"Good news! We no longer have to work with Pedrosa!"

[Crash Cash]

Well, Pedrosa has switched to 'stones in the middle of the season. I'd like to smoke what he's smoking. It looks to me like he just threw an enormous hissy fit and wants to blame his season on someone other than himself. The best take is at https://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2008/mgp/misano/1/8.htm

Julian Ryder at https://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080831f.htm says "In short, this looks like a crass move that does nothing for the image of anyone involved"

In my personal opinion, I think they're giving him enough rope to hang himself, as it'll be nearly impossible to get good results immediately, and if he doesn't, it'll all point to him and not his tires and really sink his ship.

 

[James Burleigh]

What are you talking about please?

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Well, Pedrosa has switched to 'stones in the middle of the season. I'd like to smoke what he's smoking. It looks to me like he just threw an enormous hissy fit and wants to blame his season on someone other than himself. The best take is at https://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2008/mgp/misano/1/8.htm
Julian Ryder at https://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080831f.htm says "In short, this looks like a crass move that does nothing for the image of anyone involved"

In my personal opinion, I think they're giving him enough rope to hang himself, as it'll be nearly impossible to get good results immediately, and if he doesn't, it'll all point to him and not his tires and really sink his ship.

Pedrosa has never been known for showing a lot of class. And I agree -- Rossi last year stayed with Michelin and was able to blame them (at least in part) for his failures. THEN he had his hissy fit to get the Bridgestones. But I also don't know why he (Pedrosa] hasn't had a better year; on paper he should be closer in the points.

EDIT: ***The second link IS a SPOILER to those that don't want race results ***

 

[madmike2]

What are you talking about please?

Motorcycle racing, Hans...Moto GP...y'know the really really fast guys who visit the good ol' USA twice a year (Laguna and Indy).

The riders are allowed to choose their own tires and usually sign with the manufacturer. In this case, Danny Pedrosa is blaming his tires (Michelin) for his inability to win so he is changing to Bridgestone as the supplier for his tires. Of course, the tires MAY make some difference because they certainly work for some riders. However, there is more involved than just the tires or compounds, there is setting the bike suspension to match the tires, the rider beeing keenly aware of what changes to ask his crew to make, and all of this in a few practice sessions before a race.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster as the tires will now be an unknown quantity where with the old brand they had some base settings to work from.

Ahhhh.....at least he isn't letting his emotional frustration lead him into rash decisions that could affect his standing in the championship hunt.

 

[Crash Cash]

EDIT: ***The second link IS a SPOILER to those that don't want race results ***

Wups! You're right... sorry about that. I'd edit the title if I could.

 

[Crash Cash]

It sounds like a recipe for disaster as the tires will now be an unknown quantity where with the old brand they had some base settings to work from.
Ahhhh.....at least he isn't letting his emotional frustration lead him into rash decisions that could affect his standing in the championship hunt.

Yeah, when you're at the pointy end of the stick like MotoGP where things are determined by thousandths, you don't have time to screw around with unknown settings for your tire, and the tire, rider, and bike are seriously closely interrelated at this level of competition. You have to know what you're bike & tires are going to do, and have confidence in them, and settings stuff like chatter or push can make you chase around forever looking for a fix. Look at Rossi with the chatter problems they had their last year with Michelins, that they never really solved.

If Pedrosa thinks the tire change is a magic "look everyone is winning on them" fix, he's in for a very rude awakening, unless he stays up late and does his homework by testing his *** off to find settings for the new tires. If he doesn't, I think his rep is shot.

 

[ShawnKing]

Ahhhh.....at least he isn't letting his emotional frustration lead him into rash decisions that could affect his standing in the championship hunt.

What "Championship hunt"? Rossi could clinch at Indy!

 

[Crash Cash]

Ahhhh.....at least he isn't letting his emotional frustration lead him into rash decisions that could affect his standing in the championship hunt.

What "Championship hunt"? Rossi could clinch at Indy!

Hey, Pedrosa's 3rd, that's not too bad. According to motogp.com, he did over 80 laps at Misano yesterday, and did nearly a second better times than he did during the race. He may have a point after all. And don't forget Shinya Nakano is the only 212V on Bridgestones up to now, and he's been doing unusually well too.

 

[FZ/FJR Mike]

How the mighty Michelin has fallen!! Will this lead to a spec supplier, i.e. Bridgestone, for '09?

 

[GunMD]

Pedbot is a whining little *****. He's just lucky that he weighs 112 pounds so he can be competitive.

 

[charismaticmegafauna]

Yeah, when you're at the pointy end of the stick like MotoGP where things are determined by thousandths, you don't have time to screw around with unknown settings for your tire, and the tire, rider, and bike are seriously closely interrelated at this level of competition. You have to know what you're bike & tires are going to do, and have confidence in them, and settings stuff like chatter or push can make you chase around forever looking for a fix. Look at Rossi with the chatter problems they had their last year with Michelins, that they never really solved.If Pedrosa thinks the tire change is a magic "look everyone is winning on them" fix, he's in for a very rude awakening, unless he stays up late and does his homework by testing his *** off to find settings for the new tires. If he doesn't, I think his rep is shot.

Kenny Roberts Sr. once wanted his mechanic to shorten the handlebars of his flat-track bike and requested/ordered it done several times -- the mechanic never did it saying, "It won't help anything."

King Kenny fired him and said, "If I think it helps -- it helps."

 

[James Burleigh]

What are you talking about please?

Motorcycle racing, Hans...Moto GP...y'know the really really fast guys who visit the good ol' USA twice a year (Laguna and Indy).

The riders are allowed to choose their own tires and usually sign with the manufacturer. In this case, Danny Pedrosa is blaming his tires (Michelin) for his inability to win so he is changing to Bridgestone as the supplier for his tires. Of course, the tires MAY make some difference because they certainly work for some riders. However, there is more involved than just the tires or compounds, there is setting the bike suspension to match the tires, the rider beeing keenly aware of what changes to ask his crew to make, and all of this in a few practice sessions before a race.

It sounds like a recipe for disaster as the tires will now be an unknown quantity where with the old brand they had some base settings to work from.

Ahhhh.....at least he isn't letting his emotional frustration lead him into rash decisions that could affect his standing in the championship hunt.

Thanks, Mike. I know all about MotoGP. Fang and I have been following it for the last 4 years. I just didn't think the post made any sense. The phrase non sequitur came to mind--as in, a failure of linear thought. Perhaps drugs were involved....

And as John Wayne said in The Undefeated, "That's the most explaining I've done in a long time." Now, I'm trying to go fishing. See you around.... Jb

 

[madmike2]

I dunno. I read the links and it made sense to me, but I may be suffering from flashbacks.

 

[James Burleigh]

I dunno. I read the links and it made sense to me, but I may be suffering from flashbacks.

It made more sense on my read this evening. But my explanation holds from when I first read it I didn't get his point.

Them fish are waiting!

 

[Crash Cash]

How the mighty Michelin has fallen!! Will this lead to a spec supplier, i.e. Bridgestone, for '09?

Actually, the speculation is it won't, since everybody will be on Bridgestones anyway and a rule won't be needed But I don't think anything with "spec" rules is a world class series.

I'm hoping Bridgestone learns enough to fix the crappy BT-021 fronts.

 

[snikr]

If I'm not mistaken have not MOST of the front runners in MotoGP this season been on Bridgestones? If so I can see why Danny "jumped ship". But it'll take a while to set his Honda up to work with those tires (or tyres if you're from England).

Tom

 

[feejer222]

The funniest thing about it all was that Pedrossa denied all knowledge of the change and made out that it was Honda that instigated it.

Then at the inevitable press conference he thanked Michelin and Honda for understanding his wishes!

It took Rossi a few rounds to get them dialed in, shall we snigger now or wait until he comes nowhere?..........or, what if........

 

[Crash Cash]

It took Rossi a few rounds to get them dialed in, shall we snigger now or wait until he comes nowhere?..........or, what if........

Well supposedly he's busting butt to do a ton of testing and setup work. It looks like he got what he asked for, and now he's actually putting in the time to hold up his end. Of course all bets are off for everybody at Indy since it's such an unknown.

 

[feejer222]

Lorenzo was on Michelins the last time out and was second and putting in the fastest laps towards the end of the race. Granted he has been off several times, I think that was due to him rather than the tyres.