2010 MotoGP Round 1 - Qatar (Race Spoilers)

[Spidey]

Hmmm . . .  Yes, I would.  I win either way.  If he gets a podium, I'm happy.  If he doesn't, I win a bet.

What do I think will happen?  Man, I know better than to think The Ben won't do better than expectations.  

So here it is . . . he's not going to beat Rossi or Casey (though Casey could fall down -- he does sometimes or completely blow a turn).  Pedrosa doesn't put on charges during the race, and doesn't have the speed to get to the front and run away with it, so he's probably not an issue.  Dovi was fast in testing, but routinely loses pace at the end of the race.    Valencia last year was no fluke.  So if The Ben can hang with him (which he can), he'll eat him up at the end.  Colin is consistent, but not a killer as the race progresses.   Hayden is a total wildcard.  His racecraft is good.  He can put passes on people and move up during a race, but who knows if he'll be able to qualify well enough.  Man, if he even gets through Turn 1 unscathed it'll be considered a good start to the season.  I just have less faith in him on the Duc than the Ben on the Yami.  DePuniet? Capi?  They'll be around, but not on the podium.  

So the really big question is Lorenzo.  Lorenzo's had a coupla weeks to heal, has no problem coming on strong at the end of a race, and can race hurt.  And he's proven.  And he's had a year more on that bike.  And he's fast as make the beast with two backs.  I wouldn't bet against Lorenzo.  So yeah, I'd bet against The Ben.  But he's got a real shot at it.

I call Rossi, Stoner and Lorenzo in that order.  The prediction is subject to change, up and during the last lap.  

Edit:  wait a sec.  Didn't I say at some point that I wasn't betting against The Ben this year?!?

[gm2]

so... stoner has won every 800cc race in Qatar.  3 in a row.

last/only time ben raced here, he doubled.  then he finished the test here in 4th but for more than a little while he was 2nd.

george says he's "still not 100%".  which is probably a little bs, but i don't think he's bright enough to really play the press, rossi-style.

i think rossi is hungrier than ever because the threats are stacking up, and that's what he loves.

colin wants to prove he's not going to be just ben's tuner.

nicky would give up a finger (hi rog!) to prove that 2006 wasn't strictly a matter of rossi losing.


so yeah.. i would wager that ben lands on the podium in his first race.   

... i say that thinking full well that it aint gonna happen.  but that's what i also did all of last year re the championship. 

[duccarlos]

Stoner
Rossi
Lorenzo

Qatar has been Stoner's track for a few years, it suits the Duc well. I would have picked Rossi to win or come in second anyway. Lorenzo is playing possum(sp?).

[pennyrobber]

Stoner
Rossi
Capirossi

[Triple J]

Stoner
Rossi
The Ben

Lorenzo highsides trying not to get beat by a rookie on a satellite bike. 

[Speeddog]

Looks like they've decided to not change the race time:
http://www.motomatters.com/news/2010/04/08/ezpeleta_no_need_to_change_schedule_at_q.html

[Jester]

Stoner
Rossi
The Ben

Lorenzo highsides trying not to get beat by a rookie on a satellite bike. 

" must outride The Ben "



"I bet The Ben can't do this!"



" Ben sure is a fine looking man from up here "

[gm2]

Looks like they've decided to not change the race time:
http://www.motomatters.com/news/2010/04/08/ezpeleta_no_need_to_change_schedule_at_q.html

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82757

[Spidey]

Lorenzo highsides trying not to get beat by a rookie on a satellite bike. 

 

And well done, Jester.   

[Speeddog]

Oh, and be aware that there's talk of changing the time of the actual race.

Whether that may effect the broadcast time, well, YMMV.

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82757

 

[gm2]

stupid chickens and eggs.  =)

[derby]

125 FP1 live video now.

[gm2]

COMMERCIALBANK GRAND PRIX OF QATAR

MotoGP Free Practice Nr. 1 Classification

Doha, Friday, April 09, 2010
Pos.   Num.   Rider   Nation   Team   Bike   Km/h   Time   Gap 1st/Prev.
1   27   Casey STONER   AUS   Ducati Marlboro Team   Ducati   317.7   1'55.500   
2   99   Jorge LORENZO   SPA   Fiat Yamaha Team   Yamaha   314.3   1'56.026   0.526 / 0.526
3   46   Valentino ROSSI   ITA   Fiat Yamaha Team   Yamaha   315.2   1'56.028   0.528 / 0.002
4   4   Andrea DOVIZIOSO   ITA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   319.1   1'56.698   1.198 / 0.670
5   69   Nicky HAYDEN   USA   Ducati Marlboro Team   Ducati   315.1   1'56.793   1.293 / 0.095
6   11   Ben SPIES   USA   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   Yamaha   312.9   1'56.818   1.318 / 0.025
7   19   Alvaro BAUTISTA   SPA   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   Suzuki   315.2   1'56.998   1.498 / 0.180
8   14   Randy DE PUNIET   FRA   LCR Honda MotoGP   Honda   311.8   1'57.031   1.531 / 0.033
9   36   Mika KALLIO   FIN   Pramac Racing Team   Ducati   318.6   1'57.059   1.559 / 0.028
10   40   Hector BARBERA   SPA   Paginas Amarillas Aspar   Ducati   318.2   1'57.105   1.605 / 0.046
11   26   Dani PEDROSA   SPA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   317.3   1'57.133   1.633 / 0.028
12   5   Colin EDWARDS   USA   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   Yamaha   311.3   1'57.167   1.667 / 0.034
13   65   Loris CAPIROSSI   ITA   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   Suzuki   317.2   1'57.363   1.863 / 0.196
14   58   Marco SIMONCELLI   ITA   San Carlo Honda Gresini   Honda   312.5   1'57.535   2.035 / 0.172
15   41   Aleix ESPARGARO   SPA   Pramac Racing Team   Ducati   314.2   1'57.605   2.105 / 0.070
16   33   Marco MELANDRI   ITA   San Carlo Honda Gresini   Honda   316.4   1'58.035   2.535 / 0.430
17   7   Hiroshi AOYAMA   JPN   Interwetten Honda MotoGP   Honda   316.6   1'58.082   2.582 / 0.047

[bdfinally]

WOW, 4 Ducks in the top ten

[Speeddog]

Nicky and The Ben 5th & 6th! Wo0T!  [moto]