Rossi's starting the head games with Nicky

[zrx24]

I knew it was just a matter of time.

"Rossi is 46 points behind Nicky and optimistic about the upcoming races. His view of Nicky is that while he is consistent in results he is not when it comes to lap times."

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2006/Jun/060624be4av.htm

[knedgr]

We'll see. Rossi IS the man until knocked off the top. That wreck did not do him any favors. He can be mentally tough all day, but if the body just can't do it physically, then oh well.

Gonna be a barn burner of a finish for the year!

[KWICK]

"The championship is not over."

[The Hun's ZRX]

Should be a great 2nd half of the GP season. Rossi is still THE KING, but Nicky is doing his best & his consistent efforts may reward him w/ the championship. These 2 are my fav riders & I hope a rivalry ensues for many years to come

[JoeNashville]

I just read an article about Nicky's bike and how it's kind of a hybrid bike Honda wants him to ride to develop the bike for next year. It's underpowered and less developed than last years bike which is the one Padrosa is still riding. The article implied Nicky didn't have much choice as Honda wanted to work the development now for a jump start on next year. Rossi is still riding the fully developed old bike... I was a little surprised in reading that. But Nicky has improved greatly, you can see it every race riding much better. Nothing against Rossi, because damn that guy can ride, but he's also been riding most of the courses his whole career coming up as well. I still Nicky is going to pull off the Championship!

[captflack]

any else check out that (A-STYLE) logo that was plasterd all over the race track.........?


is it just me or am i detecting something bordering on the nasty side ?





woof

[Todd 55]

Originally posted by JoeNashville
Nothing against Rossi, because damn that guy can ride, but he's also been riding most of the courses his whole career coming up as well. I still Nicky is going to pull off the Championship!

Excellent point. Rossi has been riding these circuits for at least 10 years, winning championships on 125's and 250's....can you say corner speed?

Put the (steel) shoe on the other foot, and have Vale come do the AMA flattrack series with the Hayden boys.....

Vale has started his decline, if you can call it that. Not only is he not focused (multiple World Championships can do that to ya) with the forays into tests with F1 and WRC cars, but that lack of focus has cost him in injuries. He's crashed more this year than i can remember in previous. When he's on, NOBODY can touch him, but it seems the switch is turned off more often these days. Not because he's getting old, but because nothing challenges him anymore.

Nicky has finally figured out he can't catch Vale when he's on, so he lets him go, running (relatively) conservative to podium. Remember, the old axiom: to finish first, you must first finish! In the meantime, Nicky can concentrate on what makes HIM fast, and is making incremental steps in perfecting his craft. Case in point is his comment regarding "changing" his style to run down Colin. Not quite in the maturity level of Rossi, but then no one will reach that level for many years. The only other racers I can think of that have/had that kind of icewater in the veins intensity are Ayerton Senna, John Surtees, Sir Stirling Moss, Lawson, Roberts Sr., and dare I say it, Dale Earnhardt Sr. Is it any wonder why they were multiple Champions as well?

[zrx24]

Originally posted by Todd 55
Vale has started his decline, if you can call it that. Not only is he not focused (multiple World Championships can do that to ya) with the forays into tests with F1 and WRC cars, but that lack of focus has cost him in injuries. He's crashed more this year than i can remember in previous. When he's on, NOBODY can touch him, but it seems the switch is turned off more often these days. Not because he's getting old, but because nothing challenges him anymore.

Actually he's been quite challenged with the "new and improved" Yamaha the factory came out with this season. The thing has been a dog until just recently.

[KWICK]

Originally posted by Todd 55
....but because nothing challenges him anymore.

...we'll see...the rest of the year will be a challenge....

....is it Laguna time yet?

[Smilodon]

The Flat Track comment is a good one, although I don't doubt that Rossi would be a pretty damn good Flat-tracker in a pretty short period of time.

What I was thinking in that regard was in terms of intimidation and "mind games". If you've been at the top level of AMA Flat Tracking, you've almost got immunity!

Not to mention being the only person to beat out Matt Mladin for an AMA Superbike title in the last 7 years!

So, of course there is pressure, but I doubt Rossi's psychological pressure will have much impact. Compared to Gibernau at least!

I always get a kick of how Nicky is portrayed as "just falling off the turnip truck". Yes, he's from Kentucky (do they even grow turnips there?), but he's as experienced and canny as anybody his age in the game.

[1200 cc jet]

I hope Hayden continues his great riding I will irritate many but I am tired of Rossi . Racing is much more interesting when he is playing with the back markers . Plus he yacks to much on his podium interviews . I guess you can tell I am not a fan ............

[JoeNashville]

That was one hell of a race in Holland. Fabulous finish!! I wonder how much different if Rossi was healthy. I'm not a Rossi fan really, but that boy can sure ride!!
I think Nicky is underrated as a rider, he is so smooth and mistake free. It really paid off last weekend. I would have settled for second and the points, but man what a finish!!

[Sandflea427SS]

Maybe Rossi is just getting bored... Jeez, how much can you win before your eyes glaze over and ho-hum sets in....
Formula one ?

[Hilfy]

I have to put in another vote for Hayden being tough enough to withstand any Rossi head games. I mean the man has been racing in some form or fashion since he was a tot.

And with 2 brothers that also race- I'm sure that accounts to lots of practice ignoring head games.

What a race! I was off my seat for the finish! Bad luck for Edwards. It's not very often you see him in "win or crash" mode.

As far as Rossi goes, when's the last time you can remember him being injured enough to affect his riding? I can't recall...

Either way looks like we're in for an exciting season!

Hilfy

[zrx24]

Originally posted by Sandflea427SS
Maybe Rossi is just getting bored... Jeez, how much can you win before your eyes glaze over and ho-hum sets in....
Formula one ?

Formual One? That's funny. Rossi has already come out and stated how "ho-hum" THAT is after giving it a go. The "ho-hum" factor is what resulted in his decision to turn down Ferrari's offer and stick with bikes.

[knedgr]

Originally posted by zrx24
Actually he's been quite challenged with the "new and improved" Yamaha the factory came out with this season. The thing has been a dog until just recently.

I think this is the number one reason Vale is struggling so far this year. There is only so much you can do with a bike that does not cooperate. Burgess and crew are working it day and night to figure it out. This bike has developed the dreaded "wheel chatter" that kills corner speed. There is something wrong physically with the bike. They just have to figure out what it is and tune it out of the bike. Along the process, Vale is finding all too often the limits of the bike.

[Smilodon]

Originally posted by knedgr
There is only so much you can do with a bike that does not cooperate.

John Hopkins agrees, and suggests that Rossi give the bike a good swift kick!

[Hilfy]

Originally posted by Smilodon
John Hopkins agrees, and suggests that Rossi give the bike a good swift kick!

After all look how well it worked for him! Sure lit a fire under those Suzuki mechs!

Hilfy

[LeeZRXOA98]

Moto GP is a whole different game than anything Haydon has faced in his life. The corperate money, the fan base and the talent levels are out of this world. I am a fan of both riders but the flat track expeience and AMA is nothing in comparison to Moto GP. Take Laguna Seca and add 40k more screamimg fans. I am glad to see some more names on the podium but as soon as Yam get their act together, around the time Rossi gets healthy, the championship race will be on. Rossi is invigorated with the new young stars finally stepping up to the plate. The rest of the season is going to be awesome, Haydon playing conservative while having to watch out for Pedrosa, Ross and the rest. The media over here is already starting to play it. I just hope it get tight at the end with Haydon winning by 2 points to set up a great 2007.
Lee

[Smilodon]

Originally posted by LeeZRXOA98
Moto GP is a whole different game than anything Haydon has faced in his life. The corperate money, the fan base and the talent levels are out of this world. I am a fan of both riders but the flat track expeience and AMA is nothing in comparison to Moto GP. Take Laguna Seca and add 40k more screamimg fans. I am glad to see some more names on the podium but as soon as Yam get their act together, around the time Rossi gets healthy, the championship race will be on. Rossi is invigorated with the new young stars finally stepping up to the plate. The rest of the season is going to be awesome, Haydon playing conservative while having to watch out for Pedrosa, Ross and the rest. The media over here is already starting to play it. I just hope it get tight at the end with Haydon winning by 2 points to set up a great 2007.
Lee

I agree that there are other pressures in MotoGP, but not allowing yourself to be psyched out by another rider is similar in all racing, and a skill that is particularly well developed in dirt trackers, due to the heat race/main racing formula (not to mention that Mladin is particularly good at playing the psych game).

Other Americans with that experience have both fumbled and had success in the "MotoGP" (500's, etc.) level of the sport, but allowing other rider's opinions of their skills get to them didn't seem to be one of their problems. That's why I am always amused when Nicky is categorized as a "rookie", and more vulnerable to such pressure.

Not that the rest of the riders aren't tough in this way (excepting Biaggi and Gibernau of course ), but I'm just saying that I don't think Hayden is as easy to psych out as they think.

With Rossi hurting and races every week at the moment, it is going to be tough for even the doctor to pull back to the top. All the more interesting for us fans, of course!

[HAMMERHEAD]

I don't think the issue is as much psyching him out as much as plain outsmarting him; remember the stunt Rossi pulled at Phillip Island when the ducati of Capirossi was clearly faster than Rossi's honda?
Let me refresh your memory, over the last 5 of 6 laps he consistently braked about 10 feet shorter than usual, and then, on the last lap he waited until his original marker to hit the brakes and the Duc went off the track. He was so busy catching Rossi he forgot to ride his own race, and watch his own markers.
Nicky's biggest challenge is going to be to stay cool; I think he wants to win so bad he consistently outsmarts himself; this is the first season he HASN'T, hence the results.
Rossi has also consistently proven he is faster on burnt tires than anyone else; he has even alluded to the fact that he has ridden faster and cooked the tires because he knew the other riders would cook theirs trying to keep up, then they are done. I think Nicky missed at least 2 wins he could have had if he had been just a tad more patient and saved his tires.
Being able to slide on burnt tires doesn't mean you are going any faster, even though it looks cool as hell.

Bob.

[Smilodon]

Oh, now those sort of games... Absolutely!

Rossi is very good at such things, and while I imagine that he learned quite a bit of it during his years on 125's and 250's (probably even before that!), I'd like to think he got a bit of tutelage from Mick Doohan when he was coaching him at Honda. Mick was no slouch at that either!

But I don't really consider those as much in the category of "head games" as much as being a clever S.O.B. on the track, and using that to your strategic advantage. The difference being that anyone can talk smack, but you gotta be able to ride like Rossi to be able to pull those sort of stunts!

He was a joy to watch in the 125 class doing that sort of thing, and it's never been the same since he left!

But, you got to cut Nicky some slack, he hasn't had temperamental guys like Biaggi to practice on all these years!

[Hilfy]

Ok, yeah out of the current crop, Rossi is king of racetime shenanigans. And we've seen Rossi break Hayden's stride during the race before--- last year's Phillip Island for example. In that respect yes, Rossi is a definite threat to Hayden.

Harken back to the 250 class when Rossi and Harada were racing together. Remember the one where he dogged Harada's tail the entire race till Harada got so pissed that he stopped on the track? Rossi had to stop too or run into him... got them both in trouble!

Hilfy

[zrx24]

Originally posted by Hilfy
...Rossi is a definite threat to Hayden.

Wow, who would have ever thought they'd be hearing a statement like that!

[JoeNashville]

[Perko]

Bottom line (once again) ............. if you can back up your talk (Rossi does) then it's up to the competition to change that.

NO DOUBT that Rossi can ride on wasted tires better than anyone that gets paid to ride for a living. He knows it, they know it and that is why he follows, pushes, passes and then rides away with a couple laps remaining.

SS

[HAMMERHEAD]

As demonstrated today; fresh untested set-up on the bike; (he said so himself in the post race interview) he says "I go out untested set up and take some laps to learn de bike".
Notice he also, (for the first time I can remember) went with a HARD rear tire choice. He ALWAYS goes with a medium rear; methinks the Doctor is actually racing now folks. He actually planned on using the trump card of everybody having cooked tires at the end, and him having to wait until the end to even have a chance.
He still didn't have shit for Pedrosa; that dude was SMOKIN
The bad thing for Vale though; with a rider weight of 118 pounds, Dani's tires are gonna last longer; he'll be able to ride on a softer suspension that will also lengthen tire wear.
Rossi has a full plate; just like Nicki.
That means good racing for us.

Bob.