Moto GP Round 18 - Valencia 11/06 (SPOILERS)

[Spidey]

Well, no Lorenzo, no Sic, no Edwards, banged up Spies.... Rossi might have an outside shot at a spirited podium for his old friend with a little bit of luck.  This is assuming his head is screwed on straight and Stoner bins it during the warmup lap.

An outside shot.  Three Repsols, a Zuke and half-a-Spies will have something to say about it.  Hayden, too. 

I call Hayes on the podium.  Yup, you heard it here first.  But if he doesn't get on the podium, pretend gm2 said it.  Actually, Hayes is screwed.  He's gonna go from a Dunlop-shod SBK w/o traction control to a super-twitchy, finicky rocketship tha is piloted by a supercomputer and equipped with tires with outlandish amounts of grip and an equally outlandish propensity for tossing riders.  And he'll be doing this at a track he doesn't know.  Definitely in contention for a podium.   

[desmoquattro]

An outside shot.  Three Repsols, a Zuke and half-a-Spies will have something to say about it.  Hayden, too. 

I call Hayes on the podium.  Yup, you heard it here first.  But if he doesn't get on the podium, pretend gm2 said it.  Actually, Hayes is screwed.  He's gonna go from a Dunlop-shod SBK w/o traction control to a super-twitchy, finicky rocketship tha is piloted by a supercomputer and equipped with tires with outlandish amounts of grip and an equally outlandish propensity for tossing riders.  And he'll be doing this at a track he doesn't know.  Definitely in contention for a podium.   

Somebody needs to put Troy Bayliss back on a bike for Valencia...

[zarn02]

Just have all the riders switch bikes. Drawn from a hat.

[DukeDenver]

Just have all the riders switch bikes. Drawn from a hat.

And if Stoner draws a Ducati and still places first?? 

[zooom]

my lurid podium prediction...

1)Dovi
2)Hayden
3)Capirossi

[duccarlos]

my lurid podium prediction...

1)Dovi
2)Hayden
3)Capirossi

The  icon just doesn't do this statement justice.

I think this might be the race that the Spanish Turd actually wins after Stoner decides to park his bike for a little coffee break on the side. He'll still finish second. Dovi will bring it in third. Both Rossi and Hayden will light their bikes on fire.

[MadDuck]

Both Rossi and Hayden will light their bikes on fire.

That'd be cool to watch.  A fitting end.

[Triple J]

I don't think it's in Stoner's mentality to take it easy...

1- Stoner
2- Pedrosa
3- Dovi
4- Bautista
5- Spies
6- Rossi
7- Hayden
8- Capirossi

Rossi and Hayden should light their bikes on fire!  

[gm2]

maybe after alvaro crashes out of 4th on the penultimate lap he'll set his bike on fire.  then call hopper over to kick it as it burns.

[zooom]

maybe after alvaro crashes out of 4th on the penultimate lap he'll set his bike on fire.  then call hopper over to kick it as it burns.

and Hopper will break his toe on the bike in the process requiring 2 surgeries and 3 months of rehab...

[gm2]

nah, he has experience kicking that thing. 

[duccarlos]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174585/1/rossi_to_run_helmet_design_dedicated_to_simoncelli.html

[gm2]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174585/1/rossi_to_run_helmet_design_dedicated_to_simoncelli.html

 

[Spidey]

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/174585/1/rossi_to_run_helmet_design_dedicated_to_simoncelli.html

I'm oddly disappointed that the entire grid (or at least bunch of the grid) isn't running Simoncelli replicas.  I have no basis to expect them to so do, but I had that expectation anyway.  For some reason, just a sticker on the bike or patch on the leathers doesn't seem like enough.

I also really wanted a missing man formation, but didn't think it would fly.    

I already made my prediction.  Hayes FTW.  

[Jester]

A patch/sticker seems to be the norm for any loss in any sport, so I don't see why so much is expected.  He had a week of tribute, will always be in our memories, but the show goes on.  When Shoya Tomizawa died last year, we saw small tributes on helmets/leathers or bikes... same thing for Kato when he died.  Numbers on the leathers, armbands, etc.