First off, i have to say i dont think Melandri will win the title, he can't seem to find a set-up that works anymore.
Caparossi - would love to see him win it if rossi doesn't, he really deserves it and if he does win it with what has happened this year it will be amazing.
Pedrosa - Will be great as its his first year in the class, i just worry that he will be a boring champion and not a good advert for the sport.
Hayden - I dont want him to win it, he doesn't deserve it, he's won 2 races, one was a home GP and the other was down to a huge slice of luck, if all top runners had been fit all season he would have struggled more, and if Rossi hadn't had the failures and bad luck he's had Rossi would probably already be champion, plus Hayden just doesn't seem to have that extra 5%, the italian GP this year was a perfect example, he sat back in 3rd place hoping that Rossi n Caparossi would take each other out, then he had a face like a slapped a** in the paddock, same in Germany, he's not aggresive enough when he needs to be, he would rather settle for safety than a race win, and i just dont think it cuts it, Caparossi and Rossi put everything on the line in the last round to win, Hayden has never done that.
Rossi - I Hope and think that he will be champion again, and the only champion on the 990cc machines, that would be some achievement, he is still miles above anyone in the field, his race craft and ability to ride on ruined tyres are amazing and he never fails to impress me in a race, Donnington is one of the reason's i think he really deserves it this year, to ride how he did there was great to watch and Germany, starting 11th and winning at a track like that is unthinkable and to be only 26points behind after the troubles is great.
it really is an exciting season, one of the best and hopefully next year with the change to 800cc things will be just as good.
If it's at Valencia, could go either way. Home crowd for Pedrosa don't forget. Wouldn't like to predict at the moment. I'm warming to Pedrosa also. Used to think he was boring but the more interviews i watch the more i understand his personality. Also, apparently when he first appeared in the paddock as a young kid he had braces. This goes some way to explain why he doesn't seem to smile much. If you had them as a kid, you'll understand. If he does take the fight to Rossi and wins, he'll go up in my and a lot of other peoples estimations. It would also be good for next season.
Hayden.
His 'following the leaders around' could play into his hands over the next few races. As it gets closer to the wire, and the likes of Rossi, Pedrosa etc are duffing each other up as they have to win, could end up seeing a few people in the gravel, and we'll have more Assen type finishes.
Capirossi and Melandri
No chance. Not consistent enough and too far adrift on points, but will still be fighting at the sharp end. Both had good results at the end of last year, Capirossi's injury aside.
Lets see. I place Rossi as the favourite because he has the form and the history. He will win most times if nothing goes wrong.
I don't really care if Pedrosa is dull, I just care that he's fast enough to give Rossi a race, and he might well be. The title's a bit of a long shot though given his current situation.
Nicky Hayden will never have another chance like this, he's clearly not as fast as the other challengers and if he doesn't take this chance that's it. This means beating Rossi at least once, possibly twice and finishing on the podium in every remaining race. I wouldn't bet on that.
"Caparossi and Rossi put everything on the line in the last round to win, Hayden has never done that."
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Didn't watch Assen then?
Fair enough, elsewhere Hayden has often looked lacklustre. I think Rossi would be the most deserving champ this year given the way he's ridden, but I expect Hayden to do just enough to sneak it.
Its between Hayden, Pedrosa and Rossi, I can't see Capirossi or Melandri making enough points back on Hayden, let alone Ross or Pedrosa if they overtake him.
Regardless what everybody says, the championship is Hayden to lose. He rode did what he has to do, did not take any chances, and if he continues to this he will be the champion. Yes he does not have the aggression of the others, but he also did not fall and have unnecessary injury like them. Saying this, it would be next to impossible for him to repeat.
in short i agree with vale46yamaha. melandri-dont think so. capirossi-would love to see it happen. pedrosa-if not rossi/capirossi yes please but his time will come. hayden- yawn... and mr rossi- well i hope he does it and "the legend within our lifetimes" carries on his phenominal career.
At the start of the season I was of the mind that if Rossi did not win it then Hayden was my next choice as I have been impressed with him more each season since he came over from AMA. Since he got out in front in the championship however, my opinion of him has certainly taken a dip and I feel that had he been a little braver and taken a few more risks he might have the title wrapped up by now. Danny certainly seems better at setting up the bike than Nicky but for some reason i just don't like the tidgy Spaniard - maybe it's personality I'm not sure. I think maybe it's because as a Rossi fan I want another 'Dr Evil' in the paddock now that Biaggi has departed (rumoured to be seen in WSB next year) and Gibernau has crumbled at the prospect of fighting with Rossi on the track. Loris and Marco are too far back this year. And on a final note I am glad to see that James Toseland has had enough sense to wait for a decent Moto GP option before crossing over, unlike Hodgson and Xaus a couple of years back !
how much will the last 990cc title be worth to rossi? if he wins and claims all the 990 titles then wont that be some unrepeatable record? can certainly see rossi wanting that on his cv!
phillip island is a good track 4 rossi so i expect him to close the gap on hayden by a few more points.lets see if edwards can finally do something and take a few more points off hayden as well!(unlikely).most likely to be a ducati up near the front as well.pedrosas injury might have more effect on him this race as the adrenaline will not have the same effect now and he will have had to lay off the training to recover. expect he will be 3rd again!
I felt Capriossi (forgive spelling) choked in Sepang....and he was happy about it too.... strange !!! The Ducati seems to be a better bike than the yamaha IMO, It wins due to Rossi's talent.
I hope Hayden wins and if he just lays low and keeps within a few positions of Pedrosa and Rossi for the next 3 races he should win. I really do despise Rossi, there is nothing I like about him. I obviously accept he is one of the greatest motorbike riders of all time but his forceful passes his over the top risky moves just annoy me espcially when its at the expense of other drivers who then go off into the gravel.
Well, I have to say that over the past few seasons Rossi had been getting on my nerves (being a bit smug etc) so when the title race semed wide open at the begining of the season I welcomed the challengers (except hayden 'cos for some reason he just annoys me!) But viewing the way Rossi has ridden I would be sad if he didn't win it. As for title predictions I reckon Rossi will just steal it, hayden 2nd, after crumbling in the last few races (ever since his 2nd win which was gifted to him) I can't see him coming back from that. Capirossi in 3rd overturning Pedrosa Cos that fellas got balls of steel, coincidentally i don't think Loris choked in sepang, his last overtaking attempt involved him almost torpedoing Rossi! Last corner last lap, that's not the action of someone settling for 2nd!
Moto GP is a race, not a Sunday ride around with your mates. All the racers want to win and accidents will happen. Rossi is not the only one who has has accidents and pushed people into the gravel (can only think of the Sete incident at Jerez 05). Elias put Rossi and Edwards both into the gravel at the first race of the season. Giveruppernau caused a huge pile up at Barcelona which injured himself, capirossi, melandri and put Hopkins into the gravel as well. Does this mean that he (Sete) is dangerous? Course not, with 19 odd bikes closing into a tight corner at 160mph contact is sometimes inevitable.
At least Rossi hangs it out on the edge and goes for it, Hayden whilst being consistant has been very boring – he’s got out in front in the championship and is trying as hard as he can to stay there without falling off.
You appear to suggest that Rossi always knocks people off into the gravel - give me 3 examples (and you can include the one above if you like) of when Rossi has done this....
I think that the pressure is getting to Hayden and if he is not careful, he could end up coming in 3rd at the end of the year
I'm not saying I don't like him purely for his dodgy moves. But as someone mentioned a few posts previously, the last few seasons he has this smug look about him and the greatest drivers are those who are humble and modest. I believe Schumi being the best driver ever has always kept a modest persona, he never has an arrogance about him which rossi always seems to have.
i think someone who has achieved what rossi has is entitled to look a bit smug surely?
i was very anti rossi when he was at honda but when he moved to yamaha, i was less biased.after watching how he has ridden that m1, i became impressed by his obvious talent.now when he races(most times)i realise that i am priveledged to be watching a true motogp ledgend in operation. i dont class many as legends but he is definitely one. pedrosa is (IMO) the next rider to be of that quality.hayden is good but will never achieve the heights of the best riders of their respective eras
Every modern sports person that is at the pinnacle of their discipline can and has been accused of being arrogant, including Shuey.
We lesser mortals cannot distinguish the difference between supreme confidence and arrogance. We don't understand what goes on in these peoples minds. The ability to have total belief in your own capabilities above everyone else, gives these people the edge. This applies to every sport.
Rossi did seem very smug and arrogant last season. Considering how he blew everyone away, every race, he came across that way. Jerez last year was the defining moment of the entire season. He won the mind game with Gibernau on the last bend of the first race. Gibernau's face on the podium said it all.
This season he has been humbled and doesn't seem to be as super human as he did last year, and in my view he has realised that also. Every win has been hard fought and he seems to appreciate the result more, as opposed to it being a foregone conclusion as last year.
I am a very big Valentino Rossi fan so these comments might be slightly blinkered.
I think Valentino is one of, if not the best personality that has graced motorbike racing. Or even Motorsport, Rossi is exciting to watch, very enthusiastic, funny to listen most times, has a laugh in life etc etc....
There is no denying that he is one of the GREATEST if not the greatest rider of all-time, even tho its pretty difficult to compare riders of different era's. I think he can only naturally come across alittle smug at times.
Valentino really does deserve the title if he wins it. I cannot say I will think the same if Hayden manages to becomes World Champion.
We can safely say arrogance is creditable to Rossi...he just likes to have fun on the race day. It is irritating, but I dont care.... he is a champion and well what can you say...
Pedrosa has scored high in my books, the guy could barely walk after the race, talk about determination....
If Button was in moto gp I think he would win but as he is not I have to go for Rossi for the championship and he is quite a good looking chap too which is an added bonus.
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!!! The Ducati seems to be a better bike than the yamaha IMO, It wins due to Rossi's talent.
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