Shanghai MotoGP Race

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (mylexicon @ May 4 2008, 09:59 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nicky didn't disappoint. This outcome was obvious from the start. Early on Michelin had everyone running medium rear and hard front.

It will always be a disappointment to see an ex world champion riding a factory Repsol Honda (which leads the championship) and only getting top tens

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (michaelm @ May 5 2008, 01:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I can't remember him winning a dry race on the softer tyres except qatar this year where they had tested extensively the week before and had the opportunity to tailor-make a tyre.

I think you read a bit much into the seriously limited tyre information we get. Considering the differences not only between the tyre manufacturers but also the tyre construction/compound/profile differences that can exist between different riders and bikes, the soft - hard labels we get don't really mean much.

Also Stoner rode a 2007 tyres at Qatar not a tailor made one.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V5Stroker @ May 5 2008, 02:18 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>We were at the other side grandstand, too bad there were not many spectators(24,000 plus only) for China population of close to 2 billion..maybe bcoz of olympic thing...Rossi was spectacular, but Pedrobot couldn't do anything..probably lack of Top speed or something else..lonely ride for stoner after edward run off track..good to see midpack fighting for 4th spot..see ya in Lemans,France in two weeks times..


Really? should have let us know and we could have hooked up we were in section 9. BTW did you see a lot of missing posters outside

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ May 5 2008, 12:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Heads should roll in the Suzuki camp for the DNF of CV. It is inexcusable and maybe even Denning should get the boot. I can't remember when such a low level mistake was made. Twice in one year a poorly prepared bike has caused a DNF. Capirossi was making errors also. What to do?


^+1



my sense of optimism at the beginning of the season has long scince evaporated and i am resigned to watching a GSVR or 2 running around mid-pack for the rest of the season. the only time i will be slightly less pessimistic about rizlas chances are at laguna and motegi. someone @ rizla suzook needs a ....... rocket up their arse soon...

Loved the race. Was great to see Rossi being his old self again. It felt a bit like watching a race from back in '05. That was pure joy on his face when he pulled his helmet off and sat on the guard rail at the end...just posing there as if to say 'what took you guys so long? I've been done for ages' HA HA! THe mind games never stop and he's certainly the master. And wasn't it sweet of Simoncelli's dad to sprint all the way from the pits to give him a hug?
Lorenzo may be psycho but what a hero. Hats off to the guy for putting in such a great ride with so many things wrong with him. He definitely gets the Hero of the Race Award.
Stoner's turning into a bit of a grouch isn't he?
As for Marco...phew! A ride from the 'old Marco' too at last. Let's hope it's a sign of things to come. Suppo was pleased but nowhere near pleased enough. I think he's worried Casey's lost his edge.
Well done also to Dovi...pity about the ending. Apparently HRC are after giving him Nicky's seat next year.
Pedrosa...well...he was always going to be there wasn't he? Kid's good. None can deny.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (gsfan @ May 5 2008, 01:50 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Heads should roll in the Suzuki camp for the DNF of CV. It is inexcusable and maybe even Denning should get the boot. I can't remember when such a low level mistake was made. Twice in one year a poorly prepared bike has caused a DNF. Capirossi was making errors also. What to do?

Capirossi said after the race that his 6th was short and the bike was over revving on the straights. Also that on the last lap he has the exact same thing happen to him as happened to Chris with the clutch so in a way he was 'lucky' it was the last lap as he wouldn't have lasted another lap anyway. Suzuki should really get their act together. Still Loris wants to stay on another year and they're already in talks over his contract. One way or the other he says it should be decided within the next 6 weeks. Maybe this should go into the gossip thread??

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 5 2008, 09:09 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I think you read a bit much into the seriously limited tyre information we get. Considering the differences not only between the tyre manufacturers but also the tyre construction/compound/profile differences that can exist between different riders and bikes, the soft - hard labels we get don't really mean much.

Also Stoner rode a 2007 tyres at Qatar not a tailor made one.
I was aware that they said this, and it may even be true; I did say they had the opportunity. The point is that they at least were able to test a more extensive range of tyres than they could have taken to a race week-end and pick the best one. I doubt they would normally take a 2007 compound tyre to a race week-end; maybe for casey's sake they should, and bring the 2007 bike as well . He has been slower than he was in 2007 at the last 3 races.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ May 5 2008, 02:21 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Why what? Why it's amaturish, or why temp and humidity change power?

Why should it be amateurish to say that a strong tailwind caused many riders' bike to overrev in the long straight?
By the way, this has been confirmed by many riders... While your assumption of temp and humidity hasn't.
By the way, today's bikes have electronic injection and controlled intake air pressure...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dazza @ May 5 2008, 04:47 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Really? should have let us know and we could have hooked up we were in section 9. BTW did you see a lot of missing posters outside

Yeah..I was on some damn business trip there, ..saw those thing too,.probably the chinese doesn't like motogp,..maybe nxt round, wonder not many motoGp fans there..only the main grandstand probably 3/4 full. they should have do smthing to encourage people to come see MotogGp stars..

From Bridgestones Sunday press release;

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi took a triumphant victory at the Shanghai International Circuit in China this afternoon to secure his first ever MotoGP victory using Bridgestone tyres. The Italian was embroiled in a race-long battle with Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, but a string of record-breaking lap times in the closing laps ensured a well earned first win of the season, 3.8 seconds clear of Pedrosa. Rossi becomes the sixth rider to take MotoGP victory using Bridgestone tyres after Makoto Tamada, Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss, Chris Vermeulen and Casey Stoner.

Ducati’s Casey Stoner took his second podium result of the season after a fine run to third place, while his team-mate Marco Melandri also rode superbly to a season-best fifth position. All three riders used medium compound rear tyres of the same construction. Three additional Bridgestone-shod riders scored top ten results with Toni Elias underlining the strong performance of Ducati with eighth place for the Alice Team, Loris Capirossi in ninth for Suzuki and Honda Gresini’s Shinya Nakano in tenth.

Morning rain made last minute race preparations complicated. Bridgestone’s tyre fitters worked diligently to prepare tyres to suit all conditions with shallow and full wet weather tyres, cut and full slick tyres all readied for the starting grid. Ultimately, a dry line had emerged by the end of the 125 and 250cc races to allow full slicks to be used. Most riders, however, used softer specification tyres compared to the practice sessions in a bid to combat the lower track temperatures, with the majority of riders opting to use the medium compound range rather than the hard.
(I guess this is what Stoner was talking about)

Pos. Rider Team Race Time Gap Front Tyre (all 16.5’’) Rear Tyre (all 16.5’’)
P1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 44m08.061s WINNER Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
P3 Casey Stoner Ducati Corse 44m23.989s +15.928s Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
P5 Marco Melandri Ducati Corse 44m35.018s +26.957s Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
P8 Toni Elias Alice Team 44m38.286s +30.225s Slick-Medium Slick-Medium

i bet bridgstone are not moaning about being "forced" to sign rossi now !

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (V5Stroker @ May 5 2008, 10:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Yeah..I was on some damn business trip there, ..saw those thing too,.probably the chinese doesn't like motogp,..maybe nxt round, wonder not many motoGp fans there..only the main grandstand probably 3/4 full. they should have do smthing to encourage people to come see MotogGp stars..


haha IC well there are 2 huge posters in my local now anyway

We managed to get to the bottom of the Grandstand just before the off to take some pictures.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (#46 @ May 5 2008, 03:36 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>From Bridgestones Sunday press release;

Fiat Yamaha rider Valentino Rossi took a triumphant victory at the Shanghai International Circuit in China this afternoon to secure his first ever MotoGP victory using Bridgestone tyres. The Italian was embroiled in a race-long battle with Honda’s Dani Pedrosa, but a string of record-breaking lap times in the closing laps ensured a well earned first win of the season, 3.8 seconds clear of Pedrosa. Rossi becomes the sixth rider to take MotoGP victory using Bridgestone tyres after Makoto Tamada, Loris Capirossi, Troy Bayliss, Chris Vermeulen and Casey Stoner.

Ducati’s Casey Stoner took his second podium result of the season after a fine run to third place, while his team-mate Marco Melandri also rode superbly to a season-best fifth position. All three riders used medium compound rear tyres of the same construction. Three additional Bridgestone-shod riders scored top ten results with Toni Elias underlining the strong performance of Ducati with eighth place for the Alice Team, Loris Capirossi in ninth for Suzuki and Honda Gresini’s Shinya Nakano in tenth.

Morning rain made last minute race preparations complicated. Bridgestone’s tyre fitters worked diligently to prepare tyres to suit all conditions with shallow and full wet weather tyres, cut and full slick tyres all readied for the starting grid. Ultimately, a dry line had emerged by the end of the 125 and 250cc races to allow full slicks to be used. Most riders, however, used softer specification tyres compared to the practice sessions in a bid to combat the lower track temperatures, with the majority of riders opting to use the medium compound range rather than the hard.
(I guess this is what Stoner was talking about)

Pos. Rider Team Race Time Gap Front Tyre (all 16.5’’) Rear Tyre (all 16.5’’)
P1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 44m08.061s WINNER Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
P3 Casey Stoner Ducati Corse 44m23.989s +15.928s Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
P5 Marco Melandri Ducati Corse 44m35.018s +26.957s Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
P8 Toni Elias Alice Team 44m38.286s +30.225s Slick-Medium Slick-Medium
Great breakdown. Imagine how .... a one make control tyre rule would have been. Being that Michelin have raised their game - which we knew they would - the rest of the season looks set to be a fascinating tyre war. Now that Briggsy seems to have sussed out how to make a Yam work on Bridgestone's and the Doctor's accomodated the new settings instantly ( on a bike of which its very inception was geared towards Michelin rubber....with limited testing, and after a handful of races!!!!); can Vale take a bridgy into Michelin's back yard next race and make it work? - of course he fackin' can - this is Rossifumi...the raw talent of Spencer, Hailwood and Ago, the guille and racecraft of Lawson, the grit of Doohan, the style of Schwantz and the charisma of Sheene. In short the best bits of motorcycle racing embodied in one man. I hope Lorenzo beats him in a fortnight though!

Stoners is a "genius"

"Well done also to Dovi...pity about the ending. Apparently HRC are after giving him Nicky's seat next year. "

Dovi shouldnt get the repsol bike next year, he aint good enough. Melandri will have it, and hayden to Ducati so Ducati can milk the cash cow of the american market.
Before anyone starts harping on about ducati havin a small production cycle then I mean Ducati the brand being there milk.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ May 5 2008, 10:09 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>"Well done also to Dovi...pity about the ending. Apparently HRC are after giving him Nicky's seat next year. "

Dovi shouldnt get the repsol bike next year, he aint good enough. Melandri will have it, and hayden to Ducati so Ducati can milk the cash cow of the american market.
Before anyone starts harping on about ducati havin a small production cycle then I mean Ducati the brand being there milk.

That's a bit harsh. Dovi's a rookie while Nicky's been there for 6 years.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (phleg @ May 5 2008, 10:16 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>That's a bit harsh. Dovi's a rookie while Nicky's been there for 6 years.

Its not harsh ! Nicky shouldnt be there but neither should Dovi, but your right its his rookie year, and still for me he doesnt convince me. Melandri would be a flyer on that bike, do you not agree phleg ?

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Dion @ May 5 2008, 10:20 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Its not harsh ! Nicky shouldnt be there but neither should Dovi, but your right its his rookie year, and still for me he doesnt convince me. Melandri would be a flyer on that bike, do you not agree phleg ?

I don't know, Marco's been heavily inconsistent over the past few years so I don't think the Repsol ride would help him any more, apart from the bike suiting him more.

Let's see how Marco gets on with the Duke for the rest of the season.

I don't see why Marco should deserve the HRC seat more than Dovi or Nicky, IMO with what he's proving right now he hardly deserves the Kawasaki ride he is rumoured to be getting if he gets kicked out of Ducati Marlboro.

Well, it was a fine race. Not outstanding or "great", but quite good, me thinks.

And while entertaining, it was also informative. Doing away with that 7-race winless break, Rossi answered several questions starting to bubble: Was it a good move switching to B-stones? Does he still have it in him to win races and contend for the Championship? Has the nexgen deposed him as the perennial favorite?

Even if the short answers are "yes", "HELL, YES!", "nope...", more nuanced ones may not be as clear-cut.

While I don't think he had any choice but to walk away from Michelin when he did, it is uncontroversial the French maker came leaps and bounds since, and the fact we're having two Michelin-shod bikes leading the Championship isn't a fluke. Also, if you want a free Tissot watch you better ride a Yamaha on Michelins. Still, it is apparent that Rossi, Yamaha and Bridgestone are jelling quite well and much faster than anyone has anticipated. And the prospect of improvement is definitely there. So, it was a gamble that's paying off, for now.

For those who watched the race it is also apparent that he is, still, top-dog. But Dani and Lorenzo clearly have other ideas and Dovi may join'em in the near future. And, although Rossi excels the stronger his competition is, time's a bitch and is definitely not on his side. All but one race of that "winless break" was won by the, so called, new-blood, most notably one by his own rookie team-mate. Not to mention the last two World Champs.

Anyway... Good to watch Marco at the sharp(ish) end. A one-off? Maybe, though I hope not. Solid performances from Elias, Capirossi and Nakano too.

Disappointed by Edwards 7th place. I was expecting a fight for the final rostrum spot but in the end his race faded away, helped by a couple of imaginative braking points. And 14th for the Hoppa? WTF?!?

Did I forget to mention Lorenzo? Well, the fact is he kinda irritates me. Dani too, though for the opposite reason(s). BUT, he will be Champ one day. No doubt in my mind. In fact they both will. And sooner rather than later. I'd bet on it.