GP Parts Europe De La Comunitat Valenciana (spoilers!)

[gm2]

FIM MotoGP World Championship
Valencia, Spain
October 24, 2008
Free Practice One Results (wet conditions):

1. Nicky HAYDEN (Honda), Michelin, 1:47.694
2. Casey STONER (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:48.469, crash
3. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:49.037
4. Dani PEDROSA (Honda), Bridgestone, 1:49.580
5. Sylvain GUINTOLI (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:49.887
6. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:50.077
7. Anthony WEST (Kawasaki), Bridgestone, 1:50.397
8. Chris VERMEULEN (Suzuki), Bridgestone, 1:50.760
9. Shinya NAKANO (Honda), Bridgestone, 1:50.879
10. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda), Michelin, 1:51.098
11. James TOSELAND (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:51.210
12. Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki), Bridgestone, 1:51.251
13. Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha), Bridgestone, 1:51.721
14. John HOPKINS (Kawasaki), Bridgestone, 1:52.798
15. Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda), Bridgestone, 1:52.960
16. Marco MELANDRI (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:53.083
17. Toni ELIAS (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:53.119
18. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda), Michelin, 1:54.199

MotoGP World Championship
Valencia, Spain
October 24, 2008
Free Practice Two Results (wet conditions):

1. Nicky HAYDEN (Honda), Michelin, 1:45.777
2. Dani PEDROSA (Honda), Bridgestone, 1:45.864
3. Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:45.959
4. Valentino ROSSI (Yamaha), Bridgestone, 1:46.070, crash
5. Casey STONER (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:46.260
6. Andrea DOVIZIOSO (Honda), Michelin, 1:46.522
7. Randy DE PUNIET (Honda), Michelin, 1:46.807
8. Sylvain GUINTOLI (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:47.055, crash
9. Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:47.314
10. Shinya NAKANO (Honda), Bridgestone, 1:47.483
11. Chris VERMEULEN (Suzuki), Bridgestone, 1:47.620
12. Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda), Bridgestone, 1:48.015
13. Marco MELANDRI (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:48.437
14. John HOPKINS (Kawasaki), Bridgestone, 1:48.469
15. Anthony WEST (Kawasaki), Bridgestone, 1:48.504
16. James TOSELAND (Yamaha), Michelin, 1:48.771
17. Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki), Bridgestone, 1:49.092
18. Toni ELIAS (Ducati), Bridgestone, 1:51.871, crash

[Spidey]

Qualifying

1 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'31.502 306.992 
2 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'31.555 308.043 0.053
3 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'31.703 304.826 0.201
4 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'32.212 301.339 0.710
5 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'32.518 302.097 1.016
6 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'32.572 293.877 1.070
7 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'32.594 304.225 1.092
8 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'32.614 299.583 1.112
9 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda 1'32.734 298.837 1.232
10 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'32.962 303.115 1.460
11 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ducati 1'32.983 308.747 1.481
12 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'33.017 294.920 1.515
13 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ducati 1'33.352 307.692 1.850
14 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'33.681 298.672 2.179
15 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'33.767 299.667 2.265
16 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'33.848 298.177 2.346
17 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'33.879 299.916 2.377
18 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'34.174 306.643 2.672

There were rain drops in the middle of qualifying, but it didn't look like anyone came out on rain tires.  It definitely screwed with some of the riders'  rhythm.   Some clearly were trying to put down a fast lap early to get it in before the rain came.  Everyone slowed when slight drops appeared, but it never really rained and didn't get wet.  Stoner's bike moves around soooooo much more than anyone else's.  It's absurd.

Rossi looked like he got stuck behind Elias on his last fast lap, which held him up.

[desmoquattro]

Casey wins!

[darylbowden]

Boring race after lap 5.

Bring on 2009.

[derby]

Boring race after lap 5.

Bring on 2009.

bring on testing tomorrow. 

[Spidey]

There were some fun battles worth watching back in the pack.

Did the Eurosport coverage show Toseland and Lorenzo (I think) tangle after Turn 2?  Looked like it was gonna be sketch from where we were sitting.  Toseland turned in and Lorenzo had taken the inside.  Lorenzo may have drifted out a bit.  BANG!  Stood Toseland up pretty good.

Ant West, for all that he is slow as fack, was sliding the bike in and out of the turns like it was his job.  Which it is, I guess. 

What happened on the last (or second to last) lap of 250?  We saw it, but couldn't figure it out.   

[derby]

Boring race after lap 5.

Bring on 2009.

even julian thought it was boring:

http://superbikeplanet.com/2008/Oct/081026rn2.htm

[TiNi]

i think the 250 race was more exciting...
can't wait to hear how nicky likes the ducati.

[ducpainter]

Nobody had anything for Stoner today.

What...6-8 seconds separating the first 3?

Boring?

Not for me.

[superjohn]

Nobody had anything for Stoner today.

What...6-8 seconds separating the first 3?

Boring?

Not for me.

Not for me either. The battle between Hayden and Davidsioso was great. Rossi low siding and then lifting himself back upright was incredible. I only wish Nicky could have kicked Pedro-bot's ass in the last race as team mates.

[darylbowden]

The battle between Hayden and Davidsioso was great.

I would hardly qualify that as a battle.  Hayden held him off for about 3 turns and then it was over.  Hayden had more of a "battle" with CEII, but that was only about 3 turns itself.

It sucks that Rossi qualified so low.  When he's not there to challenge Stoner or vice-versa, the racing up front suffers.  In this case, the only real battles were happening from 7th back and they barely showed those.

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

[Triple J]

It sucks that Rossi qualified so low.  When he's not there to challenge Stoner or vice-versa, the racing up front suffers.  In this case, the only real battles were happening from 7th back and they barely showed those.

ZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzz

+1 Boring race. I just can't get overly excited for someone fighting for 6th. 

The short Hayden/Dovisioso (sp?) battle was good...only if it would have lasted longer.