2013 MotoGP - Round 1 - Qatar <Spoilers ASAP>

[zooom]

they are still off a click from last year though....

2012 Pole: Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:54.634 - 168.955 Km/h (104.984 mph)
2012 Fastest Lap: (4th lap) Casey Stoner (Honda) 1:55.541 - 167.628 Km/h (104.159 mph)

[duccarlos]

the Duc doesn't lose as much in bad conditions. I would like to dream that Dovi is the second coming of Stoner, but I won't allow me to dream. For now I will continue to hope that the track conditions will keep the Duc competitive.

[Spidey]

Top 2 fastest from Q1 get to run in Q2 as well.  Good idea.  It's going to make the beast with two backs up tire choice for those riders, but it's still a good idea.  It alleviates the problem of what happens if something goes wrong with one of the known fast guys where he does't even qualify for Q2.  At least he gets to go out in Q1 and try for one of the two Q2 spots. 

Though I'm not sure that having 12 bikes out for Q2 solves the problem of "overcrowding" and tows.  There were plenty of times there were barely any more than 12 bikes out there on the grid last year and people were still complaining.

[gm2]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2013/Apr/130405rydernotes.htm

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/189524/1/qatar_motogp_marquez_up_front_and_feeling_good.html

[Jester]

the Duc doesn't lose as much in bad conditions. I would like to dream that Dovi is the second coming of Stoner, but I won't allow me to dream. For now I will continue to hope that the track conditions will keep the Duc competitive.

Dovi and Hayden pulled one off laps out of their ass.  None of their other laps sniff that kind of pace.  Its encouraging, but somehow I have a feeling they were on the edge of crashing the whole lap.  I watched Hayden following Marquez and that Duc was not having a good time trying to keep up.

[Speeddog]

Seems Lorenzo can do consistent mid 1'56" laps.
9 laps out of 11 under 1'57".

Marquez uncorked the fast lap, but he's been spending a lot of time on the astroturf outside turn one, like Pedrosa.
He doesn't have a consistent pace, only 3 laps out of 12 under a 1' 57".
I think he's made such a habit of it, he'll not get on the box.

Cal, 7 out of 11 under 1'57".

Rossi, 5 out of 13 under 1'57".

Dovi only 2 out of 13 under 1'57", but getting within 0.001" of Rossi on his former bike has got to burn....

Pedrosa 4 out of 12 under 1'57".
He and his crew have to find something or he's going to be duking it out with Dovi and Marquez for the fastest guy who doesn't get on the box.

[Spidey]

Q2.  Dovi n' Rossi.  Wow.  

[Triple J]

As expected, the new Qualifying format is great.  The only one that doesn't like it right now is Rossi! 

[Raux]

wow 4th for Dovi

seeing that all the other Ducs are lower, looks like Dovi may very well be the second coming of Stoner

[lazylightnin717]

wow 4th for Dovi

seeing that all the other Ducs are lower, looks like Dovi may very well be the second coming of Stoner

I wouldn't speak so soon...

But it does give us something to be excited about 

Zounds I can't wait for the race tomorrow!!!

[Triple J]

wow 4th for Dovi

seeing that all the other Ducs are lower, looks like Dovi may very well be the second coming of Stoner

Easy there. Lets see after the race. Dovi wasn't ever one of the aliens.

[Jester]

Easy there. Lets see after the race. Dovi wasn't ever one of the aliens.

Bravo to Dovi for hanging it out there.  Very excited to see the race tomorrow.  I think we'll have some good scraps.  Marquez might already be ruffling the feathers at Honda.  It looks like he came up behind and touched Dani, or close during QP. 

[ducpainter]

Bravo to Dovi for hanging it out there.  Very excited to see the race tomorrow.  I think we'll have some good scraps.  Marquez might already be ruffling the feathers at Honda.  It looks like he came up behind and touched Dani, or close during QP. 

Looked to me like Dani sat up not knowing anyone was right behind him.

I thought the kid did a good job to not hit him.

[gm2]

wow 4th for Dovi

seeing that all the other Ducs are lower, looks like Dovi may very well be the second coming of Stoner

nicky has been on the podium 3 times on the duc.  but he's not the second coming?  (no...)

let's let dovi at least win a dry race or five on that thing before we start talking about stoner

[thought]

They really gotta give cal a full factory effort...