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Well of course I'm happy for Hayden. Top three. Lets hope he can maintain a good race pace.

Rossi looks like he has given up. (Yeah, right).

So Peders wants Bstones, well lets see how the Mechilins hold up during the race before we start giving you the world.

Looks like Kawasaki want to impress the Japanese crowd. Lets see how they finish come race day.

Stoner 9th? Wow, I guess he doesn't walk on water after-all. He's probably thinking of Zen meditation since he's probably still pissed at Checa for being on his race track. Breath in, breath out.

Everyone is knocking 1 second and change off of their race tire pace and Casey can barely manage to knock a few tenths off.

I have a strange feeling he is doing some testing. He's taking it about as well as Hayden took it last season. It seems like his temper has to erupt at some point. Maybe the Checa incident?

We're going to get to see the kid battle from the back. I expect him to pick up at least 3 spots on the start. After that it will be interesting.

Rossi and Hayden are no where near Pedrobot. Another snoozer?

Wow Hayden is crap in sector 3 again. He's best in 1 and good in 2, but he can't make a charge up the hill. Maybe he's got the bike geared for top speed? I guess it doesn't matter, DePuniet is behind him. Nicky should consider this round a victory if he can walk away from the turn 1 smack up. If he tangles with DePuniet tomorrow it would be 6 race days incidences with no injuries. :knock on wood:

Topedoed at China. In the mud bin at France and Britain. Collision at Laguna. Forced to offroad at Misano. It takes skill to survive that mess.

Wow, West. Where did you come from? Really happy to see he's making a move, and he's not much slower than DePuniet. When DuPuniet hits Hayden and Elias can't get out of the way, West will be on the way to his first podium.

He's in perfect position

Baha! I like that theory lex! Im just stoked he's highest placed out of all Aussie riders, put that in your pipes and smoke it all you doubters!

Cant wait for race day.. Gooo Ant, seriously tho, Kawasaki looking good in general aswell as the top Michelin runners..

Stoner = feeling the pinch? succumbing to pressure? mmmm, interesting .. especially if the title decider heads down under, will the pressure become all to much at home too?

Peace.

didnt realise this was a qualifying thread aswell

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(antfan @ Sep 22 2007, 08:10 AM) [snapback]92258[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Baha! I like that theory lex! Im just stoked he's highest placed out of all Aussie riders, put that in your pipes and smoke it all you doubters!

Cant wait for race day.. Gooo Ant, seriously tho, Kawasaki looking good in general aswell as the top Michelin runners..

Stoner = feeling the pinch? succumbing to pressure? mmmm, interesting .. especially if the title decider heads down under, will the pressure become all to much at home too?

Peace.


I'm ashamed to say I'm happy for Ant!

And I'm agreeing with you about Stoner, has the pressure become too much? That said, did he really have clutch problems? Or had the pressure got to him at Estoril too? Knowing he had a chance there?

I know saying the clutch theory might be untrue leaves me open to a lot of hate, but look at the excuses we have in F1, they might be over in GP to blame bad performances?

stoner was grumpy all session he went straight to his motorhome without saying a word, pedrosa did run quite a few 47s but rossi was running 47s as well should be a great race. I too expect stoner to probably pick up around 3 positions off the start

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vale4607 @ Sep 22 2007, 08:05 AM) [snapback]92232[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Sweet, sets up a great race. Stoner is probably the best starter out there. I hope all these guys make it through the first turn tomorrow and we have a battle. I want to see how Stoner deals with all the traffic.

Pedrosa should take this comfortably. He ran a bunch of back to back high 1'47's, I would assume that is on worn rubber. No one else displayed anywhere near that pace during the session. The Q tyres have lifted Hayden near the front, but he won't win unless someone explodes. Look for Rossi to pass Pedrosa within the first lap and slow it down, hes knows he cant let him get away.

Looking forward to tomorrow. A beer and an afternoon race!!


Interesting FP3 and QP. What I noticed was that Rossi was clearly the one with the fastetst pace in FP3, pedrosa only had 3 1:47 laps and just like in FP1 & 2 he was occationally very fast but didn't seem comfortable with the pace. QP was different and he matched Rossis FP3 pace and then some.

Rossi had a messy QP and I suspect worn tires. He found what worked in FP3 and are saving his last pair for tomorrow. Or maybe his tires work only when it's slightly cooler. Anyway, it's going to be an interesting race, not to mention intersting start as Stoner come charging through.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(krazy91 @ Sep 22 2007, 07:27 AM) [snapback]92265[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
stoner was grumpy all session he went straight to his motorhome without saying a word, pedrosa did run quite a few 47s but rossi was running 47s as well should be a great race. I too expect stoner to probably pick up around 3 positions off the start


Iam in europe so saw qualifying which we dont get in australia. My french is not good these days so I may have missed some things but stoners performance seemed quite strange; he appeared disinterested and did not appear to even do his normal number of laps.

Funny to read the "too much pressure" theories. Uhm, it is qualifying people. Oh, and Stoner's had the 2nd fastest bike in Q.

Pressure, please, having Rossi on your neck lap after lap, now that is pressure. Stoner's response when this pressure was applied this way: set the fastast lap of the race on the last lap. Refresh your memory some?

Don't worry; if it happens to turn out to be a Bridgestone’s race, he will be near the top. (Behind Hayden hopefully)


Actually, what more intriguing is Kawasaki? Somebody remind me how they did in the last race please. What happened here?

Can we safely say that West deserves to be in MotoGP now?
(Don't nut just yet Antfan, we still got a race.)

Yer i know the race will be tough, im just happy his names up there in the top ten in the world at the moment! He deserves to be there

If you watch the "Best of QP" vid on Motogp.com, between 1/3 and 1/2 way through there is a clip of Stoner on the straight where something seemed to fail. Suddenly the bike slowed dramatically - almost like a nip-up on a 2-stroke - and he looked around and down in confusion. Anyone any ideas?

Also, does anyone know which engine Rossi ended up running for QP - looked at the speed trap times for the whole weekend, but it seemed a little inconclusive.

Here's hoping for another close race tomorrow.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Sep 22 2007, 05:34 PM) [snapback]92268[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
He found what worked in FP3 and are saving his last pair for tomorrow.

Agreed. He'll be strong on the brakes as usual and exploit it during the race, but he'll definitely need to keep frodo in check and a good start is the only way to guarantee it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(vale4607 @ Sep 22 2007, 09:48 AM) [snapback]92274[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Agreed. He'll be strong on the brakes as usual and exploit it during the race, but he'll definitely need to keep frodo in check and a good start is the only way to guarantee it.


That's a little to much to ask from the worst starter in history.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Sep 22 2007, 05:58 PM) [snapback]92277[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
That's a little to much to ask from the worst starter in history.

Jesus H Christ, it just occured to me, Depuniet and Stoner are behind Hayden. I just hope Stoner doesnt try to make it all up in the first turn, cuz surely he will run into Nicky.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Racejumkie @ Sep 22 2007, 09:38 AM) [snapback]92270[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Funny to read the "too much pressure" theories. Uhm, it is qualifying people. Oh, and Stoner's had the 2nd fastest bike in Q.

Pressure, please, having Rossi on your neck lap after lap, now that is pressure. Stoner's response when this pressure was applied this way: set the fastast lap of the race on the last lap. Refresh your memory some?


Well, maybe you would give us your opinion to why he perform what I think is his weakest QP this year, and that with no obvious reason.

I'm not saying I buy all the "pressure" stuff, as you said he handles pressure well enough, at least he does when pressured on the track. A WC-title comming your way is a different kind of pressure and he might react different to it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Babelfish @ Sep 22 2007, 01:04 AM) [snapback]92280[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Well, maybe you would give us your opinion to why he perform what I think is his weakest QP this year, and that with no obvious reason.

I'm not saying I buy all the "pressure" stuff, as you said he handles pressure well enough, at least he does when pressured on the track. A WC-title comming your way is a different kind of pressure and he might react different to it.

Well maybe he simply didn't get laid last night.


Speculation is your bit man, not mine.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Racejumkie @ Sep 22 2007, 10:33 AM) [snapback]92292[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Well maybe he simply didn't get laid last night.
Speculation is your bit man, not mine.


O' come on, you have your share of speculations as well Jumkie. Just a different kind. With the interst for the sport what is more natural than wondering why things change all of a sudden?

But then again, maybe he just didn't get laid last night.

He's certainly looking stressed whatever the reasons.

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Constipation?