What has happened to Hayden?

[feejer222]

Only managed 11th on the grid for today, as his team mate takes pole. Something drastically wrong here. It has to be him, cant be the bike 2 races in a row.

Hopper is doing well and I think he will break through to the front very soon. Vermulen has fallen off his form somehow as has Capirossi.

Rossi will win today......I think.

The grid in position order.

1st row Pedrossa Rossi Checca

2nd row Edwards Stoner Hopkins

3rd row Nakano Elias Melandri

4th row Roberts Hayden DePuniet

5th row Barros Vermulen Capirossi

6th row Jaque Tamada Hoffman

7th row Akyioshi Guintolli

 

[FJR Steve]

1. Rossi

2. Pedrosa

3. Melandri

My predictions

 

[feejer222]

Rossi Pedrosa Stoner

Just watching the 125 race Bradley Smith Brit 15 year old qualified 11th was holding 7th when taken out! BAH!

 

[feejer222]

Sat watching the pre-race blurb, riders on grid ready to start. Nicky says last race the traction control was turned too high and kept tripping in too much and cost time exiting corners. Also top speed very poor, Nicky: ''when Capirossi came past on the straight...it wasn't pretty'' They reckon they have turned the bike inside out trying to get more power...........Doesn't change that his team mate on the identicle bike is on pole. (Allbeit 2 stone (28lbs lighter).

 

[Rentaroo]

Last race it was traction-control problems...this race, fueling problems. Maybe he and his crew will get the bike sorted...or maybe he'll continue to produce lackluster results while his teammate and others ride circles around him.

 

[feejer222]

Last race it was traction-control problems...this race, fueling problems. Maybe he and his crew will get the bike sorted...or maybe he'll continue to produce lackluster results while his teammate and others ride circles around him.

One things for sure Honda wont be liking it. Champeen or not he will get his arse kicked before long.

 

[ShinyPartsUp]

Only managed 11th on the grid for today, as his team mate takes pole. Something drastically wrong here. It has to be him, cant be the bike 2 races in a row.Hopper is doing well and I think he will break through to the front very soon. Vermulen has fallen off his form somehow as has Capirossi.

Rossi will win today......I think.

The grid in position order.

1st row Pedrossa Rossi Checca

2nd row Edwards Stoner Hopkins

3rd row Nakano Elias Melandri

4th row Roberts Hayden DePuniet

5th row Barros Vermulen Capirossi

6th row Jaque Tamada Hoffman

7th row Akyioshi Guintolli

There has been some speculation Hayden was never supposed to be the #1 rider on the team, and that is why they had him sorting out the 990, which was a test platform for a lot of the stuff on the current Honda 800. He might have just surprised them last year? Or is Hayden still hurt? He had his collarbone and other stuff fixed in the off-season. Dunno....

Many say Pedrosa is the better rider in the dry, but he'll falter in the first rainy GP. All else equal (and it never is) I'd put my money on Rossi, Pedrosa and Hopkins today...

 

[feejer222]

There has been some speculation Hayden was never supposed to be the #1 rider on the team, and that is why they had him sorting out the 990, which was a test platform for a lot of the stuff on the current Honda 800.

A lot of rider selection is based on sales in the riders country of origin, iether of the bike or the title sponsors product. Cant see that influencing Honda but maybe it would with Repsol??

I have heard also about Nicky doing a lot of experimental test work while Danni rode a straight race bike. Towards the end of the year Danni brought Nicky off and nearly cost him the title, but Nicky still won it. Surely that makes him number 1 rider? I cant see how that policy would carry through to this year with Nicky as current champ.

 

[C&C]

Nicky moved up pretty quick at the start of the race and then fell back some; I'm thinking the superiority of the bike he had last year, he doesn't have this year. I believe "The Doctor" is back in the house. (take my comments lightly, I'm still new in following some of the bike racing throughout the world)

 

[wallypiper]

Poor Colin Edwards, circulates all day in 3rd with nobody able to catch him but hardly gets his name called. He needs to get some orange hair or something. Rossi is clearly the man to beat again this year. Pulled out a second plus lead, then just circulated, holding the lead. He probably has the best bike out there, overall, but its because he is so good at telling the team what its doing and what he wants it to do, then making the best of whatever they can give him.

 

[cougar8000]

Not the most popular response, but I never thought that Nicky deserved the #1 plate lat year either and not really surprised with the results now. I have never saw him show that he was the lead dog. As far as I can tell he is relatively stable and that is what helped him win last year, but stable is not good enough when everyone else is improving or taking chances. As thay said, DOCTOR is back in the surgery.

Pedrosa did I think did an outstanding job. I firmly think that he realized that he wont go past Doctor and just settled down and kept the second spot in check. Smart move on the part of the youngster.

 

[yellowmagnaman]

I wanted the Doctor to win also. I never though Nicky was as good as

Rossi but nobody is. Great to see him back on top, and Edwards getting

a third place too! :yahoo: