Shanghai Practice & Qualifying

Stoner on top and with a speed advantage of around 10k's over non Ducati riders. The only guy to go close was Pedrosa clocking around 320 to Stoners 325. Rossi and Edwards were around the 312 mark.

Hopkins looking racey!!

http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g314/DrDanMD/FP1.jpg



Edited to a link.....keeps motogp.com off my back! Ben. (read this: http://www.motogpforum.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=223)

Free Practice 2

1. John Hopkins Suzuki 2:01.204
2. Marco Melandri Honda 2:01.303 + 0.099
3. Dani Pedrosa Honda 2:01.333 + 0.129
4. Nicky Hayden Honda 2:01.346 + 0.142
5. Loris Capirossi Ducati 2:01.365 + 0.161
6. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2:01.390 + 0.186
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha 2:01.409 + 0.205
8. Casey Stoner Ducati 2:01.460 + 0.256
9. Alex Hofmann Ducati 2:01.771 + 0.567
10. Carlos Checa Honda 2:01.881 + 0.677
11. Randy de Puniet Kawasaki 2:01.896 + 0.692
12. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 2:01.991 + 0.787
13. Alex Barros Ducati 2:02.051 + 0.847
14. Toni Elias Honda 2:02.114 + 0.910
15. Makoto Tamada Yamaha 2:02.242 + 1.038
16. Kenny Roberts Jr KR 2:02.564 + 1.360
17. Sylvain Guintoli Yamaha 2:02.768 + 1.564
18. Olivier Jacque Kawasaki 2:02.818 + 1.614
19. Shinya Nakano Honda 2:02.977 + 1.773

Former team mates bringing up the rear.

From Crash.net

"Emphasising the need for a balanced bike around Shanghai was the fact that Hopkins was only 14th fastest through the speed trap, some 15km/h slower than the d'Antin Ducati Alex Barros (329km/h), but - as things stand - the Desmosedicis will still have a clear advantage in terms of overtaking ability in the race. Having been on the receiving end of Ducati horsepower at Qatar, Rossi will also be wary after giving away 13.3km/h to Barros this afternoon."

I am thrilled and relieved to see Hayden showing us some decent pace, hes been racing better than he qualifies recently so the signs are all positive.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ May 4 2007, 09:08 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>"Emphasising the need for a balanced bike around Shanghai was the fact that Hopkins was only 14th fastest through the speed trap, some 15km/h slower than the d'Antin Ducati Alex Barros (329km/h), but - as things stand - the Desmosedicis will still have a clear advantage in terms of overtaking ability in the race. Having been on the receiving end of Ducati horsepower at Qatar, Rossi will also be wary after giving away 13.3km/h to Barros this afternoon."

yup on 7 tenth in it from 1st to 12th place , as io said in another thread, it has 2 big straight but loads ot technical twistys, this is by no meens a done deal for ducati, flash in the pan elias is a second down.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 4 2007, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>yup on 7 tenth in it from 1st to 12th place , as io said in another thread, it has 2 big straight but loads ot technical twistys, this is by no meens a done deal for ducati, flash in the pan elias is a second down.

He was dead last in Turkey practice

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (roger-m @ May 4 2007, 09:28 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>flash in the pan elias is a second down.

Didn't he qualify crap at the last race? Ooooh Brave words Rog lol. Free practice don't mean ....!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 4 2007, 10:24 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I am thrilled and relieved to see Hayden showing us some decent pace, hes been racing better than he qualifies recently so the signs are all positive.

I don't know. So far he doesn't have the race pace. Maybe the last setup/tire made som progres but he only had 2 laps below 2:02 and that have to improve if he's going to play with the front runners.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ May 4 2007, 05:06 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Stoner on top and with a speed advantage of around 10k's over non Ducati riders. The only guy to go close was Pedrosa clocking around 320 to Stoners 325. Rossi and Edwards were around the 312 mark.

Hopkins looking racey!!

If hopkins can pull off another one of those laps he'll get pole.

Otherwise he was right up there with Stoner, Pedrosa and Rossi (Melandri) on average lap times. They are all goning to be in the game.

I wonder how much impact the Ducati speed advantage will be. 6-14 kph will be an advantage but I still wonder how it will look in the race. Previous years their advantage showed in high speeds at the end of the straight (airodynamics comming into play), and the difference were just as big-ish, but at quatar the advantage showed imediatly at the last exit.
Unless there are a change from Quatar the others will not stand a chance.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Babelfish @ May 4 2007, 10:45 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>I don't know. So far he doesn't have the race pace. Maybe the last setup/tire made som progres but he only had 2 laps below 2:02 and that have to improve if he's going to play with the front runners.

Yeah but he has been roughly 0.9 behind on race tires previously this year, so to be 0.15 back now is a good step forward.

MotoGP Top Speeds (FP2) - km/h

1. Barros 328.96
2. Stoner 326.38
3. Hofmann 326.38
4. Capirossi 323.83
5. Melandri 323.35
6. Pedrosa 322.29
7. De Puniet 319.14
8. Hayden 318.30
9. Jacque 318.02
10. Guintoli 316.99
11. Rossi 315.69
12. Vermeulen 314.68
13. Checa 314.4
14. Hopkins 314.0
15. Elias 313.22
16. Edwards 312.50
17. Tamada 311.8
18. Roberts 311.6
19. Nakano 310.2

Nakano is ......

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 4 2007, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nakano is ......



agreed. rain looks like his only savior.

Hey guys help me out here with a rider question. I thought Melandri was a big guy, but his speeds don't indicate that? Is he a thin guy that can get into a good aerodynamic position?

This is some interesting ....

Hodgson could stand in for Jacque

By Toby Moody and Jonathan Noble Friday, May 4th 2007, 11:41 GMT

Neil Hodgson could make a surprise MotoGP return at the French Grand Prix as a stand-in at Kawasaki for the injured Olivier Jacque, autosport.com has learned.

Jacque is already out of this weekend's race in China after cutting his forearm open in an accident in second practice, and is a doubt for the next race at Le Mans.

Although no decision has been made yet about when the Frenchman will be able to get back on a bike, sources have revealed that Kawasaki are considering putting Hodgson on standby if he wants the ride.

Kawasaki do not have a reserve rider after their tester Naoki Matsudo suffered serious injuries in a crash earlier this year, while former 250cc race winner Fonsi Nieto. who was linked with the team last year has now taken a World Superbike Series ride with a Kawasaki ZX-10.

Hodgson, however, is available and already has experience on the Bridgestone tyres that Kawasaki use after he tested at Oschersleben last week for Ducati. He is currently standing in as Bridgestone's test rider with regular Shinichi Itoh out thanks to a broken hip.

With Hodgson having no race ride this season after the withdrawal of Ducati from the AMA series in America in which he rode, his availability for the French GP would be guaranteed.

Hodgson last raced in MotoGP with the Primac D'Antin team in 2004 but he did not enjoy the year and turned down the chance of a return with them for this season.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (L8Braker @ May 4 2007, 09:48 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hey guys help me out here with a rider question. I thought Melandri was a big guy, but his speeds don't indicate that? Is he a thin guy that can get into a good aerodynamic position?

Melandri
Height: 164 cm Weight: 61 kg

Casey Stoner
Height: 171 cm Weight: 58 kg

Dani Pedrosa
Height: 158cm Weight: 50kg

Melandri isn't a big guy.

GO HOOLIGIN HOPPER! :clap



MOTOGP News Friday, 4th May 2007

Free practice times (combined) - Shanghai.


Full MotoGP free practice times (1 and 2 combined) from the Chinese Grand Prix at Shanghai, round four of the 2007 world championship.

All best times were set in FP2.


1. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP ( 2min 1.204 secs
2. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda ( 2min 1.303 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.333 secs
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.346 secs
5. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team ( 2min 1.365 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 1.390 secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 1.409 secs
8. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team ( 2min 1.460 secs
9. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP ( 2min 1.771 secs
10. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 2min 1.881 secs
11. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team ( 2min 1.896 secs
12. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP ( 2min 1.991 secs
13. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP ( 2min 2.051 secs
14. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda ( 2min 2.114 secs
15. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 2.242 secs
16. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 2min 2.564 secs
17. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 2.768 secs
18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team ( 2min 2.818 secs
19. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 2min 2.977 secs

2006 Chinese Grand Prix - 14/05/2006:
Pole position: Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (M) 1min 59.009secs
Fastest lap: Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda (M) 1min 59.318secs

With these times, it appears this is going to be one hell of a race!

Not to mention a wet qualifying and the race conditions being a lottery...

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ May 4 2007, 06:08 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>"Emphasising the need for a balanced bike

... off balanced, she need lots of grunt, not balance. that stright go from shanghai to Moscow.

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Tom @ May 4 2007, 08:55 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Nakano is ......

.... off team gren traitor, thats what he get for deflectin!

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (vale4607 @ May 4 2007, 10:12 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>Hodgson could stand in for Jacque

... off neil

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (richo @ May 4 2007, 03:50 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}><div class='quotemain'>... off balanced, she need lots of grunt, not balance. that stright go from shanghai to Moscow.
.... off team gren traitor, thats what he get for deflectin!
... off neilRicho, have you been on the piss? You're a wee bit on the aggressive side today