Lorenzo

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 27 2008, 01:01 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Unpreasured is a huge exaggeration of his situation isn't it. There are many pressures that come with any factory ride not to mention the expectation that comes with being the best, and its all self inflicted as a result of strong performance.
But still I think you know what I mean. Being fast, on the fastest bike is a situation we often see in MotoGP. Rossi, Doohan has been there. Pedrosa, Biaggi and Cato in the 250 class has been there.
Rossi talked about it in his book. At a point, I think it was in 2003 in the early stages of the Yamaha negotiations, he said something like "I hardly thought about the championship, it took care of it self"
That's whne you are unpreasured. The pressure you mention are only felt if you fail to meet your goals. When your goals are the very top and it's still "easy" there is very little pressure.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Mar 27 2008, 06:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>But still I think you know what I mean. Being fast, on the fastest bike is a situation we often see in MotoGP. Rossi, Doohan has been there. Pedrosa, Biaggi and Cato in the 250 class has been there.
Rossi talked about it in his book. At a point, I think it was in 2003 in the early stages of the Yamaha negotiations, he said something like "I hardly thought about the championship, it took care of it self"
That's whne you are unpreasured. The pressure you mention are only felt if you fail to meet your goals. When your goals are the very top and it's still "easy" there is very little pressure.

Yea i understand, and it's a good point. I wouldn't say there are no pressures for the people at the front, but they are very different to the pressures of a rider striving to make it there. I wouldn't say dovi necessarily had a harder job of 250cc racing though because people knew that his bike wasn't the best out there and as a result we almost never heard his performance come into question, thats not a luxury many riders get.

Anyone beside me looking forward to a Lorenzo vs Pedrosa smash up?
I hope Jorge thumps Pedrosa and rubs his nose in it. I would also like to see him hoist the First Lorenzo land Flag in Motog.

Let the games begin. My only real hope is that Rossi is in the mix with tyres and setup that keeps hime competitive for the entire race

I missed the qualifying, How was Lorenzo's race pace so much faster? Of course all I can see whas his qualifying effort but was he that much faster on race tires?

would actually be nice to see the race finish

Rossi
Pedrosa
Lorenzo

Stoner 4th through 6th

would be a no more then a 2 point spread for the top 4 riders =)

Lorenzo looks awesome at the mo and he has that look on his face that says "this is mine" - like he's entitled or something. Perhaps he's a smug git but at least he looks like he's enjoying himself - unlike the current champ.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (projekZERO @ Mar 29 2008, 05:06 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I missed the qualifying, How was Lorenzo's race pace so much faster? Of course all I can see whas his qualifying effort but was he that much faster on race tires?

would actually be nice to see the race finish

Rossi
Pedrosa
Lorenzo

Stoner 4th through 6th

would be a no more then a 2 point spread for the top 4 riders =)

Look up the analisys sectin in the results at motogp.com it's all there. A long string of low/mid 1:40's made him by far the fastest.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Mar 29 2008, 10:17 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Look up the analisys sectin in the results at motogp.com it's all there. A long string of low/mid 1:40's made him by far the fastest.
Yeah but I can't see sector times, or how much traffic played any role if at all. That was a good run by Lorenzo but what will translate into the race? It's a lot easier to go fast when you have a measuring stick in front of you and someone to draft. Can he get away, and if he doesn't, can he hold someone off?

I also see Dovi busted off a 140.110 on race tires. That boy better learn to use Quali tires quick. He already put himself out of contention for this race unless he gets a "pedrosa" like start from the 5th row.

Tomorrows free practice will show us more of everyones hand but I don't expect Lorenzo to get away. Rossi, Pedrosa and maybe even Edwards will stay with him for awile atleast. Dovi could have, but even if he manages to makes his way through the field, everyone will be gone.

Itll be interesting to see if Casey keeps his head tomorrow because he wasnt shy with showing his frustration in qualifying.Oh and does anyone know why Valentino aborted (never started maybe) his last qualifying lap?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Thom @ Mar 30 2008, 08:46 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Itll be interesting to see if Casey keeps his head tomorrow because he wasnt shy with showing his frustration in qualifying.Oh and does anyone know why Valentino aborted (never started maybe) his last qualifying lap?
He had an electrical problem.

I'll start by saying that I think JL is a pretty good rider and could be WC within the next couple of years.

My question is:

Why is no one questioning his ability? Why is it not the bike etc as it was with Stoner last year?

I qualify this by saying that last year no other Ducati was at the front and Stoner was the only one doing anything with it, where as this year ever Yamaha is up there fighting at the front so obviously the bike is very good. So why no comments such as Lorrenzo is good but is riding the best bike on the grid developed by the greatest rider ever so really it is the bike winning and anybody could do it!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (projekZERO @ Mar 29 2008, 11:26 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah but I can't see sector times, or how much traffic played any role if at all. That was a good run by Lorenzo but what will translate into the race? It's a lot easier to go fast when you have a measuring stick in front of you and someone to draft. Can he get away, and if he doesn't, can he hold someone off?

Sector times are there but youre right, traffick and rabbits arn't. On the other hand, escaping the field and lead from start to goal isn't anything new to Lorenzo. If he get's away and his tires hold up I would suspect little events at the very front.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP70 @ Mar 30 2008, 12:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'll start by saying that I think JL is a pretty good rider and could be WC within the next couple of years.

My question is:

Why is no one questioning his ability? Why is it not the bike etc as it was with Stoner last year?

I qualify this by saying that last year no other Ducati was at the front and Stoner was the only one doing anything with it, where as this year ever Yamaha is up there fighting at the front so obviously the bike is very good. So why no comments such as Lorrenzo is good but is riding the best bike on the grid developed by the greatest rider ever so really it is the bike winning and anybody could do it!
Maybe, because most of the people who said ''it was the bike'', not Casey, were Rossi fans, and if they'd say the same about Jorge this year, it would mean Rossi is really getting beaten by his new teammate so far (because they're on the same bike). Jorge is performaing really well on the Yamaha, and Rossi is doing ok, not great. Although I do think the tyres make a difference too, BUT Jorge is doing a great job nevertheless. I'm a Rossi fan myself, but I also like Jorge a lot, so it's great to see him do this well.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (TP70 @ Mar 30 2008, 12:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'll start by saying that I think JL is a pretty good rider and could be WC within the next couple of years.

My question is:

Why is no one questioning his ability? Why is it not the bike etc as it was with Stoner last year?

I qualify this by saying that last year no other Ducati was at the front and Stoner was the only one doing anything with it, where as this year ever Yamaha is up there fighting at the front so obviously the bike is very good. So why no comments such as Lorrenzo is good but is riding the best bike on the grid developed by the greatest rider ever so really it is the bike winning and anybody could do it!

Hey, loosen up a bit and don't sound so sore and you might figure it out. It sure as hell isn't because we all love him, most, like me, think he is a bit over the top self centered.

And who says we don't question his ability? I still expect Dovi to outshine him next year on a HRC bike.

So far he is second, not first and the events so far showed some disitinct differences form last year. Lorenzo has:
- No 20km/h top speed advantage
- No passes halfway over the straight after a bad exit.
- A history of a dobble champion, not as mr Crashy.
You can allways question if its the bike or the rider if he is slow in the turns, but you can't question the bikes ability when it rockets away on the straight.
Besides, everyone know he is on a good bike, nobody disputes that, so why state the obvious? But oposed to stoner last year he has no obvious advantage for himself compared to his hardest competition.
Instead of hammering on about how bad the other ducatis are, isn't it about time that Stoner fans admit that the Ducati is good for Stoner no matter how bad his team mate does on the same bike?

I'm not trying to say it's all the bike, cos stoner have proven again and again that he is extreemly fast, I'm just pointing out the verifyable differences and why many of us ment at the time that he wouldn't run away like he did without those advantages. History has shown that he can hold his own over a varity of tracks and conditions but at the time... Besides, most of never said it was all the bike, but that is was an advantage and I still stand by that. He might have had other disadvanteges he ad to fight around but they are all very diffcult to measure or see compared to a power advantage.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franco Fangio @ Mar 29 2008, 06:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Maybe, because most of the people who said ''it was the bike'', not Casey, were Rossi fans, and if they'd say the same about Jorge this year, it would mean Rossi is really getting beaten by his new teammate so far (because they're on the same bike). Jorge is performaing really well on the Yamaha, and Rossi is doing ok, not great. Although I do think the tyres make a difference too, BUT Jorge is doing a great job nevertheless. I'm a Rossi fan myself, but I also like Jorge a lot, so it's great to see him do this well.

DING DING DING,We have a winner.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Duc999 @ Mar 29 2008, 03:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Anyone beside me looking forward to a Lorenzo vs Pedrosa smash up?
I hope Jorge thumps Pedrosa and rubs his nose in it. I would also like to see him hoist the First Lorenzo land Flag in Motog.

Let the games begin. My only real hope is that Rossi is in the mix with tyres and setup that keeps hime competitive for the entire race

i not sure about rossi today michelin are very strong here, it will be another qatar maybe he will be with the front runners but i think that may fade away at the end of the race...if he wins here on the stones i will be amazed.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Franco Fangio @ Mar 29 2008, 11:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Maybe, because most of the people who said ''it was the bike'', not Casey, were Rossi fans, and if they'd say the same about Jorge this year, it would mean Rossi is really getting beaten by his new teammate so far (because they're on the same bike). Jorge is performaing really well on the Yamaha, and Rossi is doing ok, not great. Although I do think the tyres make a difference too, BUT Jorge is doing a great job nevertheless. I'm a Rossi fan myself, but I also like Jorge a lot, so it's great to see him do this well.

rossi is on different rubber
rossi is using a untested combination with yamaha and bridgestone, i think if rossi was going to a team where bike was already running on the stones he would be much quicker.
i agree lorenzo is very fast but i think if rossi was still on michelins he would be snaping at lorenzo's tail or vice versa.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Mar 30 2008, 11:39 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>rossi is on different rubber
rossi is using a untested combination with yamaha and bridgestone, i think if rossi was going to a team where bike was already running on the stones he would be much quicker.
i agree lorenzo is very fast but i think if rossi was still on michelins he would be snaping at lorenzo's tail or vice versa.
I agree, I think he would do much better actually, but that's ''if'', and ''ifs'' dont count.

We've only had one race so far, and Michelin is doing an incredible job so far, but I want to see what will happen in the next races. For sure there will be occasions where Rossi won't benefit from his switch, but he has to take advantage at some point (at least I hope so!!).

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Mar 30 2008, 01:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm not trying to say it's all the bike, cos stoner have proven again and again that he is extreemly fast, I'm just pointing out the verifyable differences and why many of us ment at the time that he wouldn't run away like he did without those advantages. History has shown that he can hold his own over a varity of tracks and conditions but at the time... Besides, most of never said it was all the bike, but that is was an advantage and I still stand by that. He might have had other disadvanteges he ad to fight around but they are all very diffcult to measure or see compared to a power advantage.
I think it is fairly clear ducati had a power advantage with the race fuel restrictions in 2007, but I also think the aerodynamics may have contributed to the obvious top speed and acceleration advantage. This in turn may contribute to the thing handling like a pig, which increasingly looks to be the case; ask marco. What people object to are statements (not by you) that on tracks where stoner is fast it is due to the bike, but on tracks where he struggles relatively this is due to the superior riding ability of his competitors. I think it is vaguely possible that the yamaha handles better than the ducati and is advantaged by a tight circuit like jerez, as well as obviously being ridden by more than 1 rider of extreme quality this year.

Stoner's method for getting the ducati through the corners is doubtless contributed to by tc, but also seems to involve a fairly precarious balancing act. Ducati doesn't seem to be having any success in discovering any other motogp riders who are also trapeze artists, and I am not sure how long stoner can maintain the intense focus required to ride the thing the way he does, or indeed the confidence to do so if he has a few more crashes.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Mar 30 2008, 11:10 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Stoner's method for getting the ducati through the corners is doubtless contributed to by tc, but also seems to involve a fairly precarious balancing act. Ducati doesn't seem to be having any success in discovering any other motogp riders who are also trapeze artists, and I am not sure how long stoner can maintain the intense focus required to ride the thing the way he does, or indeed the confidence to do so if he has a few more crashes.
Very good point.
I also wonder what Ducati will do should Stoner lose focus/confidence. As has been said by many others, I don't think that Capirex or Melandri's showing on the Duke was/is representative of their ability in the top eschelon, so the implication is that the Duke ain't exactly easy to ride and without Stoner, Ducati wouldn't exactly be challenging for the manufacturer/team title.

I love how Lorenzo is full of ....

Link

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE <div class='quotemain'>"I think that we will win a race before next year," Lorenzo was quoted as saying by Spanish daily AS. "Although I still maintain that's not our goal. Our goal is to learn, so for a rookie I'm doing very well."

Who does he think that he is fooling. Its funny cause after every race he isn't like, "I learned a lot today." Its, if I would have done this or that I could have been challenging for the win. Lorenzo is out to win this year. Forget the facade about learning and all that other ........ he spews out.