I reckon 2006 Nicky won mostly because the Honda was a better bike for most of the championship. If Pedrosa had the speed he has now he would have won it too... Rossi handing Nicky the title when all he needed to do to win it himself was to get 8th place was unbelievable. Just can't see any of that happening again these days...

Don't get me wrong, I like Nicky and wish him all the luck on the Proddy Honda but he was never consistently fast like the top4 riders are/have been... In many ways, I wish Crutchlow had gone that way instead 'cause I think he's way faster than Hayden but will be stuck on the career killing Ducati for 2 years. Even Aleix Espargaro got a better deal by switching to the M1 powered bike, I reckon.