Sepang Winter Test

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#46 @ Feb 6 2008, 01:56 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>"The Doctor is back in business"


Great time thats for sure .... but maybe another thing .... in that video does anyone think he is also looking "fitter" than last year?? ..... I'm thinking so, only I hope its not just the haircut??

Maybe it really is "on" this year??

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Jumkie @ Feb 5 2008, 03:54 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Lets give Rossi the title now.


We can't....since we awarded it to Hayden at the Sepang test two weeks ago!

I tempi alle 14: (ora locale)

1. Hayden (Honda-Repsol) 2.00.900 al 36° (44 giri)
2. Rossi (Yamaha-Fiat) 2.01.598) al 23° (42)
3. Lorenzo (Yamaha-Fiat) 2.02.888 al 6° (24)
4. De Angelis (Honda-Gresini) 2.03.029 al 22° (37)
5. Nakano (Honda-Gresini) 2.03.048 al 13° (26)
6. Jacque (Kawasaki) 2.03.513 al 31° (32)
7. Serizawa (Kawasaki) 2.06.027 al 19° (32)
8. Yamaha Test Team T 2.06.100 all’11° (29)
9. Yamaha Test Team P 2.06.994 all’11° (26)

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Feb 6 2008, 06:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Great time thats for sure .... but maybe another thing .... in that video does anyone think he is also looking "fitter" than last year?? ..... I'm thinking so, only I hope its not just the haircut??

Maybe it really is "on" this year??

You're the guy expecting him to get 5th this year. A has been that are cought up by age.
Mabe you forgot to look at his actual age and just saw an old hippie for all that hair?

Valentino developing the bridgestones, particularly the qualifiers, may help stoner against pedrosa and hayden .

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Feb 5 2008, 11:15 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Great time thats for sure .... but maybe another thing .... in that video does anyone think he is also looking "fitter" than last year?? ..... I'm thinking so, only I hope its not just the haircut??

Maybe it really is "on" this year??

I'm sure he's dropped some pounds... Stoners not a big guy, and Dani is a midget.
It's a disadvantage to be a NORMAL sized MAN in Moto GP at the mo.


1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team ( 2min 0.472 secs
2. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 0.900 secs
3. Shinya Nakano JPN Honda Gresini ( 2min 2.049 secs
4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.396 secs
5. Alex de Angelis RSM Honda Gresini ( 2min 2.646 secs
6. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Test Rider ( 2min 3.513 secs
7. Bike 'T' JPN Yamaha Test Rider ( 2min 5.647 secs
8. Tamaki Serizawa JPN Kawasaki Test Rider ( 2min 6.027 secs
9. Bike 'P' JPN Yamaha Test Rider ( 2min 6.244 secs

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (BarryMachine @ Feb 6 2008, 05:15 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Great time thats for sure .... but maybe another thing .... in that video does anyone think he is also looking "fitter" than last year?? ..... I'm thinking so, only I hope its not just the haircut??

Maybe it really is "on" this year??


rossi isnt fitter just has more confidence because he is happy with the stones, its upto yamaha now to supply him with a decent machine or one better than last year atleast, if he gets the tools yes it will be "ON"

rossi looked fed up last year, you can always tell just buy looking at rossi if its going to be on or off his face tells all, if he aint happy and smiling then to machinery or tyres just dont cut it.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Feb 6 2008, 02:04 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>rossi isnt fitter just has more confidence because he is happy with the stones, its upto yamaha now to supply him with a decent machine or one better than last year atleast, if he gets the tools yes it will be "ON"

rossi looked fed up last year, you can always tell just buy looking at rossi if its going to be on or off his face tells all, if he aint happy and smiling then to machinery or tyres just dont cut it.

He just needs a decent Yamaha.. like hes had from 2004 its not been the fastest thing out there but somehow he is able to do well.

The tyres tho are very important and impossible to ride at the maximum if they are not up to it.

If hes got the same tyres as Stoner.. i would be more worried about Honda + Pedrosa than Ducati.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (an4rew @ Feb 6 2008, 03:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He just needs a decent Yamaha.. like hes had from 2004 its not been the fastest thing out there but somehow he is able to do well.

The tyres tho are very important and impossible to ride at the maximum if they are not up to it.

If hes got the same tyres as Stoner.. i would be more worried about Honda + Pedrosa than Ducati.
Rossi himself seems to be more worried about stoner than pedrosa.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (an4rew @ Feb 6 2008, 02:11 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>He just needs a decent Yamaha.. like hes had from 2004 its not been the fastest thing out there but somehow he is able to do well.

The tyres tho are very important and impossible to ride at the maximum if they are not up to it.

If hes got the same tyres as Stoner.. i would be more worried about Honda + Pedrosa than Ducati.


yes i agree with that too plus i think dani's tyres hold out and he goes a bit quicker because he only weighs about as much as a paper aeroplane or a bag of candy floss

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ Feb 6 2008, 02:21 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Rossi himself seems to be more worried about stoner than pedrosa.


All Rossi and Stoner have to do is make some hard passes on Dani...and the Hobbit will crumble!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Feb 6 2008, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>All Rossi and Stoner have to do is make some hard passes on Dani...and the Hobbit will crumble!


+1



apple or rhubarb?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Feb 6 2008, 02:44 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>+1



apple or rhubarb?
mmm rhubarb with Birds custard please

Or think of when Lorenzo makes his first pass on Pedrosa in a Race (anger)....Dani will have to toughen up otherwise he will end up as 'Hobbit Rhubard with birds custard crumble'

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (jazkat @ Feb 6 2008, 02:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yes i agree with that too plus i think dani's tyres hold out and he goes a bit quicker because he only weighs about as much as a paper aeroplane or a bag of candy floss

True.



<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Feb 6 2008, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>All Rossi and Stoner have to do is make some hard passes on Dani...and the Hobbit will crumble!

I'm worried how long we can keep playing that card. Dani could have learned he has to up his game 1vs1 to win more races.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (an4rew @ Feb 6 2008, 05:17 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I'm worried how long we can keep playing that card. Dani could have learned he has to up his game 1vs1 to win more races.

True, but until we see him do it against the best of the best in business and win then it is hard to speculate that he will do it.

Though Dani has made a hard pass on one rider...Mr Hayden!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (MigsAngel @ Feb 6 2008, 06:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>True, but until we see him do it against the best of the best in business and win then it is hard to speculate that he will do it.

Though Dani has made a hard pass on one rider...Mr Hayden!

I don't know but I think Dani might be a bit handicaped under hard braking. With his fether weight and short legs he can't move as much on the bike as the others and that might limit him. He seems to have similar problems in some chicanes, specially the fast ones. Doesn't look as if he can turn the bike over as fast as most others. Not a big difference, just enough to see him going into the second turn on a less that optimal line. But then again he should have plenty of advantages too with his low weight.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ Feb 6 2008, 11:19 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't know but I think Dani might be a bit handicaped under hard braking. With his fether weight and short legs he can't move as much on the bike as the others and that might limit him. He seems to have similar problems in some chicanes, specially the fast ones. Doesn't look as if he can turn the bike over as fast as most others. Not a big difference, just enough to see him going into the second turn on a less that optimal line. But then again he should have plenty of advantages too with his low weight.
I do agree with you, but think he had definitely started to improve in this area towards the end of last season. It'll be interesting to see if that continues this year.

You guys have to remember that only 2 guys beat Stoner last season Rossi and Dani. I think once Dani gets the bike sorted out he will be able to trade places with Stoner and Rossi.

After watching DP in the 125 and 250s he is def a better rider then Stoner with less traction control. I remember last season when Motogp.com would place DP and Stoner side by side while showing the telemetry it was pretty obvious that DP had a smoother throttle control over Stoner, but things do change.

Another point is that Stoner himself did not make many passes on other riders. He was constantly in the lead at the start of the races. Personally i dont think hes that good at it either. Remember him fighting with Melandri on the hondas. Hopefully other riders can put his passing abilities to the test this season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (esco @ Feb 7 2008, 02:32 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>After watching DP in the 125 and 250s he is def a better rider then Stoner with less traction control.

oh was that the only difference between 250's and 800cc machines!! I had this warped idea that there may have been a few other minor differences, but now you put it so well I can see the whole point ...

now I can see the reasoning ....

Stoner goes to motogp and wins ....... so whats the difference between a motogp bike and a 250???

Its the TC!! .... that must be the answer!! ...... which we all know he has setup in such a manner that the onboard radar and GPS finds DP and Rossi and increases the Duc.s Speed to win at all costs .... at the same time ...... never letting any throttle inputs from Stoner get to the engine ..... and at the same time injecting him with a trickle of Sodium Pentathol to make him remain unconscious, hence keeping him on the bike .... to make it look like he won ...... even though we really know that Rossi really won and Dani a close second!!

no sense arguing whether or not it was Dani or Rossi who really came first with me though .... its your dream .... not mine


Wow whats all these coloured spirals and flashing lights I can see while I'm thinking like an anti-Stoner fan ......


Hey mmman!! I just had a wicked dream!! ..... there was this rule passed that said motogp riders can just turn off TC and go back to 250 class .... on their non-TC motogp machine .... cos they are all the same then ....... ha! watch out Stoner ..... Rossi and DP are going to start from the 250 race and ride right through to win both the 250 and motogp now the rules are fixed ...... awww mmmmaaaaannn!!! hows that guys name!!! S - T - O - N - E - R .... wow that guys got a cool name ..... I'm going for him ..... man that red armdillo he is riding is faaast!!! . ...... hey slow down mmmaaannn!! I can't see you sometimes!!!



Ok I'll snap out of it ... I'd like to argue that I don't think TC is the only thing that is different between 125/250 and motogp .... and indeed that all riders adapt in different ways to the change. Some riders cope better with the extra HP and weight, and 4 stroke engines, and the size difference, and the difference in CG, and gyro action of bigger shafts etc. and the wider tyres etc. etc. Do you think maybe some of those things do bear a slight consideration even .... in the reasoning for you post?