2007 MOTOGP SEASON WRAPUP

by Mark Bracks

Love you long time...

Rossi has been complaining about the Yamaha's tendency to overheat for nearly two years and so that may have had a bearing on it -- pardon the pun.

It must've been hard for Rossi to understand why Kawasaki was finding the neddies to get the top speed as they are the only other manufacturer that is still using an in-line four cylinder.

It is unfair of Rossi to be as vocal about the tyres as he was, although he has struggled with the bags at different times in the last two years (China last year for instance). A few bad races shouldn't take the shime off all those years of success. I honestly hope his decision comes back to bite him. It's fortunate that Rossi has the guru of the paddock, Jerry Burgess, on his side because he will need every bit of experience he can muster as he will be the only Yamaha on Bridgestone rubber.

It is certainly going to be something to witness next year with the FIAT Yamaha box split down the middle.

The contrast to me was Nicky Hayden. If anyone should've been publicly bleating it was him after the box of frogs masquerading as a motorcycle that Honda gave him to defend his title. At least Rossi won four races, took four poles and led races.

Nicky joined a select group of people that as defending champion never won a race in the championship. He couldn't even lead one lap of 18 races, the poor bugger. The closest he got was at Phillip Island when he was threatening Stoner then the bike lunched itself.

Hayden's attitude and demeanour during the year was exemplary and to see him up close every week with a steely eyed attitude was inspiring. There is no question about his motivation as when many would've thrown the towel in -- like KRJR -- he kept his head down and in the end at least managed a few podiums and a pole position during a wretched season. He was treated as second class by Honda as Dani got new parts before the defending champ.

But any of the above can't take away one iota of respect due for our 22-year-old world champion. If you put a bet on him at the start of the season you would have trouble sitting down -- so fat would be you wallet.

He surprised everyone, from his team to the press to the man in the street. Probably the only one he didn't surprise was himself as he has immense confidence in his own abilities. After all the things were written about him last year and how crazy Ducati were to sign him, he might just sit in his motor home and have a big chuckle with his wife Adriana at how the season unfolded.

Nicky Hayden - Valencia Saturday morning

Looking at him throw that Duke around was something else as under brakes he had it contorting and sliding in all directions. At Valencia the on-board camera Was aimed at his front tyre. To see the compression of the tyre under brakes and as he threw it on its side was amazing. Michelin were very keen to get a copy of the output as it demonstrated how supple the sidewalls of the Bridgestones were.

Let's get a bit anal now with a few stats. Out of the 467 racing laps that were contested, Casey Stoner led 267 of them with Dani Pedrosa 77 and Valentino Rossi 66. Of the remaining 57 laps, Chris Vermeulen led 18 of them, Loris Capirossi 12, Colin Edwards 11, and Marco Melandri 10 while Anthony West and teammate, Randy De Puniet led for two laps. Sylvain Guintoli and John Hopkins were at the front for a solitary lap.

Pedrosa and Stoner shared the most poles with five apiece although it took until Mugello (Rd 6) for Stoner to get his first stab at top slot. Until then Rossi had three poles (three of them in the first four races) the last one of Rossi's four poles coming at Catalunya. Edwards claimed two (remember?) with Vermeulen and Hayden taking one apiece.

Casey Stoner at Motegi

After all those laps here are just a few of Casey's milestones. Seems like he made more records than Elvis did in his heyday!

10 wins in a year
The second youngest premier class victor behind Freddie Spencer
First Aussie to win in all three classes
First rider of the MotoGP era to lead every lap of three consecutive races: Laguna Seca, Brno and Misano
Same amount of points as Rossi scored in 2005 but with one less victory
Out of the 18 races Casey led seven of them from start to finish. It could've been eight except for Rossi leading the opening lap in China
First rider to win on a European bike since Phil Read on an MV Agusta in 1974
The only races he didn't lead at least one lap were Jerez, Le Mans and Sachsenring

It took many people a while but finally he got the accolades he deserved. Sure the Ducati and Bridgestone tyres had something to do with it but as Jerry Burgess told me about halfway through the year, "This year more than ever you need three things, the bike the rider and the tyres." And Casey's team had all three. Plus if it was only the bike and tyres that were the reason for his success why wasn't Capirossi up there every week right behind him or if experience counts so much -- leading him home at every race. Plus he pantsed everyone else on "Bridgerocks". Hmmmm.