2009 MotoGP Round 4 - Le Mans (Race Spoilers)

[OT]

If it goes like '08 (and '07, and '06) races in the rain, then Rossi's almost assured the win...

[Speeddog]

Saw something on the web about Casey using old electronics and/or software, whether it's true, who knows...

[Jester]

Looks to be a good race.  Qualy was pretty competitive. 

[TiNi]

sete is out... Gibernau fractures collarbone in Le Mans crash

[TiNi]

[Spidey]

QUALIFYING

1   3   Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda   1'33.974 281.763 
2   99   Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha   1'33.979 282.205 0.005
3   27   Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati   1'34.049 289.699 0.075
4   46   Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha   1'34.106 291.183 0.132
5   4   Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda   1'34.300 283.986 0.326
6   5   Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha   1'34.330 278.207 0.356
7   7   Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki   1'34.676 280.446 0.702
8   65   Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki   1'34.839 283.464 0.865
9   33   Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki   1'35.008 281.984 1.034
10   14   Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda   1'35.399 290.322 1.425
11   24   Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda   1'35.431 281.323 1.457
12   52   James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha   1'35.524 278.350 1.550
13   69   Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati   1'35.682 279.286 1.708
14   36   Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Ducati   1'35.741 278.278 1.767
15   72   Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda   1'35.774 283.093 1.800
16   15   Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda   1'35.785 278.925 1.811
17   88   Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing Ducati   1'36.136 274.879 2.162

Not classified
 59 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati   Lap

[Grampa]

c'mon Nicky

[gm2]

well, he's the fastest non-casey ducati again.. still at the bottom of the sheets tho.

[Jester]

Consistantly 1.5-2 seconds off the pace the whole weekend.  Its pretty heartbreaking to watch tbh.

[derby]

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/May/090516rydern2.htm

Meanwhile, Dani Pedrosa surprised everybody, including, he suggested, himself, by snatching pole position at the last moment. As Rossi said, '...if that's the bad Honda that the riders are complaining about, when it gets good we're in the s***.'

[derby]

wow... what a race!

lorenzo, melandri, pedro....

[DesmoDiva]

WTF happened to Stoner, and Rossi?? 

I'd ask about Hayden, but I have a good idea where he finished.   

I'm working this afternoon so no race watching for me.   

edit:

I see Stoner finished 5th and Hayden 12th.

Did Rossi crash out?

[TiNi]

whatarace indeed 

gotta love live timing, it helped watch this one.

rossi was in the pit's 3x plus a ride through for speeding in pit lane
if i recall correctly...
once to change from rain tires to slicks, then he crashed right after his change.
the second time, to switch back, so they could fix his bike.
the third time for a ride through for speeding on one of the previous visits
and the fourth to switch back to his repaired bike.

wow.

[Desmostro]

WTF?!

Just looked at the results. 
Got to see this...


can I just point out the top 6 :  who!?! so close. What a season!

World Championship
Pos.    Rider    Nation    Team    Points
1    Jorge LORENZO    SPA    Fiat Yamaha Team    66
2    Valentino ROSSI    ITA    Fiat Yamaha Team    65
3    Casey STONER    AUS    Ducati Marlboro Team    65
4    Dani PEDROSA    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    57
5    Marco MELANDRI    ITA    Hayate Racing Team    43
6    Andrea DOVIZIOSO    ITA    Repsol Honda Team    43

[Jester]

Lorenzo really strategized that race well.  Rossi gambled and lost.. then had a nightmare day.  Awesome for Melandri finishing ahead of all the Ducs on the grid, and hell yeah about the standings.