Two Wheel Tuesday - #1

We are four races into the 2010 MotoGP season, but already a few concrete observations can be made and a few major events have already occurred.

Season Recap:
     Race 1: Qatar - Rossi (1st), Lorenzo (2nd), Dovizioso (3rd)
     Race 2: Jerez - Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Rossi
     Race 3: Le Mans - Lorenzo, Rossi, Dovizioso
     Race 4: Mugello - Pedrosa, Lorenzo, Dovizioso

Jorge Lorenzo currently leads the series, followed by Pedrosa (-25) and Rossi (-29).

MotoGP Rider Notes:

Valentino Rossi - By all appearances from the results listed above, the GOAT is off to another fine season and will contend for yet another title. That was true until the final practice at Mugello where Valentino suffered a nasty highside in Turn 4 and fractured his lower right leg. Valentino missed the race and is expected to be out of commission for up to six months. For the first time in a decade, he will not be a factor in the title chase.

Jorge Lorenzo - Jorge is the heir apparent in the MotoGP world as he had given Valentino all he can handle thus far this year. This tension between teammates has fueled several rumors in the paddock regarding rider placement this year. More on this later. The Spaniard has had a spectacular season thus far and is heavily tipped to win the show this year. Yamaha clearly has the flagship team this year. In light of Rossi's medical issues, it's clear that Lorenzo will step out of the considerable shadow of Rossi and become the #1 rider for the first time.

Andrea Dovizioso - Dovi has had a great set of races and seems to be the major recipient of the much stronger Honda engine. He is really pushing Dani through the opening rounds.

Casey Stoner - Casey has already had a pair of DNFs in the first four races, both the result of front end tucks. Ducati considerably changed the bike to ensure that someone other than Casey could ride the beast, but it seems to have affected Casey in a very negative sense thus far.

Nicky Hayden -The changes to the Ducati seems to have met well with Nicky's style in these opening rounds. He finished 4th in each of the opening three rounds before suffering his own front end tuck in Mugello and failing to finish the race. He is clearly more comfortable on the new bike and in Jerez, dealt Casey his first ever straight up loss to a Ducati teammate in which both riders finished. He is currently the highest scoring Ducati rider.

Ben Spies - Big Ben's introduction to MotoGP has not been the Cinderella season that World Superbike was last year. Ben is struggling with the Yamaha somewhat, but has shown flashes of brilliance already. He is clearly someone to watch when he figures this bike and the Bridgestones out.

Dani Pedrosa - Pedrosa is a dick and that's all I have to say about him.

Other Riders of Note:

Troy Bayliss -This past weekend at the World Ducati Weekend in Misano, Bayliss squashed the rumors that he was coming back to the World Superbike paddock. The racing world was abuzz for a few days when we thought that the most popular rider in Ducati's history was coming back. Bayliss said he's retired and he's happy, so no comeback. Then, to add insult to injury, he participated in the Misano test and posted the fastest time of any Ducati rider, including the current factory riders! The man is simply amazing and has left the racing world wondering what could have been.

Rumors -
Rossi's Replacement - No definitive word yet on Rossi's replacement rider. Ben Spies was the supposed replacement rider, but rookies are not eligible for factory rides. Colin Edwards is the likely candidate, so the real issue is who takes over on Colin's bike. Cal Crutchlow from World Superbike turned the ride down, so the issue is clearly up in the air.

Stoner leaving Ducati? - Stoner is heavily rumored to go to Honda next year and either Lorenzo or Rossi are rumored to take the open slot at Ducati because these two roosters can't be in the same garage.