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What are your picks for Podium in Germany
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1. Hayden
2.Pedrosa
3.Rossi
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My guess is
1. Rossi - Very motivated and if anything shown how fast he can be
on worn tires
2. Pedrosa - In the zone. Smooth and soft with high corner speed will
bring him allmost all the way home.
3. ... Maybe Edwards
Alltough Hayden have done well there in the past I suspect he will be in
trouble this year. The way he and his bike work now there is little to
suggest this will be this years favorite.
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I'm kind of leaning that way myself, just because of the edge grip issue.
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In fact, to me it look like basing guesses on results from previous seasons
doesn't quite get you there this year. Looks to me as if some major
parameters has changed. Bridgestone seems to be better and more consistent
but has lost the edge at their previous favorite tracks. New riders that do
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Like where? Have they been to a track yet this year that you could call
one of their better ones? The only podium they had last year at these
tracks was at Mugello, and this year Capirossi moved up a spot there. I
think they're better across the board.
New riders that do
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good on others former favortite tracks. All in all this make up for very
different results this year.
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I'm not so convinced in general, but the new guys make it tougher. Given
the setup problems Yamaha has had in Germany and the problems they had
with the new chassis at Donington, I am not looking at them with any
certainty, although Rossi should be in the fight. Hayden has the edge
grip issue, otherwise I'd probably pick him. Pedrosa I don't see
winning, as I said elsewhere. Hasn't really been a Melandri track, and
he's better on faster tracks anyway (Istanbul, Mugello, Assen, PI), it
seems. Capirossi has been hurting, so he's hard to predict, and Ducati
hasn't shined here. Ditto Gibernau, who handed Rossi the win last year.
What I'm thinking as a possibility is another Bridgestone runner -
Nakano finished 6th here last year, but only 4.5 seconds back, which was
closer than he was at Assen. So maybe him, or maybe Hopkins near the
front. And the other guy I'd watch is the '99 winner, Roberts.
Anyway, this one's too tough to call for me right now - I'll wait until
Saturday...
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Pretty spot on there. Although Hayden has been deprived of side grip
all season, he seems to have adjusted to it rather well thus far.
Barring any Friday test programs from HRC, I think Hayden will run up
front. I've read the M1 had a fit at Donny two weeks back, Rossi will
be there but I don't think he's got it. Pedrosa will continue to
impress.
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