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So can Casey ride yet?
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Or is it still the tyres?
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He can ride but the fact that he's not European means it must be the tires,
folks say. It doesn't help his case that last year he was inconsistent as
hell and suddenly he's Mr. Smooth.
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;)
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I remember he showed some ability last year but to only be over
aggressive and crash out. I don't think he dumped the bike once this
season. I'd say the whole tyre bike theory was over about 5 races in.
These last few races have been promising with the other manufacturers
being able to compete with Ducatti, and something I hope we can see
next year; Rossi-Stoner battles would be awesome.
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Methinks he can ride well enough, you can't ask any more of him that he
gets on his bike, goes head to head with the best riders there and wins
8 GPs so far, much better performance than the previous one who fluked
50% of his GP wins last year and tootled around in 3rd or 4th without
getting involved at the shapr end.
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OK, so about the reference to Hayden's 2006 performance... Yes, the
face that he won the championship with only 2 wins durring the season,
and only 3 career wins, does say something. I'm a Hayden fan, but I'm
not going to call him the best ever or something like that. But you
have to say, in a points-based championship consistancy wins. and he
was definently the most consistant last year! I don't think I can
remember one crash or DNF other than the Pedrosa incident.
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I doubt that anyone on here would call Hayden "best ever" just my
opinion that he wasn't the best last year either.
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And lets not forget that Hayden was offered the very bike that Stoner
is on this season, but declined to move to a new factory and new
tires. You could argue this either way... He should have move to
Ducati; look where he might be right now. Or you can argue that he
made the right decision by sticking with his known bike / tire combo
for the move to 800cc. It must have been a VERY hard decision to
make!!
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I think that if someone as experienced as Capirex struggled with that
bike then Hayden would have had an even worse season than he had this
year. Was anything ever confirmed that a contract had been offered to
Hayden or was it all rumours? Plus I don't think that Honda USA would
have liked to see all their cash being wasted by Hayden being "allowed"
to move to another marque.
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And as far as Hayden sitting back in 3rd or 4th and not getting
involved at the "sharper end"... Remember that he had those recurring
clutch problems all last year. Together with his riding style not
being the smoothest and easiest on the tires, He was probably doing an
AMAZING job to finish on the podium or in the top 5 almost every race
last year!!
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I think we'll agree to disagree there, amazing is not how I'd describe
his racing last year.
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On to this season... It's obvious that he has had problems with HRC
(the bike being developed for Pedrosa), along with the RC212V not
making the power to compete consistently. He has changed his riding
style to adapt to the new bike and has made GREAT improvements since
about mid season. And don't forget that Hayden is probably the hardest
worker in the paddock.
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How do you know this?
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I'd assume that it's based on the oft-quoted statement that Hayden
does the most laps on test days.
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Yeah, that is what I was referring to. Hayden's determination and hard
work ethic. Not to be taking away from any other rider in MotoGP. I'm
sure any guy that makes it to that level is already incredibly
determined and devoted to his work. I'm just say that as a Hayden fan,
he IS the hardest worker... hahaha
They are all really hard workers. Except for Casey Stoner maybe... I
don't think he even deserves to be in the top class!
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I was only joking to get a response... but I think you're right about
that.
- Kyle
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- Kyle
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- Kyle
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Well done Stoner and Ducati ....
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Depends what kinda mood Rossi's crybaby groupies are in :)
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It's always been the tires / bike combo.... HAhaha!! just kidding!
He's the man! I can't wait to see him battling in Phillip Island next!
I would not have guessed he was this good watching him last year. He
had some good battles at the front, just no results there. Plenty of
crashed last year. He has grown alot since then! A real champion now!!
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Oh, I don't know. I think he's somewhat unproven. After all, one
championship doesn't mean you're one of the greats. ;-)
That was tongue in cheek, right. Here's a big shout for Casey, 2nd
youngest top class world champ *evaaaah!* And to Ducati for bringing 30
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And the lightest ever! Until Pedrosa wins it, that is. Or Lorenzo, or
Dovisioso, or...
And to Ducati for bringing 30
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years of Japanese domination of the top class to an end.
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And, perhaps more importantly, to Bridgestone for bringing 25 years of
European dominance of the top class to an end...
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It's great that Ducati won it, I've been a fan of their bikes since the
70s and this ranks just slightly behind Hailwoods comeback.
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- Kyle
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