Yooperbikemike's 2013 MotoGP Thread

[ErikY.]

Originally Posted by Silver

That whole team is awesome with the exception of Dovi.

Really? I think he's done well over the last few years. Not a drama queen and no big podium runs so not a spotlight kid, but pretty consistent 4th-ish guy.

[Lurky-Loo]

Originally Posted by ErikY.

Really? I think he's done well over the last few years. Not a drama queen and no big podium runs so not a spotlight kid, but pretty consistent 4th-ish guy.

Agree. Don't see the problem with Dovi.

[azkiwi]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

Marquez is the wildcard here, he is a loose cannon, and fast enough to be wiping people out at the front.

This. He's a tough cookie, but everyone experiences a revelation at the level of competition when they step up to MGP. Gobs of talent, but he will have his work cut out for him from the first flag drop.

[azkiwi]

Originally Posted by mdubya

Pirro says to expect the Duc on the podium before the end of the season. He feels they are already making changes in the right direction. We shall see. Sounds good though.

Wishful. Not only are they developing a new direction, they are also fighting the 4 best riders in the tourney. Each impeccably equipped. Going to be hard to stay motivated with the brunt of that onslaught slapping you down every single race day.

[dontlr]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

Could have been 7, if his crew hadn't messed up on the grid at Misano.

FWIW, I saw a different Dani Pedrosa last year. Much more relaxed, much calmer, much more focused. Much more confident. His body language was different at the races, he stood much taller (insert joke here) than he had in previous years. Barring accident, he can win it all. Marquez is the wildcard here, he is a loose cannon, and fast enough to be wiping people out at the front.

I hope MM has learned from his first year in Moto@ that he needs to clm down a bit at the early races.

JLo is so consistent but would really like to see Dani win it this year as its probably his last chance. Even Nakamoto was overjoyed with Dani and his comments on how he was a new rider.

Here's to a safe and close racing season this year without any asterisks

[Skowinski]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

....Marquez is the wildcard here, he is a loose cannon, and fast enough to be wiping people out at the front.

Was that an intentional reference to the possibility of Marquez getting a bit hairball and overenthusiastic and taking some others out when he bins it while really going fast with the front runners?

I'm starting to get excited about this upcoming season. Looks like some real fighting up front among maybe 4-5 riders all season.

[Kropotkin]

Originally Posted by kyns

5.50 for Rossi... 7 time champ... opportunity much... ??

Rossi is 34. Only two men have become world champion at that age or older: Phil Read, who beat Agostini when there was no other competition, and Leslie Graham, the first ever 500cc World Champion in 1949. History is against Rossi. But Rossi has shown scant respect for history.

[mike54]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

Rossi is 34. Only two men have become world champion at that age or older: Phil Read, who beat Agostini when there was no other competition, and Leslie Graham, the first ever 500cc World Champion in 1949. History is against Rossi. But Rossi has shown scant respect for history.

I believe that in Rossi's mind the age thing is just another chance to be mentioned in the record books.

[kyns]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

Rossi is 34. Only two men have become world champion at that age or older: Phil Read, who beat Agostini when there was no other competition, and Leslie Graham, the first ever 500cc World Champion in 1949. History is against Rossi. But Rossi has shown scant respect for history.

Yeah, he's getting older. And in interviews lately he has even started to doubt himself a bit. That is a bit worrying, but i would never bet against the Doctor, he's special. If anyone can do it at 34, it's Rossi.
I believe the title fight will be tight and between the smooooth Yamaha guys.

[bikerfish]

I also agree that MM is gonna be scary at the starts, trying to win the race in the first turn. Rossi is a tough call right now, gonna take 3 or 4 races to see where his skill level is at compared to pedrosa/lorenzo.

[DandyDoug]

Originally Posted by Kropotkin

Rossi is 34. Only two men have become world champion at that age or older: Phil Read, who beat Agostini when there was no other competition, and Leslie Graham, the first ever 500cc World Champion in 1949. History is against Rossi. But Rossi has shown scant respect for history.

Didn't Walter Villa win his second championship at age 52 ??
Maybe he was on a 250 or a 350 , they had so many more classes operating back then .

[kyns]

Originally Posted by Lurky-Loo

There you go. Put down $50 on Rossi and $50 on Marquez. If one wins, you make $175.

But I'm not the one claiming they're undervalued, that's you.

My point was: i rather bet on Rossi than Pedro, no matter what the odds, never claimed anyone undervalued.

[bikerfish]

if Pedro doesn't do it this year, Puig is gonna explode!

[Brodovitch]

Originally Posted by bikerfish

if Pedro doesn't do it this year, Puig is gonna explode!

One can only hope.

[stk0308]

Originally Posted by DandyDoug

Didn't Walter Villa win his second championship at age 52 ??
Maybe he was on a 250 or a 350 , they had so many more classes operating back then .

Walter won his later championships in 1976, at age 33. It was both the 250 and 350 classes. For Harley/Aramacchi.

Another older winner was the infamous Angel Nieto. He was 37 when he won his last championship in 1984. In the 125 class.

Neither were top class champions. Which is what we're really talking about here.