MotoGP: Qatar Test 3/18-19 (Spoilers)

[derby]

I'm afraid I'm gonna have to pull rank on you. I didn't want to have to do this. I'm with the Mattress Police. There are no tags on these mattresses.

Hey! It's all ball bearings nowadays. Now you prepare that Fetzer valve with some 3-in-1 oil and some gauze pads. And I'm gonna need 'bout ten quarts of anti-freeze, preferably Prestone. No, no make that Quaker State.

[gm2]

inside joke?

Alan Stanwyk = Tim Matheson's character in Fletch

[ducpainter]

Alan Stanwyk = Tim Matheson's character in Fletch

yeah yeah yeah...

after I realized i was sitting at a computer that had google...

I figured it out.

[Spidey]

I feel like an idjit for only having seen Fletch once and not remembering a single thing about it.

And off topic (cuz this thread is now about Fletch), but those Hondas are a problem.  Of course, any bike not 'specially made for him is gonna be a problem for Halfsy McTitleKiller, but there are bigger issues goin' on.  'cept with Dovi, of course.  Simoncelli was right on when he said that it wasn't just that he's a rookie because everyone was struggling.  After last year, I thought this year they were supposed to come up with competitive machinery.  Is it just the Ohlins switch? 

[Speeddog]

Well, it sure seems Dovi has found something, and DePuniet as well.

I can't believe that the 'bot doesn't have access to Dovi's setup info.
Fer crying out loud, Bautista on a Suzuki went faster than the 'bot.
That's gotta be making his stomach churn.

Team Marco is lost in the woods.

They'll get it figured out, but if it takes 2 races to do it, the 'bot's championship hopes are fried.
The other aliens will likely have 2 bad races during the season, but the 'bot is gonna throw it in the kitty litter a time or two.
IMO, he's make the beast with two backsed.

[Spidey]

Well, it sure seems Dovi has found something, and DePuniet as well.

<smacks head>  I totally forgot about DePuniet.  This leaves me even more confuzzled.  I really hope that it gets sorted out.  As much as I'd love Dovi to stomp the shit out the midget all season long and be able to run with the fast guys, I don't want to see Team Marco wallowing in last place.  I like watching Melandri and Simoncelli and want them to be on competitive machinery.

Funny about your take on the championship & Pedro, Nick.  When I think of the top guys, I always think of four aliens, Nick, but only of two and a half title contenders --- Stoner and Rossi and half of George.  The bot is fast as make the beast with two backs, but I just always assume that he'll never put together a championship season.   Lorenzo only gets a half cuz I can't imagine Rossi letting him win or him beating out Rossi.  That's not to say I'm right, but it's how my mind thinks about those four.

[Speeddog]

If the 'bot qualifies on the front row and gets the holeshot, he's a threat to run away and hide.
But if he's on row 3, that holeshot ain't gonna happen.

He did well at Sepang, but still was 0.9 sec behind Rossi.

Looking like he's going to start the season in a hole just due to being off pace, not because he's hurt.

[gm2]

If the 'bot qualifies on the front row and gets the holeshot, he's a threat to run away and hide.

true, but based on how often he gets to T1 first - almost every time - it's not as great a threat as it would seem.  unless they're in germany.

But if he's on row 3, that holeshot ain't gonna happen.

…except, even from the third row, it often does. 

but then, see above. 

he almost always gets to the front and then gets overtaken in a lap or three.  800-era RC still no bueno, comparatively speaking.

[Drjones]

With the limited engine rule this year being fast all the time isn't the only factor in winning the championship.