Mrs Lock's Rider Recap

Here's my version of who's who in the MotoGP zoo.  If it isn't obvious by now, we like Casey Stoner so I'll start off with him. He's Aussie, he keeps it real and he's killin' it on the Honda. He can be a bit unpredictable at times, but it's usually for a good reason (like the race a few circuits back where he didn't finish in first place simply because he was physically exhausted).  He's fun to watch because his riding style is gangsta.

Jorge Lorenzo--this guy is the reason I know Spain's national anthem by heart.  He is the reigning MotoGP world champion and he is doing all he can this year to defend his title.  Lorenzo is an incredibly consistent rider which makes it exciting if you're him, but a tad boring if you're a spectator.  But his charisma and surprise costume celebrations always bring a new level of entertainment and personality to MotoGP that the sport often lacks so we love him for that. Lorenzo's riding style is smooth and he makes racing around corners at deathly speeds look effortless.

Next up is the man who never seems to get a fair break--Dani Pedrosa. Like Lorenzo, he too is solid and quick. But it's seems like Pedrosa's own consistency and riding style isn't enough to ever win him a championship title in the MotoGP.  He's has no edge or spark when you watch him, but the dude is skilled and he controls the bike as it whips around the track like a wild animal.  Mostly, it's Dani's facial expressions at press conferences after the race that entertain me because no matter what podium place he finishes, he rarely cracks a smile.

Marco Simoncelli and Valentino Rossi--one is a young, aggressive rider and the other is a 9-time world champion, but both are vibrant Italians. Simoncelli's signature afro and massive frame crouched around the bike are all iconic to his bold style--a style which also got him in a bit of trouble with Pedrosa, creating a media frenzy around him at the start of the season.  Similarly, Rossi sparked up intense controversy with Stoner in a race causing his nemesis to crash out while he still managed to cross the finish line.  Rossi is so good that he can start a race from pit lane with 10 seconds of gap and still finish in the top 10.

Because the MotoGP is usually dominated by Europeans, I have to give a shout out any time there's an American on the grid. One worth noting is Ben Spies. His riding style is distinct and they don't call him "elbows" for no reason. He may be teammates with Lorenzo this year but we've seen his bike outperform his champion teammate at a couple of the circuits. Another American favourite on the paddock is Colin Edwards. He's not your average tight-lipped MotoGP rider; he's a funny down-to-earth guy and usually finishes 6th or 7th every race.

As for the other classes, I really only just got into Moto2 because I liked Marc Marquez's name. Little did I know this young kid not only has a cool name but is an insanely good rider! Every time we turned on the telly, the commentators would be talking up Stefan Bradl this and Bradl that. But now all eyes are on Marc. Moto2 is an absolute thrill to watch--so unpredictable, so many riders overtaking one another and never a dull moment. Other riders I'd suggest keeping an eye on in Moto2 include Alex De Angelis and Andrea Iannone.

And that's a wrap! Hope you enjoyed my quick and dirty summary of the riders who I think make this sport fun to watch.

*Images from motogp.com