2010 MotoGP Round 16 -- Philip Island (Spoilers)

[koko64]

I think it will be five Aliens next year with Spies on a factory bike. Mladin made him tough. He won't take any shit from Rossi.

[ZLTFUL]

I think it will be five Aliens next year with Spies on a factory bike. Mladin made him tough. He won't take any shit from Rossi.

As much as I love Mat, he is no Rossi. If he was or even thought he was on that level, do you honestly think he would have "settled" for AMA?

[derby]

As much as I love Mat, he is no Rossi. If he was or even thought he was on that level, do you honestly think he would have "settled" for AMA?

that's not what he's saying. having mat as a teammate made ben a better racer in many ways, including the "ignore the stupid shit your teammate does to try and get in your head".

also, if you follow mat's career, he didn't exactly "settle" for the ama. he was thrown to the wolves on the cagiva (500gp) team in the mid 90s and subsequently ended up racing ama superbike where he became one of the highest paid motorcycle racers in the world. he was making more than most (if not all) the worldsuperbike racers and most of the gp racers (with obvious exceptions).

we've covered this elsewhere.

[duccarlos]

also, if you follow mat's career, he didn't exactly "settle" for the ama. he was thrown to the wolves on the cagiva (500gp) team in the mid 90s and subsequently ended up racing ama superbike where he became one of the highest paid motorcycle racers in the world. he was making more than most (if not all) the worldsuperbike racers and most of the gp racers (with obvious exceptions).

we've covered this elsewhere.

Yep, this is a derby.

[Chococat]

I think it will be five Aliens next year with Spies on a factory bike. Mladin made him tough. He won't take any shit from Rossi.

Spies is the one guy who right now I think is level headed enough to not be lured by Rossi's mind games. Just like in Stoner I already see the cracks in Lorenzo's armor. If he's not dominating right away next year he will crack and begin to crash again. Remember Stoner was crash prone before that dominant  year with Ducati and is now back to his old ways. Lorenzo will be the same.

Spies however, is pretty ice cold and just seems like the kind of guy who is more than willing to bang fairings. I've said it before, I'm more worried about him than anyone else. Ben seems like the silent but deadly type. 

[derby]

Spies is the one guy who right now I think is level headed enough to not be lured by Rossi's mind games. Just like in Stoner I already see the cracks in Lorenzo's armor. If he's not dominating right away next year he will crack and begin to crash again. Remember Stoner was crash prone before that dominant  year with Ducati Bridgestone and is now back to his old ways. Lorenzo will be the same.

Spies however, is pretty ice cold and just seems like the kind of guy who is more than willing to bang fairings. I've said it before, I'm more worried about him than anyone else. Ben seems like the silent but deadly type. 

fixed that for ya.

[ducpainter]

I like Ben, but he did get roughed up pretty good in the beginning of that race.

No one is immune from getting set back a bit.

[koko64]

Spies is the one guy who right now I think is level headed enough to not be lured by Rossi's mind games. Just like in Stoner I already see the cracks in Lorenzo's armor. If he's not dominating right away next year he will crack and begin to crash again. Remember Stoner was crash prone before that dominant year with Ducati and is now back to his old ways. Lorenzo will be the same.

Spies however, is pretty ice cold and just seems like the kind of guy who is more than willing to bang fairings. I've said it before, I'm more worried about him than anyone else. Ben seems like the silent but deadly type. 

Yeah, Mladin seems like a hard man, and being exposed to that at such a young age and still prevailing shows the kind of stuff Spies is made of. He overthrew Mladin and withstood all his pressure, this will prepare him well for Rossi who is revealing just how ruthless he is behind the clown mask. Smiling assassin Vs Silent assassin.

Just ask Biaggi, Gibernau, Stoner, Lorenzo and now Nicky. When Spies wins the championship one day he will look back and think how much of a favour Mladin did him (well maybe).

[zenjim]

Sorry, but I can't get enough of Stoner's slow-mo slide.

I like that Rossi rode like he was pissed. Looked that way anyway.

Spies post-race interview upon being told he was rookie of the year:
“I hate to burst everybody’s bubble but the rookie thing is not something I really set out to do,” said Spies. “If I was second I wouldn’t have been upset because everybody was riding well. I’m focused on my own deal and worried about everybody finishing in front of me, and not who has been finishing behind me. It’s an achievement but not something I’ll go and have a beer for. I’m just happy to be fighting and we had a good race.”

Spies = 2011 Moto GP Champ. I'm printing the t-shirts and building the bandwagon now.

[ducpainter]

Sorry, but I can't get enough of Stoner's slow-mo slide.

I like that Rossi rode like he was pissed. Looked that way anyway.

Spies post-race interview upon being told he was rookie of the year:
“I hate to burst everybody’s bubble but the rookie thing is not something I really set out to do,” said Spies. “If I was second I wouldn’t have been upset because everybody was riding well. I’m focused on my own deal and worried about everybody finishing in front of me, and not who has been finishing behind me. It’s an achievement but not something I’ll go and have a beer for. I’m just happy to be fighting and we had a good race.”

Spies = 2011 Moto GP Champ. I'm printing the t-shirts and building the bandwagon now.

Large,

[OT]

I missed the Rookie-of-the-Year to Spies bit.....

Although I don't have the stats handy, I was surprised that Dovisioso didn't get it...thought he had much better rides/finishes, especially in the last half of the season?

[derby]

I missed the Rookie-of-the-Year to Spies bit.....

Although I don't have the stats handy, I was surprised that Dovisioso didn't get it...thought he had much better rides/finishes, especially in the last half of the season?

yeah, i suppose if they'd ignored dovi's 2008 and 2009 seasons in motogp (finished 5th and 6th respectively) he would've gotten it this year.  

[Jester]

Spies = 2011 Moto GP Champ. I'm printing the t-shirts and building the bandwagon now.

Good luck selling all those shirts when he doesn't win the championship.  I think next year will be one of the most competitive in recent memory, but Spies won't be the guy on top.  I'd give him another year.  The rise of the 990's and two years experience will give Spies a better shot in 2012.

[Cider]

Spies post-race interview upon being told he was rookie of the year:
“I hate to burst everybody’s bubble but the rookie thing is not something I really set out to do,” said Spies. “If I was second I wouldn’t have been upset because everybody was riding well. I’m focused on my own deal and worried about everybody finishing in front of me, and not who has been finishing behind me. It’s an achievement but not something I’ll go and have a beer for. I’m just happy to be fighting and we had a good race.”

Taken by itself, that quote sounds like a guy who doesn't know how to accept a compliment graciously.  It seems a tiny bit disrespectful to his team and the rookies that finished behind him.  I'm sure there's context that I'm missing, though.

[derby]

Taken by itself, that quote sounds like a guy who doesn't know how to accept a compliment graciously.  It seems a tiny bit disrespectful to his team and the rookies that finished behind him.  I'm sure there's context that I'm missing, though.

yup, there is.