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Qatar Official Test

Toseland must be kicking himself for turning them down.

Mind you, didn't the Pramac spill oil all over Jerez at the first race last year? In practice.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ Feb 15 2007, 08:57 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Toseland must be kicking himself for turning them down.

Mind you, didn't the Pramac spill oil all over Jerez at the first race last year? In practice.

Yes i recall a pramac bike blowing up and his teamate joining him in the gravel as a result. I wouldn't be expecting that to happen again though.

As for JT, i think he will ge over the missed opertunity, i'm sure he'd rather move over with honda if he can.

I also want to mention the constant impressive improvement from DePuniet, He could have a strong year if Kawasaki can progress with him.
 
I really feel for the Ilmor squad, I was hoping that they could be more competitive, I've heard some rumours about in-house squabbling between Eskil Suter and Mario Illien about who is responsible for the poor times, obviously neither will take responsibility. I don't want to put out any dislike towards Andrew Pitt because he obviously has had a tough deal what with being booted, unfairly from what I thought stable Yamaha WSBK seat, but I don't believe in my opinion that he is up to the task of making the Ilmor a competitive bike. I do however hope he proves me wrong. I like to think that they will have a pole position in the hands of McWilliams, and we all know he is capable of it after the pole in I believe 2002/3 when he put the Proton KR at the front of the grid in P.I.
 
That PI polle position was on an outclassed, but well developed, balanced bike. The ilmor is not this, and he is never gonna get on the front row without some miracles.

As for Pitt, at this point in the development, he is no disadvantage to the squad, and on no level will he be holding them back. Weaknesses elsewhere will easily cover his deficiency. Also, if i was yamaha management i wouldn't have thought twice about ditching him for Corser, its a no brainer.

It easy to forget that the ilmor squad arn't just new to motogp, they are actully new to bikes in generall. So i expect i long road ahead of them, i hope they stick it out.
 
Oh yeah Dani kicks ...!!!!
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What no midget jokes today???

Seems the bunch of clownfossi are hiding under the rocks ...
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i don't want to get started on Pitt/ Yamaha because plainly i think it was a stupid descision on Yamaha's behalf. but tough deal aside... he IS a suited development rider and i've argued it before. Pitty is far from a burden when it comes to testing.

and reading a recent column by Pitt, it seems he is happy with his descion to ride with Ilmor. I think all those rumours about fighting in Ilmor HQ are just something to throw the team off. Like Tom said... new to motogp AND to bike .... its a totally new environment for them .... it would be understandable if there were disputes, but even so i can't imagine it being anything serious.

Back to the times ... Hopper was flying! ... no wonder he fell off!
 
You know what you're both totally right, I just keep forgetting that this is all completely new to Ilmor. I think its that fact that the team look so professional and clean cut. In regards to the McWilliams pole, I'm thinking in more of a fairy tale world of what I'd like to see. Obviously the bike is new and is going to have a lot of teething problems but unlike Team KR, Ilmor seem to have money coming from somewhere and I think that the teams hard times will soon turn around and Mario Illien predictions of top ten positions will appear more realistic.

My opinion of Pitt is that he's a superbike rider and he should still be on that Yamaha as he has as much chance as Nori or Corser does but hey thats a different argument for a different part of this Forum.

Even though I can't stand Hopper, its good to see someone different names running up the sharp end of the time sheets. Especially the combo of Kawasaki and Randy De Puniet, it should be interesting. But as they say, its just testing.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (teomolca @ Feb 15 2007, 03:41 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Oh yeah Dani kicks ...!!!!
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What no midget jokes today???

Seems the bunch of clownfossi are hiding under the rocks ...
<

Well he tops the leaderboard today on day three, so I don't think too many jokes will be made. But expect the Pedrobots to be energized.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BEN @ Feb 15 2007, 10:51 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>MotoGP Official Test: Qatar
1. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 1'55.471

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Circuit Best Lap: 2006 Casey STONER 1'55.683 167.423 Km/h
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As diminutive as himself, his time… let’s face it, he did crack it.

Then again and quoting Jorge Martinez ‘Aspar’ (Ex world champion 80cc & 125cc), “Pedrosa has demonstrated to be incredible, but suffers much in rain. Moreover, he suffers in Body-to-Body challenges, when riding with two or three at the same time, his riding suffers, because he is not a late braker and accelerates in a different way, meanwhile other riders break latter and overtake him because his can get his usual line”… This kind of matches testing results.

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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (VHMP01 @ Feb 15 2007, 10:13 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>
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Circuit Best Lap: 2006 Casey STONER 1'55.683 167.423 Km/h
<


As diminutive as himself, his time… let’s face it, he did crack it.

Then again and quoting Jorge Martinez ‘Aspar’ (Ex world champion 80cc & 125cc), “Pedrosa has demonstrated to be incredible, but suffers much in rain. Moreover, he suffers in Body-to-Body challenges, when riding with two or three at the same time, his riding suffers, because he is not a late braker and accelerates in a different way, meanwhile other riders break latter and overtake him because his can get his usual line”… This kind of matches testing results.

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all those that follow dani up till now knows that... dani is best when he is in front.. he can't challenge with pure brute... but hey my boy dani is sowing some potential!
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Robin @ Feb 16 2007, 12:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>My opinion of Pitt is that he's a superbike rider and he should still be on that Yamaha as he has as much chance as Nori or Corser does but hey thats a different argument for a different part of this Forum.

He is obviously not as good as either of these riders, and his results show it. Corser is twice a world champion, Haga is a long time title contender, Pitt has moved on very little since his supersport championship. It seems like a pretty obvious decision to me.

But i do think he makes a better superbike rider than he does Gp rider. I don't think its an issue now, but when the ilmosr level increases they should look for someone better to take them further.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (ChemiKaze @ Feb 16 2007, 08:05 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>all those that follow dani up till now knows that... dani is best when he is in front.. he can't challenge with pure brute... but hey my boy dani is sowing some potential!

I've been following Pedrosa for some time before he came to the Blue riband class (990 and 800) and can't just notice some of his good and bad points, riding wise:

Good: When on own, VERY fast.

Bad: When in groups, falters badly and is allergic to raindrops.

Every rider has good and bad points, but Pedrosa seems to have his magnified when everything isn't perfect.
 
I think Dani is certainly weaker riding in groups of riders, but when it comes down to a one on one, he is fairly strong and aggressive. He couldn't cut it in battle last year, but i don't expect that to continue. He needs to sort out his rain issues, that could be his world championship costing weakness.
 
1 test to go! jerez is the test that'll give us the best indication were everybody is at. this is the test that all want to be on top of at the end. were gettin soooooo close now.
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<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 16 2007, 04:34 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think Dani is certainly weaker riding in groups of riders, but when it comes down to a one on one, he is fairly strong and aggressive. He couldn't cut it in battle last year, but i don't expect that to continue. He needs to sort out his rain issues, that could be his world championship costing weakness.

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To me also that questioning will be buzzing my mind… What would Pedrosa be without all that HRC’s support? We know he is fast with the best support, but what if not getting that much?
 
He is too good to not have a factory ride. if he wasn't with HRC he would have a works yamaha or ducati. People know that Pedrosas don't comealong very often ans he needs to be used to a manufacturers full advantage. Hes been with Honda since tthe start though, i'd imagiine he is reasonably loyal.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 17 2007, 03:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He is too good to not have a factory ride. if he wasn't with HRC he would have a works yamaha or ducati. People know that Pedrosas don't comealong very often ans he needs to be used to a manufacturers full advantage. Hes been with Honda since tthe start though, i'd imagiine he is reasonably loyal.

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I understand that Tom, but what would he be on a works Yamaha or Ducati? Not to mention Susuki...
 
He would be near enough the same with yamaha, but the Ducati would be a bit of a handful for the small guy. As for Suzuki, he would out ride the bike obviously because its not much good. But its soooo unrealistic that the best three works teams and all of the satalite hondas would let him slip by.
 
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Feb 17 2007, 10:25 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He would be near enough the same with yamaha, but the Ducati would be a bit of a handful for the small guy. As for Suzuki, he would out ride the bike obviously because its not much good. But its soooo unrealistic that the best three works teams and all of the satalite hondas would let him slip by.

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No, of course not. It is just a hypothetical thought, but it is still there, a lot of the great riders have not only demonstrated riding but by developing crappier bikes, just a thought.
 
I see dani as one of those always loyal kinda guys who wont move for his entire career. Also his less excitable "get the job done" attitude seems to match honda. either way i think it is too early in his career o think about this. He wont consider moving away from honda untill he has won the worl titel there. Unless of course another bike becomes significantly better, and i don't see that happening.

A good hypothetical question, and one that i can't really answer, i have no clue as to how good dani is as a development rider, nor do i know how well he can ride on sub-par bikes. Interesting thoughts
 

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