Big MotoGP Race Tomorrow.

[PWGUNNY]

Marquez did wipe the Honda in practice for race 2. I don't like Pedrosa, I think it goes back to the season when Nicky Hayden won on the Repsol, but nearly didn't when teamate Pedrosa took him out of a race late in the season.
I was going to say the same about Spies going back to WSBK, where he dominated his rookie season, but there is more to a career than just winning. I imagine Ben has to weigh out the money factor and exposure from MotoGP. I'm sure Spies has a decent brain in his head and is making the right decisions for himself. It does suck not seeing any Americans on a podium in WSBK or MotoGP.

 

[timn8er]

Does anybody think Marquez will be sanctioned for that last lap pass? Its hard for me to remain objective, being such a Honda fan boy and all. I'm so happy with the Honda one two finish, but I wonder if there will be any repercussions from that pass. Any thoughts?

 

[rojodiablo]

They will give him a pass on the pass.........

Verbal admonishment and warning will likely be all that he gets I think. The racing is good, and until people screw that up, or start crashing out riders, they do not make much of a fuss.

Remember Simoncelli; he was about running a guy off the road every week with his 'throw it in there' style of riding. He had to torpedo multiple people before they climbed up his back. The sport needs to allow the riders to push themselves, and balance safety also.

3 races, 3 winners. Wild times in GP, finally!

 

[rojodiablo]

I was going to say the same about Spies going back to WSBK, where he dominated his rookie season, but there is more to a career than just winning. I imagine Ben has to weigh out the money factor and exposure from MotoGP. I'm sure Spies has a decent brain in his head and is making the right decisions for himself. It does suck not seeing any Americans on a podium in WSBK or MotoGP.

I will say that had Ben stayed on the Yamaha in WSB, he would have been a top tier rider, fully supported and the money is VERY GOOD these days. While he made a lot from his first 2 years in GP, he is already an unsupported tier 2-3 rider. A human brake marker on the track now. Between his dismal performance last year, to his injury, to his being sacked from the Yamaha team, he is about done in there. The ONLY reasons Nick Hayden has kept a good job is because A. He is American, and B. Even when he is not winning, he tries to be a good team player and does not complain. He takes #2 parts, and rides them honestly as though they were #1 parts, and does not give a less than 'CHARGE' effort. While not the fastest, his attitude and style are very good for the sport- and THAT is one of the ways a rider keeps their job and good public image in GP.
If Ben does not recover from his injury well enough to really race against say a Hayden back in 7th place???? He needs to go while he can still land a job. He is in a bad spot, and the pack is really fired up at this point. I have met Ben, and I liked him much more than his then teammate Mladin, so I hope he will recover and scratch out some good results.

 

[timn8er]

I rode a friend's Hayabusa for a while between bikes, until I got it all cleaned up and then it sold, the gixxer is kinda a pain in several ways, set up way to tall, but I would like to try an earlier Busa, I think it would be closer to your old Hurricane, but a little better through the twisty's. I went back to the 01 because I like to see my aluminum frame, the wheels are white and a pain to keep clean, it has an undertail and power commander, wifey won't ride this one???not cause she's big, just skeered, she has an idea just how fast it is. I love those old 900 RRs especially with the red/white/and blue paint, and those two bug eyes, kinda reminds me of an old Bug-eyed Sprite, has character.

One of the snappiest bkes I ever road was a Ducati 1098S Streetfighter, I was following some fast kids and when they took off I hit the hammer, next thing is a 35 mph zone and i had to clamp the front binders pretty hard to keep from hitting them, WOW! those Ohlins forks and shocks were something else, I got off of that and on a 700 Monster, total loser, it did make me want the Streetfighter though.LOL billy

The group I used to ride with was a pretty diverse bunch, with all kinds of bikes. Baggers, cruisers, sport bikes;if it had two wheels you were welcome. When we got to the twistier sections of our rides, we would kind of naturally divide into smaller groups, with each riding at its own comfort level. Once, one of the group showed up with a brand new Hayabusa. He was well known for having more money than sense. When we asked him why he bought the bike, he said "with this bike I don't have to worry about being fast in the corners, I'll just pass you back on the straights!" I glanced at my buddy, & we both knew the gauntlet was thrown! Sure enough, he would disappear on the long straights, but when we hit the curves we turned the tables on him. We came up on him as he was "walking" the bike through a sharp turn & my buddy passed him on the inside & I went around him on the outside. We didn't see him again for a long, long time. I don't doubt that a Hayabusa can be cornered, but that guy wasn't the one to do it.

I am a big fan of the '93 900rr; I think its the best looking one they made(though I could be a little biased). The red, white & blue paint scheme, the (PITA to clean)white wheels, the dual headlights...Yeah! In all honesty I would probably been happier with a CBR1000, the one they offered in '91, I think. It had the same color scheme, decent tire width, as comfortable as the Hurricane. There just wasn't one available when I was ready for a new bike.

 

[palmetto99]

Wow, where have you two wheel geeks been? Thanks for the posts. Good reading.

 

[rojodiablo]

Wow, where have you two wheel geeks been? Thanks for the posts. Good reading.

I been hog huntin', fishing, and working on my garden.

The boss was asking the same question of me a few weeks ago!!!!

 

[timn8er]

Hey rojodiablo,

By chance did you ever meet Freddy Spencer? He always seemed like a nice guy & I was wondering what he was like in person.

Thanks!

 

[palmetto99]

I met Spencer in the paddock at the 2001 AMA race at VIR.

I was walking along looking around and "boom" there he was in front of me talking with someone. When he finished speaking, I asked if he could sign my program. "Sure", and he did just that. Very nice, very friendly. I've heard his school closed and things might not be so great for him now.

BTW, I was leaving at the end of the day and had to pull my bike up short on the exit road because two "kids" were chasing each other on pit mini-bikes. Tommy and Nicky Hayden were chasing each other around the infield.

 

[M&P Freak]

Does anybody think Marquez will be sanctioned for that last lap pass? Its hard for me to remain objective, being such a Honda fan boy and all. I'm so happy with the Honda one two finish, but I wonder if there will be any repercussions from that pass. Any thoughts?

I hope not, the "pass" was brilliant. The kid's got big ones.

 

[rockyrider]

Race to win at any cost.

I hope not, the "pass" was brilliant. The kid's got big ones.[Let's hope we don't have another race to win at any cost rider on our hands. After watching Marquez Sunday, I'm not so sure now. He might have been smarter to hold his place with a podium finish. A lot of people are shaking their heads too. And there is always pay back to contend with..Un-sportsman like riding has no place in professional motorsports, IMHO/QUOTE]