Guesses on who the champ will be

[fastwin]

I'll play the devil's advocate here and stir up peoples loyalty and emotion regarding their favorite MotoGP riders. Curious, just three races into the MotoGP season, who do you think will win the championship this year?

Personally I think it's a "changing of the guard" year in the big bike class. I have watched Jorge Lorenzo win two consecutive championships in 250 and couldn't wait to see what he could do on the big bikes. To say that he has shown us what he can do is a huge understatment!!! Andrea Dovizioso is a diamond in the rough, if he were on a bike the caliber of the Fiat Yamaha he might be standing next to Lorenzo on the podiums. Hopefully Toseland will find his MotoGP legs soon, he has enormous talent... as he showed the world last year. Poor Nicky, I love the guy, I really do. But $20 says Honda won't renew his contract... whenever it runs out. Pedrosa is their Golden Boy and Championship or not Nicky seems to play the red headed step child on that team. At least he's not like the Biaggi of old and is a good team player and never complains. There is a real good reason Rossi likes him and was really happy for him when Nicky beat him in 2006. Both are living examples of what a "good sport" should be.

I could ramble on forever about both classes and WorldSBK... as you know I could! [laugh] But let's stick to MotoGP for now. What do you think and who will win? I'll shut up for now... [cheeky]

[never2loud]

Rossi.

Lorenzo and Dovizioso will win many championships between them, there's no doubt, but Rossi is still probably one of the top three riders EVER to have thrown a leg over a motorcycle so I'm not discounting him just yet.

[Jester]

Rossi. I don't think he's done winning yet.

He's adjusting to the Bridgestones and took podiums at tracks notoriously difficult for the tire manufacturer. I admit had Hayden and Dovizioso not gone off, he may have slipped at Jerez, but that is racing. I see Lorenzo as possibly the next Rossi. Not this year though. Stoner's Duc is having admitted problems, and when the only man that can ride that bike doesn't like what its doing, Ducati is in trouble... not to mention they are already panicking by wanting Bayless and Biaggi to test ride it to see what is wrong with it. I think Stoner will push too hard and crash out a few times like he used to do, but also take some wins. Pedrobot can't finish the job at the premier level, and I'll stand by that until he proves otherwise. He needs a phonebook on his seat for post race interviews anyway. I think it discourages him.

Regardless, this year's championship looks to be one of the better ones in recent memory.

[ducnut]

Not a fan of Pedrosa but he may just pull it off this year.

[bbernardo8]

I think this year Pedrosa could pull it off. But by no means are either of the Fiat Yamahas underdogs. Fiat/Yamaha has brought the goods so far this season.

I'd love to see Rossi & Lorenzo battling each other at the end of the year. It's shaping up to be a great season!

[littleyellowduc]

The guy with the fastest / best bike!! >

[USMC18996]

I'm not going to count out Stoner just yet. I think that he's finally getting over the fact that what worked for last year is not going to work for this year (the team that wins the super bowl still has to change it up for the next season) and is adjusting accordingly. Ducati IS in trouble, to be certain.

The Rossi/Lorenzo battle will DEFINITELY turn even more interesting as the season progresses.

My prediction for now will be to stick with Ducati and Stoner. Nothing due to brand loyalty, I just don't think that they've hit their package/setup groove yet. There are definitely some interesting tracks coming up, and it'll be interesting to see how they adjust accordingly.

But if I MUST plant a flag somewhere....:....Rossi.

[CALSCRAZY]

i agree with alan i just hope it's an american preferably edwards but doubtful

[Jester]

preferably edwards but doubtful

He's never won a premier race, doubtful indeed. Even when he had a win in his back pocket in Germany a few years back he found a way to get off his bike. Edwards will sadly retire with no hardware. Should have stuck with superbikes. Champion of qualifying, but disappears in races. Its his MO. Hayden is pushing too hard for his own good at the moment. A good racer knows when to take points for the championship. Hayden's philosophy of "this ain't a parade" and pushing his bike to crash doesn't do his championship bid any good. Honda also openly plays him as second fiddle, so he's got his hands full. I love his grit though. Maybe we'll see what Spies has next year heh.

[CALSCRAZY]

spies would be another great guy for me to root for. local i believe however i could be wrong. i just like to root for my countrymen.