| Author | Message | ||
     Gregtonn |
So far in practice: 1. A. Epargaro 2. Bautista 3. Smith http://www.nationalspeedsportnews.com/motorcycle-r acing/motogp/espargaro-sets-early-motogp-pace-in-q atar/ The race will be broadcast 2:30 pm eastern on FS1. G | ||
| Trojan |
I don't think I would base the result on first practice times (although I may be proved very wrong!), as all the Open and satellite bikes had three days of testing at Qatar last week and are already setup and ready to race. The factory bikes (and Ducati) have come from a high grip Philip Island to the dusty and slippery desert tack and will need a couple of sessions to get up to their full potential. I think that by the end of FP3 we will see the usual suspects much closer to the front, with the only real interloper being Aleix Espagaro. having said that, I'll bet there is a lot of wailing and gnashing of teeth at HRC right now, and there will be more than a few people at Yamaha wondering if they have shot their factory team in the back by supplying such high spec 'Open' bikes to NGM Forward Racing  | ||
| Trojan |
Unusually for Superbike Planet, they have a great article on the life of Mike Hailwood (the best ever in my view) here: http://www.superbikeplanet.com/mikehailwood.htm They do surprisingly miss out his appearances at Daytona in 1970-71 where he lead the race until his factory BSA broke down, handing the victory to Dick Mann on the Honda 750. | ||
| Jaimec |
I wonder how many times Aleix will beat the factory boys, and Yamaha says "**** it, we're going Open!" too... Lorenzo DESPERATELY wanted to try the Open bike, but Yamaha refused to let him, saying there was no point. | ||
| Trojan |
...saying there was no point. What they meant was...no point in making Yamaha look more stupid than it already does! They keep saying that the soft 'Open' spec tyre won't last a race distance, but I understand that Espagaro was on a hard tyre yesterday and it didn't seem to slow him down too much. Not sure how many laps he did on it though. | ||
| Jaimec |
I am REALLY looking forward to Sunday's race now. It looks like (for a change) it won't be the same old familiar faces on the podium. This should be REAL interesting... | ||
| Amafan |
Yamaha can not go Open the deadline to declare Open are Factory has passed. I love all the Rossi and Lorenzo fan boys crying that the rules are unfair,when they have always been on the best bikes and tires. | ||
| Vagelis46 |
Factory Yamaha are idiots .......... | ||
| Jaimec |
Honda isn't exactly looking all that good right not either. Their "Open Class" bike is not much better than last year's ART bikes from what I can tell. Poor Nicky is stuck on another slug... | ||
| Trojan |
Aleix Espagaro was half a second quicker than everyone in every session so far, yet his bike is at least 15k/h slower than pretty much everyone else in the top ten. This proves what an advanatge the 'Open' soft tyre is to a rider that is good enough to exploit the potential of it in corners. Whether he can keep this up over a race distance is debatable but is looking more and more likely as the sessions roll on. He is now at 5/1 to win! Lest see how fast they change the rules again next week! | ||
| Jaimec |
Livio Suppo DID honestly admit their "problem" has a first AND a last name: "Aleix Espargaro." NO ONE else on an "Open Bike" is even close (though the Ducatis are there too). It might be Aleix's YEARS of practice of making a non-competitive bike competitive... | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
This proves what an advanatge the 'Open' soft tyre is to a rider that is good enough to exploit the potential of it in corners. Losail being the ideal place to do this, as displayed by Rossi last season. Livio Suppo DID honestly admit their "problem" has a first AND a last name: "Aleix Espargaro." NO ONE else on an "Open Bike" is even close (though the Ducatis are there too). That back stabbing turncoat would say that when his back's against the wall. Moaning twat he is when he's looking at not winning. Rocket in England | ||
| Jaimec |
Come on Rocket, don't hold back; tell us how you REALLY feel.  | ||
| Jaimec |
It would appear as though Marquez was sandbagging all along. Aleix seemed to get a little ahead of himself and crashed TWICE during qualifying. I'm still looking "Forward" to seeing tomorrow's race... | ||
| Pwnzor |
I just got my Motogp.com Season Multiscreen video pass. 140 euros... wife's early birthday present to me. I think it was really for her, but I don't mind. | ||
| Pwnzor |
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| Pwnzor |
It was a great finish.  | ||
| Jaimec |
TOLD you he was sandbagging all along. What're the odds the rest of the season will be just as exciting as the opener?? | ||
| Buellhusker |
I don't think Marc was sandbagging they just haden't given him the good pain meds for qualfying and saved it for the race. | ||
| Jaimec |
He qualified on the pole. You can't do any better than that. | ||
| Blake |
Rossi is back. Nice. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Whilst I admire your faith in Rossi, Blake, some of us never thought he'd left. Qatar will always be a special race given it's the first of the season and a night race at that. But for me it's extra special having been there last year. My invite to go this year came just three weeks ago and I was not in a position to accept at such short notice. Instead I've confirmed next year. It's a great race and great to be there. That said, watching it broadcast showed me what I'd missed last year. Or at least in commentary terms, and close up footage not easy to see on the trackside big screens. I mention my presence there last year as I was able to concentrate on Rossi coming through the field, and timing him with my chronograph. Rossi was in a class of his own last year. I think it's fair to say it was his best race last season too. Losail this year though, he went better yet. Whether or not we can make a somewhat predictable assessment for the rest of the season, I believe it's to early to say. Especially so given the attrition rate in the sand swept Losail circuit. Lorenzo, Bradl, Bautista, all on fire, would have provided for a different race had they have stayed on. The one thing we did see yesterday, and Marquez post race gave us an insight saying his leg didn't bother him at all, was Rossi and Marquez going head to head for the first time on bikes that seemed comparable in performance and raceability. What I saw was a fit strong bloke of a certain age racing against a fit young hot dog. Neither appeared by age or fitness to have an advantage over the other, but they both displayed an amazing view of race craft that even the best racers in the world only a few have, no matter their age or experience. This is why I hope we have a competitive season with Rossi running up the front with other Aliens wher he belongs. Rocket in England | ||
| Trojan |
My prediction (for what it is worth): 1. Pedrosa 2. Marquez 3. Rossi Wasn't far off was I Just got the order wrong! Great race only marred by the crashes at the front of the field that flattered the performances of everyone from 4th back. Bradley Smith was showing great form and rubbing a few peoples noses in it until he slid off, and Iannone showed how competitive the Open class software can be for Ducati until he went into 'crazy joe' mode again. Crutchlow suffered another Ducati electronics meltdown similar to Nicky Haydens a season or so back. His transponder went haywire and meant that the bike didn't know where it was on the circuit, giving full power in corners and struggling on straights. he was very lucky to finish at all and it must have been a nightmare to try and ride the thing! Scott Redding impressed me in the race, improving his lap time again and getting the better of Nicky Hayden by a fraction to be leading RCV1000 rider. Altogether though it showed that the new rules can actually work if given a chance, and if the factories stop meddling | ||
| Crusty |
I'll say one thing, this race has people excited like few MotoGP races have in a few years. Attendance in Austin should benefit just from all the interest it's stirred up. | ||
| Xb1125r |
you all know Marquez is going to win it again, MotoGP is to predictable | ||
| Bads1 |
Awesome race but I wonder how it all played out Lorenzo didn't go down or Stephan Bradyl ?? They all looked pretty strong | ||
| Blake |
Not faith Sean, just simple observation and appreciation of the amazing talent, determination, and durability. | ||
| Rocket_in_uk |
Absolutely Blake Rocket in England | ||
| Jaimec |
Last year in Qatar, Rossi made it exciting by fighting his way up to second. For the remainder of the season (Assen being the exception), he was the fourth best rider on the planet. I'd LOVE to see him fighting for podiums and wins on a regular basis... but Qatar has proven it really isn't a good indicator for the remainder of the season. | ||
| Bads1 |
I agree Jaime. To many riders went down that its hard to say where Rossi would have finished if Lorenzo,Bradyl and Smith would of been there to the finish. |
