Laguna Seca Outcome...*don't read if you haven't seen it*

greasemonkey · #1 (**permalink**) 07-24-2006, 01:37 AM

YEEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!! !!!

holy crap, I'm again very very excited about the recent MotoGP race in Laguna Seca, CA. the track is about 3 hours from where I live, we went last year and it was hot at 90 degrees, this year it's about 105 so we enjoyed the A/C, BBQ, refrigerator and ~150" hi-def projector to spectate from.

and Valentino Rossi, 'the man of the hour' (that's 51 points behind the lead), the bastard that likes to cut people off and run them off the track because he's not as good as he used to be and he's on a crappy bike, qualified back in the 4th row, made it up to 4th place and had an engine failure, I couldn't be any more excited. even at that though Nicky Haden was tearing people up on that track, even Roberts Jr. who grew up between me and the track. Nicky is the defending champion from this track from last year and has done it again, it was awesome to see his victory lap with the American flag at home.

It was also good to see his teammate on the other repsol honda podium. and the other podium was also a honda....and you guys give me crap about riding a honda.

On that note, I do think it was pretty dang funny that the first ad that played literally 10 seconds after Rossi's engine blowing was the Yamaha ad about "riding the legendary bike" that Valentino Rossi rides...that very "legend" has been kicking Rossi's ass half of the times he's had problems(the other half are just operator error).

White Phoenix · #2 (**permalink**) 07-24-2006, 10:58 AM

I have to agree that im happy an american took the checker, but i disagree with your views on Valentino. In my opinion he is still a damn good rider. Take a look at how fast he moved up from like 12th to 4th... your telling me he cant ride well anymore? Yea he had an engine failure for the 3rd time this year but the bike just has not been able to preform for the past races either. Honda has some nice bikes out there but i think its a little cocky to say the yahama bikes out there are crap. sounds like you already got the honda brand loyalty haha, but nothing is wrong with that as i have it also. I hardly doubt you would be saying the same if rossi was still with repsoil having the same problems. I dont think i would hear negative things about his bike or about his riding skill. Everyone has their bad times and Valentino is having a terrible time wth the bike. When the bike is up and running like it should rossi rides the shit out of it.

Next you have to take a look at the riders and the tracks. Riders have the tracks where they are particularily good and and not so good at. Leguna seca is a slower track with more room for error. Hayden just rode the track better and his bike preformed better.

When Hayden has a career as successful as rossi you can start ripping on his riding ability...
Take a look at the top riders of all time for 125/250/motogp... who stands at the top and who isnt even on the list?

I do however have to agree with the timing of the commercial... it actually made me laugh

White Phoenix · #3 (**permalink**) 07-24-2006, 11:25 AM

take a look at the finishes. Hayden has been consitstant as a 2nd or 3rd place finisher as valentino, when his bike is running right is a 1st or 2nd place finisher. You still think he is loosing his edge?

greasemonkey · #4 (**permalink**) 07-24-2006, 01:59 PM

I didn't say he wasn't good anymore, I was hoping that wouldn't get misunderstood. He's just not as good as he has been in the past. I also didn't mean that all yamahas are bad, just that he hasn't had very many races on a good bike since he started riding for them, I know he had problems riding Honda, too, just not near as many. I really like their street bikes, two friends have an R1 and an R6, the R6 has seen SOOO much abuse and hard riding(full time track bike) and it still rides tight and straight.
my bad, I made some statements that were a little too broad. I will give to Rossi that he's a TON more humble in his interviews and gives credit to other riders when it's due. he's just not as good as he used to be(which is still better than most) and he's been on a crappy bike this season, I find it difficult to argue either of those points. and that the worst rider ever to race motoGP would embarrass me on a bike.

White Phoenix · #5 (**permalink**) 07-25-2006, 12:25 AM

no hard feelings haha but that yamaha bike has been nothing but problems for him this year... just look at his pole standings where the bike was working right.... mostly 1st and 2nds... sad year for Moto gp but its always good to see an american winning.... Hayden is my second favorite behind rossi