France Free Practice and Quali Discussion

It was an interesting session but without real surprises though. Well, it was nice to see Vermeulen up there after Suzuki's dismal show in China.

Perhaps the "biggest" surprise is the gap Rossi has to the first three: 0.7s. And the fact he was the only top rider not improving the FP1 time (1:34.886 vs. 1:34.959). It seemed like he was trying new settings that didn't work (in fact his runs were getting slower) and ran out of time. No biggie but he'll (and his team) will be playing catch-up tomorrow.

There's also the real prospect of a non-dry track, tomorrow and/or on race day. That'll will certainly mix things up a bit!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ May 16 2008, 11:49 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Great or Extra Ordinary riders get on with any bike see Rossi, Pedrosa, and Lorenzo for reference and even Stoner...

And sometimes ordinary riders can become world champ or runners up in extra ordinary years...

Eurosport commentators today were saying that it is becoming on open secret in the paddock that the 2006 world champ is likely to lose his ride this year...and so he is riding like a defeated man...Not sure why you are hell bent on posting a pinkyesk hater remark every now and then about Hayden. I suppose it will always be popular in small particular circles as you belong, to .... on Hayden for progressing for several years at the MotoGP level (check the record) then to a point where he ended up on top to win a title (as its been done for the entire history of the sport). Perhaps you will never let it go that he beat a great rider like Rossi, but such is racing over a season. Now that they changed the rules and some have surfaced while other submerged, now you declare that they (Hayden & Melandri) where "always just "ordinary". Rossi has been always good, but to negate the change more aligned with the 250s and its effect on the grid; then declaring sighting recent 250 rookies as successful is a bit narrow. Pedrosa comes from the very same regulars as Lorenzo, & Stoner. Not the same as Melandri and Capirossi. But really it doesn't matter what anybody says, or how the sport has changed, you will stick to your narrow minded ways of thinking (or hating) a man who won using the same bike as everybody else on the grid. And if you want to still cling to your "extraordinary circumstances" argument, well I guess you consider Rossi's crash in Valencia some how Hayden's fault. Remind me who had the points lead in the last round?

Your avatar says more about you and your opinion and attempt to troll on this issue, than you think.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dOdGE.dIZ @ May 16 2008, 10:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It was an interesting session but without real surprises though. Well, it was nice to see Vermeulen up there after Suzuki's dismal show in China.

Perhaps the "biggest" surprise is the gap Rossi has to the first three: 0.7s. And the fact he was the only top rider not improving the FP1 time (1:34.886 vs. 1:34.959). It seemed like he was trying new settings that didn't work (in fact his runs were getting slower) and ran out of time. No biggie but he'll (and his team) will be playing catch-up tomorrow.

Looks like you got it all covered. They must have been testing something that didn't work. It's quite a gap but it's all down to the improvment everyone else did in FP2, so I expect they will recover in FP3. Some hard work with the telemetric data and Rossi's comments and they will get it much better for tomorrow. Almost business as usual this, isn't it?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ May 16 2008, 01:49 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>And sometimes ordinary riders can become world champ or runners up in extra ordinary years...

Nobody in any sport makes it to the world stage by being ordinary.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bojuhl @ May 16 2008, 02:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nobody in any sport makes it to the world stage by being ordinary.
Nice.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ May 16 2008, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Looks like you got it all covered. They must have been testing something that didn't work. It's quite a gap but it's all down to the improvment everyone else did in FP2, so I expect they will recover in FP3. Some hard work with the telemetric data and Rossi's comments and they will get it much better for tomorrow. Almost business as usual this, isn't it?
Apparently correct - LINK

We'll see more tomorrow, hopefully.

The most interesting point for me is the post practice remarks (and attitude) from two of the leading riders in this years championship regarding the weather;

Lorenzo;

“If it stays dry then I think I will have the possibility to fight for the pole position, but if it's wet it will be a different story so we are hoping for good weather!"

Stoner;

“I'm happy with what we've got so far and ready for whatever the clouds throw at us tomorrow."

Bring on the rain!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ May 16 2008, 10:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Almost business as usual this, isn't it?

Not quite. Whatever people may say about Rossi's true abilities and whether the five titles where mainly due to the "superiority" of the machinery he was riding or his demi-god status (whichever dumber), it's undeniable he'd rather lead than follow.

Putting '07 aside, the serious chattering problem he was having during the first half of 2006, amplified with the super-sticky "qualifiers", meant he was always chasing after, not setting the pace. It gave us awesome racing to watch, sure, but I doubt he was as amused. Always starting on the back-foot, with 6, 7, 10 guys in front, trying to pick as many places he could during the first three laps, before the front runners got away, all the while fighting an uncooperative machine.

Still, Sachsenring was EPIC!!!

My point is, while there's really no other rider as skillful in racing back-to-front, not setting the "rules" means playing by others'. And that's a serious disadvantage to start with, not least psychologically.

Or, as I describe it: "MotoGP: It's a mind-field!"... (yeah, lame joke... get ready, I have oodles.) ;p

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dOdGE.dIZ @ May 16 2008, 03:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Putting '07 aside, the serious chattering problem he was having during the first half of 2006, amplified with the super-sticky "qualifiers", meant he was always chasing after, not setting the pace. It gave us awesome racing to watch, sure, but I doubt he was as amused. Always starting on the back-foot, with 6, 7, 10 guys in front, trying to pick as many places he could during the first three laps, before the front runners got away, all the while fighting an uncooperative machine.

Still, Sachsenring was EPIC!!!

My point is, while there's really no other rider as skillful in racing back-to-front, not setting the "rules" means playing by others'. And that's a serious disadvantage to start with, not least psychologically.

Or, as I describe it: "MotoGP: It's a mind-field!"... (yeah, lame joke... get ready, I have oodles.) ;p

Wow somebody else on here knows there stuff. That's right Rossi did have chatter problems and they were wreaking havoc on his riding and his tires. But in reality Michelin failed him. If Michelin hadn't failed him he would be 7 time champion right now.

I think Hayden was smart enough to watch the weather.

He's using the wet tires for some early testing. He's a genius!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ May 17 2008, 12:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Wow somebody else on here knows there stuff. That's right Rossi did have chatter problems and they were wreaking havoc on his riding and his tires. But in reality Michelin failed him. If Michelin hadn't failed him he would be 7 time champion right now.

I think Hayden was smart enough to watch the weather.

He's using the wet tires for some early testing. He's a genius!


Are you talking about today's test?

I'm going to stick my neck out and predict Pedrosa domination in France - FP, Qualifying, Pole and the Race Win!!! But only if it's a dry race! He just seems to be so strong on his package and has really got it going right now. He's the guy to beat I believe, but then again he may settle for good points if the going gets too tough or risky? I hope not but that wins championships sometimes..

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ May 16 2008, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Now that they changed the rules and some have surfaced while other submerged, now you declare that they (Hayden & Melandri) where "always just "ordinary". Rossi has been always good, but to negate the change more aligned with the 250s and its effect on the grid; then declaring sighting recent 250 rookies as successful is a bit narrow. Pedrosa comes from the very same regulars as Lorenzo, & Stoner. Not the same as Melandri and Capirossi.
Great riders would be able to adapt and succeed to the changes in rules, tracks, tyres, etc....and others do not...

Yep...I don't like Hayden, I think overrated and he's had more chances than he deserved since his arrival in GPs. Nicky's title win was fair and Rossi did lose it in the last race and let us not forget the technical and physical woes Rossi suffered during that season which made it all possible for Nicky to get in a position to win. However, Nicky won and if he as great as you may believe then he should be able over come the Rule change and technical issue to be in the fight (in 2007) and in 2008, but he can't and won't why....in my view he is a mid-packer world class ordinary rider whose getting beat a lot nowadays...

Back to LeMans...racing tell the whole story no matter what I or you or anwyone else thinks....so good luck to the KY Kid and the rest of the lot...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (bojuhl @ May 16 2008, 11:00 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nobody in any sport makes it to the world stage by being ordinary.
That bodes well for Westy then...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (yamaka46 @ May 17 2008, 12:52 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Apparently correct - LINK

We'll see more tomorrow, hopefully.

Looks like he got his settings right again. Down to his best time yesterday after 10 min toping the time sheets.
And every one else is there as well, except Lorenzo that pulled in after only four laps. On his way up right now.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dOdGE.dIZ @ May 17 2008, 01:33 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Not quite. Whatever people may say about Rossi's true abilities and whether the five titles where mainly due to the "superiority" of the machinery he was riding or his demi-god status (whichever dumber), it's undeniable he'd rather lead than follow.

I agree, but what I ment is that except from a lucky draw in China he has been playing catching up in every practice session this year with the new tires. They take a hard look at the telemetics and make adjustments and are back on top the next session but so far he has been dropping down the list as the session progress.
Maybe, now they have data enough to make good desitions while the session is running.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ May 16 2008, 03:34 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The irony is that nicky and marco always were ordinary....

Pah!

You could write a psychological case study on Colin Edwards, how can you be that fast & it just not translate to races?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goatboy @ May 17 2008, 10:04 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>You could write a psychological case study on Colin Edwards, how can you be that fast & it just not translate to races?
He seems to have a particular affinity for the michelin qualifiers and a talent for speed over a lap. Whilst putting in fast laps in practice on race tyres he usually is not as consistent as the top riders. Does his riding style wear tyres out quickly? I guess he is relatively heavy too.

<span style="color:#0000801. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 33.765 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 34.114 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 34.229 secs
4. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 34.353 secs
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 34.438 secs
6. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 34.746 secs
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 34.767 secs
8. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 34.828 secs
9. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 35.107 secs
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 35.128 secs
11. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 35.190 secs
12. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 35.321 secs
13. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 35.345 secs
14. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 35.642 secs
15. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 35.700 secs
16. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 35.891 secs
17. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 36.044 secs
18. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 36.228 secs


Fastest Friday time:
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (M) 1min 34.227secs (FP2)

2007 French Grand Prix - 20/05/2007:
Pole position: Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha (M) 1min 33.616secs
Fastest lap: John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki (B) 1min 38.678secs (wet)

Pedrobot very consistent - within 0.002 of FP2 time in FP3
Edwards having another Monday on Saturday
Rossi seems to have found the 0.5 second he was looking for in FP2
Stoner seems to be getting better on the Duke, but did notice he was only really near Edwards/Rossi/Pedrosas times in I1 (the one with the straight), losing most time in I2 and I4
Lorenzo presumably in pain as he only did 13 laps
Dovi how much quicker than Hayden...

Looking good for Rossi again. Let's hope it will be a dry race.

JT within a second of the leading pace, finally!

Colin used a Q?