Uh-huh. Whatever, John.
So instead of toying with everyone until four laps from the finish, he'll have to start getting serious with eight laps to go.
My money says Melandri will make things look interesting for the first few races, and then Vale will do the Rossi Mind F*ck (TM) on him and break him like he broke Biaggi and Giberneau.
Pulling for Nicky, though.