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Qatar Free Practice - Spolier

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Burky @ Mar 8 2008, 08:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Perhaps this is a sign of how the Moto GP class has for some time been lacking in true quality, highlighted by Troy Bayliss at the end of 2006.

I agree with that totally ...... to me it has been a detrimental sideffect of the rise of having riders that are marketably "popular". Nobody wants to see the demise of their favourite. In that sense the way Doohan retired was perhaps the easiest way of all for all the fans out there.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (memento @ Mar 7 2008, 06:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I might want more night races.
could be sepang in the near future
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I wonder if Rossi might be regretting his hasty decision? Too early to tell.

Too early anyway...race 1 of 18.
 
If we were riding 990's none of these rookies would be shining quite like they are. The 800's are more a gradual step up from the 250's and suit their riding. Dovinmyhoeso summed it up pretty good when he first tried and 800cc bike by saying that they are farely easy to ride and that he adjusted quickly. I would never say that we had lack of quality riders in the past, thats just ......... Not to take anything away from the rookies, I expected them to be fast. I still think that they will finish midpack for the season as it takes more than just going fast to complete a season on top.
 
1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:55.442
2 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:55.453
3 James Toseland Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:55.812
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:55.942
5 Andrea Dovizioso JiR Scot Team Honda 1:55.963
6 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:56.120
7 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1:56.234
8 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:56.279
9 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:56.395

Mich Yams >>>>>>>>>> Rossi.




That is all.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ Mar 7 2008, 11:53 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:55.442
2 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:55.453
3 James Toseland Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:55.812
4 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:55.942
5 Andrea Dovizioso JiR Scot Team Honda 1:55.963
6 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:56.120
7 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1:56.234
8 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:56.279
9 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:56.395

Mich Yams >>>>>>>>>> Rossi.




That is all.
<


he will pull something out of the bag race day, he has raced his years on michelins give him time to setup the bike at different tracks , he has no data remember so hes seting it up straight off the bat, the yam was built around michelins it gonna take time to get it performing properly on the stones and every track is different.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (SackWack @ Mar 7 2008, 11:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>If we were riding 990's none of these rookies would be shining quite like they are. The 800's are more a gradual step up from the 250's and suit their riding. Dovinmyhoeso summed it up pretty good when he first tried and 800cc bike by saying that they are farely easy to ride and that he adjusted quickly. I would never say that we had lack of quality riders in the past, thats just ......... Not to take anything away from the rookies, I expected them to be fast. I still think that they will finish midpack for the season as it takes more than just going fast to complete a season on top.
Maybe the difference is less, but a top quality 250 rider will still get on a 990 and be quick. Did Valentino not win his first title on a 500, then continued to dominate in Moto GP? He was dominant in 125, same in 250, continuing into Moto GP. Who 'really' came through with him, at a time when we were losing immense talents such as Doohan. He was preceded as champion by two one time champions, Alex Criville and KR Jnr, and I believe, immensely talented as he is, that he wasn't really defending the title through a classic period. Unfortunately I'm old enough to remember the epic Schwantz, Rainey, Lawson, Gardner et al days. When we look back in many years and talk about the 'greats' of our sport, all 4 of these names will be mentioned. So will Valentino's, but will we be tagging KR Jnr, Criville, Melandri, Hayden, Capirossi, Edwards etc as 'greats'. No offense to these, again, immensely talented riders who have been at the echelon of motorcycle racing, but I can't see us regarding them amongst the 'greats'.
 
Is it the beginning of the end for Rossi? It's hard to tell, he's been such a dominant rider for so many years and his ability has reached almost mythological status. I used to think, especially after his switch to yamaha and his two titles for them that we could crown him as the greatest ever. Suddenly, there are cracks in the armour. After 2006, and especially 2007 the riders out there know he's fallible. The new crop of riders have been shown (especially by Stoner last year), that Rossi is definately beatable and he has lost some of his aura. His riding is still magical but his mind games are not having the same effect as they have in the past.
It's still to early to tell whether his switch to bridgestones was the right move or an act of desperation. One thing for sure is that his team mate looks extremely hungry and has the talent to give Vale a very hard time.
Are we seeing the end of a great champion? Rossi has not had many injuries in his career, so I can see him riding for many years to come (if he has the motivation). Look at Bayliss - nearing 40 and still close to the top of his game, so I don't see age as a factor.
I would love (as I have said before), to see Rossi move to another manufacturer and win the title again. To me that would put him at the very pinnacle of the sport, something he's very close too - which is all very subjective anyway.
The only problem is, I'd love to see Aussies dominate for the next 5 (or longer
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) years.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 8 2008, 08:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>We've all come to grips with the fact that no one can ride the Ducati but Stoner. Furthermore, almost no one on the grid can ride as well as Stoner. That conversation is so last month.
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Point taken Lexi... in my defense though I haven't really been privvy to all the discussions here lately
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Something to do with having my head buried in Boeing 737 manuals & busting my butt in the bloody simulators...
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News of the day for me. CV found a ton of time and over 10k top end. Now he is ahead of Rossi. If they can get the bike to handle maybe they stand a chance.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Goatboy @ Mar 8 2008, 12:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>hmm well Rossi is tucked in there, he ain't just amblin' around. & Pedro is famous for "that" kinda ..... The angle is just not good enough to tell either way.


Gee mate you dream!! ..... he is just amblin!! as you identify it ....
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Mar 8 2008, 01:44 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Gee mate you dream!! ..... he is just amblin!! as you identify it ....
<

Open your eyes, he's tucked in. He's not sitting up, even someone as mortally Australian as you must be able to see that?
 
Bike to be on - Michelin Yam. Factory Kawi and Honda are just ...., the first couple of Hondas home for the race should be satellite bikes which is just plain embarrassing, although rolling out your 07 bike after an entire off season of testing shows you have no idea which way to go.

Bridgestone are counting on one rider for Sunday. Michelin have the numbers.

3 different guys on the Ducati, same result, disappointment. Suzuki were they even there? They just didn't register anything special, mid pack where they are accustomed to.

I agree with Memento, the bikes look fantastic under lights, the colours really change under artificial lighting, bring back the titanium sliders for the show!

I'm doubting Rossi will be able to pull back 1 second (consistently) for Sunday. The sky will have fallen if Edwards manages to finish ahead.

Qualifying will be a Michelin walkover, hopefully Casey will have to come through the pack and chase someone down!!!
 
1. Casey Stoner 1:55.442 - Finally A Champion worthy of the Number 1
2. Jorge Lorenzo 1:55.453 - Will Battle for the Win on Sunday
3. James Toseland 1:55.812 - Battle for a Podium week in and out!
4. Colin Edwards 1:55.942 - Will drop through the order like a stone in water
5. Andrea Dovizioso 1:55.963 - Three more races meets and Repsol will sign him
6. Alex de Angelis 1:56.120 - Will go well but not will be drop to 7th to 10th in race
7. Randy de Puniet 1:56.234 - Will go top 6 this weekend
8. Valentino Rossi 1:56.269 - Won't win but will be top 5 due to his abilities!
9. Chris Vermeulen 1:56.279 - Dissapointing, but will improve
10. Dani Pedrosa 1:56.478 - This race is past his bed time!
11. Loris Capirossi 1:56.922 - Sad to see him this far out and dropping
12. Shinya Nakano 1:57.011 - Token Japanese ride with no impact in series...sad!
13. Nicky Hayden 1:57.045 - Better luck next year!
14. John Hopkins 1:57.085 - I bet his wishing he'd not taken the money!
15. Marco Melandri 1:57.091 - Just goes to show Stoner is Great!!
16. Toni Elias 1:57.311 - Oh well!
17. Anthony West 1:57.934 - At least he's beating the Sylvain!
18. Sylvain Guintoli 1:58.500 - Expected!
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Mar 7 2008, 11:43 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>1. Casey Stoner 1:55.442 - Finally A Champion worthy of the Number 1
2. Jorge Lorenzo 1:55.453 - Will Battle for the Win on Sunday
3. James Toseland 1:55.812 - Battle for a Podium week in and out!
4. Colin Edwards 1:55.942 - Will drop through the order like a stone in water
5. Andrea Dovizioso 1:55.963 - Three more races meets and Repsol will sign him
6. Alex de Angelis 1:56.120 - Will go well but not will be drop to 7th to 10th in race
7. Randy de Puniet 1:56.234 - Will go top 6 this weekend
8. Valentino Rossi 1:56.269 - Won't win but will be top 5 due to his abilities!
9. Chris Vermeulen 1:56.279 - Dissapointing, but will improve
10. Dani Pedrosa 1:56.478 - This race is past his bed time!
11. Loris Capirossi 1:56.922 - Sad to see him this far out and dropping
12. Shinya Nakano 1:57.011 - Token Japanese ride with no impact in series...sad!
13. Nicky Hayden 1:57.045 - Better luck next year!
14. John Hopkins 1:57.085 - I bet his wishing he'd not taken the money!
15. Marco Melandri 1:57.091 - Just goes to show Stoner is Great!!
16. Toni Elias 1:57.311 - Oh well!
17. Anthony West 1:57.934 - At least he's beating the Sylvain!
18. Sylvain Guintoli 1:58.500 - Expected!

#1 Your a ....., Hayden was worthy. What a ...........
#2 Maybe...
#3 Maybe next year, talk about worthy
#4 Agree
#5 What the hell? Good thing you aint in charge. I got love for Dovi but...
#6 Hes outta of the top ten for sure
#7 Top ten if he doesn't crash
#8 Top five due to his package
#9 Yeah
#10 ....... midget .........., hope he DNF's
#11 Yup
#12 Yup
#13 Yup
#14 Why not? Suzuki sucks ... too
#15 Or lucky, you saw how great he was on the Honda...
#16 Who?
#17 Wheres that poster Antwest fan?
#18 Will improve

IM DRUNUCK!!!!!!!!!!
 

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