Qatar Race - Spoiler

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 10 2008, 08:40 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah the night race was hawt.

But here's an idea, why don't they use it to race through the summer break instead of running at near polar temperatures in the middle east deserts.

I did appreciate the lack of wind though.

Besides how core would these guys be to ride night races in the summer. Moths to the face shield, gnats covering every inch of leather, bullfrogs bouncing off of the fairings.

I'd have immense respect for them then because they'd be battling the same things I battle.
i would gather most of the moths would gather closer to the flood lights than the ground

It looks good lit up but it's a .... time of day to get up - so I say no more night races!!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 10 2008, 08:36 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>This is the first time Hayden has been gang ..... by satellite riders on the exact same equipment since the introduction of the 800s. This is the first time there hasn't been loud collective bitching from the 2007 Honda runners.

We all know he wasn't testing a new batch of parts out of the rubbish bin, so this is the first appropriate time to really give him a whooping for embarrassing himself. He has enough experience to overcome losing a few practice rounds while picking his race parts.

Finally........please.

You wanted people to slag him off when he won the championship
Dont get me wrong I alway thought Hayden was average, just took you guys a bit longer to realise it

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Son of Doohan @ Mar 9 2008, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>It looks good lit up but it's a .... time of day to get up - so I say no more night races!!
awesome picture !

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ Mar 9 2008, 09:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Next time I ride down a lighted interstate I'll mail you my face shield.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (rgvneil @ Mar 9 2008, 09:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I seriously underestimated Lorenzo and now can't wait to see him and Dani at it in 3 weeks time in spain. However Dovi is the guy that really impressed me tonight, what a good move he put on Rossi to get past. And how about Toselands move on Lorenzo earlier in the race? Got to be the hardest move of the race.
that was pure class sticking it up the inside looking at the next generation (rookies) tonight, the future is looking bright for motogp. i no its only the first race and a weird one being at night but i got excited with what i saw.

Excellent race, i was loving it. The championship will be between Casey, Dani and Vale again and my Money is on Pedrosa - What a ride from him. I was chuffed to see him riding the new bike and making it work, hopefully Honda will quickly realize that following his lead will bring success. Hayden was a disappointment again, he needs to get a lot better if he wants a bike that says Repsol on it. Dovi showed us some excellent racecraft, made Nicky look silly and won himself some Italian pride on the way. More please

the new Honda is certainly a vast improvement on last years - did you see the drive Dani was geting out of the last corner.

still wouldn't bet on anyone beating Stoner.

the skinny little .... that he is

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (baldylocks @ Mar 10 2008, 09:14 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>still wouldn't bet on anyone beating Stoner.


Ah but next round is Jerez ...... so its gotta be a Spaniard for the win .....


I thinking Lorenzo will be leading by the end of next round.....

unless Stoner can find a hat to pull a rabbit out of ....

That 08 Honda wasn't slow was it!!!!

Also how about Lorenzo showing Rossi the edge of the track I think that "team" is gonna have pride issues resembling Repsol in 2006, hopefully without the same climax

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ Mar 9 2008, 11:07 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>that was pure class sticking it up the inside looking at the next generation (rookies) tonight, the future is looking bright for motogp. i no its only the first race and a weird one being at night but i got excited with what i saw.
I agree

First of all, well done to a couple of riders: Casey, Jorge, Dani, Dovi and Toseland!!!

Casey is planning to continue his winning ways. Once he was in the lead, you could tell he wouldn't give it away. What a great start from the champ!!

Jorge Jorge Jorge..
I think he's great. I already supported him last year, and I was so excited when I heard he would enter Moto. He did a fantastic job today, actually all weekend!! He really has the talent, I know we shouldn't jump to any conclusions too soon, but he will definitely win the title one day. Cant wait to see what he will do next time.

Pedrosa really impressed me. I obviously knew he was good, but I honestly didn't expect that he would reach the podium today. WHAT A START!!!! And he rode a very good race, 3rd was maximum he could do. It's even greater when you look at his teammate. Again, not a good result from the American

Dovi was maybe the man of the race. At least to me he was!!! What a great move on Rossi at the end. When there was only one lap to go, I really thought Vale would stay in front of Dovi, but Dovi managed to do it...in a Rossi way (overtaking someone in the final lap). I didn't expect him to reach 4th place. I'm pleasantly surprised

I also think Toseland was one of the best riders today. Obviously he did a great job yesterday, almost taking pole, but today he also impressed me. It's great to see him in Moto!!!

And then...Rossi....what to say. Well, I think he started out well. He was even leading for a little while, but I already had the feeling it wouldn't last. 4th wasn't even that bad. I wasn't too disappointed with that result, but when Dovi overtook him in the final lap I was a bit shocked, cause I didnt think Dovi would do it, and I surely didnt think Rossi would let it happen, BUT well done to Dovi...seems like Vale and his team have more work to do!

Well, at the end there was one rookie winning his first race in a higher class - but it wasn't Lorenzo, it was Pasini in 250. Pity he then stained his best moment doing senseless wheelies with his helmet off in front of the whole world... A bad example!

In MotoGP, I think Rossi was really convinced he could win. For 8 laps or so it looked he might even do it. He was riding fast and Stoner looked slower, in a pack with the rookies who were all riding like their lives depended on it.

Then the situation reversed: Rossi visibly lost speed, and at the same time Stoner changed gear. He literally took off, leaving all behind.

Stoner and Rossi were the only Bridgestone riders in the first 9, so my take of it is this might have to do with the best use of those tyres. Stoner and Ducati know the Stones better. They started with a setup which would pay off as the tyres lost some grip into the race.

Rossi started with an optimal setup for a good grip, but when the tyres lost some he had to slow down. If this is true, it means his and his team's apprenticeship with the Bridgestones is FAR from over.

Lorenzo was not a surprise and rode impeccably, yet he was powerless against a Stoner who looks stronger than last year .

Pedrosa WAS a surprise. Has he been sandbagging? Difficult to tell. But he won a podium on the 2008 bike, leaving Hayden with the 2007 bike far behind (10th..?).

Dovi I'm really happy for this boy. He passed a Rossi plagued with grip problems, still to beat a 5 times MotoGP champ in a brilliant dogfight, at the last lap of your very first MotoGP race, must feel great. On a satellite bike!

Toseland could maybe have passed Rossi. THAT would have made news, Rossi's Yam beaten by a Tech3, but the sat Yamaha lacked the top speed. Wait until he also gets the pneumatic valve engine...

Yamaha IS the strongest candidate for the Constructor title.
Ducati is still the winning machine BUT only with Stoner - a big but.
Honda - not bad after all. Will they give direct factory support to Dovi, maybe even a 2008 bike, just to see what happens?
Suzuki, Kawa... Too far at the moment.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Mar 9 2008, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rossi started with an optimal setup for a good grip, but when the tyres lost some he had to slow down. If this is true, it means his and his team's apprenticeship with the Bridgestones is FAR from over.

Could be the case. Also it could have been a bad tactical decision, perhaps one forced by Rossi's poor qualifying performance. Either way I think Rossi will be right in the title hunt as usual

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ Mar 8 2008, 11:03 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Dani rides with one of the most text-book gp styles on the grid. Nobody rides like Nicky and i think following his direction has been harmful to Honda in 07 and will be the same in 08.
The same could be said that noone rides like Stoner and the Ducati's development has suffered because the bike is built to suit his style....

Some reactions!

James Toseland 6th – 10 points
“To start off with this result is just great for me. I’ve realised now that with everybody’s support, which I’m getting from the Tech 3 team, Yamaha and Michelin, it is possible to be competitive. To finish just behind Valentino in my very first MotoGP race is surreal. The first couple of laps were pretty hectic and I put a move on Jorge that was quite close. That’s just a lack of experience racing against these guys. I’ve raced against the same boys for seven years and know exactly what they do and when they do it. Jorge put his bike over my nose just as I was committed for the pass. I’ve just got to get used to how these guys take the corners so I can pass them a bit safer. But he left the door open a bit and I went for it. There was no harm done and after that I was trying everything I had to pass Andrea and Valentino. I was catching up fractions of time all lap and I’d just get with them at the last corner and they’d stretch away from me on the straight. There is nobody bad on the brakes so you can’t catch it up really. You can chip away and chip away but the times I got close they were side-by-side and it was like a wall for me. And I wasn’t prepared to take two of them out in my first MotoGP with sixth place in the bag
I’m a bit emotionally drained to be fair but what you learn in 22 laps around these guys is priceless and I can’t wait for Jerez.”

Colin Edwards 7th – 9 points
“I didn’t leave anything out there tonight. If you paid me a million dollars I couldn’t have gone any faster. I was riding my hardest but at the end of the day it just wasn’t fast enough and to be honest I’m not sure why. We’ll have to check the computer but I just didn’t have the same feeling as I did yesterday. We had a great day yesterday and going into the race I was confident about getting on the podium. But from the second lap it became a race of adapting to cope with the different feeling I had from the tyres. I was at the back of the group and while they weren’t really pulling away, I couldn’t get any closer. I just didn’t have the confidence to push and then I ran wide at the last corner while trying to keep close to the back of James. I lost a bit of time and I couldn’t catch back up. Thanks to my guys for they’re hard work and we’ll try and move closer to the front in Jerez.”

Herve Poncharal – Team Manager
“It was a great way to start the championship. The highlight of the weekend was our two riders on the front row which was a very emotional moment and something you dream of to start the championship. It didn’t happen to us since 2002 with Olivier Jacque and Shinya Nakano at the Sachsenring. We had great expectations but we knew it would be difficult to get on the rostrum. James showed an incredible fighting spirit and he made a made really aggressive move on Jorge. The whole race he was losing a bit in some parts and catching back to Valentino and he ended up very, very close to beating him. Colin had a great and steady race also and I’d have settled for sixth and seventh before the first race. We know the new engine is coming in Estoril and it won’t be such a handicap in Jerez on a track without a long straight. Michelin showed great potential and we look forward with a lot of confidence to Jerez.”

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Duc999 @ Mar 9 2008, 11:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>The same could be said that noone rides like Stoner and the Ducati's development has suffered because the bike is built to suit his style....

If Hayden had just won (let alone dominated) the world championship there wouldn't be a problem (like there wasn't in 06). Right now Nicky's style and development input aren't cutting it, he needs to get his head together

And Kawasaki now

HOPKINS

"The first half of the race felt good, and I was pretty comfortable running inside the top ten. But then, at about half race distance, the performance of the front tyre went off, and it started sliding in the turns. I had no option but to hold the bike up on my knee, but that put a lot of pressure on my injury. The pain built up very quickly, and by two-thirds distance it was excruciating. If it had just been pain then I could have ridden through it, but in the end I simply ran out of strength in the injured muscle, and I just couldn't maintain my lap times. It was hard to make it all the way to the end of the race, but although I'm disappointed not to have finished higher, at least I know that the injury wouldn't have been a limiting factor if it hadn't been for the tyre problem. This gives me some confidence going into the next race at Jerez."

WEST

"What can I say? Obviously I'm bitterly disappointed with my result today, because I'm not here to finish at the back of the field. I was suffering with the same problems I had in practice and qualifying and I still didn't feel totally comfortable on the bike. At around half race distance I started to feel more confident, and in some sections of the circuit I was much faster than Guintoli and Elias, who were in front of me. Through the final section I could get right alongside them, but I just didn't have enough speed to pass. And then, as soon as we hit the straight, they cleared off. This has been a weekend to forget, but I need to put it behind me now and focus on the next race at Jerez."



BARTHOLEMY

"It's been a difficult weekend for us, as throughout practice we struggled with the track conditions. But then John's fourth fastest time during this evening's warm-up session meant that we went into the race with increased expectations of a good result. Things were looking good, but then John's front tyre went off, and he struggled to compensate due to his groin injury. But even then he didn't give up; I don't think I've ever seen anyone lifted off a bike in so much pain at the end of a race. He's one hard rider. Anthony is obviously disappointed with his performance this weekend, but he needs to avoid the temptation to beat himself up over it, and instead focus on regaining his form for the next race at Jerez. We know he's capable of much more, and I hope he will fulfil his potential properly next time out."

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (J4rn0 @ Mar 9 2008, 11:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>In MotoGP, I think Rossi was really convinced he could win. For 8 laps or so it looked he might even do it. He was riding fast and Stoner looked slower, in a pack with the rookies who were all riding like their lives depended on it.

Then the situation reversed: Rossi visibly lost speed, and at the same time Stoner changed gear. He literally took off, leaving all behind.

Stoner and Rossi were the only Bridgestone riders in the first 9, so my take of it is this might have to do with the best use of those tyres. Stoner and Ducati know the Stones better. They started with a setup which would pay off as the tyres lost some grip into the race.

Rossi started with an optimal setup for a good grip, but when the tyres lost some he had to slow down. If this is true, it means his and his team's apprenticeship with the Bridgestones is FAR from over.

good post mate.

yeah i think it was a bad desision and this aint an excuse for rossi he clearly had the pace at the start but he lost grip and then the bike was moving way to much in the corners to get good times, casey was clever to hang back and generating some heat before beating everyone down.
people can say its excuses all they like but you cant deny the fact yamaha havent got any data for bridgstones yet, that why rossi said the bike was good but not ready for him to ride it on the limit. other teams have years of expierience with stones unfortunatly for rossi is gonna take time for him and yamaha to get the mixture rite.