Anyone else talking RACING?! <--- of the motorcycle type

No, I don't either, but I hope it will be that way!

 

Pedrosa is first today. Stoner was second, and Rossi is still at the back. Lorenzo and Spies both cracked the top seven. I know everyone is getting excited about Stoner, and rightfully so. I'd just like to state for the record that I believe the Stoner/Pedrosa relationship at HRC will be benefited most by Pedrosa. Call it gut or whatever, I think this is Pedrosa's year. Bad mouth him all you want if I'm wrong, at the end of the season I expect to be saying, "I told you so." Either way, looks like Honda is going to be more competitive than they have been in recent years, and I for one would like to see HRC claim both the rider and manufactorer titles.

 

http://motomatters.com/news/2011/02/02/2011_motogp_sepang_1_day_2_roundup.html


If I could write the script; I'd like to see Rossi win, cause everyone says it can't be done; Spies come in a very close second, down to the wire, because I like the kid. Stoner can come in third, with the fairy coming in fourth. Hayden in 5th, with Dovi, Simoncelli, Aoyama, Bautista, and Edwards fighting it out for 6-10th.

The rest could fight it out for the rest; the three n00bs Crutchlow, Abraham and Elias (not that he didn't already spend 5 years on GP, and appears he can't ride on Bridgestones), I'd like to see do well, just to keep the new blood flowing.

Lorenzo, after consistently finishing behind Spies and struggling to make the top 5 for the first half of the year, becomes increasingly frustrated, starts over-committing, riding like Xaus (win or crash), and eventually his piss-poor attitude catches up to him and he has a horrendous crash, ending his career... (Did I mention I don't like him?)

 

OOOOOH heating up now,I expect someone to call a little wager here before long.

 

I don't wish the Jorge any crashes, but the Yamaha could blow up every race, did I mention that I don't like pianomanufactures, I'm a guitarman!

 

A table of odds from various bookies. These numbers only reflect the odds for the overall championship. Pedrosa at 6/1 is looking good. Rossi at 3/1 looks like a bad bet, as does Lorenzo at 2/1. Stoner is a solid 2/1. I'm checking the odds on Pedrosa finishing in front of Rossi; easy money! Bautista is sitting at 500/1; that's probably worth a $20 hedge, should the injury bug start biting the top riders.


Moto GP World Championship Winner Betting Odds | Moto GP Betting

 

Sepang, Day 2

1. Pedrosa
2. Stoner
3. Spies

Ducati not even in the same zip code at 1.3 seconds off the pace. Nicky now has to deal with the intelligencia at Ducati entirely rebuilding the bike, talk about hosed.

Wouldn't hurt my feelings one bit if Pedrosa won the championship

I'm not drinking the ball sweat....anybody but Rossi.


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uke: thanks for that Image NCB I will commence to having nightmares now.....

 

go...uhhh...ummm .guy on the Honda....

 

Think I see Pedrosa trying to get out....:smile:

 

Simoncelli lays it down on Day 3 at Sepang. Hairpiece, Roo, Spaceman, PieGuy, Pedobear and Dovi, all on the pace. Hiroshi Aoyama has to be the big surprise on a customer RC212V.

Looks like a Honda v. Yamaha battle is shaping up for the early part of the season.

Upcoming Test Schedule:

MotoGP
February 22-24 Sepang, Malaysia
March 13-14 Losail, Qatar*
* Night

Moto2/125cc
February 10-12 Valencia, Spain
February 15-16 Estoril, Portugal
March 4-6 Jerez, Spain*
* Series Engines (Moto2)

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I'm surprised that someone didn't say IT WAS PEDROSA.

 

If Pedro can stay healthy and in one piece this season, he will definitely be one to be reckoned with.
But I see his attitude causing him to push too hard and I am not sure he can stay in one piece.

No one is going to make it easy on Lorenzo this season, so I don't think he will be able to hold on to the #1 plate.

 

The Brain left Yamaha, (J Burgess) I think Spies will take the prize by yamaha, and Stoner the world champion ship, or another Honda rider (read Dovi ,Simoncelli)

 

I have been enjoying reading along, but MAN this one is going to be hard to call! Any one of the top 5-6 riders could pull it out, I don't see a sure thing for anyone!
Interesting:
- Val is having as much trouble with his shoulder as he is; did the surgery fix it? If yes how long till he is at 100% potential?? If no, I just don't think he'll contend.
- Who is this Aoyama guy and where did he come from?? Doubt he'll stick once the others are up to speed.
- I thought Stoner was best at riding the wild beast Duc, but seems he is in form on the neat Honda as well...

Ups:
- Spies is a JUGGERNAUT. I don't see how ANYONE here can dismiss his sheer talent. He has Dominated each of his last few seasons. I don't know if it really is raw talent, methodical approach, superior crew or what, but this guy is a Freaking Machine. As dry as he is on camera, I can't help admiring the understated way he puts down results, and I enjoy rooting for this american! I fully expect to see him finish in top three.
- Pedbot is back on track. If this guy can stay injury-free I'm not sure anyone will catch him. He was virtually unstoppable second half of last season.

Downs:
- Poor Nicky. Being my previous fave, even back to his RC51 days (I owned one and rooted for him in AMA) its tough to see him struggle and get so close and then just not put the points up on the board. He is just an aww shucks nice guy. The new Duc development for Val is either going to aid his recent progress or its going to throw it all out the window. As much as I want to see him do well, I've seen him fall short too many times, and worse I've gotten use to it...

 

I don't rule out Nicky, he's one h... of a rider! he had some serious set backs with the Honda team, his teammate (Pedrosa) rode him of the track in Portugal, the year he took the crown, he was the last man to win the Championship for Honda, in spite of being neglected by Repsol team and A Puig.
Stoner will down the spaniards , big time!! Vale will be there when Jeremy "the Brain" Burgess get the set up on the Ducati right. They (Ducati) shaved more than a sec on their times on the last day in Sepang! Both Nicky and Vale. They will be up there!

 

My two cents-

Lorenzo is jinxed out of winning even one race by using the #1 plate this year .

I hope Pedrosa stays healthy and qualifies well . He has the fastest bike on the straights so if he can consistently get through turn 1 in #1 position - look out .

I wouldn't count Simoncelli out ,especially after the first couple races. Stoner will revisit season 2006 i predict - yep .

I want Bautista to steal it from all of them - now that would be a hoot.

 

don't count out Dovi on the Honda as well.
He had a good season last year, he never does well in qualifying but he does good in the races.

 

It will be good year for Honda and Ducati, and a miserable one for Yamaha, Spies will be on the rostrum several times, but not enough to be Champ!

 

Last 250cc 2T World Champion in 2009.


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