http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080818-691.htm
Kinda what we were talking about at Sunday's race watch.
[thumbsup] Thanks for mining those racing articles ! You'd think Honda would be rolling heads over this ! I guess they are more into ATV & dirt now !
Love the title of this article - Duc Rumors may be my next screen name ! LOL ! [laugh]
I think that would be really cool if he came over to Ducati! Gotta always root for the KY kid. Ooohh my 1098 would look good in "69" skins
I bet if Hayden signs on w/ Ducati, the GP9 will be tough to beat. Hayden's a worker and will put in the laps to wring the neck out of that bike and the settings. It'll make Stoner and Hayden a tough combo to beat.
Quote from: bryant8 on August 19, 2008, 12:15:32 PM
I bet if Hayden signs on w/ Ducati, the GP9 will be tough to beat. Hayden's a worker and will put in the laps to wring the neck out of that bike and the settings. It'll make Stoner and Hayden a tough combo to beat.
+1
could not agree any less. Hayden is sadly at or slightly past his peak, and he is not going to get any better. Where he is at now is not what Ducati needs. He's a mature #2 seat ( yawn ), and clearly has issues being in that role, vis-a-vis the rift with Honda over their development of Pedrosa....
If we are looking for a mature #2 seat, let's keep looking. Haga?
I'll take a pass on pimp-daddy Hayden, as usual...
Quote from: The Svoloch on August 19, 2008, 02:15:30 PM
could not agree any less. Hayden is sadly at or slightly past his peak, and he is not going to get any better. Where he is at now is not what Ducati needs. He's a mature #2 seat ( yawn ), and clearly has issues being in that role, vis-a-vis the rift with Honda over their development of Pedrosa....
If we are looking for a mature #2 seat, let's keep looking. Haga?
I'll take a pass on pimp-daddy Hayden, as usual...
He's like 27 and you think he's past his peak?
Maybe he has just lost his motivation with Honda as a result of the Pedrosa "thing" and a new ride would be just the thing he needs.
Quote from: Kevin848 on August 19, 2008, 02:50:38 PM
Maybe he has just lost his motivation with Honda as a result of the Pedrosa "thing" and a new ride would be just the thing he needs.
New ride, new team, new attitude [thumbsup]
Could you imagine Suzuki telling Mladin 9 years ago......sorry, you're past your peak
Look what happened to Stoner. We was a walking crash fest the last year he was with the satellite Honda team. Jeez, could he put together two races in a row without pitching it down the track? Fast? Sure, but a living breathing destroyer of bikes. Now look at him. Sure great bike last year and finally this year after some struggles early on. But boy howdy was that ever a good change for him? Great move. But it can blow up too. Look at Melandri. Really good rider just having an awful time on the Ducati. Who knows about Nicky? Could be a great career change or a disaster of biblical proportions. I'm not a Nicky hater by any means. I agree with B8. In my eyes he's a trooper and works as hard or harder than anyone out there in testing. I find it hard to not like the kid. Hell, Rossi really likes him. Even said if anyone in the field were to beat him in the '06 championship he would want it to be Hayden. That says a lot.
Ducati could do a lot worse for sure. I think they would appreciate his work ethic and talent a lot more than Honda ever did. He could use a break from the red headed step child role he plays at Honda regardless who he goes with. I wish him luck.
you think he won't be the duc stepchild? He will be. Why? Because Stoner is worth developing, and Nicki isn't. Honda v2.
Melandri just confirmed his switch to Kawasaki for next year
Oh and here
http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/article/motog-hayden-to-ducati-announcement-expected-soon/
Surely Nicky has tested with Ducati enough to show that his style suits their bike. I doubt he wants to climb on another ride, or join another team, that won't work for him. Ducati has obviously had problems finding other riders than can handle their machine, but maybe Nicky is the right one. He's still very young. Check out Colin Edwards and Troy Corser. They've been around forever, and at their advanced ages have now found hardware that they can be pretty competitive on. I'm anxious to see what he can do with another team.
Me too. Patrick, what did Nicky ever do to you? Stuck his finger in your tofu?? [laugh] Just kidding! [clap] ;D
Jeeez-uss H. Christ! How can ya' say Hayden is too old then propose freakin' Noriuki Haga? Carbon dating puts Haga in rougly the Mesozoic Era. Not that Haga can't ride - far from it; he's one of my favorites to watch (in WSBK). But for cryin outloud, he's a lot older than Hayden.
I like Hayden at Ducati. He seems to be able to communicate exactly what a bike needs to develop faster bikes (work ethic, determination, talent, what-have-you [roll] ). And I do think he's been screwed by HRC - can't believe he's taken their second-hand, Pedrosa bullshit this long. Honda? I say f-ck'em and move on to a team that will at least acknowledge his contributions.
And I'm not so sure about Stoner being #1 within The Team if Hayden were to move there; what the hell was that crashing-out-while-in-the-lead crap at Bruno last week? Rossi will beat you each and every damn time if you let him in your head (just ask "cursed" Sete Gibernau). I thought Stoner had that sorted a bit better than his result last weekend. If anything, I think he's still a bit young.
Haga... Seriously? [evil]
Alright enough of this armchair race manager BS - I've got laundry to sort [cheeky]
So with Melandri going to Kawasaki, Nicky coming to Ducati, who's taking HRC's stepchild seat? Dovi perhaps?
Quote from: Cher on August 19, 2008, 07:03:34 PM
Jeeez-uss H. Christ! - I've got laundry to sort [cheeky]
Party on, Wayne [thumbsup]
Um... and the horse you rode in on, KC [cheeky] [cheeky] (Sorry, "MC" now) [roll] [evil]
Quote from: Cher on August 19, 2008, 07:15:37 PM
Um... and the horse you rode in on, KC [cheeky] [cheeky]
[laugh] [laugh] i think i have seen that before!
I'm thinking that young up and comer James McCain taking that second seat at Honda! [thumbsup] Where the hell is James if he secretly isn't doing test rides for the big boys across the pond? Speak up James or the rumors will persist! Where you at dude??? [moto]
Part of me thinks that you get better as a rider as you get a little older (Haga, Bayliss, Mladin, Corser, etc.) but for some reason I forget which part of me makes me think that. :P Might be a side effect of getting a little older. [laugh]
Quote from: calscrazy on August 19, 2008, 07:45:51 PM
[laugh] [laugh] i think i have seen that before!
;D It's a good one.
I had a boss who used to say that sort of thing all the time... That, and, "If it were easy, they'd let women and children do it" That was usually in reference to me and the job I was doing [laugh]
standing rule at my house: if it requires the use of instructions it's all her. if it's anything else but electrical come see me. if it's electrical and i work on it call 911 or the electrician (means of travel excluded i do everyhting in that dept.)
back on subject: i have no real probs with hayden i say give hima 2-3 yr contract and see what he's got. it's kinda got the look of stoner crumpling under the pressure from rossi. i mean leguna and then this pushing to hard to stay out front. if rossi wants to bang em around and play mind tricks reach down grab ahold of 'em and show him you've got more games than milton bradley. NEVER SHOW WEAKNESS OR BACK DOWN!! if stoner does they should just put him on bayliss' superbike next year and find someone else.
hayden is a good racer but bad developer... specially on a Ducati which loves corner speed (aka GP250 style) might be wrong but hayden will not adjust to the ducati, what they need is a kid from the 250s.... ;)
Honda is a capable bike when the tires work, look at Pedrosa, and Dovi where they finish, no excuses for hayden not to finish in top 5-8 in every race and he havent done this for the last 2 years, since Catalynia 2006... [coffee]
i bet Melandri will pondium the Kawasaki ;)
Would love to see Melandri put the green Kawi on the podium! I think he would be a good #1 rider for Ant West to follow around. I think West could be a diamond in the rough. They need more rainy races so he can show his wet riding skills. Hopkins, Melandi and West would be a nice package of riders for Kawasaki. They want to win and are willing to pay the cubic money to do so.
Gman, what the hell are you doing up at 3:51AM posting on this board?? You and Kevin need some regular sleep schedules!! [bang] [coffee]
I have NO idea what y'all are talking about, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to bump my post count ;D
Quote from: Major Charmin on August 20, 2008, 08:57:08 AM
I have NO idea what y'all are talking about, but I thought I'd take this opportunity to bump my post count ;D
+1 [laugh]
Oh, & PLEEZE don't get Svoloch started on any Hayden agenda...
Quote from: Major Charmin on August 20, 2008, 09:03:09 AM
Oh, & PLEEZE don't get Svoloch started on any Hayden agenda...
you mean we can choose whether or not we get him started? I thought that was something we just had to deal with. Kinda like eating veges as a kid, sometimes you could hide them somewhere, but usually you just had to grin and bear it
Quote from: who dat is on August 20, 2008, 09:10:57 AM
...you just had to grin and bear it
Thats what she.... ??
I wont do it this is somewhat of a respectable thread.
Quote from: who dat is on August 20, 2008, 09:10:57 AM
grin and bear it
Like this?
(http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?action=dlattach;attach=1439;type=avatar)
Quote from: Kevin848 on August 20, 2008, 09:15:20 AM
Thats what she.... ??
I wont do it this is somewhat of a respectable thread.
If I started it it can't be that respectable. :P
Well at least we now know where Melandri is going. [thumbsup]
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=33813
Another neat, old Ducati racing story for those who are bored and have nothing better to do:
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2002-Aug/020808_851.htm
ok, to get caught up, I don't HATE Hayden. I'm just not a fan. I also think it was bad form to get his ankle all busted up in x moto before a gp race, but then, clearly, things with Honda were not all roses and kisses anyway.
So, here's my thoughts:
you put people on your team either to develop the bike, or to develop the rider ( or, to PODIUM the bike ). the fact is, Hayden was always the #2 seat. look at the bike. he's cramped as sh1t on that bike. why? hello, even the seat was setup for pedrosa. Hayden does not seem to know that he's the #2 seat, although how he could miss it I don't know. the fact is, Pedrosa is not yet at the top of his game, and is already a better rider than hayden. as i have opined, when Pedrosa figures a few things out, he is going to be smoking fast... Hayden is frankly past his peak. he's not going to get much, if any, better as a rider. and he's not a good guy to develop the bike. So, a comfy slot on a gp team is not in the cards... he will not be happier at ducati, and we will not be happier to have him. he will be a distraction from the development of Stoner ( who is also not yet at his peak, holy crap ), and will not contribute to the development of the bike. my suggestion for pimp-daddy hayden is to look for a stelgarde or a solid privateer team, or move to superbikes where he has a better chance of being truly competetive.
so, the other seat should go to a sh1t hot guy still in need of development ( i like canepa ), or an experienced rider to help develop the bike ( which is where i was looking for someone like a haga, who we are not looking to podium every weekend ).
there. 'nuff said.
by the way, Capirossi is about to set a record for most GP appearances [thumbsup] here's a youtube clip of the epic battle in 1999 in assen. This race pretty much got me addicted to GP.... and it's a 250...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msm1EkYSKH8
I don't care if they are nine days old or nine years old I love the 250cc grand prix races! They are best!! [thumbsup]
Oh, and I just off the phone with the Hayden family and they say Nicky is very upset with you and his feelings are really hurt. I could could hear sobbing in the background. Earl got on and said he's coming to town to kick your ass for making Nicky cry. You should be ashamed of yourself! :'(
Quote from: fastwin on August 24, 2008, 08:21:49 AM
Oh, and I just off the phone with the Hayden family and they say Nicky is very upset with you and his feelings are really hurt. I could coud hear sobbing in the background. Earl got on and said he's coming to town to kick your ass for making Nicky cry. You should be ashamed of yourself! :'(
PM me for Svoloch's address and private phone numbers ;D
Quote from: General Charming on August 24, 2008, 08:37:15 AM
PM me for Svoloch's address and private phone numbers ;D
[laugh] [laugh] [laugh]
Ok so a serious answer to a not so serious response: why do YOU think pimp-daddy will be happier in the #2 seat at ducati, playing second fiddle to stoner? Who out there thinks that ducati is looking to develop him?
So I ask you, what does Nicki bring to ducati, and what does ducati bring to hayden? Canepa is lapping just over a second behind stoner in testing...
Werd...
Personally I like Nicky but I also like the idea of them hiring an Italian rider. Heck, I guess he is already hired, he's just not riding the big boy's bikes yet! Ducati must see something in Hayden for them to be talking to each other. I know he can't elaborate much since he's under a tight hush hush contract with Honda, but I wonder who else he's talked to? Not a whole lot of vacant seats out there on the grid.
Quote from: The Svoloch on August 24, 2008, 10:04:27 AM
Ok so a serious answer to a not so serious response: why do YOU think pimp-daddy will be happier in the #2 seat at ducati, playing second fiddle to stoner? Who out there thinks that ducati is looking to develop him?
So I ask you, what does Nicki bring to ducati, and what does ducati bring to hayden? Canepa is lapping just over a second behind stoner in testing...
Werd...
Duh, that f*&#*ng crazy Kentucky accent. I mean how much do you love those post-race interviews? You've got all these stuffy Europeans rattling stuff off that no one can understand, then here comes Hayden, "... and I'd like to thank my team, and God, for helping me win today..."
You're just not gonna get that with Canepa - I don't care how "good" you say he is.
:-*
Its not everyday you get to hear that kind of authentic backwoods giberish. Reverand!!