MOTOGP » Hayden gets soaked at Sepang test

You may feel Hayden was "gifted" the championship but there again how many other racers have won races/championships on the back of someone elses bad luck. I would say the majority of riders at some point have.

I agree Mick, there's guys who are quicker than Hayden, if they had rode to their full potential, teams done their jobs properly providing reliable bikes and tyres at each race then he would not be world champion. Hayden and his team went out and won the title by performing to their maximum at every race over the entire season. The ability to deliver results consistantly defines a champion and in 2006 he did, they didn't. Winning only 2 races is not good, but winning races doesn't always equate to winning championships. (Schwantz v Rainey)
Colin Edwards, outstanding, awesome WSB rider. What went wrong? Had too many chances now, failed to deliver. Should have gone back to WSB 2 seasons ago.

The Dukes certainly got a 1-2 and a superbike rider got the 1. I think that shows how good it really was that TB could rock up and win on it. It was capable of what Stoner has done this year.

Hayden didn't win it, Rossi choked and lost it. I really like the guy like I like Edwards but they just ain't the top shelf items.

Didn't Ducati get a 1,2 at Valencia? Loris would have won the championship if he hadn't been taken out through no fault of his own midway through the season. Rossi should have kept his title but he cracked under pressure at Valencia. There was nothing LUCKY about what Haydon did - he just kept his head, avoided crashing and ground out the results on a regular basis. After the Estoril debacle he went to Valencia 8pts behind with Rossi on pole, not given a cat in hells chance by anyone and he went out and won that title on his own merit - RESPECT!

I came over a little harsh on Nicky there, I like the guy but he got lucky, hard work and consistency paid off. Schwantz and Gardner only won one championship but unlike Hayden they were dominating riders, Hayden just snuck through the back-door Rossi's ill fortune left open.

I think the Ducati was the best of the 990s by the end, if they had an in-form rider, eg a Stoner on it it would have won, even with the few tracks the Bridgestones really struggled on.

I've noticed the only 4-stroke championship that was settled on the track, and not in the garage......was Hayden's. Like him or not, he earned it....even after getting "Pedrowned" in Estoril.....and essentially "gifting" the title to Rossi, who then lost it in Valencia by his own merit. Hard work pays off....eventually.

The whole "gifted" argument is weak ****. There's no WRONG way to win a championship, for Rossi, Hayden or Stoner. Put the sour grapes down.....when any of you win a championship, then let's hear what you have to say about how it's done.

The only way the Honda will get better is with track time. Honda was the bike to beat "out of the box" at the beginning of the 990 era and it was boring racing, and the Desmo is that bike for the 800 era. After 4 years for the other teams/bikes to catch up in 990 competition, Hayden did the business....and with no tire rules. If anything was "gifted" it was Stoner with his bike and tire combo. Not to take anything from Stoner, he still had to win the races and he did it in dominant fashion, but give a year or two to let the other bikes come into their own, let the tire rules get sorted out, and then we'll see who's battling up front. But for now, let the man continue his strong work ethic.

He would have been a much better team-mate than Loris who was unquestionably useless this year. You won't find any arguments here that he was gifted the championship last year.

I'm still waiting for Hopkins to display this talent he 'has', Vermeulen has taken the opportunities on the Suzuki big time and Hopkins choked every time.

I guess next year is his big one, West and deCrasheay have shown the Kawasaki is the real deal, hopefully it will be a better year in general than this one.

Nicky is a good rider. Not only that but a gentleman, I didn't notice hopkins rush over to congratulate Stoner. Tell you what why don't Honda hire you for next year if your such an authority on racing!!