Assen Practice and Qualifying Discussion

22 minutes left and Rossi is nearly two seconds off of Stoner's pace and Toseland has now dropped out of the top 15. Still, it's early days as it's only FP1.

Nicky second fastest!!!

However Stoner is still on another planet.

Looks like stoner/ducati have found something and it was not just the peculiarities of the donington track.

This doesn't mean he is favourite even for this race though; as babelfish says when stoner is fast he tends to be fast from the get-go, whilst the others work up to it over the whole week-end, particularly rossi who has to set-up for the bridgestones.

Whatever Ducati found at the Catalunya test and Donington, it's working! The rest of the teams need to raise their game before we have 2007 all over again. I'm surprised Fiat Yamaha and Rossi haven't made greater progress since the three consecutive wins.

Rossi's Assen 2007 win was amazing. Can he do it again.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mjpartyboy @ Jun 26 2008, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Whatever Ducati found at the Catalunya test and Donington, it's working! The rest of the teams need to raise their game before we have 2007 all over again. I'm surprised Fiat Yamaha and Rossi haven't made greater progress since the three consecutive wins.

Rossi's Assen 2007 win was amazing. Can he do it again.


I reckon Rossi could win it aye, though i doubt it will be like last year. There will hopefully be a battle unlike lastyear where Rossi lured Stoner into a flase sense of security, passed him and disapeared. Like Michael says, Stoner always goes for it from the get go and the rest take theyre time getting up to speed.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 36.569 secs
2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 37.186 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 37.398 secs
4. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 37.437 secs
5. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 37.470 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 37.480 secs
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 37.507 secs
8. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 37.652 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 37.821 secs
10. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 37.951 secs
11. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 37.987 secs
12. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 38.082 secs
13. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 38.198 secs
14. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 38.341 secs
15. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 38.435 secs
16. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 38.768 secs
17. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 39.020 secs
18. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 39.805 secs


2007 Dutch TT - 30/06/2007:
Pole position: Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki (B) 1min 48.555secs (wet)
Fastest lap: Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha (M) 1min 37.433secs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (spooky @ Jun 26 2008, 10:20 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>There will hopefully be a battle unlike lastyear where Rossi lured Stoner into a flase sense of security, passed him and disapeared.
Old school Rossi.

Yeah! stoner first! With more than half a second! I hope that he can hold this level for 2 days longer . Rossi is dissapointed for so far! Honda are also good today. This can be a nice race at Satuday!

Stoner and his team is probarbly really relieved.The new system works!!

rossi looks scared

Stoner is flying. Honda have had a week to reprogram the NH212V and have a fully committed rider. Looks promising. Suzuki looks kinda out of it...where is the new machine? Are they going to run a hybrid all year?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ Jun 26 2008, 01:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Stoner is flying. Honda have had a week to reprogram the NH212V and have a fully committed rider. Looks promising. Suzuki looks kinda out of it...where is the new machine? Are they going to run a hybrid all year?

+1 ^

i am also wondering how many mid-pack results CV and LC have to put in before the new bike arrives. it might be only ready for Brno...

the only thing that will push the 'zooks up the order is if it rains on raceday..

omfg melandri doing mid field lap times..................... 250cc times that is

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Jun 26 2008, 01:27 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>omfg melandri doing mid field lap times..................... 250cc times that is
Again I ask, what exactly is good about this for a racing fan let alone a ducati fan?

Giuntoli is not looking too bad.

Good to see Hayden in 2nd on the first day. Hopefully he has the confidence in the bike to run well all weekend.

GET SPIES ON THE PHONE NOW!!...Capi Down

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Jun 26 2008, 10:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Again I ask, what exacty is good about this for a racing fan let alone a ducati fan?

Giuntoli is not looking too bad.


and where in my statement did i say it was good? now hop of your high horse

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Pinky @ Jun 26 2008, 12:39 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>and where in my statement did i say it was good? now hop of your high horse
My apologies if I drew a wrong implication, but you do seem to have been not unhappy about marco's misfortunes in the past.

The second part of my post you cannot argue with; guintoli seems to be coming to grips with the thing, new software or not.

Iam watching and Stoner is killing everyone. I mean is he really just that fast?
Stoner came up behine Hopkins like a bat out of hell, passed him and then proceded to disappear. Hopkins tried his best to keep up with him and he could not.

Ahhh
That was predictable. Depuniet off the track again!!


Also... Motogp covered Melandri for a while. The guy was riding hard but not making time. I don't think he is not trying...He just seems to not be able to make the speed.

Damn!?Rossi off the pace by 7/10ths. Stoner is really fast here. While Pedrosa is down the order again.