This (http://www.motorcyclenews.com/nav?page=motorcyclenews.articles.articleCategory.article&resourceId=6021962&articleCategory=SPORT_MOTOGP) story broke in the UK on Friday.
I wonder whether it's true as I've seen nothing official in any of the American press nor on MotoGP.com or Nicky's site.
If it proves to be true, all the Nicky haters can go pound salt!
is there a link?
Quote from: funsizeracing on November 20, 2006, 10:39:58 AM
is there a link?
Just click the word "This" , as it's an embedded link.
ahh, thanks!
There are Nicky Haters? :wtf:
Quote from: K3 Chris Onwiler on November 20, 2006, 08:03:20 PM
There are Nicky Haters? :wtf:
I have to admit that I was REALLY disappointed in Nicky's disrespect of the American flag when he got the championship. Watch the cool down lap and the flag is hitting the ground as he has it wadded up, then it's dragging on the tire and chain and almost got sucked into the countershaft sprocket. To top it all off I saw a 'tribute' video to his championship and it showed Nicky's bike in winners circle with the American flag laying on the ground where a certain someone tossed it, all I can say is :wtf:?
I have trouble respecting a guy that doesn't represent his own country with pride and respect.
I have to agree that it is fucked up that the flag was on the ground but you have to realize the state of mind that he was in when it was on the ground. Im sure that the last thing on his mind was to keep the flag off the ground.
Quote from: h2o_motorsports on November 21, 2006, 01:24:50 AM
I have to agree that it is fucked up that the flag was on the ground but you have to realize the state of mind that he was in when it was on the ground. Im sure that the last thing on his mind was to keep the flag off the ground.
Well, I don't want to make some huge issue out of it, that just really bothered me. I've never seen any other champion do that, pretty much all of them are proudly hoisting up their countries flag and concentrating on representing it with pride and respect. I realize that was a very emotional time for him, but it would have been for the other past champions as well. Personally I think this falls very heavily into the current trend of Professional athletes to be all about 'me-me-me' (like the cute little TV time hounding that Football players do when they personally exhibit that they are the only reason the TEAM succeeded in making a touch down - 'yawn'), I caught alot of that in his interviews as well, especially the statement "I took Rossi's crown away from him". I think everybody is well aware that reality is much closer to Rossi dropped the crown and Hayden was close enough to him to pick it up before Rossi could regain his hold on it. I'm not some big Rossi fan or Hayden basher, but I'm also not blind, at the 2nd to last race when Rossi got edged out at the line by Toni Elias it was by something like 2 thousandths of 1 second, had Rossi been the one ahead at the line then the championship would have been tied for points (with Rossi still going down at the last event) and refered back to number of wins (Hayden 2, Rossi 5) which would have seen Rossi remaining the champion yet again.
It will be interesting to see if Rossi "Takes his crown back from Nicky" next year, my bet is that he will. But either way congrats to Nicky, I hope he enjoys the crown while he's got it.
I agree... how could you HATE Nicky? I can understand him not being your favorite or something, but the guy is UNhateable.
Try racing a Moto GP round with a fractured shoulder causing such pain that you can hardly lift your arm to reach the handle bars - and then make sure you hold the flag nice and high while controlling the bike on the cool down lap.
Then make sure when you get to victory circle and go to celebrate with your team that you don't drop the flag or let it slide off the bike when you set it down.
Give the guy a frick'n break!
There are guys on the team that are there to catch the bike and make sure everything is taken care of - sponsor hats, sponsor energy drinks, sponsor sunglasses ect. Some one got caught up in the celebration and didn't do their job for a couple minutes while a photographer took a pic that pissed you off. Get over it.
As far as comments about winning the championship and - if Rossi would have done this or that -or if this would have happend then that would have been the result is bull. Fact is Nicky won it, bottom Line. All the rest of the speculation is just that - speculation.
Link (http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/motogp_news.htm?menu=news&news_id=18427&championship_id=3§ion=1) to the story just out on the MotoGP site. So it appears to be true.
Nicky Rocks.
I had to cancel sunday racing at summit point set9-10 because i felt at big risk for the racers around me- i'm having shoulder surgery in 2 weeks,but that weekend had to be cut short because the right shoulder controls the more important controls(fr brake,throttle). I couldnt hold myself from goin over the tank while braking into turns. maybe would have been easier if it was the left shoulder, I dont imagine he was havin an easy time - he hopefully wins again, i want to see it AGAIN (but easier next time :boink:!John in NJ
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 21, 2006, 04:02:35 AM
'me-me-me'..... I caught alot of that in his interviews as well, especially the statement "I took Rossi's crown away from him"
the first thing hayden said on the podium was "thanks to everyone who helped me get here"
And he did take Rossi's title, why can't he say it?
I was pissed about the way he treated the flag though, I believe it was an honest mistake, but one he shouldn't make. Nicky has run a yellow ribbon on his lid all year, and is generally a patriotic guy, but someone needs to teach him about flag etiquitte.
Quote from: Team_Serpent on November 21, 2006, 03:53:19 PM
Try racing a Moto GP round with a fractured shoulder causing such pain that you can hardly lift your arm to reach the handle bars - and then make sure you hold the flag nice and high while controlling the bike on the cool down lap.
Spoken like someone who'd know a thing or two about racing with pain.... :thumb:
It didn't help that whoever handed Nicky the flag out on course gave it to him upside down. Hey, he won the championship. A championship is a test of endurance, and it damn well should be. You get a #1 trophy every time you win a race. You get a championship for doing best over the long haul.
So Nicky isn't fit to wash out Rossi's jock strap, right? Vali hasn't beaten Nicky at Laguna. Nobody has. "Oh, but Nicky has home field advantage there!" Yeah, and all the MotoGP regulars don't have more experience at all the rest of the tracks on the circuit? Some of them since they were children on 125cc bikes? Nicky did it the best this year. That's all there is to it.
Again, I didn't really want to get into a debate about this because I'm not a Nicky hater (I'm just not a big fan), but I find the support of Nicky getting the championship rather strange and based more on liking him as a person more than anything. The reason I say this is due to the years of whining and crying about the CCS championships not being fair because it ultimately penalized racers who occasionally win and crash out at other races and rewarded those riders who were CONSISTENT but may not have won at all and ran more classes. Using the 'new formula' that CCS used for it's regional championships in 2006 (which rewards people who win occasionally but may not finish all the races) Rossi would have been the winner after the adjusted points were calculated using performance index - Rossi with apx 230 points and Hayden at apx 221 points. It just seems so hypocritical to me that so many of you guys complained so strongly about the previous CCS 'points only' system being so unfair, yet applying the new 'more fair' CCS points/performance index championship system to this seasons MotoGP results and Rossi would have been the winner. Again, I'm not a big Rossi fan either!
The following is a collection of facts I compiled and posted on another forum, I just thought it would be fitting here as well (interpret as you will, but the numbers speak pretty loudly for themself):
Nicky Hayden
Total Points (2006) = 252 (apx 221 by CCS formula)
avg points per race completed = 15.75
races completed = 16 / DNF's = 1
total points if no DNF's (based on average) = 268
Points per race (2006)
16-20-16-20-11-16-20-25-9-16-25-7-13-11-11-0-16
Races won in 2006 = 2
Total number of road racing championships in last 10 years = 3
2006 MotoGP / number of races won = 2
2002 AMA Superbike / number of races won = 9
1999 AMA 600 Supersport / number of races won = 5
**********************************************
Valentino Rossi
Total Points (2006) = 247 (apx 230 by CCS formula)
avg points per race completed = 17.64
races completed = 14 / DNF's = 3
total points if no DNF's (based on average) = 300
Points per race (2006)
2-25-13-0-0-25-25-8-20-25-0-20-25-16-20-20-3
Races won in 2006 = 5
Total number of road racing championships in last 10 years = 7
2005 MotoGP / number of races won = 11
2004 MotoGP / number of races won = 9
2003 MotoGP / number of races won = 9
2002 MotoGP / number of races won = 11
2001 MotoGP / number of races won = 11
1999 250 GP / number of races won = 9
1997 125 GP / number of races won = 11
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 22, 2006, 12:14:56 AM
Again, I didn't really want to get into a debate about this
To late :biggrin:
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 22, 2006, 12:14:56 AMI find the support of Nicky getting the championship rather strange and based more on liking him as a person more than anything.
Huh? Maybe in your mind. I doubt most fans know Nicky as a person and know whether or not they like him on a personal level. Although the way he has handled himself while in the public eye has given most fans the impression that he is a good person.
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 22, 2006, 12:14:56 AMThe reason I say this is due to the years of whining and crying about the CCS championships not being fair because it ultimately penalized racers who occasionally win and crash out at other races and rewarded those riders who were CONSISTENT but may not have won at all and ran more classes. Using the 'new formula' that CCS used for it's regional championships in 2006 (which rewards people who win occasionally but may not finish all the races) Rossi would have been the winner after the adjusted points were calculated using performance index - Rossi with apx 230 points and Hayden at apx 221 points. It just seems so hypocritical to me that so many of you guys complained so strongly about the previous CCS 'points only' system being so unfair, yet applying the new 'more fair' CCS points/performance index championship system to this seasons MotoGP results and Rossi would have been the winner. Again, I'm not a big Rossi fan either!
Hey, guess what - we're not talking CCS club racing, we're talking Moto GP! You know the guys that do this full time. Hello, anybody in there? :banghead:
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 22, 2006, 12:14:56 AMThe following is a collection of facts I compiled and posted on another forum, I just thought it would be fitting here as well (interpret as you will, but the numbers speak pretty loudly for themself):
Nicky Hayden
Total Points (2006) = 252 (apx 221 by CCS formula)
avg points per race completed = 15.75
races completed = 16 / DNF's = 1
total points if no DNF's (based on average) = 268
Points per race (2006)
16-20-16-20-11-16-20-25-9-16-25-7-13-11-11-0-16
Races won in 2006 = 2
Total number of road racing championships in last 10 years = 3
2006 MotoGP / number of races won = 2
2002 AMA Superbike / number of races won = 9
1999 AMA 600 Supersport / number of races won = 5
**********************************************
Valentino Rossi
Total Points (2006) = 247 (apx 230 by CCS formula)
avg points per race completed = 17.64
races completed = 14 / DNF's = 3
total points if no DNF's (based on average) = 300
Points per race (2006)
2-25-13-0-0-25-25-8-20-25-0-20-25-16-20-20-3
Races won in 2006 = 5
Total number of road racing championships in last 10 years = 7
2005 MotoGP / number of races won = 11
2004 MotoGP / number of races won = 9
2003 MotoGP / number of races won = 9
2002 MotoGP / number of races won = 11
2001 MotoGP / number of races won = 11
1999 250 GP / number of races won = 9
1997 125 GP / number of races won = 11
Look, no one is saying that Nicky has accomplished more than Rossi during their racing career or won more races in 2006. So, nice collection of facts but they don't change a thing. Nicky is champion this year! Isn't it great to have an American back on top of the world? Something about Nicky must have really have gotten under your skin to be so negative about this. :ass: :biggrin:
And one thing no one seems to be talking about is that there were 4...count them...4 Americans in the top 10 in MotoGP points.
I like Vale, but he made mistakes, he had some bad luck. And no, we are not using CCS style points, we are using MotoGP points, which is all that matters today.
I also think it says alot about Nicky's determination to win, because it would have been so easy to whine about his injury before the race, so that he would have had an excuse. He gave no excuses, he went and performed. Vale crashed. That, my friends is why we run the races. It not about percenption, it's about performance.
Next year will be a new day with the machines be re-engineered and all that good stuff. Vale can bring it, Nicky can bring, and so can the rest of the competitors.
Quote from: spyderchick on November 22, 2006, 11:56:42 AM
And one thing no one seems to be talking about is that there were 4...count them...4 Americans in the top 10 in MotoGP points.
I like Vale, but he made mistakes, he had some bad luck. And no, we are not using CCS style points, we are using MotoGP points, which is all that matters today.
I also think it says alot about Nicky's determination to win, because it would have been so easy to whine about his injury before the race, so that he would have had an excuse. He gave no excuses, he went and performed. Vale crashed. That, my friends is why we run the races. It not about percenption, it's about performance.
Next year will be a new day with the machines be re-engineered and all that good stuff. Vale can bring it, Nicky can bring, and so can the rest of the competitors.
Here, Here! and from what I've read Hopper and the new Suzuki look to be very fast.
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 22, 2006, 12:14:56 AM
Rossi would have been the winner after the adjusted points were calculated using performance index
I'm tired of hearing "if Rossi"
Rossi didn't, Nicky did.
Hayden is world champion. No one stacked the deck in his favor and the rules weren't changed for him. He went out and did what he had to do to be champion. End of story.
He is no less a champion than Rossi was in 2001. Now we get to see if he can carry the torch.
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 20, 2006, 09:45:16 PM
I have to admit that I was REALLY disappointed in Nicky's disrespect of the American flag when he got the championship. Watch the cool down lap and the flag is hitting the ground as he has it wadded up, then it's dragging on the tire and chain and almost got sucked into the countershaft sprocket. To top it all off I saw a 'tribute' video to his championship and it showed Nicky's bike in winners circle with the American flag laying on the ground where a certain someone tossed it, all I can say is :wtf:?
I have trouble respecting a guy that doesn't represent his own country with pride and respect.
I agree with your concerns about the disrespect of the flag during Nicky's celebrations. Very painful to those of us who know and care about it. I cut Nicky some slack in this case and yes I am a Nicky fan. But the fact is virtually no one in his generation knows anything about how to properly display and care for the flag. In fact, most people who display it don't and disrespect the flag on a daily basis. All you have to do is look around. It started right after 9-11 with their zeal to display the flag and 'show' their patriotism without understanding what they were doing. I'm sure people mean well, but they don't have a clue. I had to let it go so my blood pressure would go back down.
On a lighter note, I think Nicky has much more to show and can't wait for next season. It should be one of the best years ever with so many great riders including all the Americans.
Well said - the flag does deserve more respect all over,the moment was unfortunate but woohoo- 3 3 americans are IN THERE(top ten) and we got #1- S'all good! Thread too!
Quote from: JBraun on November 22, 2006, 05:38:22 PMHe is no less a champion than Rossi was in 2001.
Actually....
Rossi WON 11 races in 2001, so in my eyes that does indeed make him more of a champion than Nicky with only 2 wins in 2006! In fact EVERY season Rossi was champion he won AT LEAST 9 races. Just because someone gets a championship they are not by default as talented as someone else who got it, that's like saying there is no difference in talent between every winner in history when I think we all know that's not true. How about an example.
In 2003 I was running 4 classes all season long between the MW/GP/GL regions, due to money constraints I was at the back of the pack the entire season because I couldn't afford to be buying tires. Toward the end of the season I checked the points to find out that I was winning 9 individual class championships, Hell I was stomping on everybody in those classes (points wise at least)! Had I continued to race I would have easily won not only those 9 classes but possibly the other 3 as well since attrition was very high that season and I was in 2nd place in those 3 classes, that would have put me with up to 12 championships in 2003. Now according to your train of thought that means that I must have been one hell of a racer! But I wasn't, and I did the 'right thing' and didn't go to the last 3 events to let the other racers 'catch up' and pass me in the points, in fact in a few classes the other racers barely were able to pass me in the points by the end of the last event. This was utilizing a points only system like MotoGP that so many CCS racers had complained about as being unfair, how ironic.
I don't have a problem with Nicky catching the championship when Rossi stumbled and lost his grip on it, but to say that Nicky got it thru his abilities above and beyond Rossi's is not reality. Rossi is clearly the better, more winning rider, even if I don't especially like him (but definately respect him as a racer).
Quote from: Team_Serpent on November 22, 2006, 10:49:04 AMSomething about Nicky must have really have gotten under your skin to be so negative about this. :ass: :biggrin:
In a way your correct.
When Hayden got the AMA Superbike championship in 2002 on the RC51 (while competing against 750cc I-4's) there was alot of favoritism in the rules that year going to the 1000cc V-twins in general and against the I-4's. Tell me how the rules have been in Mladin's favor when he has won all his championships? Hell in Mladins case he has had the rules changed AGAINST him (more or less) in some cases, yet his domination was only broken by this single 'year of the twins' as I have heard it called (due to all the V-twin factory riders ironically doing so well that season). Hayden was just in the right place at the right time back then as well.
I greatly anticipate the 2007 MotoGP season, I think Nicky's crown will be "taken away from him", because in my opinion he only stumbled onto it thru Rossi's bad luck this year. :rollseyes:
Sorry Mike but not a bit of what your "reasoning" is makes sense. You either are champ or you are not. There is no better champ. Not sure what your issue with Nicky is but you obviously have one, if you feel I'm wrong try re-reading your posts. There is nothing wrong with people being happy or excited a fellow American beat the best of the best of the sport we're in. You can't understand that? That to me makes no sense nor does any of the other bs about how Rossi could have would have should have won. Rossi's crash wasn't bad luck. Pedrosa crashing out Nicky was. Rossi's earlier mechanical issues were not.
But hey, whatever helps you keep the hate alive I guess.
Mongo,
So then you also believe that I would have been the deserving champion of up to 12 championships in 2003 as I described and I made the wrong decision by stepping back and letting the BETTER riders have them? All I did was follow the rules of the game and my consistency showed thru, but there's no way I deserved to be the champion in all those classes, I was sorry ass slow. That was the very reasoning behind CCS changing the rules to more heavily reward those who win and penalize those who don't.
My issue isn't specifically with Nicky, it's with his type, time for another example. I work with people who are in positions of great power within a $100 million dollar a year company, applying the thinking you guys seem to have would mean that those people in those positions are the best for them? Yet things like what your last name is, who's ass your head is up, how deep your throat is, and who's back your willing to stab have far more to do with success than anything from what I have seen in the last 18 years of employment with them. The people in positions of power are there because they did the things required to get there, no matter how incorrect. Again, my issue is with the situations he's been in which resulted in him getting championships, not really him as a person so much (other than that blattent flag disrespect! :finger:). I just don't look at him as a true champion, hell the guy couldn't even hold his head up with pride and look at the camera during the interviews after he won :wtf: ? I've never seen any other MotoGP champion do that.
Wow, I'm still very lost.
Stop comparing CCS to MotoGP!! it's barely even the same sport!
I don't think there's any really fast guys racing MotoGP who just can't afford to make the whole season. :biggrin: everyone on the grid brings their best to every round, along with their multi-million dollar budget. There's no comparison at all!
Two things got Hayden to the top; hard work and talent. He's earned it!
By the way, if you could have won 12 championships in 03 and "stepped back", that's on YOU.
I would have collected my trophies, put together one HELL of a resume and hit the street to recruit some sponsors for next year.
Would you have deserved to win those titles? YES!!! You didn't make up the points system did you?
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 23, 2006, 07:04:42 PM
Mongo,
So then you also believe that I would have been the deserving champion of up to 12 championships in 2003 as I described and I made the wrong decision by stepping back and letting the BETTER riders have them? All I did was follow the rules of the game and my consistency showed thru, but there's no way I deserved to be the champion in all those classes, I was sorry ass slow. That was the very reasoning behind CCS changing the rules to more heavily reward those who win and penalize those who don't.
My issue isn't specifically with Nicky, it's with his type, time for another example. I work with people who are in positions of great power within a $100 million dollar a year company, applying the thinking you guys seem to have would mean that those people in those positions are the best for them? Yet things like what your last name is, who's ass your head is up, how deep your throat is, and who's back your willing to stab have far more to do with success than anything from what I have seen in the last 18 years of employment with them. The people in positions of power are there because they did the things required to get there, no matter how incorrect. Again, my issue is with the situations he's been in which resulted in him getting championships, not really him as a person so much (other than that blattent flag disrespect! :finger:). I just don't look at him as a true champion, hell the guy couldn't even hold his head up with pride and look at the camera during the interviews after he won :wtf: ? I've never seen any other MotoGP champion do that.
If you didn't win the championships within the points structure of the sanctioning body then no, you didn't deserve them. If you did win them then you deserved them. It's a pretty easy thing to figure out, not sure why you're having so many problems with it. Now if you want to argue about the merits of different points structures by all means go for it, but that's not the same thing as determining who deserved what, deserve can't be quantified.
As for the rest - you don't like his type??? Have you ever met Nicky? Talked to him? Seen him works his ass off to get where he is? Any of the examples you use prove you to be nothing more than another moron without a clue. Even your idol knows Nicky won the championship fair and square. But I guess he doesn't know what he's talking about either since you've seen people more stupid than you get promoted in a company. Yep, that's some serious logic right there. Dropped the flag? Couldn't face the cameras? Yep, one of the dumbest I've yet run across on the interwebs and that is saying a lot.
I realize that people that result to name calling generally don't feel confident in their opinions as being correct and often times have personal issues they haven't come to accept. I have expressed my opinions and explained WHY I feel the way I do, simply because it's not the default opinion of the rest of the herd I expected some wouldn't be able to deal with it, but resorting to childish name calling is sad. The fact that it was claimed that Rossi is my idol shows that some are not even actually reading what I wrote.
I respect the fact that Nicky reached the level he has, but I'm also knowledgable to the fact that it has been greatly thru the efforts of his dad holding his hand his whole life. I happen to be freinds with a dirt track racer who raced against all the Haydens numerous times in the late 90's, he has had the experience of beating each of them when they were quite competative. I remember him telling me many times about this guy and his kids (3 boys and their sister) showing up at the dirt track events with a huge box truck full of tons of spare bikes and every spare part they could ever need (he even showed me a picture that he had of that very set-up). My freind would show up by himself with his bike in the back of his older S-10 pick-up, a small tool box, and a couple milk crate type container with some spares in them, yet he could finish ahead of them without ever having had his bike/engine worked on by anyone. Someone like this gets looked over because he didn't have the networking that the Hayden's dad created for them. More power to them, I just have trouble with people who 'succeed' at things for reasons other than just their ability, especially when it involves having everything they could ever need to accomplish that goal provided for them without having to pay for anything themselves.
Since this tangent is going nowhere I don't see any reason to continue it, if this explanation doesn't explain my views then I don't know what will. It's sad that some can't at least be open to other people's views, no matter how contridictory to their own. Good luck with that!
It's just a shame that Nicky rides a Red Bull helmet, so no one can buy a Nicky replica.
With the overheating clutch issues, the fact that sometimes it seemed like Nicky was given less than the best package he could have had at a given race, the tangle with Pedrosa, the injury.... Man, to me it seems like Nicky overcame a lot. That's what champions do. Rossi went into the last race with the points lead. An a mega-multi time champion, Rossi knew what he needed to do, but he didn't pull it off. Who cares if Rossi "lost" the championship? Nicky did what he had to do, and he won the championship. It's that simple.
(Dare I say that he even won the championship after Rossi got a BIG get out of jail free card when he wasn't penalized for passing under the yellow? That just stunk of NASCAR-type politics if you ask me....)
All hail Nicky!
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 24, 2006, 05:31:56 PM
I just have trouble with people who 'succeed' at things for reasons other than just their ability, especially when it involves having everything they could ever need to accomplish that goal provided for them without having to pay for anything themselves.
Mike, I luv yew man! And I respect your right to have an opinion. But on the point I quoted you above, how different was that from Rossi's path? Or Duhamel's? Or the Roberts boys? or....
It's not name calling when you've already proven it true sorry. I've known the Haydens for a while myself and what you're calling hand holding most people would see as support from a parent without which getting to the pinnacle of any sport is hard if not impossible. Sounds more like your friend is just another jealous moron like yourself. I use the word moron because intelligent beings are able to step past their personal feelings and look at any given situation objectively, something you obviously are incapable of. I've seen numerous riders with a lot more support than Earl ever gave his children not succeed in this sport, I've seen some with less do very well - but those are extremely rare. I've also seen Nicky win championships on inferior machinery, but that doesn't count does it?
It's always amazing to me the levels of stupidity that can be reached by jealous people. Nicky Hayden got where he is purely because Earl Hayden paid for it huh? Yeah, that makes sense. Kid never could ride a motorcycle. Wonder who Earl hired to do that for him? Must have been someone because Nicky sure couldn't do it for himself.
Your opinion quite simple isn't valid because it is not based on the facts of the situation, rather it is based on an emotional response you are having to those facts. I'm sorry you don't understand that but there it is.
Also just to give you an idea of what I mean - I feel that Rossi is an overall better rider than Nicky. Always have, however there is nothing that make Nicky less deserving of this championship that he won via his skill on a motorcycle.
...yea...and Tiger Woods shouldn't be considered one of the greatest golfers of all time since his dad helped him....or Derek Jeter shouldn't be playing for the Yankees since his dad helped him...name me one high profile athlete that didn't have a support system through his youth, someone to lay the path to get noticed early in their career to push him/her to get to the top? I'm sure Repsol just signed Nicky since his dad told them too..come on the kid can ride..he is the 2006 MotoGP champ...no changing that....he may never win another one...but he will always have this year.
Nicky Rocks. :pop:
WELL PUT PAUL!...& The Spidey one shure started a whopper, this time- John :boink: :kicknuts:
I think Roger is the only one not busted up at the moment. Tommy had a bad crash on the zook in Sepang. Man I cannot wait to see Tommy next season on Suzuki.
Dang -I didnt win :spank: the auction for the track vest signed by Nicky's family and crew-at Laguna-wonder what its worth now? hmm A toast to the Nicky haters all around the world :ass:
http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=27668
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 24, 2006, 05:31:56 PM
Since this tangent is going nowhere I don't see any reason to continue it, if this explanation doesn't explain my views then I don't know what will. It's sad that some can't at least be open to other people's views, no matter how contridictory to their own. Good luck with that!
You're right - it's going no where and as you can see there is no one here that agrees with you. I'm always open to other people's point of view - it's funny though because it seems like you're not. I can tell from your other posts and the things you talk about / give examples of, that you must have a hard time getting through life - so negative. I respect the fact that everyone is entitled to their own opinion and you have the right to yours - sorry we don't see eye to eye.
The shoulder thing is crazy, but obviously he didn't want it to be the story if and when he won. I'm still so happy for him--and his family.
And, about the flag. Is there video of him setting it on the ground? Did he lean it up against the bike and it fell? I'm not offering excuses, but, really, the photo doesn't necessarily tell the story. I'm trying to imagine him throwing it to the ground or leaning over to set it there and it seems weird.
Heather
No, he just threw it on the ground. It was pretty appalling actually, and I'm a Nicky Hayden guy.
I was really dissapointed, he should know better....
Lucky me, I was in Sicily on the day of the final race. I was very fortunate to see the pre-race discussions, and the race itself, and the post race talk shows. There was quite a buzz in the community about it all.
Superbike racing in Italy is about as important to the culture as football or baseball is to Americans. It's amazing to see stores with Nicky clothing that is so cool, or Rossi stuff of all shapes and sorts. Very cool world... hmmm, maybe I'll live there.
I did watch the post race behavior of Nicky, live, and was ashamed of what he did with the flag. Fact is, he was handed the flag, and he treated it like it was a rag, and dropped it on the track and left it there. No sugar coating this one. I am proud of his performance, and he's such a class act, but this one was a major mistake in my eyes.
Russ
Quote from: russ1962 on November 29, 2006, 03:07:23 PM
I did watch the post race behavior of Nicky, live, and was ashamed of what he did with the flag. Fact is, he was handed the flag, and he treated it like it was a rag, and dropped it on the track and left it there. No sugar coating this one. I am proud of his performance, and he's such a class act, but this one was a major mistake in my eyes.
Russ
Well this is very disappointing news. I do believe the flag should receive the utmost respect and care.
But just so Mike knows :biggrin: this doesn't change my view of the championship and how it was won :thumb:
Quote from: Team_Serpent on November 30, 2006, 12:22:49 PM
Well this is very disappointing news. I do believe the flag should receive the utmost respect and care.
But just so Mike knows :biggrin: this doesn't change my view of the championship and how it was won :thumb:
No question whatsoever...! Nicky won, simple. Rossi didn't, simple.
This has been a funny discussion to watch. It's fun to watch someone being upset about the outcome, and they act like it isn't so.
The end of the game, the score shows the winner. Pretty easy to tell who it was. This is one of those discussions where the 1985 Bears are compared to the 1972 Dolphins, or Ali is compared to Holmes... sit around a bar and drink beer and talk about that. Arguing like there is some analytical capability to disprove Nicky isn't worthy of this is silly. He won it, and it's done.
WTF!
Nicky won the 2006 season, and it's awesome. Even more awesome to see it won by an AMERICAN! And no, that doesn't mean I'm anti-everyone else, it just means I'm proud it was one of us. And a cool kid on top of it all. Nice to see.
Quote from: GSXR RACER MIKE on November 23, 2006, 07:04:42 PM
Mongo,
So then you also believe that I would have been the deserving champion of up to 12 championships in 2003 as I described and I made the wrong decision by stepping back and letting the BETTER riders have them? All I did was follow the rules of the game and my consistency showed thru, but there's no way I deserved to be the champion in all those classes, I was sorry ass slow. That was the very reasoning behind CCS changing the rules to more heavily reward those who win and penalize those who don't.
My issue isn't specifically with Nicky, it's with his type, time for another example. I work with people who are in positions of great power within a $100 million dollar a year company, applying the thinking you guys seem to have would mean that those people in those positions are the best for them? Yet things like what your last name is, who's ass your head is up, how deep your throat is, and who's back your willing to stab have far more to do with success than anything from what I have seen in the last 18 years of employment with them. The people in positions of power are there because they did the things required to get there, no matter how incorrect. Again, my issue is with the situations he's been in which resulted in him getting championships, not really him as a person so much (other than that blattent flag disrespect! :finger:). I just don't look at him as a true champion, hell the guy couldn't even hold his head up with pride and look at the camera during the interviews after he won :wtf: ? I've never seen any other MotoGP champion do that.
I've never met Nicky personally, but what I did see this year was a young man with something many are seriously lacking. HUMILITY and GRATEFULNESS. So when you say he hung his head low, I believe you mis-interpreted the true reason for his body language at that point. I know a lot of people aren't comfortable when it comes to faith and beliefs, but the man went on record during that interview to thank God, and if I'm reading the Hayden family correctly I would say he's making reference to Christ, and that my friend is the real reason why you saw Nicky nearly at tears several times during interviews throughout the season, not just because of joy or fustrations, but because there's something deeper in that young man that is difficult to explain in forums like this. Dropping the flag is a simple matter of safety as far as I'm concerned. Anything getting caught up in the rear sprocket is just bad, period.
Nobody is perfect, but he did win the championship, and no amount of small talk on this forum is ever gonna take it away from Nicky.