FP1:
Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:57.782
2 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:57.911
3 Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:59.021
4 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:59.134
5 John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:59.220
6 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:59.400
7 Toni Elias Alice Team Ducati 1:59.756
8 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:59.770
9 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:59.965
10 Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 2.00.082
11 Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team Ducati 2.00.083
12 Andrea Dovizioso JiR Scot Team Honda 2.00.429
13 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 2.00.447
14 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 2.00.496
15 James Toseland Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 2.01.074
16 Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 2:01.128
17 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda 2:01.231
FP2:
Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:57.231
2 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:57.410
3 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:58.000
4 Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:58.228
5 Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1:58.264
6 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1:58.462
7 Colin Edwards Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:58.672
8 John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:58.830
9 Toni Elias Alice Team Ducati 1:58.881
10 Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team Ducati 1:58.923
11 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:58.977
12 Andrea Dovizioso JiR Scot Team Honda 1:59.094
13 James Toseland Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1:59.328
14 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1:59.405
15 Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:59.943
16 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda 2.00.540
17 Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 2:00.621
Looks like it's officially a two horse race. Pedrosa doesn't seem to be able to muster much of anything. He'll be lucky to beat the slow Ducatis.
`Unfortunately I've not been feeling well for a few days and I felt very weak today - I even felt sapped of energy just putting my gloves on. I can deal with a bit of tiredness but this afternoon I could only ride a handful of laps before I started to feel cramps in my stomach,' said Stoner before heading off for some rest
- so has JT officially lost it?
- good to see hopper in the top 10 after so long off the bike
- jeez, for pedro, that is SLOW
Well, it also looks like Michelins aren't where it's at on this track. The only guy on French rubber in the top-10 is CEII. However, I definitely expect more from Dovi given his recent performances.
Well, 2 things are official. #1 - I'm a genius. #2 - Michelin make the beast with two backsed up again.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69818
MMW, next year GP will be mono-tire. Maybe not through rules, but no team is going to run Michelin's next year after they've done this shit yet again. Also, interesting to note that next years development Honda is in the hands of Shinya Nakano (who rides on 'stones). Seems like Honda may be ditching thinking (or already has) Michelin. I know Pedro wanted the 'stones this year, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Repsol Honda was on them next year...
brand new surface, arguably even playing field.. one gets it more or less right, the other doesn't. again.
i've been thinking the same thing about pedro and the 'stones. ....but i'm no genius. ;)
FP3 (Wet)
1 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 2'09.609
2 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 2'10.168
3 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 2'10.941
4 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 2'11.117
5 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 2'11.215
6 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 2'11.374
7 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 2'11.389
8 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 2'11.762
9 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 2'11.879
10 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 2'11.950
11 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda 2'12.069
12 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ducati 2'12.213
13 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ducati 2'12.276
14 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 2'13.885
15 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 2'14.384
16 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 2'14.862
17 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 2'15.613
Weather forecast is dry for Sunday fwiw.
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69848
really all that has to happen is for Honda (and the rest of Yamaha) to give up on Michelin and we'll have a single-tire series. ...Honda won suzuka this year on Bridgestones.
Quote from: gm2 on August 16, 2008, 03:36:23 PM
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69848
really all that has to happen is for Honda (and the rest of Yamaha) to give up on Michelin and we'll have a single-tire series. ...Honda won suzuka this year on Bridgestones.
My genius is solidified...
Quote from: darylbowden on August 15, 2008, 12:54:27 PM
MMW, next year GP will be mono-tire. Maybe not through rules, but no team is going to run Michelin's next year after they've done this shit yet again. Also, interesting to note that next years development Honda is in the hands of Shinya Nakano (who rides on 'stones). Seems like Honda may be ditching thinking (or already has) Michelin. I know Pedro wanted the 'stones this year, I wouldn't be at all surprised if Repsol Honda was on them next year...
Sunday Warm Up
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 57.204 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 57.679 secs
3. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 59.126 secs
4. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 59.163 secs
5. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 59.210 secs
6. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 59.288 secs
7. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 59.334 secs
8. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 59.422 secs
9. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 59.495 secs
10. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 59.523 secs
11. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 59.687 secs
12. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 59.715 secs
13. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 59.973 secs
14. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 2min 0.148 secs
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 0.452 secs
16. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 2min 0.670 secs
17. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 2min 1.229 secs
"Toseland and Lorenzo lapped a shocking 11.6secs and 12.0secs slower than pole sitter Casey Stoner, leaving them outside the 107% qualifying time required to start the race, although they will both be allowed to line-up on Sunday's grid due to the exceptional weather conditions."
[coffee]
so... rossi with another win and a duc that isn't stoner's on the box.
also, it looks like you guys watching on cbs may get some mick doohan on the announcing team, or at least as a pitlane reporter.
czech out those legs on the podium. :o
my oh my that randy just can't seem to keep the bike on the track [roll]
surprising to see elias on the podium too [thumbsup]
what do you guys think caused casey's crash, a bump?
Quote from: derby on August 17, 2008, 06:05:38 AM
czech out those legs on the podium. :o
her eyes were crazie blue too [thumbsup]
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 17, 2008, 06:45:55 AM
what do you guys think caused casey's crash, a bump?
i initially thought he looked too far to the inside of the turn and rubbed up against the curbing, but after watching again that doesn't appear to be what happened.
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 17, 2008, 06:45:55 AM
what do you guys think caused casey's crash, a bump?
Hard to say. It looked to me like he was a little heavy on the trail-braking form the aerial view, but form the others, I really can't tell. Probably he was just pushing so hard trying to break Rossi that there wasn't any margin for error, so when he hit a bump, he was already at the limits of traction and then he just lost it.
Quotewhat do you guys think caused casey's crash, a bump?
QuoteProbably he was just pushing so hard trying to break Rossi that there wasn't any margin for error
+1
I think he got frustrated seeing Rossi stick with him lap after lap and kept pushing harder until he dropped the bike. After the first lap, Stoner had no advantage at all.
What a bummer Stoner crashed out. I was really hoping Rossi would just sit there until the last few laps when we'd see a battle for the win. Oh well. :'(
I thought Doohan did pretty well annoucing as well. [thumbsup] I wish Greg White would quit yelling though. [laugh] For some reason it works when the Brit announcers go ape...not when Greg does though.
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on August 17, 2008, 06:45:55 AM
my oh my that randy just can't seem to keep the bike on the track [roll]
surprising to see elias on the podium too [thumbsup]
what do you guys think caused casey's crash, a bump?
I think it was due to the fact that he was leaning 46 degrees too far and at 46% throttle he hit the 46th bump and adios amigo. [laugh]
The only reason he had a lead was because Hopper got in Rossi's way in the first turn.
A message to Hopper, "Know your role and get out of way next time."
It's nice to see that Rossi has finally figured Stoner out. First Biaggi, second Gibernau and third time is a charm.
"Dunt dunt dunt....another bites the dust...."
Nice to see Capirex on the podium. [thumbsup]
Was really looking forward to the end of that race. Once Rossi got around Hopper he was able to keep his gap to Stoner pretty much level. Was even pulling back a little when Stoner went down. With the amount of laps left I was looking forward to another fight between the two. Too bad Stoner dropped it. Just one little mistake.........
Even though I'm a Rossi fan you gotta feel bad for Stoner. He was doing what he needed to do. He's gotta be kicking himself right now.
I think someone sabotaged his front end, again. ;)
I had a WTH? moment when they showed Stoner back in the pits after he retired. He didn't seem too depressed aboutt he crash. Almost looked like he was smiling when they showed him on CBS. Said he was sick as a dog Friday, wonder if that had to more to do with his error than Rossi shadowing him. :-\
Happy to see Capirossi do well. Really happy to see Elias do well. [clap]
QuoteSaid he was sick as a dog Friday, wonder if that had to more to do with his error than Rossi shadowing him
He didn't use that excuse, he just manned up and said he made a mistake. I would think if he was going to blame it on being sick, we wouldn't have seen him smiling and seeming to have a good ol' time with the boys when he got back to the pits. They said he was fine before the race, and he didn't try to make any excuses for the crash. He was running great lap times, I just think it was a run of the mill lowside, maybe a little hot into that corner. Rossi and Stoner were both pushing it to the limit, as no one was gaining much ground either way. Happens.
Nice to see Alice Ducati doing well.
other than that, yawn.
mitt
Also, even though I'm happy Rossi won I think it's crap that poor tires are holding back that many riders. At least we know that Rossi wasn't crazy last year. But damn. I think a spec tire or at least one manufacturer is where it's headed. Not where it should be but what major team is going to ride Michelins next year? I'd bet one dollar that Repsol Honda makes the change before everyone else. Fiat Yamaha will be a full B-stone team next year.
Poor Pedro. Didn't he also try to make the switch last offseason? I thought I read where he wanted to ride Bridgestones.
Quote from: Chococat on August 17, 2008, 08:46:42 PM
Poor Pedro. Didn't he also try to make the switch last offseason? I thought I read where he wanted to ride Bridgestones.
You probably read it in a couple of my posts earlier in this thread ;) And yes, it was discussed in some trade mags.
Only 5 riders are even on Michelins this year and their best developmental rider (CEII) is PISSED with them. As I said earlier, regardless if there is a mono-tire rule, there will only be one tire on the grid next year. No way that Repsol or Tech 3 or Lorenzo is going to just forgo their chances at a championship just so somebody will still run the French rubber. If anyone wants to compete with Rossi and Stoner they can't afford to just give away points like that by having shit tires.
Quote from: JesterDFW on August 17, 2008, 03:55:27 PM
He didn't use that excuse, he just manned up and said he made a mistake. I would think if he was going to blame it on being sick, we wouldn't have seen him smiling and seeming to have a good ol' time with the boys when he got back to the pits. They said he was fine before the race, and he didn't try to make any excuses for the crash. He was running great lap times, I just think it was a run of the mill lowside, maybe a little hot into that corner. Rossi and Stoner were both pushing it to the limit, as no one was gaining much ground either way. Happens.
Good on 'im. When he parked it next to the barrier, I fully expected a temper tantrum. Night and day difference from Laguna. [clap] [beer]
W T F Elias?!
michelin. embarrassing. how validated does rossi feel right now.
greg white was somehow about 300% less irritating. cool beans having doohan there.
With regards to a spec. tire for next year, did you guys see this article?
http://www.motogpmatters.com/news/2008/08/17/riders_ask_for_five_changes_to_improve_s.html
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69847
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69863
A spec tire rule is nothing new but I think it makes the least amount of sense if what you're after is slowing down the corner speeds. Unless the spec tire is the current batch of Michelins! ;D
The narrower wheel/tire proposal is interesting. As is the move back to 990's or weighing down the 800's.
It's interesting that all the Michelin guys wanted the spec tire but only a majority of Bridgestone guys did. I wonder how many of the teams wanted to move back to 990's? Or wanted less traction control?
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69876
this made me laugh. you can just hear him saying it:
"...so he tried to make 1:56.0, and in the human world that is not possible."
;D
That was classic! [clap]
Quote from: mikeb on August 18, 2008, 09:20:29 AM
Or wanted less traction control?
Just the one's whose traction control isn't as effective as Ducati's and Yamaha's is my guess.
In other news, spec tyre for MotoGP now! [popcorn]
Quote from: gm2 on August 18, 2008, 09:52:20 AM
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69876
this made me laugh. you can just hear him saying it:
"...so he tried to make 1:56.0, and in the human world that is not possible."
;D
[laugh] [laugh] That's great!
Seems to me Rossi's biggest edge is that he
really enjoys tight head to head racing. Stoner on the other hand seems to like building a gap and reeling off lap after lap for the win. It seems to me his crash was caused by pushing too hard to try and maintain his gap and avoid a head to head race with Rossi. ??? Rossi will always have the edge until Stoner also learns to enjoy head to head racing.
That's just my impression...maybe I'm crazy! [coffee]
stupid fast & has serious racecraft vs. stupid fast.
Quote from: tufty on August 18, 2008, 10:15:46 AM
Just the one's whose traction control isn't as effective as Ducati's and Yamaha's is my guess.
Yeah, but even Rossi says he'd rather do without it. And so far this season he's doing alright. So I wonder if it's really that clear cut along those lines. Plus, Ducati's works......but not for every Ducati rider.
arguably it only works for one ducati rider, elias/brno notwithstanding. guintoli's best ride this year came as a result of having to turn the TC off completely.
different systems are different amounts of proactive vs reactive. maybe a lot of riders feel it's become too proactive.
Quote from: mikeb on August 18, 2008, 09:20:29 AM
A spec tire rule is nothing new but I think it makes the least amount of sense if what you're after is slowing down the corner speeds. Unless the spec tire is the current batch of Michelins! ;D
how about just for safety?
Quote from: derby on August 18, 2008, 11:16:52 AM
how about just for safety?
Well, I guess it depends on what you mean by 'spec'.
Because if the spec tire is one of the proper working Bridgestone tires then I don't see how that's going to slow the corner speeds. And corner speeds are what they are citing as unsafe.
But if the 'spec' is a narrower tire I can see it.
Quote from: gm2 on August 18, 2008, 09:52:20 AM
http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/69876
this made me laugh. you can just hear him saying it:
"...so he tried to make 1:56.0, and in the human world that is not possible."
;D
Interesting quote. Especially since Stoner ran an unofficial 1'56.261 today during testing. Unlike Yami who are working on their electronics the Ducs are just being tweaked. I wonder how much lower he'd have gone yesterday if he hadn't found the ground.
Quote from: COWBOY on August 18, 2008, 04:31:40 PM
I wonder how much lower he'd have gone yesterday if he hadn't found the ground.
you can't go much lower than "on the ground" without doing some serious damage. ;D
Quote from: derby on August 18, 2008, 04:36:31 PM
you can't go much lower than "on the ground" without doing some serious damage.
I was wondering who would go to the digging a hole twist of the words. Stupid mistake or just unlucky? I can't tell from the replays probably a little of both. Not really the point.
I think the Duc had more in it and his fastest laps were still in front of him. The 1'56 comment seemed to be an unreachable mark (on the 800) in Rossi's mind. I take that to mean he knew he couldn't get there yesterday. I'm just wondering if Stoner would have broke the 1'57.000 barrier to close the race had he not found the ground.
I also found it interesting that Rossi makes the comment and within 24 hours the Duc is running within .070 of the
Qualifying track record of Rossi's (Stoner set the lap record yesterday). There is definitely a serious rivalry festering here. Should be fun to watch the rest of this season and next. It's about time!
Here's the link by the way
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Aug/080818js3z.htm
From crash.net
"Riding alongside almost a full line-up of MotoGP riders, plus three additional test riders, Stoner completed 55 laps on
race tyres, carrying out a variety of set-up and tyre tests and
maintaining a consistently quick pace - well inside the circuit record he set in Sunday's race..
would you concede that 1'56 could've been done on qualy tires, super-light fuel, and a a fuel-economy-be-damned fuel-map just to prove rossi "wrong"? ;)
Quote from: derby on August 18, 2008, 05:05:48 PM
would you concede that 1'56 could've been done on qualy tires, super-light fuel, and a a fuel-economy-be-damned fuel-map just to prove rossi "wrong"? ;)
According to multiple sites and news feeds it was on race tires. Read the quote I added from crash.net.
Concede? I like the Spartan quote in 300 - "Give them nothing but take everything." [laugh]
Quote from: COWBOY on August 18, 2008, 04:52:37 PM
Stupid mistake or just unlucky?
It was just his time.
Like Rossi dumping it in 2006 handing the title to Nicky. Sometimes shit just happens.
I liked where that race was heading. I think they both had a little left......not much though. Certainly would have been a classic finish. Especially coming off the heels of Laguna.
Historically, Rossi wins championships and Stoner crashes.....these last two races aren't much of a surprise....
Sorry to say (wrt more good racing this year) that it sure looks like Rossi's gotten inside Stoner's head -- which Rossi unbashedly alluded to in his post-race interview on CBS.
Oh well, at least Nicky and Dani haven't yet been hypnotized by the doctor so there's hope for next year [popcorn]
I wouldn't say the championship is wrapped up just yet. Even though Rossi dumped his bike in 2006 to hand Nicky the title, Rossi also had to overcome a big points deficit and also had to have Nicky dump his own bike in order to make championship hopes possible.
I do expect Rossi to take the title, but the fat lady hasn't started the show just yet.
I'm afraid Stoner is reverting back to old form though. Seeing him pushing his bike another second clear of his lap record yesterday disturbs me to some degree. I feel he's pushing the bike on the edge of crashing to prove some sort of point to the rest of the grid. That's what used to result with his bike on the ground, over, and over, and over, with Honda. Maybe I'm wrong, but I get that impression from him at the moment.
Quote from: Triple J on August 17, 2008, 11:44:20 AM
What a bummer Stoner crashed out. I was really hoping Rossi would just sit there until the last few laps when we'd see a battle for the win. Oh well. :'(
I thought Doohan did pretty well annoucing as well. [thumbsup] I wish Greg White would quit yelling though. [laugh] For some reason it works when the Brit announcers go ape...not when Greg does though.
Argh..Stoner!!
I just watched the race on TiVo.
J, you're right. Greg White=Douche!! STFU and get off the air!! [bang]
And here comes Rossi and he does a wheelie!! [roll]
My favorite part of the race is when "De Poo-nay" went down because I didn't have to listen to Greg f*ck up his name anymore. Oh yeah..then there was Gwin-ta-lee. [roll]
BTW..were we watching golf or MotoGP?! Why was Greg on a golf course at the beginning of the race?!
No more CBS. I CAN'T TAKE IT!!
Anyway, glad to see some other guys getting up on the Podium and yes..those legs at the end!! :o :o :o
Very interesting race. Like Bizzaro World Moto GP from 2nd place on back.
CBS should keep Doohan and ditch Schwantz permantly. KS is one of my favorite riders, but he's terrible on TV. I like GW better than Ralph Shaheen, but I agree he needs to tone it down and smarten it up. The people watching know what's going on as well as he does.
They should all take a lesson from Speeds F1 crew. Educate from a the position that the viewer is fairly intelligent to begin with and dont dumb it down. In this regard Steve Machett is excellent.
Quote from: FatguyRacer on August 19, 2008, 05:56:08 AM
I like GW better than Ralph Shaheen, but I agree he needs to tone it down and smarten it up. The people watching know what's going on as well as he does.
the poeple that know what's going on are going to watch anyway. cbs is dumbing it down for the joe-sixpacks of the world.
Quote from: FatguyRacer on August 19, 2008, 05:56:08 AM
They should all take a lesson from Speeds F1 crew. Educate from a the position that the viewer is fairly intelligent to begin with and dont dumb it down. In this regard Steve Machett is excellent.
great example, but they even "dumb it down" a little when the races are on fox.
fwiw, i can't imagine a better announcing team than varsha/hobbs/windsor/matchett. [thumbsup]
Quote from: derby on August 19, 2008, 06:56:00 AM
the poeple that know what's going on are going to watch anyway. cbs is dumbing it down for the joe-sixpacks of the world.
Yeah, but even the dumb joe-sixpacks know they have sliders on the knees. For the 2nd race in a row GW had mentioned what kind of clothing they wear. Well, duh! Of course they're wearing leather, helmets, and have knee pucks. Anyone can see that!
Is he announcing for joe-sixpack or Stevie Wonder?
You can dumb it down without it being dumb.....
Quote from: FatguyRacer on August 19, 2008, 05:56:08 AM
CBS should keep Doohan and ditch Schwantz permantly. KS is one of my favorite riders, but he's terrible on TV.
I second that motion.
doohan wasn't necessarily much better a commentator than KS but he was definitely... cooler. he came off as being ok with not having much to say at certain times. and he didn't fumble around. +1 for more doohan. with the accent, you can get away with a lot ;).
GW was still GW but i gotta say he was miles better than germany or whatever the last race was. i think someone at CBS must have been talking to him. i'm not saying he was good, but he was greatly improved.
Quote from: gm2 on August 19, 2008, 09:44:10 AM
doohan was definitely... cooler. he came off as being ok with not having much to say at certain times. and he didn't fumble around.
Agreed! When CBS recapped a pass at the beginning of the race. GW was saying something like.. "Wow..look at that pass!" Doohan said "Yeah, passed him on the inside. Um..not much to say about that". ??? As if to say.."uh...why did they just show that?!" [roll]
[laugh]