Occasionally there are events you see- either live or on TV (delayed telecast)- that you can say after wards “I saw it all happen!”

Last night’s MotoGP was such an event. I have already blogged about my sweaty man love for Troy Bayliss, so it was extra grouse/orsum/wicked to see him lead from start to finish and win his first ever MotoGP race, and also be the first to take wins in both World Superbike and MotoGP. Troy’s victory was overshadowed somewhat by the fact that the 2006 world title was yet to be decided- the first time in 14 years that it was going to come down to the final race.

And it was unlike anything anyone expected. American Nicky Hayden was taken out of the last race by his own team mate and gave up his world title lead to Valentino Rossi. Rossi started this event 8 points ahead of hayden, then grabbed pole and the pundits called it: Rossi to win world title. Backing Rossi at this point is like backing Roger Federer at 40 love match point, or Bradman to make 100 while on 99… etc.

The Sporting Gods had their money on someone else:

“In a stunning turn of events, Hayden, whose motto is ‘Chasin’ the dream,’ won the 2006 MotoGP World Championship after championship rival Valentino Rossi crashed on the fifth of 30 laps, losing the front end in the looping second turn while in seventh place in the title-determining Valencia Grand Prix.”

I am going to say something that i thought I would never say about Valentino Rossi: choker. Honestly I have never seen the multi-time world champ look so tentative on a bike. Shocking start, (first on the grid, 7th turn one) and then he did not even look like he was going to make his way up the order. The maths was as follows: if Hayden won the race, Rossi needed to be second.

In my view, if Rossi had stayed upright, Hayden would have pushed harder, with a 2nd or first in the offing. I think Rossi would have finished outside the top 5.

In short, I think Hayden could have won no matter what Rossi did.

History will record this as the year that the unbeatable Valentino Rossi was beaten. I think it’s the end of Rossi chasing “other things” like F1 drives, rally drives (he’s off to Rally of NZ shortly) and perhaps even marks the point where he tones down the “larrikin” (though I hope not). Yes, he fell off twice this year by his own hand. Yes, he was punted off by other riders and yes, he had mechanical problems on occasion.

Hats off to Nicky Hayden. This could not happen to a nicer guy. Last year at the Phillip Island MotoGP, Mr Tricky and I were in the hallway that lead from the press conference area. Nicky was walking through (no entourage with him) post-race and we congratulated him on his podium finish. He smiled and said (in that Kentucky accent of his): “Hey guys thanks. I had a GREAT time!”

Oh. God. *Swoon*

Hayden wins: Cycle News Online

It’s time I came out and admitted my number one man crush… ( the list is rather short: 1)

I LOVE TROY BAYLISS. I’ve met him once and frankly he didn’t notice me, but I’ve dealt with it.

I was shattered when he left Ducati (read: was booted). I was excited when he went to Honda, and was equally disappointed when the Honda thing did not work out (the bike just didn’t suit his style- making him even cooler in my book!)

This year it was great to see him back in World Super Bikes, back on a Ducati, back winning. Another world title.

When Duacti announced Troy would be replacing Sete Gibernau in MotoGP for the final race, I was suitably excited. Troy has been on the podium at Valencia before and my hopes have been high.

Qualifying results overnight:

“Rossi will be difficult to beat after recording the fastest time of the qualifying session with a sizzling lap of one minute 31.002 seconds, just a fraction of a second faster than 2006 World Superbike champion Troy Bayliss on 1.31.210.”

Sportal.com.au – Motorsport:

Bow DOWN before the great man. On a bike he’s not ridden in two years, in a category he’s not been in for one year, he sweeps all but Valentino Rossi before him.

Oh my man crush grows (ohh err!!)

BTW ladies (and my gay/man crush brethren), he’s handsome to boot:

*Sigh*

It’s finally happened: my other half has made me build her a blogger site. It’s raw horror for me. Why? The title for starters:

the things thomasr won’t post for me

I get where she’s going. Sometimes she asks me to post certain pics and video etc and I don’t. My blog, my rules.

My dearest also has the following quote from Red Vs Blue. I love it!

“I’m a girl…I like ribbons in my hair….and I want to kiss all the boys!”

See the full catastrophe here:
the things thomasr won’t post for me

1. She plays tennis when most others around the same age are off playing bowls.
2. She has a minor operation on her knee so she can keep playing.
3. If that doesn’t work, she has a full replacement.
4. ..and gets out of bed on day two amazing the surgeon, the physios, the nurses etc.

Day 1 of Mum’s knee replacement. 9 mils of morphine in 24 hours, 2 panadeine forte.

Hard. As. Nails.