did anyone else read this? http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=21917&championship_id=3§ion=1 I'm glad Nicky put in the most laps and had the fastest lap while Pedrosa was bitching from his recovery bed. Can Pedrosa go ride the new KTM when it goes MotoGP so he'll be able to show the world what a great lead developer he really is? (if you don't understand the irony, refresh your memory here)
The Pedrobot will always be a controversial figure here in the USA, for obvious reasons, LOL! If preseson testing is any indication of how the year is going to go in MotoGP, which it probably isn't at this stage of the game, it should be a good year. I would have to say that the biggest surprises of the Sepang test had to be Jorge Lorenzo finishing third quickest after 3 days of testing and Randy DePuniet being quickest for the first 2 days. Although Lorenzo was three tenths quicker than Rossi, I think that Valentino will definately turn the tables once he gets a little more time with his new 'Stones. Nicky is always an animal when it comes to putting in the effort during testing, both preseason and on testing days after the races. Early indications are that he will be a lot better off with this years package than last years debacle. Nicky deserved a lot more than he got from Honda last year. Between the ill suited aerodynamics and the myriad of clutch problems he suffered, Nicky showed the true qualities of a champion by never openly dissing his guys or his bike. Unlike some other past champion that will go unnamed..... It is also very interesting that most of the teams have decided to follow the lead of Ducati and Suzuki with respect to pneumatic valvetrains this year. Honda and Yamaha both tested this engine technology at Sepang. Another shocker was the on track testing of Kawasaki's previously unknown "screamer" engine configuration (all cyclinders firing at the same time) which is definately a departure from the now standard "big bang" engine configuration. Although Kawasaki has no plans to race the "screamer" in '08, it was something kinda cool. We will see who really has what when the final preseason test takes place at Jerez in February, but it is nice to have the bikes back on track after the long layoff. Mark your calenders and set that TIVO, as the first race of the MotoGP season on the 9th of March in Qatar will make history by being the first MotoGP race under the lights. Man, I can't wait!!!!!!!!!!!
I had to dig back to find this... Dani Pedrosa, after his hand injury, slighted Nicky Hayden's ability to test and develop the 2008 machine. Dani misses nearly all the testing over the summer. Dani comes back for the first race of the season to take third on the podium on the 2008 bike that Hayden developed during his recovery. Hayden rode the 2007 bike. Yep, Dani is a great rider, but what he has in riding skill, he lacks in character... not a peep about the bike's development or nod to his mate. Maybe Nicky will be able to barge the corner on the second to last race this season in Dani has a good year going.
