Qatar - 2015 Rnd 1 - Practice and Qualifying

Kropotkin said:

Not better, but really, really close. Dovi's race pace from FP4 is 1:55.725, Marquez' race pace from FP4 (disregarding the couple of 1'57s he did) is 1:55.677. The difference is basically nothing.

Dovizioso could win this one. I'm hoping Hernandez and Iannone get in front of Marquez at the start, if they do, it's game over, and Dovizioso will clear off. The bike works, and the tires will last.

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That's a good strategy, fingers crossed.

About the pace, Ducati has one card yet to play. The engine mapping for the race will change. Expect speed trap recording 349+ km/h.

Marquez is Marquez and to Dovi be able to beat him Ducati have to be a better bike than Honda right now. Hopefuly this will be the case.

Cheers.

The BT announcers are unbearable. I put music on and just watched the video...

Dovi is a top rider and has always been strong at Qatar: he was 4th in 2008 in his very first MotoGP race, beating a Rossi on finished tires in the last lap.

Ducati always had a really powerful engine, and good electronics; now with a chassis that (again) works well with the Bridgestone tires, no surprise they are back in business. Seeing a Honda man squatting besides the GP15 to have a good look at their geometry is heart warming.

And yes, Iannone could put up enough of a fight with Marquez in the first laps to allow Dovi to take off, probably along with Pedrosa; but Pedro may not keep Dovi's pace. So yes, there is a possible scenario for a Ducati GP15 win in their very first race...!

There are also many other possibilities though. Bring it up...

I don't think Iannone should be discounted if everyone is talking about Dovi. IMO - he's faster than Dovi, even if doesn't have the lap times to prove it in Q2.

If Rossi watches his tires and doesn't lose touch with the leading group, tomorrow should be a sight to behold

HEISMAN said:

I don't think Iannone should be discounted if everyone is talking about Dovi. IMO - he's faster than Dovi, even if doesn't have the lap times to prove it in Q2.

If Rossi watches his tires and doesn't lose touch with the leading group, tomorrow should be a sight to behold

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Not discounting Iannone nor any of the others -- but Dovi seems to have a better feeling with this track than the other Andrea.

In the last year of the 990's we had really close racing. After poor racing during the 800 era the final year brought the field a lot closer together. It looks like this as the last year of prototype electronics the racing could once again reach a peak.

Rossi still has racecraft. ......' amazing.

Keshav said:

Rossi still has racecraft. ......' amazing.

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GOAT...

He lost touch but still won. Effin awesome

Good race by Rossi. Just noting that I have predicted him winning the championship this year!

Dovi was good as was the Ducati. Small speed advantage down the straight but was able to hang with the Yamaha through the corners all race.

Was also impressed with Yonny.