Estoril Warm Up and Race (Spoilers)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gui22a @ Apr 13 2008, 03:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The problem isn't steel trellis frame, the problem is engine output as it was the unique thing they changed from GP7. Stoner was 1 second slower than his own qualy time last year and the frame is the same. I don't know what the hell they made with the bike, but 3 Ducatis placing the last 3 positions, this is totally shameful and ridiculous. Btw, where is the unhappy emoticon?

If they don't strike back in China, then the #1 plate will fly off from Stoner's Ducati faster than he could ride. It's impressive how some months can change the things, I knew that would happen one day but not so soon. I really don't want to come back to ages of Yamaha vs Honda again, that is quite boring and I almost sure this is witchcraft from Capirossi and Rossi.

At least we have Superbike, it is really good.
You may be right, but he was actually faster in qatar than the year before, and the bike didn't look unstable. My speculation was that they had messed with the aerodynamics or whatever to try and make tight turns better. I suppose the alternative possibility as you say is that they have made the power delivery even more extreme, perhaps at stoner's behest, so it is unrideable on tight tracks. Are they allowed to go back to the old engine on such tracks?. No emoticons because I was heartened by the latter part of the race; if he is off the pace in china you will see them. I am a ducati fan as well as a stoner fan though, and agree that melandri's performance in particular shows how far off course they have gone and is upsetting.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Apr 13 2008, 10:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i still can't expect Lorenzo to be a title contender
c'mon tom... he's been brilliant so far. not a title contender? i think he's very much proved he's a contender.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Apr 13 2008, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> c'mon tom... he's been brilliant so far. not a title contender? i think he's very much proved he's a contender.
Provided there are not many wet races.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Apr 13 2008, 10:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Provided there are not many wet races.
he'll learn to ride in the wet. rossi, pedrosa among others were poor rain riders at first.

I decided not to bet on Lorenzo yet, yesterday, thinking it was still too early...
I was wrong.

Not many champions had such impressive results in the premier class after 3 races. My avatar Jarno Saarinen is the only one I remember who did better. Spencer also, maybe, can't remember well now.

No doubt the electronics are helping Lorenzo riding his 230 bhp Yamaha like a 110 bhp Aprilia (that is what he's doing) but my god, he rides that virtual 250 damn, damn fast. Chapeau!

Pedrosa, Rossi and Stoner all looked worried at the end of the race. With reason.

Pedrosa is afraid he might be losing the status of reference Michelin rider.
Rossi is afraid of losing the status of #1 Yamaha rider.
Stoner is afraid of losing his #1 plate.

The only fast rider who has nothing to lose is Chupa Chups.
Last year, the fast one who had nothing to lose won the title....

Disclaimer: ...yes of course, this is a long season and he's just a rookie and these were all Michelin tracks and Rossi and Stoner will strike back for sure etc. etc., but... even if he fades later on, what Lorenzo had done in his first 3 races is an all-times achievement

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Apr 13 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You may be right, but he was actually faster in qatar than the year before, and the bike didn't look unstable. My speculation was that they had messed with the aerodynamics or whatever to try and make tight turns better. I suppose the alternative possibility as you say is that they have made the power delivery even more extreme, perhaps at stoner's behest, so it is unrideable on tight tracks. Are they allowed to go back to the old engine on such tracks?. No emoticons because I was heartened by the latter part of the race; if he is off the pace in china you will see them. I am a ducati fan as well as a stoner fan though, and agree that melandri's performance in particular shows how far off course they have gone and is upsetting.

Yeah you can be right, they changed the front fairing, that can be one more factor to analyze.

I'm really pissed off with 3 last positions. Two disappointments in a row is too much for me. Preziosi needs to make something quickly. I really expect my soccer team to win this Sunday, at least this.

I was surprised, I thought Lorenzo would fade away at the end with all the arm problem and such, but it was the other way round he went quicker towards the end.
I think the rivalry with Pedrosa made him pump in some adrenaline and ride through the pain. And make one of the most impressive debuts.

I don't believe in Michelin and Bstone tracks, I just think Michelin got his act together this year. Rossi made the wrong choice, but I don't think it changes anything if he would be on Michelins, Pedrosa was already beating him towards the end of the last season (and beat him overall) and that hasn't changed. It's just now there's even a quicker guy beating them both.
Of course Rossi fans won't agree but I don't intend to convince anyone.

Anyway I'm happy, 2 Spaniards 1st and 2nd, WE RULE

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Apr 13 2008, 11:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was surprised, I thought Lorenzo would fade away at the end with all the arm problem
i think that arm pump problem is more to do with him getting to tense during the race. did'nt bother him today tho.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Teomolca @ Apr 13 2008, 05:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I was surprised, I thought Lorenzo would fade away at the end with all the arm problem and such, but it was the other way round he went quicker towards the end.
I think the rivalry with Pedrosa made him pump in some adrenaline and ride through the pain. And make one of the most impressive debuts.

I don't believe in Michelin and Bstone tracks, I just think Michelin got his act together this year. Rossi made the wrong choice, but I don't think it changes anything if he would be on Michelins, Pedrosa was already beating him towards the end of the last season (and beat him overall) and that hasn't changed. It's just now there's even a quicker guy beating them both.
Of course Rossi fans won't agree but I don't intend to convince anyone.

Anyway I'm happy, 2 Spaniards 1st and 2nd, WE RULE

yeah and dont forget that the yam is way more competative than it was last season.....
tyre choice is very important, i think rossi made a mistake today by selecting a soft front and medium rear i think he would not have faded as much if he went with medium front hard rear....
after 14 laps you could see the movement then the grip just went downhill

i believe if rossi was on michelins for these first few races he would be leading the championship.

he doesnt seem to be able to conserve the stones like he does michelins.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Apr 13 2008, 04:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'> c'mon tom... he's been brilliant so far. not a title contender? i think he's very much proved he's a contender.
i agree, so far his talent is indisputable. i would not bet against dani or lorenzo lifting the title this year. personally i rate lorenzo higher than dani.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Apr 13 2008, 11:13 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i believe if rossi was on michelins for these first few races he would be leading the championship.
i disagree.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Apr 13 2008, 05:14 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>i disagree.

wow what u dissagree looool

im just thinking if he had michelins the last 2 races he would have been able to fight better with peado and lorenzo.

i guess it was just tyre choice at the end of the day

its kinda different seing rossi on stones i dont like it TBH, i wish he had never made the switch cos the rossi haters are going to love it if he doesnt win this year saying hes losing it.

i feel we arent going to see rossi winning again from the back end of the grid

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Apr 13 2008, 11:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>seriously tho, he has to learn to handle defete better or he will head .... himself .

Ah ... so thats it ...... I was wondering why you hated the guy so much ...... and even though he wins so much you still pay out on him....... its because you have one thing you are better at than him!! ..... are a better/much more of a loser than him


Just make sure you are down at Donnington heckling him won't you Rog.


But seriously anyone can see that its the tyres .... Stoner needs Michelins

And everyone else has so much TC

And they are on better bikes, he is doing it on inferior equipment ..... actually he did a nice repair job on it mid corner at one stage

He needs a Yamaha ...... actually I think Burgess and the boys would love that.

Maybe Stoner and Rossi should do a sap at the end of the year

That race sucked At leas for my boy it did.

Anyone notice in the press conference with the podium winners that Rossi called Jorge, "YourGay"? It was quite funny. Something like, "in the end YourGay and Daniele were too fast" I had a good chuckle.

Damn, they must really have the TC sorted on the yamaha now. Apparently no one is capable of being that good so quick without a brilliant bike and awesome TC.
Remember Stoner last year - or have we forgotten already? No one is this good!!!!!!!!
Not too mention the tyres either - the bridgestones are .... and the michelins are brilliant.
Remember you heard it here first!!!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Apr 14 2008, 12:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Damn, they must really have the TC sorted on the yamaha now. Apparently no one is capable of being that good so quick without a brilliant bike and awesome TC.
Remember Stoner last year - or have we forgotten already? No one is this good!!!!!!!!
Not too mention the tyres either - the bridgestones are .... and the michelins are brilliant.
Remember you heard it here first!!!!
slick tyres on a wet track, i would think they all had the tc on full today, i know i would

I hate when races are not in proper order. And damn commercials, I missed what nicky did.

Lorenzo was just perfect, I'm impressed, and I think he is title contender.

I'm happy for Bautista, that was huge distance.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Apr 14 2008, 08:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Anyone notice in the press conference with the podium winners that Rossi called Jorge, "YourGay"?

Maybe Rossi has been reading some "Pinkyisms"

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Apr 14 2008, 03:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Maybe Rossi has been reading some "Pinkyisms"
I do wonder who reads the forum sometimes. I think some of the journalists do.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (frosty58 @ Apr 13 2008, 07:22 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>he'll learn to ride in the wet. rossi, pedrosa among others were poor rain riders at first.

ummmmmmmmmm yeah. Rossi won his first race in the wet at Donny in his rookie season soooooooooo I'm not really sure where you're getting that opinion from.

Pedrosa and Lorenzo don't need to learn to ride in the wet This is the TC era, people.

There programmers need to learn to ride in the wet.