18 Feb Jerez?

Question

With the official Test only a few days away. I was wondering about teams and final placings in teams. here is who I think.

Haydon ....... Pedrosa

Rossi......Lorenzo

Stoner.....Melandri

Nakano......De Angelis

Capirossi.......Vermulen

West...........Hopkins

Toseland.....Edwards

I Have no Idea whatsoever on who will win or come anywhere in the championship. Its just a guess at the inteam fights.

Any thoughts. Disagreements or agreements.

Answer 1

Hey Proc

I'm with Neil on this one - you called most of them, but I think that although Cappa may arrive as the No. 1, Vermulen will soon outstrip him, and I don't think the  Hopper (or his new missus) will take kindly to being the No. 2 (and I think he'll take more points too)

As for Pedrosa/Haydon  - I guess they're now sharing top billing, but I think Haydon will take more points (now he's switched off most of that daftass ECU doodads)

I do think there's gonna be plenty of action - on and off the track! I can't wait to see the hairbrushes fly and the toys come out the pram!

Answer 2

Interesting point. I would go along with all yours except the West - Hopkins and Toseland - Edwards. Those two I would both swap.

The Suzuki one will be close but I would not be surprised if Chris edges it, however I will stick with Loris at this moment in time.

The other teams I agree with you and other people.

As for Kenny Roberts and the team, well I must echo everyone elses sentiments and just hope that they can make it to the grid with something. I like the romantic notion of them fielding Ilmor but am not convinced that it would do them much good to take another untried engine out there. I personally would love it if they managed to source competitive Ducati engines and stick it in their own wonderful frame but that is very unlikely. Honda were less than fair to them in 07 and whilst I accept they had their own issues to deal with they should have realised that a) Roberts did them a lot of favours in 06 with the last of the of the 990 engines and b) a sense of decency should have made them help out a team who I assume were paying for their motors, a whole lot more than it appears they did. There is no way on earth that they were as bad as the results and times had them last year.

Answer 3

All three answers before me are really good.

Answer 4

THANKS YOU THANK YOU !!

A Racing question!! Ive sick of this jump and that jump, yes it was long, but it was boring! No crash. Not like Seth Oslow !!

Anyway.............. rant over !

I will go all the way with Mr Niel except for Team Kwack, I think Ant West will be that little bit faster.

Also, bang on with the Team KR deal. If the team make this year, it will be a real downer.

It would be such a shame to [ only ] see the big teams in MotoGP. Yes, I know Ducati are tiny compared to Honda, but they are still massive, and good credit to them, but even Illmor made Team KR look small.

To loose Kenny (snr) from this paddock would be a damm shame. Ive said it before, that we need " old school " greats in the sport.

I wonder if Yamaha would ever take him back as a team principle after he stole Marlboro  as there main sponsor ?

Honda should give him a place to bring up young riders. He has served them well with the work on his 07 bike after a tough 06 season.

Answer 5

My gut instinct would go for:

Pedrosa.........Hayden

Rossi...........Lorenzo

Stoner............Melandri

Nakano.........De Angelis (now shinya is back on Bridgestones)

Vermeulen.........Capirossi

Hopkins......West (but very close)

Edwards..........Toseland (but by the end of season James will be the better rider)

Guintoli.........Elias (bit of a long shot, but thats what I hope)

Dovizioso.........De Puniet (different teams I know, but both on satelite Honda's with michelins)

And I hope we see two KR bikes on the grid, and I'm also hoping that he runs with Ilmores.

The internal team rivalry for this season will be fascinating. I'm especially looking forward to see the results from the Suzuki garage. I know you and I disagree on that one, but I still feel that Vermuelen is a potential world champ, and Caparossi I'm afraid has had his day. I could be wrong though. Should be interesting whatever way it goes!