2008 MotoGP Round 9 - Assen (RACE spoilers)

[derby]

doesn't look like that decision to ride is working out to well for capi:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Practice+crash+leaves+Capirossi+with+cut+forearm

[tufty]

doesn't look like that decision to ride is working out to well for capi:

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Practice+crash+leaves+Capirossi+with+cut+forearm

Conversation in the Rizla Suzuki pit right now....... "Does anyone know which is Ben Spies' trailer?"

[Speeddog]

Ouch, that was nasty.

[gm2]

that was a weird crash.  good thing ben's already there  =)

[darylbowden]

that was a weird crash.  good thing ben's already there  =)

But he don't wanna ride... http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jun/080626f.htm

[gm2]

But he don't wanna ride... http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jun/080626f.htm

that darn mom.

[Speeddog]

Seems Loris is going to have to sack up and do it.
Off to a bad start though, doing the log-roll under his bike was ugly.

[tufty]

But he don't wanna ride... http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Jun/080626f.htm

I don't suppose Suzuki execs were all that impressed with that decision.

[gm2]

I don't suppose Suzuki execs were all that impressed with that decision.

you never know.  his first priority is the ama championship, his 2nd would be the two american GPs he's already for sure riding... they may not begrudge him passing on a 3rd.

[darylbowden]

I don't suppose Suzuki execs were all that impressed with that decision.

I dunno.  Would you wanna qualify after an hour of setup time on a circuit you've never seen?  Sure, you'll still out-qualify Melandri, but that's about it.  I think he made the right decision.  He'll be testing in Indy next week and he'll be fine.

[Speeddog]

Hoping that FP times fall into the no spoiler category...

Stoner spanks the field in FP. Go Ducati!

1    1    Casey STONER    AUS    Ducati Marlboro Team    Ducati                1'36.087    293.478    
2    46    Valentino ROSSI    ITA    Fiat Yamaha Team    Yamaha        1'36.819    289.544    0.732
3    5    Colin EDWARDS    USA    Tech 3 Yamaha    Yamaha                        1'36.931    290.244    0.844
4    69    Nicky HAYDEN    USA    Repsol Honda Team    Honda                1'37.012    292.921    0.925
5    15    Alex DE ANGELIS    RSM    San Carlo Honda Gresini  Honda      1'37.126    280.592           1.039
6    56    Shinya NAKANO    JPN    San Carlo Honda Gresini    Honda       1'37.137    286.016    1.050
7    14    Randy DE PUNIET    FRA    LCR Honda MotoGP    Honda      1'37.187    282.574    1.100
8    21    John HOPKINS    USA    Kawasaki Racing Team    Kawasaki    1'37.251      287.769          1.164
9    2    Dani PEDROSA    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    Honda               1'37.280    294.197    1.193
10    7    Chris VERMEULEN    AUS    Rizla Suzuki MotoGP    Suzuki       1'37.282    284.061    1.195
11    4    Andrea DOVIZIOSO    ITA    JiR Team Scot MotoGP    Honda    1'37.326    283.613        1.239
12    50    Sylvain GUINTOLI    FRA    Alice Team    Ducati                     1'37.357    293.239         1.270
13    52    James TOSELAND    GBR    Tech 3 Yamaha    Yamaha                    1'37.838    284.210        1.873
15    13    Anthony WEST    AUS    Kawasaki Racing Team    Kawasaki       1'38.413   286.472      2.326
16    24    Toni ELIAS    SPA    Alice Team    Ducati                                1'38.656    287.693    2.569
17    65    Loris CAPIROSSI    ITA    Rizla Suzuki MotoGP    Suzuki         1'38.667    283.762    2.580
18    33    Marco MELANDRI    ITA    Ducati Marlboro Team    Ducati              1'39.214   290.322        3.127

[derby]

Time for qualy!

[FatguyRacer]

That was great! 32/1000. Holy shit that's close
I hope Hoppers is OK

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 35.520 secs

2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 35.552 secs

3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 35.659 secs

4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 35.975 secs

5. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 35.985 secs

6. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 36.278 secs

7. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 36.532 secs

8. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 36.768 secs

9. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 36.804 secs

10. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 36.823 secs

11. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 36.899 secs

12. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 36.948 secs

13. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 36.978 secs

14. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 37.287 secs

15. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 37.643 secs

16. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 37.793 secs

17. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 38.726 secs

.

[Jester]

Glad to see the times close up on Stoner.  Hopefully race pace remains the same.     This looks to be one heck of a close race.  I'm really looking forward to all the battles!

[Triple J]

Hopefully it's a close race.  As much as I like seeing Stoner win, I like watching racing more!   

I figured Melandri would at least be making some progress on the GP8 by now.  I know it's hard to ride, but has he just packed it in?