Laguna Seca Race **Spoiler**

Another Michelin v. Bridgestone duel that Michelin lost, again.

Wd to the top 3, were unstoppable. Stoner really is an incredible rider.

CaseyS an absolute awesome display of how the Laguna circuit should be raced 1:22’s laps 99% of the race, just an absolute dominant display of an outstanding rider!!!...World Champ 2007 “For Sure”!!!...You mark my words!!!...I predicted this when Casey got the ride with Ducati at the end of 2006 on crash.net forum and if you have a look at my predictions for Laguna 3 out the top 4 placegetters isn’t too bad?...lol...

But after this Laguna race “I’m 100% sure that Casey will do the job in 2007!!!”

Top 3 were bulletproof

1. Stoner A+ - A circuit Ducati in recent years really didn't like or do well at, Stoner was dominant all weekend in every session and broke the pole jinx on the way to a massive win. Untouchable.
2. Vermeulen A+ - Whether or not it was a fluke time will tell, but Chris likes Laguna and unlike last year, this year Laguna liked Chris. Good solid race in the dry from him.
3. Melandri A+ - What can you say? The guy must be made out of lead to withstand the kind of stuff he does. If thats how he rides when injured, I reckon he should get injured more often.
4. Rossi A - Really quite anonymous this weekend. Still managed to be top Michelin and overtake Pedrosa so he can't really have any complaints. The top three were in a league of their own.
5. Pedrosa B+ - Didn't put up much of a fight against Rossi, but still raced consistently and well throughout the race, not much more he could have done.
6. Randy DePuniet A - One of his best results to add to a recent string of good ones, looks like he's finally come good.
7. West A+ - For a first time out in Laguna Seca he really proved himself, steadily improved throughout the weekend, and despite the fact that he finished behind DePuniet, his achievement here was more impressive for me.
8. Tamada A+ - Dunlops, Tamada and Top 10, not words you'd usually put together in a sentence unless the words "nowhere near the" were in there too. Rode brilliantly today and really held his own against some tough competition in that midpack.
9. Barros B - Really shouldn't have been passed by a Dunlop and a Laguna Seca rookie but I'll give him the benefit of the doubt due to his injury.
10. RL Hayden C+ - Failed to impress as much as I thought he might with his knowledge of the track, might have at least been with De Puniet and West, not three places behind. West's lack of track knowledge and his lack of bike knowledge should have evened things out a bit.
11. Edwards D - Now can someone explain to me why he's on the MotoGP grid? Maybe his bike should just start the race facing backwards, after all, start as you mean to go on. Easy to forget that this is his home grand prix.
12. Nakano C - He was at least competitive for a short while today. On the back of the group.
13. Guintoli D+ - Sorry Sylvain, but if Tamada can do it, no reason why you can't be just a bit more competitive.
14. Checa D - Starting to make this a habit now, really should improve, being quick in one practice session doesn't make you quick in the race.
15. Hopkins B - I'm going to give him the B for not being aggressive, not getting mad at Hayden, just getting back on, racing and finishing with a point.
16. Davies A - A brilliant debut, was riding well within the points when his bike failed, he improved throughout the weekend and I hope he gets his chance next year on a MotoGP bike.

Well summed up mate :up:

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(IsraeliRacer @ Jul 23 2007, 12:59 AM) [snapback]80710[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
7. West A+ - For a first time out in Laguna Seca he really proved himself, steadily improved throughout the weekend, and despite the fact that he finished behind DePuniet, his achievement here was more impressive for me.
10. RL Hayden C+ - Failed to impress as much as I thought he might with his knowledge of the track, might have at least been with De Puniet and West, not three places behind. West's lack of track knowledge and his lack of bike knowledge should have evened things out a bit.
16. Davies A - A brilliant debut, was riding well within the points when his bike failed, he improved throughout the weekend and I hope he gets his chance next year on a MotoGP bike.


Mostly agree with you allthough I don't find those 3 above to correlate.
You give RLH a C- for his first ever time on a GP bike where he finish 10th? Me don't understand.

2 guys that advanced there careers today was RL Hayden and Josh Herrin.At the ripe old age of 17 he was passed on the last corner by RL Hayden and finished 2nd in a outstanding supersport race.So Roger had a 10th and a first with the bigboys watching and Herrin had a fantastic 2nd.With a factory ride im convinced he would be near the top every ride.Look for him to be in Gp within 3 years.

Rossi and his fans will throw the towel??

Just 8 posts until here! This means a give up!? It seems so!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, well done Casey!

Vermeulen was going to scare him, but Stoner didn't look at back and drive straight for the victory!

After Assen and Germany fiascos, he came perfectly to the payback time!

Have you ever notice Stoner didn't pass more than 2 races without a victory this year?

Vermeulen and Melandri was fantastic, A+!!!

Rossi drove very good, he managed to increase his pace in the 2nd half and secure the 4th!

Capirossi does good, once more finishing the race before everyone.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Israeliracer, a good wrap up. but, I will have to up your scores for the top 3 Michlin riders by arleast half point. Their bikes were slipping and sliding a lot more than those on stones.

I read somewhere than only a few of the current MotoGP riders, (those who have ridden the 500cc bikes) can ride the bikes after the tires "go off" . rossi is one of them. I think it is this skill that allowed him to catch up and pass Pedrosa.

Its embarrassing that the american replacement and wild card riders, who apparently have years of experience on the track, faired so poorly. IMHO, this sheds a lot of light between the level of skill amongst MotoGP riders v. AMA riders.

Stoner dominated, an absolute supreme ride. He learnt from last weekend and applied that knowledge to take a convincing victory. Very impressive.

Vermuelen has to back it up somewhere else. Really great ride, but he needs to figure out how to do it everywhere.

Melandri rode a great race, he took his time and showed a lot of patience. Mature riding.

Rossi did what he could, first Michelin home, a fighter to end. The championship aint over yet.

Dani did ok I guess, showed his team mate the way around his home track all weekend.

Kawi did a great job, depuniet stayed on and finished well, Ant really showed his mettle today and kept pushing to stay with RDP. RLH did quite a nice job on his GP debut, first american home, he has to be pleased with that.

Edwards, he's consistently ordinary, if Yamaha are happy with ordinary then Edwards gets a gold star.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(gui22a @ Jul 23 2007, 04:40 AM) [snapback]80756[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
Rossi and his fans will throw the towel??

Just 8 posts until here! This means a give up!? It seems so!



Pfft, Just filling up with all the newborn Stoner fans should create 10ths of posts.

But then again, allthough Rossi isn't down some of his fans might be and wouldn't it be fun to kick the ones lying down?

That really was not worth waiting up for.

Imo I have never seen a more dire, tedious, predictable & overall crap race in all my life.

What a load of ......

Well not a good day for the American's...

- Stoner WOW!
- CV is Suzuki's future...well done mate!
- Melandri, giving Ducati a much needed 3rd place...Oh sorry Honda
- Rossi...playing the long game, but you got get moving now...
- Pedrosa, again can't race and fight ...just another Biaggi
- RDP and Westy...You deserve jobs in 2008 and Kawasaki will be lucky if they can keep you...
- Tamada woke up...but still rubbish..
- RLH...I though you would supposed to be a riding god...and you'd wipe the floor with the carcasses of other Kawasaki riders...guess the AMA can't make'm like they used to!
- Davies...damn good job...and you should have MotoGP ride in 2008
- Hopper you got shafted by Nicky Hayden...
- Hayden...disgraceful cutting of the corner to bash Hopper...and you should be fined for it...worst championship defense since KRJR.
- Duhamel...all that experience was useless...they could have left the bike in the garage for weekend and the result would have been better!
- Capirossi, you will have many more of the mysterious electrical problems for signing with Suzuki, and since Casey has a new Ducati tteammate...deLoris you should think about retiring for real!

And btw, does anyone actually know wtf happened to Capirossi? I mean, he obviously isn't important enough to even get a mention on BBC & didn't even show the incident which led to his retirement from the race, so any info would be greatly appreciated.

I've got to say I'm pretty disappointed with that race - I always feel short changed unless there's a real battle in the last few laps

Stoner way to fast today - championship winning ride again.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Desmosedici65 @ Jul 23 2007, 09:28 AM) [snapback]80784[/snapback]<div class='quotemain'>
And btw, does anyone actually know wtf happened to Capirossi? I mean, he obviously isn't important enough to even get a mention on BBC & didn't even show the incident which led to his retirement from the race, so any info would be greatly appreciated.


CAPIROSSI OUT OF LUCK

LORIS CAPIROSSI, DNF, 8th in World Championship on 77 points
"The weekend had been going very well, so I'm sad not to finish the race. In morning warm-up we were faster than yesterday so I was confident I could have a good race. Casey and Chris were very fast but I believe I could have fought for another podium finish. After a couple of laps the gearbox stuck in second gear and that was that. It seems like it was only a tiny little fault, but sometimes things like that can happen in racing."

http://www.ducati.com/racing/00_home_racin...odelName=newsgp

I really enjoyed the race, but then we'd made a night of it with some mates/beer/snacks.

Delighted for Marco, really thought Rossi would catch him nearer the end of the race, so was good to see him keep the position.

Pleased for Chaz, just a shame he couldn't pick up a point because his sprocket broke. What kind of cheap MotoGP sprocket brakes 10 laps into a race?

A D'antin one..