One advantage is that right now there are so many people who look good that if riders keep trading podium positions, they'll keep any single person from running away with it early.
That is indeed something great to look forward to.
But if Rossi is consistently dicing with Bautista for 6th or 7th....
Even if the front pack are averaging 3rd place, that's 16 points, 6th is 10 points.
Day 3 at 11am
Good news is, Rossi is on track.
Bad news, still 1.8 sec adrift.
1 Casey Stoner Repsol Honda Team 1:59.665 - - 0
2 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:59.803 +0.138 +0.138 0
3 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Hon Gresini 2:00.163 +0.360 +0.498 0
4 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 2:00.541 +0.378 +0.876 0
5 Ben Spies Yamaha Factory 2:00.678 +0.137 +1.013 0
6 Colin Edwards Monster Yam Tech 3 2:00.966 +0.288 +1.301 0
7 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha Factory 2:01.003 +0.037 +1.338 0
8 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2:01.194 +0.191 +1.529 0
9 Hector Barbera Mapfre Aspar Team 2:01.346 +0.152 +1.681 0
10 Hiroshi Aoyama San Carlo Hon Gresini 2:01.352 +0.006 +1.687 0
11 Valentino Rossi Ducati Marlboro Team 2:01.469 +0.117 +1.804 0
12 Loris Capirossi Pramac Racing Team 2:01.493 +0.024 +1.828 0
13 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 2:01.567 +0.074 +1.902 0
14 Randy De Puniet Pramac Racing Team 2:02.386 +0.819 +2.721 0
15 Toni Elias LCR Honda MotoGP 2:02.410 +0.024 +2.745 0
16 Karel Abraham Cardion AB Moto 2:02.547 +0.137 +2.882 0
17 Cal Crutchlow Monster Yam Tech 3 2:02.757 +0.210 +3.092 0
18 T2 Yamaha Test Team 2:03.016 +0.259 +3.351 0
19 T1 Yamaha Test Team 2:03.049 +0.033 +3.384 0