MotoGP Round 8 - Mugello (SPOILERS)

[Drunken Monkey]

you're letting his demeanor fool you.  you don't take down mladin, win wsbk on your first try, or pole/podium/rookie of the year in GP if you aren't mentally out for blood.

Out for blood is the wrong term for Spies.

Edwards vs. Hayden in the Dutch TT. Rossi v Stoner at Laguna. That's blood.

Hell, the end of the 500s era, there was blood in the water then. Now, not so much.

[ducpainter]

Finally got to see the race.

Nothing for me to whine about.

[ducpainter]

Simo could crush Pedrosa's baby hand. Pedrosa walks around like a sullen child.

Although Simo is a bit reckless, he's a hard arse. I like that, a bit mad like Elias (remember how he carved up Rossi and Rossi whined like a twelve year old. I support Stoner but I wish he just smacked Rossi in the mouth without a word. Same with Lorenzo to Simo. Hell a E5000- fine is small change to these guys. Maybe they are scared of the big fella.
Instead of whining to the press, these guys should fight it out like men. Bloody bubble wrap generation.. In my day (oh where's that ol' fart smiley)..

Schwantz, Rainey and Doohen  (and Mladin for that matter) would have made these guys shit themselves. I think Simo and Spies wouldn't have been intimidated though.

I don't have a problem with angry young men getting into fights because they are so motivated and pushing to the limit, it's nature, (I was young once), but whining looks so weak.

You just had to ruin it with the Mladin reference.

[koko64]

He's not too popular up your way is he? Love him or hate him, a hard ass nevertheless.
Reminds me a bit of Doohen, could be harsh. 
I think Spies is a quiet, tough guy but disciplined. But his Mamma's trained him to handle the media better than Mladin, Doohen or Stoner. You see, those Aussies all went to the" Wayne Gardner Charm School"!

[fastwin]

I have always loved Mladin's "don't take shit off of anyone" charm. Bayliss too for that matter. And I'm not big on whiners. Reminds me of my step son when he strikes out repeatedly in baseball games. I love him dearly but I get sick of the "everyone is out to get me and strike me out" bullshit. Well, as a matter of a fact, yes they are. That's what they are supposed to do! I like Stoner's skills on the track, obviously he's incredibly talented, but his interview personality sometimes comes across like my strike out king step son. Funny, the same words could come out of Hayden, Edwards, etc. and I would never think that. Maybe he should hang out with Mladin and Bayliss.

[koko64]

It sure is easier to accept or respect a tough or hard attitude, but no one likes a whiner. I support Stoner and marvel at his skill, but he gets paid to race motorcycles for living, has a lovely young wife and is a world champion! He could smile more and be happier. How many guys would want to swap jobs?!  Doohan once said that his job sure beat digging ditches which he had done, it made him know what a dollar was worth.

[ducpainter]

He's not too popular up your way is he? Love him or hate him, a hard ass nevertheless.
Reminds me a bit of Doohen, could be harsh. 
I think Spies is a quiet, tough guy but disciplined. But his Mamma's trained him to handle the media better than Mladin, Doohen or Stoner. You see, those Aussies all went to the" Wayne Gardner Charm School"!

Mladin? Mostly just with me.

He is a good rider.

I don't have much respect for his decision to not go to the world stage. It was the right decision for him though. I don't think he would have matched up to the 'big boys'. IMO he is not in the same league as the Aussie riders you mentioned.

[derby]

I don't think he would have matched up to the 'big boys'. IMO he is not in the same league as the Aussie riders you mentioned.

i disagree... mat would've given the worldsbk paddock a run for their money (much like spies did) and possibly would've ground out at least a world championship or two... gp, on the other hand...

[fastwin]

I don't blame Mladin one bit for coming over to the States and kicking our asses. It made him famous, it made him a fortune and it made our SBK series that much better. Where's the wrong/bad in that? And yes, I think he would have done very well in WSBK. But he stayed over here, his choice and a good one for him. And he helped mentor Spies into the World Champ he became. Win, win.

[gm2]

Out for blood is the wrong term for Spies.

go watch the 2007 AMA superbike series

[koko64]

Mladin went to 500 GP as a kid straight from oz sbk and most say too early. Some say the big crashes and he didnt adjust to the lifestyle. By the time he was ready to go back to GP he was married amd settled in the States.
He said later that offers of GP money were less than AMA, he liked the US, same laguage, life style, less travel and later his kids were settled at school, wife wad happy.  He was at home.

Im guessing that they were the reasons you were thinking of. Good reasons. I think the GP scene is suited to single guys. Or young couples sans kids. It is probably easier than it used to be. I dont know how Bayliss did it. His wife won't let him come back. He  said he wants to and is restless, but that Kim has insisted!

Us married guys understand..

[Jester]

He said later that offers of GP money were less than AMA

Probably the biggest factor here.  I think he was making somewhere around 7mil a year at the end in AMA.  There is no way he was going to get that kind of money in the GP paddock.

[koko64]

7 million!  
With a family and limited career time barring injuries, I'd stay.

[OT]

you're letting his demeanor fool you.  you don't take down mladin, win wsbk on your first try, or pole/podium/rookie of the year in GP if you aren't mentally out for blood.

Ben's like my cat; bored, fickle, and gets carnivorous only when someone playfully dangles fresh meat in front of his nose.

When he starts consistently behaving like Rossi, Lorenzo, Max, Bayliss, Ago, and even Mladin - just a few of the 'fellows' who passionately believe(d) deep within their hearts that every trophy has their and only their name on it - will he become a real challenger for the GP title.

[The Architect]

After the Flag: Mugello


When Colin Edwards retires he should announce the races for the US market.   "sphincter overload"     The host wasn't expecting that. 

At least he can pronounce Lorenzo's name.