Can Nicky repeat?

[R Doug]

+1, the #1 plate looks really good.  

The boy has talent and he has a damn nice personality to boot.  

Personally, I love it fact the "Kentucky Kid" has an Appalachian accent.

[vguy]

I hope Nicky can do it again. It looks to be a great season no matter what.

[tbeemer]

CAN he?  Yes.  WILL he?  That's an entirely different question.  All the top guys have what it takes to win the whole thing personally.  But it's more than just the rider, as I'm sure we all know.  

Rossi undeniably has the best all around package, with a good (but not great) bike, the best crew and crewchief, and the most talent.  But this year showed what can happen when you overachieve on an average machine; sooner or later it's gonna bite you.

I think next year is wide freakin' open.  But the nod has to go to the Honda boys just because their bikes are more developed right now, so it's basically just fine tuning.  Testing may raise some eyebrows, but nobody wins a championship in the offseason.  Big Red will have the most refined and consistent package when the flag drops next year.

Tom

[spinmaster]

Testing at Jerez has been interesting this week:
 
Day 1:
 
1. Rossi - 1'41.745
2. Hopkins - 1'42.161
3. Edwards - 1'42.293
4. Pedrosa - 1'44.030
 
Day 2 (as of 2PM):
 
1. Tady Okada (filling in for Hayden I believe) - 1'41.857
2. Hopkins - 1'41.932
3. Rossi - 1'42.381
4. Pedrosa - 1'42.794
 
 
Hopkins is looking fast this year...if only he doesn't toss it or break down he might be a contender.

[toecutter]

I would love to see another American win the 1st 800cc GP. If I was a betting man, my money would be on either one of these 3, Rossi, Pedrosa and Capirossi.

[R Doug]

I would love to see another American win the 1st 800cc GP. If I was a betting man, my money would be on either one of these 3, Rossi, Pedrosa and Capirossi.

Ducati looked strong this past season and, if it wasn't for Sete's and Loris' crash, #65 could have taken the whole thing.  

One thing is for sure, 2007 should be an interesting year!

[JBAXX]

I think Pedrosa will be very fast on the 800.

[keystonejenks]

I think Pedrosa will be very fast on the 800.

As much as a don't like the guy, I have a feeling he's going to win next season.

[HexHead]

Rossi,Pedrosa,Hayden, Cappirossi...will be up there. Pedrosa and Rossi will have an advantage on the smaller bikes since they are small guys.

You must be thinking of Capirossi. Valentino is normal sized.



And I don't think Hayden will repeat unless Rossi DNFs a bunch of times again.

[greg96brg]

Nicky is a great rider, but so are last season's top five riders. Bad luck for Loris and Val allowed Nicky to win. Up until Valencia every rider had 1 or more DNF's except Nicky. You can't win the title with a bunch of DNF's.

[TalkingHead]

My money is on Pedrosa simply because this will be only his second season away from 250s and the bike, while not wholey (wtf? sp?) like a 250 in power characteristics, is much more similar in dimensions. He went like stink right out of the gates on the 990 and will now be on a bike that suits him much better.

My prediction?

1. Pedrosa (as much as it galls me to say so, I dislike that little bastard intensely)
2. Rossi
3. Hayden

My hope?

1. Hayden
2. Hopper
3. Edwards

[Belly]

I voted Yes He can.  Wont be easy though
Dont discount Suzuki or KS on the Duke.
Black Hills:  Very interesting list.  Makes you realise how good AG was.
 
I am expecting some one out of left field to upset the established teams in the first few races.

[Jeff N]

How about Shinya Nakano as a darkhorse? He's replaced Makoto Tomato on the Konica/Nikon Honda.

[Orson]

What a great top 10, huh?
 
A number that stands out for me, besides Ago's 68 victories (that's only 500cc victories, btw) is Lawson's 31 victories. He just quietly piled up the numbers, outdistancing, Roberts, Rainey, Schwantz & Spencer.
 
Even more impressive was the year he won the championship on a Honda. That year, the NSR was pretty much unrideable by mere mortals. Only someone with gawd-like riding abilities could have kept that beast on the track without high-siding (see Gardner).
 
(sigh) I miss the era of the unrideable two-strokes no matter what Kevin Cameron says. Those guys could flat out ride.
 
No offense to Rossi. He's the best of his era, no doubt just like Hailwood was the best of his era.
 
Another number that stands out is Cecotto's 12 pole positions in 26 starts. Almost 50%. The guy was truly talented. He just never seemed to click on the 500cc bikes.

[JIMLARCH]

Nicky is definitely tough as nails and deserves congratulations for toppling the mighty Rossi.
 
But now, the question is... can he repeat in 2007? It appears the strikes are against him again. The 800 is built to fit mini people like the good teammate Dani-boy. Messed up shoulder means he's missing tests.
 
So, can he do it?
 
Jeff

Not a snowballs chance in hell! Rossi all the way.
 
Rossi is a better rider:cool: , better looking:cool: , and he speaks English that you can understand, plus Honda will give the best bike to Pedrosa because he is shorter than Hayden, speaks very little English and is Spanish, plus (yet another plus) he scored big brownie points for taking out Hayden with his "superior" motorcycle.

[Thor]

Not a snowballs chance in hell! Rossi all the way.
 
Rossi is a better rider , better looking , and he speaks English that you can understand, plus Honda will give the best bike to Pedrosa because he is shorter than Hayden, speaks very little English and is Spanish, plus (yet another plus) he scored big brownie points for taking out Hayden with his "superior" motorcycle.

 O.K, that was funny.

I don't think Hayden has a chance in hell.  I predict that he will be no higher than fifth and Rossi will take Pedrosa out with such violent finality that he will be banned from one race.

I predict that Rossi will be unbelievably aggressive and will play head games like we have never seen before.  The "elder statesman, good guy" act he put on this year is over.  He will take gamesmanship to a new level and crush the competition.  Then he will retire.

This year will see a number of rider created crashes and incredible controversy.  I think there will be a gay sex scandal and split loyalties exposed among crew chiefs.

I also believe in Santa.

[TalkingHead]

[Liquidsilver]

Hope yes, but voted no.
 
 
Between Rossi and Pedrosa... sheeeeiitt.  

[Mookie]

This year is gonna be so wide open it’ll be amazing if any one rider sticks out noticeably from the rest.  Rossi will have a slight edge, I think Hopper will finally be able to show his stuff now that Suzuki actually will have a competitive bike, and the Haydon/Pedrosa 2 headed monster will be running strong (and probably costing each other points).  Then there's Capirex.  I think this year will be even closer than last year if that's possible.

My big question mark is with KRJR's bike.  Is he going to get a good enough Honda engine?  If he does get a good one, then he too could be at the top of the list further muddling my list of vagaries

[bogthing]

I think Pedrosa will be very fast on the 800.

I would have to agree. He's very focused and talented. Despite the bonehead move at Estoril (which will haunt him for years), I think he'll do quite well, and prove to be a problem for anyone up front.