Ducati Monster Forum

http://www.motogp.com/en/TestResults/MotoGP+Valencia+Test+2010 (http://www.motogp.com/en/TestResults/MotoGP+Valencia+Test+2010)

MotoGP Valencia Test, Spain
Session 1 - 09/11/09

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 32.660 sec (32 laps)
2. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 32.685 sec (45 laps)
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 1min 32.826 sec (37 laps)
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 33.088 sec (31 laps)
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 33.358 sec (58 laps)
6. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 33.496 sec (50 laps)
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 1min 33.675 sec (51 laps)
8. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 1min 33.726 sec (52 laps)
9. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 1min 33.775 sec (61 laps)
10. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 33.839 sec (59 laps)
11. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 1min 33.878 sec (63 laps)
12. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1min 33.929 sec (35 laps)
13. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 34.144 sec (55 laps)
14. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1min 35.229 sec (51 laps)
15. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 35.772 sec (52 laps)
16. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 1min 36.204 sec (63 laps)
17. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Scot Honda 1min 37.964 sec (40 laps)
18. Kenny Noyes USA Promoracing (Moto2) 1min 38.654 sec (28 laps)
19. Ratthapark Wilairot THA Stop and Go (Moto2) 1min 39.815 sec (17 laps)
20. Joan Olive SPA Promoracing (Moto2) 1min 41.989 sec (18 laps)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA677828.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA677875.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/360/PA677873.jpg)

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA677872.jpg)

Could he possibly get any further forward on the bike?

according to his teammate, you gotta keep that 'stone loaded at all times..

Yeah. But I don't think it'd be advisable...
(http://www.motards-online.com/competition/images/illus/craig_jones_stoppie_record_01.jpg)

i know it's just a test and yadda yadda, but 6th is miracle territory.... ;)

Spies hasn't even dicked with his settings yet, just some adjustments to riding style.  Good start.

Is anyone riding a 2010 bike or are they all still on 09's with updates? 

pedro and dovi are:

http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25778.msg551029#msg551029 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=25778.msg551029#msg551029)

so are rossi and lorenzo:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Good+first+day+for+Fiat+Yamaha+pair+at+Valencia (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Good+first+day+for+Fiat+Yamaha+pair+at+Valencia)

looks like they're still testing with the 2009 engine spec:

“It was quite hard work to get back on the bike today but it's a very important test for us,” Rossi stated. “The new prototype we have already feels better than what we tried in Brno, so this is positive. I was faster than with the old bike straight away so we know we're working in the right way and hopefully we can improve some more tomorrow. Of course we still have a 2009 specification engine and we won't have an update until the next test in February, but the bike already feels more stable and has more rear grip. Tomorrow we have quite a lot to get through and it will be an important day before we can finally relax.”

tuesday test times:

(http://www.gpone.com/DB/Foto_2009_11/20091011TEMPIORE15_G.jpg)

colin curiously absent from the list. i'm still waiting for the "official" results on motogp.com or another news outlet.

Wow, sub-32 by Lorenzo; better than Stoner's pole time.

Lorenzo? look at Spies on the privateer! Less than a week on the bike and he's already up there with the 4.

He's still a second off the pace though (and you know that Rossi and Pedrosa still have a lot left in the tank).  Still  . . . fack.   :o 

Earlier this year, it seemed like Espagaro in GP was the weirdest move ever.  Turns out, he can really ride.

I saw it--great performance.  He gets plenty of love around here though, he doesn't need another superfan ;D

and Nicky is in front of Pedrosa...

Testing times don't always represent real speed. In Spies' case maybe it does but who knows.

honda and ducati are testing their 2010 platforms.

rossi/lorenzo are too, but i haven't seen confirmation of what ben is riding yet.

From MotoGP.com:

Pos   Rider   Team   Fastest lap   Prev. Gap   Lead. Gap   Laps
1   Jorge Lorenzo   Fiat Yamaha Team   1:31.939   -   -   62
2   Casey Stoner   Ducati Marlboro Team   1:32.195   +0.256   +0.256   44
3   Valentino Rossi   Fiat Yamaha Team   1:32.528   +0.333   +0.589   55
4   Ben Spies   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   1:32.942   +0.414   +1.003   61
5   Nicky Hayden   Ducati Marlboro Team   1:32.981   +0.039   +1.042   84
6   Dani Pedrosa   Repsol Honda Team   1:33.025   +0.044   +1.086   46
7   Randy De Puniet   Lcr Honda MotoGP   1:33.111   +0.086   +1.172   76
8   Mika Kallio   Pramac Racing   1:33.125   +0.014   +1.186   84
9   Loris Capirossi   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   1:33.211   +0.086   +1.272   64
10   Marco Melandri   San Carlo Honda Gresini   1:33.326   +0.115   +1.387   85
11   Aleix Espargaro   Pramac Racing   1:33.345   +0.019   +1.406   74
12   Andrea Dovizioso   Repsol Honda Team   1:33.546   +0.201   +1.607   44
13   Hector Barbera   Aspar Team   1:34.206   +0.660   +2.267   100
14   Marco Simoncelli   San Carlo Honda Gresini   1:34.230   +0.024   +2.291   79
15   Alvaro Bautista   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   1:34.540   +0.310   +2.601   74
16   Hiroshi Aoyama   Scot Racing Team   1:35.261   +0.721   +3.322   88
17   Xavier Simeon   Gresini Moto 2 Team   1:37.279   +2.018   +5.340   58
18   Joan Olive   Promoracing   1:37.881   +0.602   +5.942   86

Doesn't look like the new 250 crop got it together yet.

The problem with the 800cc MotoGP bikes is that if you're coming from 250s you're at a serious disadvantage because the 800s--as opposed to the 1000cc bikes--require a WSBK riding riding style.  

Inside joke?

Making fun of Rossi:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/153018/1/rossi_lorenzo_welcome_great_rival_spies.html (http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/153018/1/rossi_lorenzo_welcome_great_rival_spies.html)

Huh? you got it ass backwards, the 800's perform more like the 250's. Rossi says so in the link you just posted. If anything Spies should have the disadvantage. And Simoncelli did fairly well on his one-off WSBK ride.

but of course testing doesn't show the true potential

Testing times do say something, maybe not the whole story, of course.

I do find it interesting that the preliminary times that Derby posted (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=31738.msg552318#msg552318 (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=31738.msg552318#msg552318)) showed Spies ahead of Rossi, but final times have Rossi quicker.

Methinks Rossi couldn't deal with a whole winter of the last test times showing Spies faster....

In the end, you can't discount raw talent and Spies has enormous raw talent.  You'd have to say, looking at first tests, that Spies might be popping in and out of a few podiums next year.  Lorenzo was fast when he came up, and while inconsistant, definately challenged right away. 

I worry a bit about the 250 guys being as far down as they are on the charts.  I will admit that with the bikes they are on, Simoncelli is the only one I expect to challenge in the top 8 riders next year.  Stoner/Rossi/Lorenzo/Pedrosa/Colin/Dovi are pretty much locks for 6 of those spots and Spies I'm sure, plus Melandri on a better bike and Hayden hopefully improving.  Its a tight bunch in the top half of the standings imo.  The zuke' and duke's will be difficult to bring home and I just don't see Aoyama  being as good as his 250 season result indicated.  I'll be looking forward to spring testing to see how it all pans out, but if Spies is immediately quick, then I expect him to do well next year.

granted, the aliens et al are all testing new stuff so they probably aren't going to be as fast as they were on sunday.  so i take it all with a grain of salt.. and yet, 4th is pretty effin' amazing.

i was someone who thought he was going to do exponentially better in wsbk than most predicted.  and yet, i was still way off with how well he really did.  so.. we'll see.

Toseland was quick originally in pre-season.

Not saying Spies will go the same way as JT but it wouldn't be without precedent.

JT, for whatever reason, got along a LOT better with the michelins.

I think the point is still valid.

Plus, JT sucks.  [laugh]

(http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/710/PA678200.jpg)

That is hugging the track by anyone's standards


mitt

dunno how i missed this:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Spies+incorporated+into+Tech+3+team+on+Monday (http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/Spies+incorporated+into+Tech+3+team+on+Monday)

Indeed, such was Spies’ immediate pace on James Toseland’s 2009 Yamaha M1 the American’s best time was the sixth quickest on Monday. Spies was only 0.8s behind fastest rider Casey Stoner’s test pace and was a massive 0.6s better than his own fastest lap in Sunday’s race.

 ;D

guess that answers the question as to whose settings he was not changing yet..
 
:)

http://www.motomatters.com/news/2009/11/11/2009_valencia_post_race_test_total_times.html (http://www.motomatters.com/news/2009/11/11/2009_valencia_post_race_test_total_times.html)

Stoner overall fastest, The Ben (tm) 8th.

I think the Yamaha team (incl Ben) sat out the final day.

yup.  they all went home after day 2.