Hayden = Beattie or Lawson?

Let me explain, in 1995 ol' Daz Beattie managed to eek out a points lead over Doohan after 2 victories on his crappy Suzuki 500. He then watched as Doohan won every remaining race left in the calendar and overhauled him in the points in the second last round - ouch! (I do belive that to compound his luck he missed a race or two with a broken collar bone, but Doohan was awol for one or two afaik also.)

Or there is or Ed Lawson in 1989, smooth, calculating, but never seemed to have enough gas to keep up with Kevin 'Win or Bin' Schwantz or Rainey. Aside from this he managed to eek out the odd victory (Spa in the wet) and kept in the hunt up until the penultamate round where he pressured Wayne into a mistake and won setting up his championship challenge.

So, what I want to know is what kind of a season do you think ol' Nick Hayden will have?

I chose strictly between Lawson and Beattie theories. And I chose Beattie.

Lawson was a winner, he fought against Spencer and Gardner in epic classic battles. In his last years he used his "steadiness" to beat his less experienced (but already faster) rivals. Currently I reserve the Lawson label to Pedrosa, and "reserve" is a perfectly fitting word for them :D

Beattie was good... but he ultimately was not a "killer", a "winner". Nicky is not a newcomer anymore, he is already experienced, he is consistent, he does good races, even some brilliant ones... but... you know... he is not awesomely great :( A bit in the Biaggi league (in MotoGP): good or very good... but nothing "more".

I'd like he was, because I like him and we need more anti-Rossis to have great races. But, sadly, I think it would be wishful thinking if I put him the label "Lawson" on his shoulders.

I'd go for Beattie as well, close but just not good enough.

Beattie .. somebody.. be it Rossi or somebody else .. will get ahead of him

A Lawson-style season could be ideal to win this year's title, with such a variety of guys near the front. Even if Rossi wins every remaining race Nicky (or Loris, for that matter) can beat him in the championship with a string of 2nds.

Loris has not been regular in last seasons, the same for Ducati, they are strong in some races and disapear in others. Sete has big balls (particularly against Rossi, as seen last Sunday) but he has not dropped the image of crasher when fighting at the top from the last seasons.

Actually Nick is steady, but perhaps his average perfomance is not high enough for this particular task. Pedrosa could be the man, he is steady and he is fast, but, and this is a big "but", he is a newcomer and we don't know yet how he is going to manage certain things at MotoGP level.

A dark horse could be Melandri. He needs to be more regular (easier said in an armchair than done on a bike) and he could finish at the end of the season at Nick's level or perhaps(?) better. I find a bit rare the idea Melandri can be 2006 WC, but... if they give the right (big) amount of money I'd bet for him.

I think we are beginning to enjoy the possibilities and speculations. It is a good sign for how the season is developing so far.

Well, I'm relatively new to this motorcycle racing thing. Can some of you give me a summary of Hayden's history in Moto GP? I know he came to Moto GP after winning the AMA title and that Rossi has praised certain aspects of his riding style. And of course it took him some time for that first win and that many feel he's kept the Repsol seat too long.

I would say he can take the title if he stays consistent, but he'll need a few wins still. But most likely he'll end up just losing it.

Err, joined in '03? Was teamate to Rossi and scored a podium or two.
'04, okayish nothing special but was outpaced a bit by Barros when he had his good days. Wasn't up front as much as Alex, but then again, didn't bin it as often. (Or if he did, it wasn't on screen :P)
'05, fairly quiet until the Laguna win, and then started on a string of podiums that didn't finish until this year in france.

I think Hayden will end up about 4th overall. I think Rossi, Melandri and Capirossi will all beat him in the standings, maybe even Pedrosa unless he (Hayden) can start winning races again.

He needs to have a win or two... sometimes it seems like he needs a win on Rossi-soil (eg, not Laguna) to really go to the next level.

I am a big fan of Nikky but I think he has had ample chances to win, more so with the poor start that Rossi had.

Sorry but I think with Pedrosa, Stoner, Melandi out there and pushing. It is going to be a huge task for Nikky to win races. I hope I am wrong, but I dont know if he has what it takes.

Starting every race in fully fit condition might be enough this season.

Oh, and I have to mention the advert, offering us a Suzuki BSB cap of 'James Hayden'. I realise the money is important to the site, but can we get some sponsors who can spell the featured rider's name?

Dont you think if Nicky can hang on for the championship he will grow as a rider? I just have a feeling he might. I do love his riding style a lot.

I thought the Assen performance was prett solid for Hayden. He figured out how to cut the deficit to Edwards and then overtook him. Not sure how he allowed Edwards back in the race on the last lap. But they were both well and truly going for it at the last bend. Good stuff.

Showdown at Donnington? :)

That win must have put a bit more breathing space into Hayden's title chances.

What does Rossi need now? Hayden must be close to a shoe in provind he keeps it on the podium, + hes put some ground into Caparossi as well which has issues seemingly with Bridgestone being hot and cold.

How bad is the injury to Rossis hand . wrist? will it be up to form for this weekend? i cant see Caparossi being 100% fit either for this weekend.

Hayden to take it.

Even if Rossi wins every remaining race, Nicky would pip him by 1 point by finishing 2nd in them all. With Rossi and Capirossi still short of full fitness, his points lead should be enough now. Assen showed him really upping his pacem, and getting the better of Colin on one of the classic final laps.

Well, Nicky's lead over Rossi is now down to 35 points after Donington. But we've got Sachsenring coming up next where Nicky has had good races before. And then Laguna Seca where Nicky won last year, but Edwards could spoil his party there this year. Hayden really needs wins to win this thing.

This could be his pnly chance I reckon, so he must take it by the scruff of the neck. He is certainly trying his utmost!

My money is on Pedrosa at the moment though. If he can carry on this level of performance he will be unstoppable. Unfortunately, being a rookie, you feel there is an error to come yet...

Why are Honda making it difficult on Hayden? He shows up at Donnington after a win at Assen and is rewarded by having to test a new chassis. I know they have to develop a new bike, but why can't they do that during testing, and not at race weekends?

You get the impression that they arn't backing him.

He just runs around and collect points while working on the new bike while they back Pedrosa to win the title. Thats what i'm getting anyway.

I wonder who they'll get when they dump him on his butt at the end of the year? Stoner?

In the end, I really don't have a problem with Honda dumping Hayden. Honda have to back their horse for the future, and that's fine.

But what I do have a problem with is Repsol-Honda not going for the championship. As good as Pedrosa is, he's not going to win the title this year IMO. He's learning a few new tracks, he's learning the Moto GP bike, and he's learning how to race in the premier class. I don't see him hanging with Rossi this year. Even with Rossi having a few DNFs he's only 9 points behind Pedrosa.

However, after Assen Hayden was 40 plus points up on Rossi. Hello, golden opportunity to break Rossi (even if only by a small margin at the end). But no, they practically hand Hayden a new bike and say good luck. Still don't understand why Honda with their vast resources cannot develop the bike during test sessions.

As for Pedrosa, I like watching him, right up to the point where he gets off the bike. Can you look any less thrilled on the podium? Can you even talk through an interview? Put Dani Pedrosa and Kimi Raikonen in the same room and you'd have a cure for insomnia.

Gibernau is not signed for next year, Hayden to Ducati maybe?