NinjaMaster
26th February 2008, 11:36
Well, I'm a bit slow off the mark with this one but better late than never I guess. So basically, this is to predict the top 3 championship positions of whichever motorcyles racing series you wish and a dark horse that will be a lesser favoured rider to keep an eye on.
MotoGP
1. Stoner
2. Pedrosa
3. Rossi
Dark horse: Hopkins
I've seen nothing in preseason testing to suggest that anyone will topple Stoner this year. Pedrosa will give him stiff competition on his improved Honda but may spot him a start with his current injuries. Rossi will be thereabouts but won't find his Bridgestones the saviour he thinks they are. Hopkins on the Kwak will turn heads with continued improvement from both parties.
250cc
1. Bautista
2. Aoyama
3. Kallio
Dark horse: Takahashi
Alvaro was most impressive in his debut season last year and on the superior Aprilia, will be the one to beat. Aoyama and Kallio will push each other to bigger things this year but will push too hard a few times too often. Taka was a race winner til injuries crippled him last year and he will return to form this year, hampered only by Hondas lack of development.
125cc
1. Talmacsi
2. Gadea
3. Espargaro
Darkhorse: Any 17 year old kid in their second year.
Talma to back up his title against the wave of fast kids coming through. Gadea to be fast again but too many brainfades and Espargaro to really come of age and lead the title for a while.
World Superbike
1. Bayliss
2. Haga
3. Biaggi
Darkhorse: Corser
Bayliss has started the year very strongly on a brand new bike and at less than full fitness - he will only get faster. Haga is at the peak of his powers but his poor start may just cost him the chance at the title, it will be that close a year. Biaggi is a class act but has a tendancy to crash when the pressure is really on thses days. Corser may be past his best but a second year on the Yam may just see a return to form for the veteran after a disappointing 2007.
World Supersport
1. Parkes
2. Pitt
3. Foret
Darkhorse: Jones
In what looks like the annual Yamaha versus Ten Kate title chase, this is the year for Yamaha and Parkes to finally break Ten Kate's stranglehold. Pitt will rebound from bad luck in the first round and will get faster as he gets more comfortable. Foret will win plenty but over-exuberance will cost him. Jones is a star on the rise and will win at least one race this year on a very well prepared bike.
Autralian Superbike
1. Coxhell
2. Stauffer
3. Allerton
Darkhorse: Charlton
Coxhell to break the Yamaha dominance and take his second title in a tight one over Jamie Stauffer. Allerton's return to the factory Honda team to finally bare fruit after the red teams disastrous 2007 and Scott Charlton to shine finally getting his chance with a factory team on the new Kwak.
British Superbike
1. Byrne
2. Haslam
3. Sykes
Darkhorse: Camier
Byrne and Ducati together again to repeat history. Haslam once again the bridesmaid ahead of a improving Sykes on his rocketship Zook. Camier is also a young'un to watch, easily capable of finishing top 3 if he can get used to the v-twin.
AMA Superbike
1. Spies
2. Mladin
3. R.L. Hayden
Darkhorse: EBoz
Similar to last year, Spies to win through superior consistency to Mladin who will win more but a few crashes to ruin his title bid. Roger-Lee to have his breakout season on the new Ninja and keep an eye out for Eric Bostrom to give the leaders the hurry-up with Yamaha more serious to be competitive in the Superbike class.
MotoGP
1. Stoner
2. Pedrosa
3. Rossi
Dark horse: Hopkins
I've seen nothing in preseason testing to suggest that anyone will topple Stoner this year. Pedrosa will give him stiff competition on his improved Honda but may spot him a start with his current injuries. Rossi will be thereabouts but won't find his Bridgestones the saviour he thinks they are. Hopkins on the Kwak will turn heads with continued improvement from both parties.
250cc
1. Bautista
2. Aoyama
3. Kallio
Dark horse: Takahashi
Alvaro was most impressive in his debut season last year and on the superior Aprilia, will be the one to beat. Aoyama and Kallio will push each other to bigger things this year but will push too hard a few times too often. Taka was a race winner til injuries crippled him last year and he will return to form this year, hampered only by Hondas lack of development.
125cc
1. Talmacsi
2. Gadea
3. Espargaro
Darkhorse: Any 17 year old kid in their second year.
Talma to back up his title against the wave of fast kids coming through. Gadea to be fast again but too many brainfades and Espargaro to really come of age and lead the title for a while.
World Superbike
1. Bayliss
2. Haga
3. Biaggi
Darkhorse: Corser
Bayliss has started the year very strongly on a brand new bike and at less than full fitness - he will only get faster. Haga is at the peak of his powers but his poor start may just cost him the chance at the title, it will be that close a year. Biaggi is a class act but has a tendancy to crash when the pressure is really on thses days. Corser may be past his best but a second year on the Yam may just see a return to form for the veteran after a disappointing 2007.
World Supersport
1. Parkes
2. Pitt
3. Foret
Darkhorse: Jones
In what looks like the annual Yamaha versus Ten Kate title chase, this is the year for Yamaha and Parkes to finally break Ten Kate's stranglehold. Pitt will rebound from bad luck in the first round and will get faster as he gets more comfortable. Foret will win plenty but over-exuberance will cost him. Jones is a star on the rise and will win at least one race this year on a very well prepared bike.
Autralian Superbike
1. Coxhell
2. Stauffer
3. Allerton
Darkhorse: Charlton
Coxhell to break the Yamaha dominance and take his second title in a tight one over Jamie Stauffer. Allerton's return to the factory Honda team to finally bare fruit after the red teams disastrous 2007 and Scott Charlton to shine finally getting his chance with a factory team on the new Kwak.
British Superbike
1. Byrne
2. Haslam
3. Sykes
Darkhorse: Camier
Byrne and Ducati together again to repeat history. Haslam once again the bridesmaid ahead of a improving Sykes on his rocketship Zook. Camier is also a young'un to watch, easily capable of finishing top 3 if he can get used to the v-twin.
AMA Superbike
1. Spies
2. Mladin
3. R.L. Hayden
Darkhorse: EBoz
Similar to last year, Spies to win through superior consistency to Mladin who will win more but a few crashes to ruin his title bid. Roger-Lee to have his breakout season on the new Ninja and keep an eye out for Eric Bostrom to give the leaders the hurry-up with Yamaha more serious to be competitive in the Superbike class.