Is this true? (Hayden injured)

[spyderchick]

This 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!

[funsizeracing]

is there a link?

[spyderchick]

is there a link?

Just click the word "This" , as it's an embedded link.

[funsizeracing]

ahh, thanks!

[K3 Chris Onwiler]

There are Nicky Haters? 

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

There are Nicky Haters? 

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  ?

I have trouble respecting a guy that doesn't represent his own country with pride and respect.

[h2o_motorsports]

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.

[GSXR RACER MIKE]

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.

[cardzilla]

I agree... how could you HATE Nicky?  I can understand him not being your favorite or something, but the guy is UNhateable.

[Team_Serpent]

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. 

[spyderchick]

Link to the story just out on the MotoGP site. So it appears to be true.

Nicky Rocks.

[catman]

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 !John in NJ