So can Casey ride yet?

Kyle wrote:
> Champ wrote:
> > "Carl Sundpissed" <carl....TakeThisOut@suxcox.net wrote:
> > >"Kyle" wrote
> > >> And don't forget that Hayden is probably the hardest
> > >> worker in the paddock.
>
> > >How do you know this?
>
> > I'd assume that it's based on the oft-quoted statement that Hayden
> > does the most laps on test days.
>>
> Yeah, that is what I was referring to. Hayden's determination and hard
> work ethic. Not to be taking away from any other rider in MotoGP. I'm
> sure any guy that makes it to that level is already incredibly
> determined and devoted to his work. I'm just say that as a Hayden fan,
> he IS the hardest worker... hahaha

>From today's Honda press release:

"Well, we almost had Motegi to ourselves - there weren't a lot of guys
going around out there. We did a lot more work today, testing the new
fairing and some clutch parts. It was not so much parts we might be
using this year but more likely some items for next season."

It looks like the only other guys out there were Vermeulen and three
Japanese testers.

> They are all really hard workers. Except for Casey Stoner maybe... I
> don't think he even deserves to be in the top class!

Well, there were plenty of brilliant MotoGP team managers who would
have agreed with you 2-3 years ago...
 >> Stay informed about: So can Casey ride yet? 

Julian Bond wrote:
> Kyle
> >> Well, there were plenty of brilliant MotoGP team managers who would
> >> have agreed with you 2-3 years ago...
>
> >I was only joking to get a response... but I think you're right about
> >that.
>
> Err. 2 years ago. Stoner is 2nd in the championship getting consistent
> podiums, won 5 races that year and was frequently beating Pedrosa. So it
> may have been lucky that he was riding for a team that was in both 250
> and MotoGP but Ceccinello clearly thought he could ride and took him to
> MotoGP. So who were these brilliant MotoGP team managers that didn't
> think he could ride then? Luckily for him that's all irrelevant now.

My understanding of the path that got Stoner to MotoGP:

1) Stoner was trying to get a seat with Yamaha, with Tech3. Yamaha
finally didn't come to the table on the contract, saying it would be
up to Poncharal to find the money to pay him. Assumedly because Rossi
had left the cupboard bare, and had also driven away Herve's sponsor
(Altadis). Herve apparently was getting enough support from Dunlop,
Dorna and Yamaha to hire Ellison and Tamada, classic nationality-based
hiring by an underfunded team.
2) Honda wanted Vermeulen, and intended to place him on the Pons team.
But Pons also wanted Biaggi, Honda wouldn't have that, Camel/JTI also
wanted Max and then split for Yamaha and Rossi once they learned Honda
had vetoed Max. Pons also bailed once he'd lost his budget when Camel
left; Honda failed to notice because they were too busy chasing Max
out of GP via their Showa suspension on the Suzuki GP bikes. That left
Vermeulen without a defined seat and he signed with Suzuki instead.
3) No Sito and no Chris created the opening for Stoner and
Cecchinello, and Honda brought in a new team complete with rider.

So if that little soap opera hand't played out like that Stoner may
well have been back in 250 last year. And had he not been able to beat
Lorenzo last year, he'd probably still be there. Or now off to WSB, or
the AMA...
 >> Stay informed about: So can Casey ride yet? 

Mark N wrote:

> Herve apparently was getting enough support from Dunlop,
> Dorna and Yamaha to hire Ellison and Tamada, classic nationality-based
> hiring by an underfunded team.

Sorry, meant Checa and not Tamada...
 >> Stay informed about: So can Casey ride yet? 

> > They are all really hard workers. Except for Casey Stoner maybe... I
> > don't think he even deserves to be in the top class!
>
> Well, there were plenty of brilliant MotoGP team managers who would
> have agreed with you 2-3 years ago...

I was only joking to get a response... but I think you're right about
that.

- Kyle
 >> Stay informed about: So can Casey ride yet? 

Kyle Wed, 26 Sep 2007 15:54:35
>> > They are all really hard workers. Except for Casey Stoner maybe... I
>> > don't think he even deserves to be in the top class!
>>
>> Well, there were plenty of brilliant MotoGP team managers who would
>> have agreed with you 2-3 years ago...
>
>I was only joking to get a response... but I think you're right about
>that.

Err. 2 years ago. Stoner is 2nd in the championship getting consistent
podiums, won 5 races that year and was frequently beating Pedrosa. So it
may have been lucky that he was riding for a team that was in both 250
and MotoGP but Ceccinello clearly thought he could ride and took him to
MotoGP. So who were these brilliant MotoGP team managers that didn't
think he could ride then? Luckily for him that's all irrelevant now.

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