10-02-2006, 01:26 AM
***** M O T O G P *****
With 50 points up for grabs 5 riders have a mathematical chance at winning the title but for all intents and purposes its down to two men. Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.
Nicky Hayden - 236
Valentino Rossi - 224
Marco Melandri - 209
Loris Capirossi - 205
Dani Pedrosa - 202
Rossi
Rossi started out the season by getting caught up in a first lap crash at Jerez that left him in dead last. He was only able to claw his way back to 14th. Rossi has struggled mightily this year with 3 DNF's, all due to some sort of mechanical failure with his bike (2 engines grenading and one tire chunking).
Hayden
Nicky has led the championship since the second race of the season by riding consistent and staying out of trouble. Nicky is the only rider in the top 10 who has not crashed once all season. Not in a race, not in qualifying, not in practice.
Nicky might have all but locked up the title if he hadn't been having major issues with the clutch on his Evo RC211V. HRC relocated his clutch to near the center of the engine to further centralize the mass in the bike to make it more maneurverable. But of course that exposes the clutch to more heat over the course of the race so HRC has apparently been trying to compensate with different pressure plates, clutch discs, and clutch materials to give Nicky the right balance of a clutch that works well on the start and works well throughout the race.
Unfortunately his clutch problems have persisted and Nicky has been dropping points to Rossi since his win at Laguna Seca. Now Nicky holds a 12 point lead over Valentino Rossi. As long as Nicky either finishes one position behind Rossi or beats him he will win the title.
It definitely won't be easy as both Ducati's Loris Capirossi and Fortuna Honda's Marco Melandri have found their stride as of late. Those two guys and even Casey Stoner, Sete Gibernau, or Colin Edwards could spoil the title fight for either Rossi or Hayden. Most people think that Dani Pedrosa will try to help Nicky's title hopes now that he [Dani] doesn't have a good shot at winning it anymore.
Freshman Class of 06
The 5 foot and change 110 lb Dani Pedrosa has pretty much lived up to his billing as the next big time talent in Moto GP by scoring 2 wins in his rookie season and to wit he has locked up rookie of the year. He was second in the championship with a realistic shot at the title until the rain soaked Philip Island race where it became abundantly clear that Dani is AWFUL in the rain, getting lapped by the lead riders. He didn't do well at Motegi either and went from 2nd to 5th in the championship.
Still, I expect that he'll come straight out and challenge for the title next season.
Casey Stoner who finished 2nd to Pedrosa in the 250cc championship last year has shown flashes of blinding speed, usually preceding a crash. Most of Stoner's crashes (and Dani's too) have been due to him losing the front of his RC211V by trail braking too much into the turns. I figure once he gets that sorted out he'll be a more consistent challenge to the throne.
Chris Vermeulen on the second Suzuki GSV-R has quietly done well in his rookie GP season. He came over after finishing second in the WSBK championship in 05. Chris has gotten a few pole positions and finished 2nd at his home race at Philip Island Australia which also was the first podium for Suzuki this year. He also led the USGP at Laguna Seca until he started having mechanical problems. Hopefully the 800cc 2007 Suzuki will help both he and John Hopkins get a little closer to the top.
With 50 points up for grabs 5 riders have a mathematical chance at winning the title but for all intents and purposes its down to two men. Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi.
Nicky Hayden - 236
Valentino Rossi - 224
Marco Melandri - 209
Loris Capirossi - 205
Dani Pedrosa - 202
Rossi
Rossi started out the season by getting caught up in a first lap crash at Jerez that left him in dead last. He was only able to claw his way back to 14th. Rossi has struggled mightily this year with 3 DNF's, all due to some sort of mechanical failure with his bike (2 engines grenading and one tire chunking).
Hayden
Nicky has led the championship since the second race of the season by riding consistent and staying out of trouble. Nicky is the only rider in the top 10 who has not crashed once all season. Not in a race, not in qualifying, not in practice.
Nicky might have all but locked up the title if he hadn't been having major issues with the clutch on his Evo RC211V. HRC relocated his clutch to near the center of the engine to further centralize the mass in the bike to make it more maneurverable. But of course that exposes the clutch to more heat over the course of the race so HRC has apparently been trying to compensate with different pressure plates, clutch discs, and clutch materials to give Nicky the right balance of a clutch that works well on the start and works well throughout the race.
Unfortunately his clutch problems have persisted and Nicky has been dropping points to Rossi since his win at Laguna Seca. Now Nicky holds a 12 point lead over Valentino Rossi. As long as Nicky either finishes one position behind Rossi or beats him he will win the title.
It definitely won't be easy as both Ducati's Loris Capirossi and Fortuna Honda's Marco Melandri have found their stride as of late. Those two guys and even Casey Stoner, Sete Gibernau, or Colin Edwards could spoil the title fight for either Rossi or Hayden. Most people think that Dani Pedrosa will try to help Nicky's title hopes now that he [Dani] doesn't have a good shot at winning it anymore.
Freshman Class of 06
The 5 foot and change 110 lb Dani Pedrosa has pretty much lived up to his billing as the next big time talent in Moto GP by scoring 2 wins in his rookie season and to wit he has locked up rookie of the year. He was second in the championship with a realistic shot at the title until the rain soaked Philip Island race where it became abundantly clear that Dani is AWFUL in the rain, getting lapped by the lead riders. He didn't do well at Motegi either and went from 2nd to 5th in the championship.
Still, I expect that he'll come straight out and challenge for the title next season.
Casey Stoner who finished 2nd to Pedrosa in the 250cc championship last year has shown flashes of blinding speed, usually preceding a crash. Most of Stoner's crashes (and Dani's too) have been due to him losing the front of his RC211V by trail braking too much into the turns. I figure once he gets that sorted out he'll be a more consistent challenge to the throne.
Chris Vermeulen on the second Suzuki GSV-R has quietly done well in his rookie GP season. He came over after finishing second in the WSBK championship in 05. Chris has gotten a few pole positions and finished 2nd at his home race at Philip Island Australia which also was the first podium for Suzuki this year. He also led the USGP at Laguna Seca until he started having mechanical problems. Hopefully the 800cc 2007 Suzuki will help both he and John Hopkins get a little closer to the top.
2018 Ducati Panigale V4
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com
Past: 2018 Honda Civic Type-R, 2015 Yamaha R1, 2009 BMW M3, 2013 Aprilia RSV4R, 2006 Honda Ridgeline, 2006 Porsche Cayman S, 2012 Ducati 1199, 2009 Subaru WRX, 2008 CBR1000RR, 2009 Kawasaki ZX-6R, 2000 Toyota Tundra, 2005 Honda CBR600RR, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1996 Acura Integra GS-R, 1997 Honda Civic EX
http://www.aclr8.com