Puig Blasts Hayden

[motodog650]

Puig is just proving what an A$$HAT he really is. What a sad, pathetic little man...

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/170163-0/puig_blasts_hayden.html

[Tyrroneous]

Clearly, the man is a douche.

[black hills]

I Hope Hayden destroys Pedrosa next season

[desert_rider]

I Hope Hayden destroys Pedrosa next season

+1

I can't wait to see Nicky riding the crap out of the Ducati next year.  

[Mr. Whippy]

Would love to see a new Ducati tradition of roosting Dani at the end of each race where a Ducati beats Repsol Honda.  

[photomd]

So will Pedrosa have to do his own testing next year?

[rajflyboy]

Heck

Nicky is wooping Dani's booty late in the season.   Turns out that Dani's setups weren't so good!!

[Mr. Whippy]

Heck

Nicky is wooping Dani's booty late in the season.   Turns out that Dani's setups weren't so good!!

Don't be silly.  It's the wall.  

[rajflyboy]

The Wall Helps too.

Nicky doesn't have to look at the whiny little b*tch

 

[schoon]

What a Tool!

[hobbes]

So will Pedrosa have to do his own testing next year?

Nah, Puig will convince someone to do it for him.

[miles]

Nah, Puig will convince someone Dovi to do it for him.

Fixed that for you.

[staedtler]

yes,...what an a...!!

anyway..those two f...'s will be in charge of the coffee and pastries stand at the paddock after next season, you'll see...

[Galo]

Wow......given all this, I have new-found respect for Nicky.....with this asshat as a team manager, obviously not supporting hi, and he still has had his recent great rides & results?

Honda should have canned Puig, not Hayden.  

I kinda wanted Honda to do well and give the Ducs a serious run for their money, now I want the Ducs to beats the crap out of Honda...
 

[DogBoy]

Puig is not a team manager for Honda. He is a former 500GP racer and now acts as personal manager for Dani Pedrosa. (Puig has also mentored quite a few 125 and 250 riders) He's defending his client and working the press like any manager so anything he says should be taken with a grain (or 10 lb. bag) of salt. Puig initially blamed Hayden when Pedrossa clearly caused the wreck at Portugal in 2006.

The Euro press eats this stuff up. I'm glad we're insulated from most of this crap over here.

[squeezer]

+1

I can't wait to see Nicky riding the crap out of the Ducati next year.  

I sure hope so because Nicky is so much fun to root for.  But I get a little worried when I see how every-Ducati-rider-except-Stoner performed this year.  I mean, Melandri was competitive on a Honda too.  I think we'll learn a lot about both Nicky and Stoner next year.

Back on topic:  Don't need to learn more about Puig.  Dirtbag.  

[keystonejenks]

I heard he's a world class ass. This just confirms it.

[JamesG]

Honda did not "can" Hayden he got a contract to ride for the factory Ducati team.

Mental note: Do not buy any more Puig windscreens.

[bomber]

this is 80% of why so many over here just can't be bothered with GP -- it's like reality TV, so much BS and so little substance

same thing happened to F1 auto racing, long ago

sigh

I"m not much of a fan of Nascar, but ya gotta admit, they know how to turn a buck on racing

[DogBoy]

this is 80% of why so many over here just can't be bothered with GP -- it's like reality TV, so much BS and so little substance

same thing happened to F1 auto racing, long ago

sigh

I"m not much of a fan of Nascar, but ya gotta admit, they know how to turn a buck on racing

Awwww...Come on. Reporting like this is the norm for the NFL, NBA or MLB. And its exactly why I can't stand Sports Center anymore. What did Owens say about McNabb? What did Chad Johnson say to anyone who would listen? The MotoCross magazines jump on this stuff but their demographic is young and into drama and gossip. I hope we see less of this crap, but it obviously gets people riled up and is fun for the journalists.

I'd rather read tech articles than something that reinforces Puig is acting like a 16 year-old.

[falcofred]

I didn't boo Pedrobot at Indy this year, seamed up sportsman like. But next year, I'm joining the boo crowd. I might even print up a T-shirt "Anybody but Pedrosa"

[desert_rider]

What did Chad JohnsonOcho Cinco say to anyone who would listen?

Fixed.

[ReviveTheWhigs]

He's defending his client and working the press like any manager so anything he says should be taken with a grain (or 10 lb. bag) of salt.

I agree that he is first and foremost Dani's manager, which is why it's so surprising that he's calling the shots (or at least heavily influencing whoever is calling the shots) over at HRC.

How badly does Honda need Repsol's money?

[traveler]

I agree that he is first and foremost Dani's manager, which is why it's so surprising that he's calling the shots (or at least heavily influencing whoever is calling the shots) over at HRC.

How badly does Honda need Repsol's money?

From what little I know of the situation, Puig is very closely linked to Repsol and its money, which explains why he is as powerful as he seems to be within the Honda tent.

Major sponsors are hard to come by in MotoGP, and will be even harder to find in the near future. Honda has been nuturing this relationship with Repsol for a long time, and I'm sure they would like it to continue. A bit of give and take between Honda and Repsol should be expected, with Repsol's influence more pronounced as the financial situation in MotoGP has deteriorated in the last few years.

[mugwump58]

Must be Dani's a little down in the dumps. I'm with dog on this, a manager doing what managers do. Sorry Dovi....

[pearsonm]

Reason# 564 why I love to hate Honda.

[tbeemer]

Reason# 564 why I love to hate Honda.

LOL!

For me, reason #4 why I'll go back to rooting against Honda.  

1. Let Vale walk.  All over not giving him his championship bike... like you said you would.  
2. Give Nicky wet noodle support during his Champeenship run, while coddling "the next big star"
3. Treat Nicky like crap his whole tenure with the team
4. Let Nicky walk while kow-towing to Pedrobot and Puig's every demand as if they sh!t gilded turds.

I, for one, will be most happy if Dani Pedrosa becomes (in one sense) the Randy Mamola of the current generation.  Always a bridesmaid, never a bride.  Get used to that big "2" on your bike, little fella.

Tom

P.S.  Hey Dani, I hear the tires don't grip so good in the first lap.  Of course, a *really* good rider would already know that.

[tbzep]

Major sponsors are hard to come by in MotoGP, and will be even harder to find in the near future. Honda has been nuturing this relationship with Repsol for a long time, and I'm sure they would like it to continue. A bit of give and take between Honda and Repsol should be expected, with Repsol's influence more pronounced as the financial situation in MotoGP has deteriorated in the last few years.

Kinda makes me long for the old Rothmans Honda and Marlboro Yamaha cigarette wars again.  

[bomber]

Dog -- you're absolutely right --

and it's just ONE of the reasons the Flattrack is so much fun -- just racing, very little Prima Donna-esque BS

If ANY GP race was a close as a standard issue Mile, Short Track, or TT, the motopress would leave puddles on the floor

;-}

[DogBoy]

Dog -- you're absolutely right --

and it's just ONE of the reasons the Flattrack is so much fun -- just racing, very little Prima Donna-esque BS

If ANY GP race was a close as a standard issue Mile, Short Track, or TT, the motopress would leave puddles on the floor

;-}

Agreed.  

[JonS]

I sure hope so because Nicky is so much fun to root for.  But I get a little worried when I see how every-Ducati-rider-except-Stoner performed this year.  I mean, Melandri was competitive on a Honda too.  I think we'll learn a lot about both Nicky and Stoner next year.

Back on topic:  Don't need to learn more about Puig.  Dirtbag.  

With Nicky's flat track background, I think he will do well on the Duc. Stoner also grew up riding dirt. I think Melandri has always been a road racer.
No, I'm wrong. Melandri did some moto cross when he was young. I stand by my theory anyway.

[Tyrroneous]

Soup put up a nice article that basically refutes everything that Puig claimed about Nicky.  Its a good read.  

[TheGoose]

Link?

[DogBoy]

SuperbikePlanet story

[Mr. Whippy]

SuperbikePlanet story

*snerk

 
 

 

[TheGoose]

SuperbikePlanet story

Snerk (tm)

[protondecay123]

Dani Pedrosa is BATBOY!
 

[Jeff]

Alberto Spooge is a complete wanker.

[chuck_b24]

I didn't boo Pedrobot at Indy this year, seamed up sportsman like. But next year, I'm joining the boo crowd. I might even print up a T-shirt "Anybody but Pedrosa"

Where can I buy 1 of these?????????????????????????????????????

[highside]

Yeah, cause one of the heaviest guys on the track is using Thumbelina's suspension settings.  

[keystonejenks]

SuperbikePlanet story

[cyclopathic]

I hope Dani finishes well next season.. somewhere in top 10 right after Stoner, Vale, Hayden, Jorge, Edwards..

I hope Repsol will never win another championship, and to hell with HRC and the 800cc GP bike they've designed and what they let Puig/Pedrosa get away with: I will not buy a Honda bike not until those two around.

I am going to write a letter to Honda, explaining why I will not buy another Honda bike, there probably enough people who feel the same way let them count how much business they've lost.

[Jeff]

I hope Dani finishes well next season.. somewhere in top 10 right after Stoner, Vale, Hayden, Jorge, Edwards..

I hope Repsol will never win another championship, and to hell with HRC and the 800cc GP bike they've designed and what they let Puig/Pedrosa get away with: I will not buy a Honda bike not until those two around.

I am going to write a letter to Honda, explaining why I will not buy another Honda bike, there probably enough people who feel the same way let them count how much business they've lost.

There will probably be enough bike mad Spaniards around buying Hondas because of Pedrosa that your letter won't make a bit of difference to them.
Jeff

[thatguy]

Hmmmmmmmmm..............former world champion Nicky Hayden.Race winner Alberto Puig.

I can see the difference.And Nicky's career is far from over.

[miles]

There will probably be enough bike mad Spaniards around buying Hondas because of Pedrosa that your letter won't make a bit of difference to them.
Jeff

Every Repsol gas station mini mart in Spain has Pedrosa stuff for sale.  Hayden stuff?  Not so much.

[cyclopathic]

There will probably be enough bike mad Spaniards around buying Hondas because of Pedrosa that your letter won't make a bit of difference to them.

Spain? gimme a break there are more people live in California.. some sh!ty 3rd world country, yeah I've been there.

[highside]

 Spain? gimme a break there are more people live in California.. some sh!ty 3rd world country, yeah I've been there.

Its not the size of the American consumer market that drives Honda to support a Spanish rider in MotoGP, it's the size of the MotoGP audience. There aren't many people here who have even heard of the sport in this country, and fewer still that can name more than two riders, and a minuscule portion that are even aware of the shenanigans between HRC and Hayden. The fact is that the decision helps them in Spain and has virtually no impact on the American market.

[cyclopathic]

Si'

I got the same 3rd world country experience in some remote places upstate NY...

[LicketySplat]

There will probably be enough bike mad Spaniards around buying Hondas because of Pedrosa that your letter won't make a bit of difference to them.
Jeff

That might've been true up until Lorenzo showed up. Now the Spaniards have someone to root for who actually has a personality and some human-seeming talent. Heck, on the TV broadcast from Jerez it really seemed that Checa (a long-time crowd pleaser) was getting more cheers than Pedrobot was.

Sure the Spanish are nationalistic. Same as Americans - and look how quickly we forgot about KRJR as soon as Nicky came onto the horizon. Couldn't even put Junior on the T-shirts when MotoGP returned to Laguna. I'm still perturbed about that... but the point being that Junior actually won the world championship, and we forgot about him anyway. See how quickly the Spanish forget about Pedrosa.

[Jeff]

Sure the Spanish are nationalistic. Same as Americans - and look how quickly we forgot about KRJR as soon as Nicky came onto the horizon. Couldn't even put Junior on the T-shirts when MotoGP returned to Laguna. I'm still perturbed about that... but the point being that Junior actually won the world championship, and we forgot about him anyway. See how quickly the Spanish forget about Pedrosa.

I think the thing with KRJR vs Nicky was Nicky has a very approachable, down to earth, likable personality. KRJR seems rather distant. Nicky is the guy everyone likes, while KRJR... no one knew him.

[LicketySplat]

That's exactly my point about Pedrosa vs. Lorenzo.

[Jeff]

That's exactly my point about Pedrosa vs. Lorenzo.

I understand and agree with you completely. Although aside from the 250 championships, lollipops and HUGE highside at Laguna, I don't know much about Lorenzo.

Jeff

[keeb]

If Puig and Pedrosa keep this up, they'll find themselves in the same boat as Biaggi.  Biaggi went looking for a ride, but nobody wanted to work with him because he blamed everything and everybody but himself.  If he doesn't get results for a couple of seasons he may find himself looking for a ride outside of motogp.

[rajflyboy]

You would figure that Pedrosa wouldn't start any crap with Hayden knowing that Honda was giving their best stuff to Pedrosa.    Danni is just sour grapes cause Nicky won the 2006 Championship.

[black hills]

You would figure that Pedrosa wouldn't start any crap with Hayden knowing that Honda was giving their best stuff to Pedrosa.    Danni is just sour grapes cause Nicky won the 2006 Championship.

 and now he gets to ride a Duc

[Wes]

I'll say one thing, with the way that Stoner's Duc was outrunning Rossi, Pedrosa, & Lorenzo all season in the straights...  If Hayden doesn't do better this season it's not the bike but probably the rider.

On a side note, I really wish Hopkins could at least get in the top 3 every once in a while.  He's such a likable little goofball.  My wife thinks he looks like fivel the mouse.

[spinmaster]

Meh. Needs more COWBELL.

Done

[staedtler]

Hopkins does look like Feivel!!...

he should have that little guy decorating his helmet...

[Leanintree]

Hopkins does look like Feivel!!...

he should have that little guy decorating his helmet...

Yeah, I can see it. Separated at birth?
Leanintree

[staedtler]

 ... ...!

[LicketySplat]

Back on topic: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081016rn.htm

[Mr. Whippy]

Nicky FTW!!
 

[staedtler]

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/170573-0/hayden__puig_runs_repsol_honda.html

 

[rajflyboy]

You would Figure that Honda would step in and get Puig to shut up and be a good Teammate.  Teams that work together have a better chance at winning.  

[Galo]

http://www.crash.net/motorsport/motogp/news/170573-0/hayden__puig_runs_repsol_honda.html

 

Class all the way.....

[swimmer]

Class all the way.....

+1

[tbeemer]

I came in for the Puig blasts Hayden melodrama and got mired in a discussion of the correct definition of "3rd World".

 

Hayden got asked about it again (the Puig comments, not the definition of 3rd world) by Julian Ryder during the Malaysian GP intro press conference.  Nicky repeated his original statement about Puig running the team and said he felt bad for Yamana (the real team manager) 'cause he's got heat coming from all sides.  I can't believe we're a little over a week away from Nicky's first ride on the Ducati.  I'm pretty freakin' stoked about that.  

[spinmaster]

I'm stoked as well.  But, keep in mind, what Nicky will ride next year will be the most revolutionary thing to hit MotoGP since the RC211V V-5 engine.  The GP09 will have a carbon fiber frame.  It could be a great year or a really bad year.

[spinmaster]

On topic:
I can't imagine why a situation exists, where a riders manager can have the power on a team that Puig seems to have. How can Honda allow this to happen? I don't think its Repsol. They have been a Honda sponsor long before Petrosa showed up.

I don't mean to be a smart ass, but seriously, connect the dots.  

Dorna:  Based in Spain.  Owner of MotoGP's commercial/TV rights.
Respol:  Spanish oil company.  Did $55B Euros in sales in '07.
Spain:  MotoGP's largest single country audiance.
Puig:  Spanish, employed by Dorna to run the MotoGP Academy, and Pedrosa's personal manager.
Pedrosa:  Spanish and once thought to be the only rider who might be able to dethrone the GOAT, Valentino Rossi.  
Spanish Flag:  Even the corp colors of Dorna and Repsol are a near match to the Spanish flag colors.

HRC:  Not Spanish.

Repsol (and Dorna to an extent) cares about the marketing opportunity only in their largest market:  Spain.  They do not care about the long term relationship.  If Pedrosa wants something he just tells Puig who tells Respol who tells HRC to do it.  If HRC says no, then Repsol just squeezes Dorna.

The person with the least amount of clout on the Repsol/HRC team is Hayden.  The second lowest would be HRC.

[JonS]

I don't mean to be a smart ass, but seriously, connect the dots.  

Dorna:  Based in Spain.  Owner of MotoGP's commercial/TV rights.
Respol:  Spanish oil company.  Did $55B Euros in sales in '07.
Spain:  MotoGP's largest single country audiance.
Puig:  Spanish, employed by Dorna to run the MotoGP Academy, and Pedrosa's personal manager.
Pedrosa:  Spanish and once thought to be the only rider who might be able to dethrone the GOAT, Valentino Rossi.  
Spanish Flag:  Even the corp colors of Dorna and Repsol are a near match to the Spanish flag colors.

HRC:  Not Spanish.

Repsol (and Dorna to an extent) cares about the marketing opportunity only in their largest market:  Spain.  They do not care about the long term relationship.  If Pedrosa wants something he just tells Puig who tells Respol who tells HRC to do it.  If HRC says no, then Repsol just squeezes Dorna.

The person with the least amount of clout on the Repsol/HRC team is Hayden.  The second lowest would be HRC.

Yes, I know what you are saying, but still, I don't believe that it would be a foregone conclusion that a riders manager would carry the big stick on a Honda Race team. It isn't as though Dorma wouldn't let them race. Honda could have a Spanish rider to please Repsol without the baggage of the riders manager having free reign. I think that this is a unique situation, but I could be wrong.(slightly possible )

[STN Moderator]

Oh look! A thread about motorcycle racing.

Let's keep it that way  

[spinmaster]

Yes, I know what you are saying, but still, I don't believe that it would be a foregone conclusion that a riders manager would carry the big stick on a Honda Race team. It isn't as though Dorma wouldn't let them race. Honda could have a Spanish rider to please Repsol without the baggage of the riders manager having free reign. I think that this is a unique situation, but I could be wrong.(slightly possible )

I agree it's not a forgone conclusion but I also think its more than just Repsol wanting a Spanish rider.  It's a perfect storm of having a sponsor with deep pockets who REALLY wants a Spanish champion, a rider with the potential to deliver, and a manager with uniquely powerful connections within Dorna.

I really don't think it was HRC's desire or idea to change to Bridgestone mid season.  That was all Puig and his maneuverings behind the scenes to make it happen and he did it I'm sure with Repsol's blessing.  Keep in mind, to make that switch required HRC to break contract with Michelin.  The fact that that happened with not so much as a whimper says a lot about the kind of weight that was applied somewhere.

[tbeemer]

I agree it's not a forgone conclusion but I also think its more than just Repsol wanting a Spanish rider.  It's a perfect storm of having a sponsor with deep pockets who REALLY wants a Spanish champion, a rider with the potential to deliver, and a manager with uniquely powerful connections within Dorna.

I really don't think it was HRC's desire or idea to change to Bridgestone mid season.  That was all Puig and his maneuverings behind the scenes to make it happen and he did it I'm sure with Repsol's blessing.  Keep in mind, to make that switch required HRC to break contract with Michelin.  The fact that that happened with not so much as a whimper says a lot about the kind of weight that was applied somewhere.

Nope, it wasn't HRC's desire at all.  And there was more than a whimper.  According to Julian Ryder there was some serious backroom battling going on, with Puig and Pedrosa basically telling HRC that if it didn't happen Dani was going to withdraw from the rest of the season.  I'd imagine that if Soichiro Honda were still alive, Dani would've been looking for a new ride... *after* fulfilling his contract with Honda on the crappiest bike they could give him or just making him sit without a bike and not releasing him to go elsewhere.  By HRC caving in like they did, they lost so much face in the paddock and the racing world, I'd think it'll be hard to erase that.  I think they would have been better off just letting him take his ball and go home.  It's one thing to give in to a Doohan or a Rossi, guys that consistently win and deliver championships, but to date Dani has demonstrated that he's just inconsistent enough to be Randy Mamola, Jr, a fine #2 but never higher.  

I'm certainly not pulling for Honda anymore, and I've been a Honda guy for a long time.  They've demostrated time and time again over the last 5 years or so, that they have no idea what they're doing when it comes to personnel choices.  As for Dani and Alberto, they can go f*&k themselves with a case of Repsol lubricants as far as I'm concerned.  I'll heartily boo the little $hit at Laguna next year til I'm blue in the face.  And all the fans booing him at Indy this year?  That demonstrated to me that there are some pretty savvy race fans here in America.  If we're all so MotoGP dumb and NASCAR bedazzled, like the Euro-Moto press likes to point out, how'd they know to single out Dani?  Pretty sharp, IMHO.

[LicketySplat]

A little more illustration of the power of sponsors and the importance of nationalism (Aspar's sponsors are Bancaja, a Spanish bank, and Mapfre, a Spanish insurance company): http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Aspar+and+Kawasaki+explain+reasons+for+impasse

I have no doubt that's why Wudy signed on to sponsor both Yamaha teams - by getting their name on dePuniet's bike on the Tech3 team, they got the French market. It also highlights Hayden's lack of influence in an inverse way. How much more pull do you think he might've had if he could've brought a sponsor like, say, Levi's or Chase Bank. Repsol and Gas have such a small market share in the USA anyway, that whatever tiny boost they might get from sponsoring Nicky probably doesn't even pay for the cost of the patches on his leathers.

Which brings us back around to the paucity of sponsors in US motorcycling generally - which is a whole 'nother thread again -

[Jeff N]

Nicky could move a couple of boxes of Oakleys over here. Maybe?

Nice posts, fellas.  

[DogBoy]

And gals.

[tbeemer]

A little more illustration of the power of sponsors and the importance of nationalism (Aspar's sponsors are Bancaja, a Spanish bank, and Mapfre, a Spanish insurance company): http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Aspar+and+Kawasaki+explain+reasons+for+impasse

I have no doubt that's why Wudy signed on to sponsor both Yamaha teams - by getting their name on dePuniet's bike on the Tech3 team, they got the French market. It also highlights Hayden's lack of influence in an inverse way. How much more pull do you think he might've had if he could've brought a sponsor like, say, Levi's or Chase Bank. Repsol and Gas have such a small market share in the USA anyway, that whatever tiny boost they might get from sponsoring Nicky probably doesn't even pay for the cost of the patches on his leathers.

Which brings us back around to the paucity of sponsors in US motorcycling generally - which is a whole 'nother thread again -

+1 for using the word "paucity".  

Good post.  Remember his first year, Nicky was still riding with Joe Rocket leathers.  But they pulled out after that, 'cause with no real US presence for MotoGP at that time it wasn't worth JR's expenditure to essentially advertise in a market they weren't selling in (Europe); although I think they're in the UK now.  So Nicky goes to Alpinestars and starts making some of the dumbest commercials in motorsports.    I will say that his personal sponsors (Arai, Alpinestars, Oakley, Red Bull) do have a solid presence in the US market, but certainly not enough pull to dictate personnel decisions like the main team sponsors, as you've pointed out.  

A more devastaing example of the impact of sponsorship (or the lack thereof) would be the Kanemoto/Kocinski "white bike" in 1999 or the Kenny Roberts team.  Both died ugly deaths because of the unwillingness of major sponsors to go with what were perceived as "American" teams.

[cyclopathic]

Remember his first year, Nicky was still riding with Joe Rocket leathers.  But they pulled out after that, 'cause with no real US presence for MotoGP at that time it wasn't worth JR's expenditure to essentially advertise in a market they weren't selling in (Europe); although I think they're in the UK now.  So Nicky goes to Alpinestars and starts making some of the dumbest commercials in motorsports.    I will say that his personal sponsors (Arai, Alpinestars, Oakley, Red Bull) do have a solid presence in the US market, but certainly not enough pull to dictate personnel decisions like the main team sponsors, as you've pointed out.

Which brings us to the point: Nicky on Duc fighting at the sharp point will sell many Ducs in US of A, smart move. And we'd have a team with 2 guys who did manage to beat Vale; bring it on!

[pearsonm]

 Which brings us to the point: Nicky on Duc fighting at the sharp point will sell many Ducs in US of A, smart move. And we'd have a team with 2 guys who did manage to beat Vale; bring it on!

A rider with a personality that everyone wants to root for riding a bike that everyone wants to own. Seems like a marketable combination that could finally set fire to MotoGP in the US.

[Orson]

A rider with a personality that everyone wants to root for riding a bike that everyone wants to own. Seems like a marketable combination that could finally set fire to MotoGP in the US.

uhm...yah  

If Kenny Roberts & Freddie Spencer layin down black streaks didn't light a fire, nuthin's gonna  

[tbeemer]

uhm...yah  

If Kenny Roberts & Freddie Spencer layin down black streaks didn't light a fire, nuthin's gonna  

Well, just to play devil's advocate here, the media opportunities are far greater today than in their day (websites, racing specific magazines, Nicky having a one hour MTV show, etc.).  Just by having the races on Speed regularly, they're already ahead of the game.  I've had hardcore NASCAR guys approach me at work and tell me about watching the races on Sunday.  Whether they know him as Hayden or "that one kid from Kentucky, I think", he's much better known across the racing community than I think a lot of people recognize.  Running them at Indy was also a major coup for MotoGP that made a lot of people take notice.  They've got their motorcycle niche fans locked down, but now they're expanding into the consciousness of the general race fan.

Now, whether it'll light a fire, that remains to be seen.  But it's certainly more likely to happen now, than in Spencer and Roberts' day when you were lucky to get a race on US TV (and it was usually tape delayed from a month or so prior).

[Jeff N]

^ +1

You had to be fortunate enough to attend Laguna Seca to see Kenny and Freddie ply their GP skills, otherwise the only exposure they got over here was in specialist magazines.

[Orson]

Well, just to play devil's advocate here, the media opportunities are far greater today than in their day (websites, racing specific magazines, Nicky having a one hour MTV show, etc.).  

good point.

Although, should we as hard core fans, suffer the indignities of pandering to the NASCAR crowd?

sometimes I prefer to be a niche market  

[tbeemer]

good point.

Although, should we as hard core fans, suffer the indignities of pandering to the NASCAR crowd?

sometimes I prefer to be a niche market  

I hear ya man.  I get pretty torn about that.  Especially when I'm trolling through the crowd at Laguna Seca and Mick Doohan is just meandering along and not one person (except me) recognizes him.  He seemed a bit surprised when I said something to him, and I instantly regretted breaking his veil of anonymity.  Hell, a few years back at one of the Laguna WSBK rounds I caught Freddie Spencer in the middle of a big crowd and not a single person even acknowledged him.  And both those happened at freakin' motorcycle races!  Don't these people respect the heritage?!  

The best, though, was catching Julian Ryder and Toby Moody at the first Robb Report auction in Monterey.  Ryder actually looked down to see if he was wearing a nametag, he was so shocked that I addressed him by name.    Really genial chap, the kind of guy you'd like to talk racing with over a few pints.  Although I guess it's a sign you might be a bit too into it when you even start to recognize the journos as well...  

[Jeff N]

The niche market aspect has its appeal. It's nice to be able to catch Freddie and exchange niceties (I didn't mention Sweden). He was surprised to be recognized, but very pleasant nonetheless.

 

[LicketySplat]

.... and Dovizioso blasts Puig.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10112008/58/dovizioso-slams-pedrosa-man-puig.html

[cyclopathic]

.... and Dovizioso blasts Puig.

http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/10112008/58/dovizioso-slams-pedrosa-man-puig.html

Dovizioso added that his goal for 2009 is to beat Pedrosa.

"To finish ahead of Dani would be important, and I am confident about my chances," he said.

you've gotta love this, if your last name is Puig  

[Scoop]

The niche market aspect has its appeal. It's nice to be able to catch Freddie and exchange niceties (I didn't mention Sweden). He was surprised to be recognized, but very pleasant nonetheless.

 

I don't think that Freddie wants anyone to catch him these days!!

[JonS]

I dug this topic out of the closet because this picture warms my heart and I couldn't find a home for it.

[Mr. Whippy]

JonS,

Thanks so much for posting that pic.  Totally awesome.  That picture sez EXACTLY why these guys race.



'cuz it's awesomely fun.  

[Wes]

Sure Stoner may enjoy racing but the real reason to watch is the temper tantrum he throws when he gets beat.  

Plus this picture makes me happy, because with a decent bike maybe MotoGPs favorite redneck can win a few this year.

[Mr Sunshine]

What I found interesting is Nicky said he had never been around mountains so big and around so much snow.  Southern boy through and through.  

[999RBEN]

Wow......given all this, I have new-found respect for Nicky.....with this asshat as a team manager, obviously not supporting hi, and he still has had his recent great rides & results?

Honda should have canned Puig, not Hayden.  

I kinda wanted Honda to do well and give the Ducs a serious run for their money, now I want the Ducs to beats the crap out of Honda...
 

                                                                                                                                                                                                                          ME TO.