as well.


EDIT  -- My own post got me thinking LOL.  Just for laughs here's where I'd grade the contenders in these three fields (like Madden ratings for a video game for speed, strength, awareness etc).

                   FAST                 RCRFT                  FIGHT

Rossi               9                      10                        10
Stoner            10                      8                          8
Lorenzo           9                       7                          8
Pedrosa           9                       6                          7
Hayden           7                       8                          9
Dovi                8                       5                          7
Spies               9                      10                         9