2003 season report cards….

Report cards for the 2003 season

di I, Paperoga

Red: out of competition
Four years of participation in the premier class: a second place and then three
world titles.
This year on the track there were 10 victories, 5 second places and one
once he came third; in 366 points.
The management of the championship was perfect. Too much. Why
in hindsight he could also have been less cautious in the half-time races
season, and delight the public with many other competitions similar to those it has
course from the Czech Republic onwards.
Going backwards, in other words, we can say that in reality
there was never a match. There is too much class difference
driving and ability to fine-tune the vehicle.
The decision to change shirts brings a new flavor to the 2004 World Cup, but in
many are ready to bet that the result will not change.

Gibernau: 10
First of humans.
There was nothing that could be done against the extraterrestrial, nor
the 4 seasonal victories and 10 seasonal podiums were able to bring him closer
to the title.
But just as he took them from Rossi, so he gave them to everyone else.
After years of purgatory, it shows that they exist in the undergrowth of the world championship
many riders who are not simple handlebar workers but who can say
theirs and put much more highly regarded colleagues in difficulty.

biaggi: 6
Third in the final ranking.
But what would have been a great season for almost all the riders
of the World Cup, has a very bitter taste. Why don't you give a damn
the seconds taken by Rossi at the start of the championship could have been a merit in the long run
it was just a humiliating habit: almost never in the running for victory,
almost always at sidereal distances from the first in line.
The conditions, after the break with Yamaha and Honda's return home, were
many others.

Capirossi: 8
He jumped at the opportunity that came his way, and found himself
suddenly back among those fighting to win.
Well done at accepting the bet, good at bringing development where it is needed
when it comes to motogp: the victory in the Catalan GP was the right thing
reward for the efforts made.
Less convincing from the point of view of continuity, and for everyone
Welcom's withdrawal is worth it: to aim higher, the improvement
it has to start there.

Hayden: 8
Until the British GP it seemed like a mysterious object, almost there
living demonstration of the difference between the minor categories and the
queen class.
Then, curve after curve and in general indifference, the braking began
increasingly similar to those of his teammate, the bike started
to countersteer and right itself with surprising speed.
In the last GPs he arrived among the high-sounding and multi-titled names, without
but getting lost in too many pleasantries: best rookie of the year
and a bright future ahead.

Bayliss: 7
He threw himself into the new adventure with great enthusiasm and courage
of those who are not afraid to measure themselves against their limits.
It wasn't always a walk in the park. On the contrary. She was practically not
never, both in comparison with the teammate and in the order of arrival.

In the end we remember some convincing evidence, while for the rest it is
It was a lot of paddling in the middle of the group.
For now the best are still a long way off. Next year, paid
duty to the novitiate, he will be in a position to express himself at his best.

Check out : 2
Yamaha's top rider, he ends up tied on points with the very unmotivated Ukawa.

After a start to the season beyond good and evil, in the end it has
made some appearances among those who can aim for the podium.
That's all, and that would be enough.
Then you think about previous seasons: last year with 4 competitive bikes
he managed to arrive 5th, in 2001 he finished 7th, in 2000 6th; For
to find his last victory you have to go back to 1998.
His now almost ten-year presence in the top Yamaha team explains many
what's this.

You became: 5
The season of glory was 2002.
This year, downgraded to a satellite team, he suffered terribly
the growth of the competition, and he ended the season without even hitting
a podium
Too inferior to too many colleagues, next year his precious seat
it will be passed to some one else as the old Torhu comes
relegated again.
Honestly, I don't think many people will regret it next year.

Barros: 3
He engages in a very personal diatribe with the asphalt right from the first GP: this year
with the list of his injuries you can do about ten tests
medical School.
And if falling is generally not good for a rider, it becomes unforgivable
when you have world championship ambitions and responsibility for leading development.

Perhaps 2003 clarified why, despite its undoubted qualities
of driving, remained in the customer team for many years.

Edwards: 4
Bad year for the former SBK world champion.
The bike has a thousand problems, but all things considered, you almost regret Laconì,
kicked out without much ceremony.
Too much of a defeatist for too many GPs, on two occasions he succeeds in the difficult task
feat of closing out of the points.
More was expected. Much more.

Melandri: 5
He falls and hurts himself immediately.
Then there is a series of other failures and disappointing results. Of course the motorbike
doesn't help her, but yet I don't think her detractors would either
thought of such a negative season.
However, we must give him some credit: he exposes the inadequacy of the
250 as a preparatory category for the new premier class.

Hopkins: 7
Without generous sponsors ready to give him a competitive saddle, battle
without sparing yourself on a vehicle that doesn't move even if you push it.
There are many in the paddocks who say that the talent is there and yes
you see: it's sad to see that today in MotoGP if a rider is without a sponsor
either it's Rossi or he ends up far away.

Honda: 10 and praise
He won 15 GPs out of 16, he monopolized the podium for I don't even know how many GPs,
placed three of its drivers in the first three places.
Nothing else? Nothing else.

Ducati: 10 and praise
Debut with a bang: he wins on one of the few tracks where he tested continuously
in winter, and proves to be competitive on many tracks.
Where he had never put rubber, he cannot fail to pay duty.
In the end he collected 1 victory and a dozen podiums, finishing in second place
in the manufacturers' standings. Almost a miracle.

Yamaha : 2
They fire Biaggi without having an idea who to replace him with. And so from one
bike that was winning in 2002 goes through an impressive sequence of very bad ones
figures, light years away from their historic rivals and mocked by the tiny Ducati.

This is called a meltdown.

Aprilia – Suzuki – Proton – Kawasaki: 1
Nothing or almost nothing works.
Aprilia has finished in the top 10 at least a few times, but it substantiates it
it doesn't change: the project didn't work, and it needs to be reviewed all over again.

For all four it's about dealing with a failed season.

WCM: 10 and praise
A “do it yourself” team, in the midst of planetary empires. Two pilots
caught from who knows where, among so many stars.
And so far it's a 10. Praise is earned when you're kicked out
from the main door, they return through the window renting two old Yamahas
500: brilliant.
Waiting for Paton to return, thank you.

Racing direction: 1
The story of the British GP was incredible, and unique
What was clear was the lack of clarity.
Then they repeated themselves in Australia, where only the will of the pilots was reborn
to count more avoided a new farce.

Television commentators: 8
Those who have satellite can enjoy the eurosport comments: in the version
English speakers are as witty as they are competent; in their own small way
even the autarchic Ungano and Lucchinelli produce a highly enjoyable product.

Free-to-air TV proposed the strange Meda-Reggiani couple, an idea that
at first it might seem a little crazy but after two years it can
call yourself apt. This year especially Meda made the impression
to be much more comfortable and “safe”, although perhaps a
at the expense of a little spontaneity and euphoria.

Kato: Goodbye
Lastly, but only so that the reader will remember it
better, it is really necessary to spare a thought for Kato, who has left us
doing the most beautiful thing in the world: riding a motorbike.