Laguna GP Results

[socalrob]

Well, that certainly opens up the championship race.

Looks like there might be a new curse this year.

[BobFV1]

I liked the victory lap - with the stars and stripes flying away!

[Rchop]

I liked the part about Rossi not having anything to do with Hayden since he has become a contender.

[DarthRider]

Somebody tell me what happened!
That ABC telecast is going to be delayed until NEXT freakin' Sunday...sorry mofo's...

[Rchop]

Nicky Hayden...1st

Dani Pedrosa...2nd

Marco Melandri...3rd

Rossi blew his motor on the 29th lap

http://images.motogp.com/multimedia2/474/474125.jpg

[DarthRider]

Thanks Randy.
Man, I bet Rossi was pissed...is that his first DNF this year?
Hope it was a good race...the places/times sound like it *could* have been a runaway.

[BobFV1]

Thanks Randy.
Man, I bet Rossi was pissed...is that his first DNF this year?
Hope it was a good race...the places/times sound like it *could* have been a runaway.

Dave - it was an excellent race, with excellent videography. Many place changes, a lot of overtaking, some exciting stuff with bikes running three abreast. Don't miss watching this - it's an hour well spent!

[socalrob]

Dave,

More like Rossi's THIRD DNF for the season!

One major front tire problem, the pitted, & replaced the rear, only to realize it was the front. Then 2 major mechanical failures. Rossi indeed must be beside himself.

[DJ Down Under]

Rossi was chasing third spot and his Yamaha overheated when the water cooling failed...what a bugger!

Chris was looking good to win and his Suzuki started cutting out on corner entry..he dropped to 5th and the engine died just after crossing the finish line...bugger!

Poor Casey was put under presser from Pedrosa..and lost the front end on turn 5..bugger!

Bugger..Bugger..Bugger!!!

Great race....I'm looking forward to Philip Island.

DJ

[DarthRider]

Thanks Bob & Rob & DJ!
Sounds like a great race...I very much like & respect Rossi but when one guy & one marque wins *too* much it's not good for the sport. Sort of like F1 when it was "All Schumacher, All Ferrari, All the Time". How boring is that, regardless of the talent and machinery.
But that said, I *really* hate seeing any race, much less a championship decided, or even influenced by mechanical or tire failures. I think none of the racers want or like this, although they'll damn sure take it when it comes!
But good on Nicky regardless.

[BobFV1]

Thanks Bob & Rob & DJ!
Sounds like a great race...I very much like & respect Rossi but when one guy & one marque wins *too* much it's not good for the sport. Sort of like F1 when it was "All Schumacher, All Ferrari, All the Time". How boring is that, regardless of the talent and machinery.
But that said, I *really* hate seeing any race, much less a championship decided, or even influenced by mechanical or tire failures. I think none of the racers want or like this, although they'll damn sure take it when it comes!
But good on Nicky regardless.

I think Nicky would have had it anyway - Rossi would have run out of time before he caught up to the leaders - he had also just turned over some blistering laps - seems the machine couldn't take the combo of pace and heat.

[arkline]

Well, I've got to say the Hondas are monsters here in Laguna. I've got a ton of pics and some really shaky video of this mornings practice and bits of the race, with sound amazingly enough. I'll cull the best and post them in the next few days.

Once Hayden got past that Aussie kid and Pedrosa did too, it kind of was pretty well set. This seems to be Hayden country for the time being, but I was predicting that Pedrosa was going to be the next big thing and Nicky better not slow down or look behind him too much.

Shame about Vale's bike. Things aren't working too well for the Yamaha guys and Edwards has been unscintillating lately.

The race didn't have the humongous impact that last year's did. Hayden did a stealth victory lap, but never went all the way around with the flag. I must say he prolly was damned hot and sweated out in those leathers. It has been un-Laguna-like since Thursday. Very, very warm. Friday and yesterday a bottle of pure Dasani filtered water cost 4, yes, 4 buckarettes and there was a general sloshing sound when you walked. Today was 1 buckaroo and almost every place ran out by two.

Oh, and today's my birthday. What a present, huh?

[DarthRider]

Happy Birthday Ronaldo!
Are you and Wild Will twins?

[DJ Down Under]

Happy Birthday arkline..http://members.optusnet.com.au/~djp1/mypic2424.gif..what a way to celebrate a birthday.

DJ

[socalrob]

Ron,

Must have been brutal hot in the sun at the race. Almost, I mean Almost, happy I didn't go.

Bob,

No way Rossi would have won, but I think he would have finished third, with maybe a heroic battle for second, so instead of being down 35 pt if he finished third, he's down 50 pts for the DNF.

Seven races (I think) to go, Rossi's really behind the eight ball. Almost needs to win every race from here on & have Hayden be off the podium in a few of them.

I know sometimes when one person dominates it takes something out of a sport, but Rossi is just such an exceptional rider, its hard to not root for him on the basis that he is that special talent that only comes around so very rarely, and he seems to be a pretty decent guy to boot. I don't think there is another current competitor in any field of competition who so completely dominates and has the talent that Rossi shows. Rossi is so good that the only other current MotoGP rider who has won a MotoGP championship is Kenny Roberts Jr, who won back in the 90's.

The rest of this season should be fantastik, as I don't see Rossi, Pedrosa, Melandri, or Hayden giving up yet.

[supermotoC]

Why is Dani dragging this fence behind him? Doesn't it slow him down?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/USGP/tim10/p11.jpg

This is why Rossi DNF'd: his tire chunked, he slowed, he overheated, he blew the engine. Too much heat - bad for all things. Colin finished the race with a giant piece missing from his rear Michelin also.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/USGP/tim10/p12.jpg

Look! It's a California Condor!!!

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/USGP/tim10/p13.jpg

I'd say Dani Pedrosa has a serious advantage, as he weighs 103lbs!!!
I also think Mr Underrated goes to Marco Melandri, as he seems to sneak up into the top 3 quite often.

[Road Dog]

Say, what is Mad Max doing this year?

[geechie]

Truly an amazing race!! Rossi was comin' for sure. Don't think he had enough time, though, to catch the KY kid. KRJR was ridin' WIDE in those early laps and/or it's just plain hard to pass as LS. Dani Pedrosa is HOT!

Hey Ron... Many happy returns, sir!!

George

[Tipstall]

Dani Pedrosa is HOT!
George

:104:

[supermotoC]

Dani Pedrosa is HOT!

I prefer to say, "Dani Pedrosa is doing well in his quest to win the MotoGP championship in his freshman year.... WOW - look at the hips on that babe!!"

Rather than "why is he spraying Nicky's ass with all that foamy stuff?"

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/USGP/tim10/p16.jpg

[DJ Down Under]

Say, what is Mad Max doing this year?
Nothin'...Max Biaggi has been training on his motard..here's a couple of pics.. http://www.max-biaggi.com/galleria_foto_en.php?arc_gallery_id=161#

http://www.max-biaggi.com/image/foto/20060621_maxlatina26_G.jpg

http://www.max-biaggi.com/image/foto/20060621_maxlatina24_G.jpg

Congrats to Nicky...I wonder what the outcome would have been if it was not so hot..and no tire problems.

Don't look back Chris...it was looking good for the Aussie early on wasn't it.

DJ

http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleracing2006/motogp/rnd11/gallery_a/images/Vermeulen_06GP11_4180_AN.jpg

[geechie]

Geez you guys....

O.K. Dani Pedrosa is riding very expertly and should be considered a threat to win most any race he starts.

The umbrella girl shading Colin was HOT.

George

[Tipstall]

Geez you guys....

O.K. Dani Pedrosa is riding very expertly and should be considered a threat to win most any race he starts.

The umbrella girl shading Colin was HOT.

George

Sorry,

We just finished up the Gay Games here in Chicago.

http://www.gaygameschicago.com/ThisWeeksTopPhotos/Rita_Skarbek_.jpg

http://www.gaygameschicago.com/ThisWeeksTopPhotos/RVJ_Studios_.jpg

http://www.gaygameschicago.com/ThisWeeksTopPhotos/R_V_J_Studios_Inc.jpg

Ken

[supermotoC]

The umbrella girl shading Colin was HOT.

Excellent. Nice recovery.

KR jr did OK
http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/crashnet/20060724/17/2228688104.jpg

As did Mini-Me:
http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/crashnet/20060724/17/2411439048.jpg

Nice flag
http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/crashnet/20060724/17/263004245.jpg

kitty, kitty, kitty

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.i1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/crashnet/20060724/17/3374917675.jpg


I do believe these are CFM shoes & socks...

http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/crashnet/20060724/17/3369631326.jpg

Hayden's mum & sisters came out for the show....
http://eur.news1.yimg.com/eur.yimg.com/ng/sp/crashnet/20060724/17/2914080160.jpg


MAx isn't TOO lonely, although he turned 35 a few weeks ago...

http://www.max-biaggi.com/image/foto/20060705festaMaxn4_G.jpg
http://www.max-biaggi.com/image/foto/20060705festaMaxn1_G.jpg

[supermotoC]

anyone notice (care?) about Colin's new paint job? I bet Camel had a cow over NOT having the logo show... or is US anti-smoking policy such that doesn't allow cigarette ads in racing?

mmmmm, Kalifornia girls....
http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/m1edwardslaguna1.jpg

http://static.blogo.it/motoblog/m1edwardslaguna2.jpg

Personally, I think this is Colin's last season in MotoGP.

[DJ Down Under]

More of..that..Kalifornia girl...:007:

DJ

http://images.motogp.com/multimedia2/474/474593_1752.jpg

http://images.motogp.com/multimedia2/474/474599_59597.jpg

http://images.motogp.com/multimedia2/474/474597_86409.jpg

http://images.motogp.com/multimedia2/474/474622_17090.jpg

[Wild Will]

tire and a MEDIUM rear; Michelins. Nicky ran hard front AND rear, wisely, since the track surface temp was around 150 degrees F.

The BIG KAHUNA of Yamaha was there and was all smiles, until after the embarassing failure of his bazillion dollar equipment caused him to consider hari kari.


Nicky Hayden won because he is a fanfuckingtastic motorcycle racer, and a great guy to boot. The only flaw in the weekend besides the raising of pure hell due to the weather, was that Earl didn't get to do a victory lap with his boy after the second USGP win.

There were a record number of people taken to local hospitals due to heat prostration. It was the HOTTEST temperature EVER recorded at ANY GP race, including Quatar and Malaysia. Maybe we ought to start listening to good old Al Gore.

[arkline]

The sun and the heat were AMAZING to us folks from about a 1000 miles north of Monterey. Jeez, Louise. Saturday there was no breeze, none, zero, zilch. Usually you get a kind of cool wafting through there and it was completely absent. Totally black-holed. Gone. As it got to be high noon on Saturday, every single scrap of shade was occupied by some body. It was brutal. I thought my daughter was going to pass out at one point, until she and Allan made it to the turn 4/5 flag tent. Many thanks to Dallara for that.

Sunday was better, but still hot as Texas before noon or so. Sitting in the turn 4 bleachers with the sun on our backs during warm up was more than warm.

The race was pretty good. Somehow not as good as last year though. That Hayden kid can ride and outdistanced his competition fair and square. Laguna doesn't offer as many places as other tracks to create the sneaky pass, the cool and considered ride in second where you just show the front tire to the leader until he gets nervous and rattled. Rossi might have gotten third if his engine hadn't grenaded. I was disappointed, because he was running some very good laps for a while. Ah, well. And, if someone starts selling shares in Pedrosa, I'd just about sell the 1150R to buy some. That kid is the new wave, fer shur.

[DJ Down Under]

if someone starts selling shares in Pedrosa, I'd just about sell the 1150R to buy some. That kid is the new wave, fer shur.
Yeah..yeah..but he's like a boring little machine...give me Rossi anyday.

DJ

[arkline]

Yeah..yeah..but he's like a boring little machine...give me Rossi anyday.

DJ

Well, he IS riding a Honda....

[supermotoC]

it sure must've been HOT at Laguna.....


http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/duck-island/3.jpg

Orange County Choppers ain't got NUTHIN on this guy....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/duck-island/9.jpg

I went to the USGP in 1988 (when I lived in LA), and from what I've read, the traffic & lack of (enough) facilities is worse (it was bad in 1988). It took me 5hrs to get off the base then, and I don't think I'll go there again w/o a giant camelback, a tent, and a helicopter!!

[supermotoC]

could this be the cause of the end of a championship reign?

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/rossi-laguna/8.jpg

[socalrob]

Hey, that looks just like my Z6!

I bet Nick Hayden isn't counting out Rossi yet.

[supermotoC]

I haven't done the math, but if Nicky continues to finish on the podium (and Rossi doesn't win every race), it"ll be a close one, between Nicky & Pedrosa.

Nicky's tire didn't look so healthy either, but his finished.......

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/USGP/tim12/p08.jpg

Nicky's secret jet propulsion booster:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/USGP/tim12/p11.jpg

[DJ Down Under]

Hopper and a big fan...:icon_mrgreen:

DJ

http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleracing2006/motogp/rnd11/gallery_d/images/Hopkins_06GP11_2180_AN.jpg

[DarthRider]

Hopper and a big fan...:icon_mrgreen:

DJ



*That* is funny!

[1MPH]

I thought it was FAN....tastic.

[supermotoC]

seems that way

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/rock-me-amadeus/76ws.jpg

Hollywood comes in all shapes and sizes.....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/laconia/12.jpg

[supermotoC]

This is the second pic I've seen of this woman waiting her turn to ride w/ Randy - Is this not Catherine Bell? I know she rides, has a Rockster & a few other choice bikes. Tv & tabloid star, but apparently known to drag a knee around a corner (on purpose!). Wadda ya think?

this passenger should hold on just a little higher....

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/f750-laguna-results/9u7s.jpg

[arkline]

Last year Randy took two folks around the track just before the race. The first was a female and the second was male. After zooming around Laguna, lifting the front, and generally getting way over, the woman got off the bike and was jumping up and down and carrying on like she'd like to go again - and now damn it! The guy, some sort of low-level Hollywood actor type? (don't remember for sure), got down on all fours at the end of his ride and kissed the pavement. In hindsight they should have just extended her ride to include his time...

[Wild Will]

and all, I'll be there next season again. I wouldn't miss it. I feel like I have it "dialled" and ingress/egress is no problem. The scene downtown and at Cannery is a riot, and mighty interesting. The whole scene begins on Wednesday, for me. I might spring for a nicer room this year, but then I'd miss all my buds met each year the the motels on Fremont St. We bring the furniture out onto the parking lot and enjoy iced Hornitos until we can't talk any more, or don't want to. One of the guys is a bomb squad cop from the Pacific Northwest, another is a gang squad guy from same city. I had to plead with the Fort Bragg, Ca. police a couple of years ago NOT to arrest them for dragging some cranked out miscreant out of the restaurant when the guy smacked his little kid in front of them. I've made some mighty good friends at the Monterey event over the past 18 years I've attended. Why stop until Allah forces the issue!

[DJ Down Under]

No...that's not the hand brake.

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/image/2006/mgp/usgp/f750-laguna-results/9u7s.jpg

My mate wasn't hanging on to this..and got flipped off the back when Randy gunned it.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/motorcycleracing2006/motogp/rnd11/gallery_j/images/ducati_2seater.jpg