Le Mans MotoGP *Spoiler*

[quallman1234]

So normally by this time everyone's raving about the current gp coming up.

But not this time?
Maybe everyone hate's the french.

Pedorsa got pole! Amazing.
Stoner's having a cry because he didn't.
Rossi's getting his arse back in to gear.
Lorenzo's got a fooked foot but still hanging in with the best.

[NZsarge]

Hmm, Pipsqueak on pole eh? I'm thinking he'll be hard to stop at Le Mans, roll on the race.

[White trash]

But see what tops the speed traps? Hopper on the Kumandsukme is at least 5 kays faster than anything else.

Still languishing back in ninth place though.

My prediction: Rossi, Pedrosa and Stoner will run off from everybody else early in the piece. Stoner will slowly lose touch with the front runners. Halfway through, it'll piss down. The Texas Tornado Colin "Edwards" Texas Tornado, will happen to be passing the pit entrance (albeit three quaters of a lap down) when it rains, nipping in quickly to swap bikes and continuing on his drawling way. The rain will be that intense that all will fall in the surface flooding with the exception of wet weather maestroes, Chris "The Aussie Vermin" Vermuelen and Anthony "My Bike's The Worst Ever Built, I'd Rather Be Out There On A Yamaha Super Jog" West. And of course Colin Tornado III, who wins the race by a lap and a half, then promptly retires as "unbeatable".

Don't say I didn't warn ya.

[Sparky Bills]

But see what tops the speed traps? Hopper on the Kumandsukme is at least 5 kays faster than anything else.

Still languishing back in ninth place though.

My prediction: Rossi, Pedrosa and Stoner will run off from everybody else early in the piece. Stoner will slowly lose touch with the front runners. Halfway through, it'll piss down. The Texas Tornado Colin "Edwards" Texas Tornado, will happen to be passing the pit entrance (albeit three quaters of a lap down) when it rains, nipping in quickly to swap bikes and continuing on his drawling way. The rain will be that intense that all will fall in the surface flooding with the exception of wet weather maestroes, Chris "The Aussie Vermin" Vermuelen and Anthony "My Bike's The Worst Ever Built, I'd Rather Be Out There On A Yamaha Super Jog" West. And of course Colin Tornado III, who wins the race by a lap and a half, then promptly retires as "unbeatable".

Don't say I didn't warn ya.


That would be the most exciting race ever!!
You should put a bet on the TAB :banana:

[riffer]

But see what tops the speed traps? Hopper on the Kumandsukme is at least 5 kays faster than anything else.

Still languishing back in ninth place though.


So the new fairing is working. Now they need a decent frame and they might just win a race. Damn - I'd love to see the green machines on the podium just once this season.

[James Deuce]

So normally by this time everyone's raving about the current gp coming up.

But not this time?

Maybe because it's boring, processional, and with a couple of exceptions the riders could be any old midget who started racing pit bikes at 3 years old, and has a Dad with access to 20 million Euros.

F1 started doing the shit that's going on at the moment with MotoGP in the mid-80s. Once they got rid of the turbo-grenades, downforce generating fans, side skirts and drivers with testicles rather than money it went the same way.

Dorna need to understand that motorcycle racing isn't, and never will be a a mass market level entertainment sporting "event" like F1, NASCAR, or Football (soccer you cretins, not oval ball sports).

Superbike's is a mess. Ducati need to be chucked out. Supersport and Superstock is crap because no matter what manufacturer made the bikes, by the time you put sponsorship crap all over them the bikes all look the same.

The 2 strokes are the only thing left that require rider and tuner skill at the track. They're the modern equivalent of the old F1 turbo-grenades.

[k14]

Superbike's is a mess. Ducati need to be chucked out. Supersport and Superstock is crap because no matter what manufacturer made the bikes, by the time you put sponsorship crap all over them the bikes all look the same.
Not true, superbikes and supersport this season is better than last (and that is saying something). Easily the best racing out there, any number of 7 or 8 riders could win a race. I also doubt that ducati needs to be chucked out, the rules seem to be fairly even where they currently stand. Only one Mr Bayliss can consistantly run at the front, the other 3 riders are around the top 10 depending on which track it is. Last weekend both superbike races the top 3 were seperated by 1 or 2 tenths, and the supersport race was just as close. The assen supersport race was one of the best I've ever seen, 9 riders end to end coming into the final corner??? Not even get that good racing in 250's or 125's.

But yes, motogp is a yawn fest. Looking at the practice times, maybe?? But I said that to myself before china too. Oh well, can live and hope.

[White trash]

The trouble with the GP racing, is any one of the riders have the skill to tring a couple of real good laps together durin qalifying, giving nice close times and an unrealistic idea that it's going to be a close race. But after quater of the race is run, it seems there's only a few able to run consistantly in that bracket. And it's usually the same three or four riders.

Look at the Texas Tornados qualifying in China, fastest lap ever by a bike. Where'd he finish the race again?

[riffer]

So you're a racer Jimmy. Give us some perspective here.

What
is the problem with Edwards and the others? Is it a matter of fitness? Or mental attitude?

How much different is motogp riding from the rest of motorcycle racing? Can we compare it to say, a Super14 match and a Bledisloe Cup?

Why do you think these guys can't maintain pace?

[k14]

I'd say they are all equally talented riders, put them all out there on a stock gixxer thou and they be right on each others tails. The difference is who has the best setup, suspension, tyres, engine management etc. Which rider is best able to relay info to the team and whoever is the smartest cookie in the pits. The honda, yamaha and duc seem to be fairly evenly matched. It seems who can hit the setup best that wins the race.

[James Deuce]

Not true, superbikes and supersport this season is better than last (and that is saying something). Easily the best racing out there, any number of 7 or 8 riders could win a race. I also doubt that ducati needs to be chucked out, the rules seem to be fairly even where they currently stand. Only one Mr Bayliss can consistantly run at the front, the other 3 riders are around the top 10 depending on which track it is. Last weekend both superbike races the top 3 were seperated by 1 or 2 tenths, and the supersport race was just as close. The assen supersport race was one of the best I've ever seen, 9 riders end to end coming into the final corner??? Not even get that good racing in 250's or 125's.

But yes, motogp is a yawn fest. Looking at the practice times, maybe?? But I said that to myself before china too. Oh well, can live and hope.

I'm not talking about racing. I'm talking about selling an entertainment package. The organisers of all of the racing series touted as premier classes aren't interested in technical innovation any more, just sponsor money and at least 3 bikes crossing the line within a second of each other at the front of the field.. The racing might be good in Supersport, but just like F1, actually no, in F1 you can at least still pick the Ferraris out of the crowd, the bikes all look the same. To the untrained eye it looks like a single bike class. There's more diversity in MotoGP in terms of silhouette and distinctive features. Supersport is like NASCAR without the ovals and personalities.

Ducati? I'm very tired of Ferrari and Ducati being allowed to run cheater equipment because "the sport is richer for their participation". Ducati (as you pointed out) can't hack it in Superbikes without a capacity cheat.

[White trash]

So you're a racer Jimmy. Give us some perspective here.

What
is the problem with Edwards and the others? Is it a matter of fitness? Or mental attitude?

How much different is motogp riding from the rest of motorcycle racing? Can we compare it to say, a Super14 match and a Bledisloe Cup?

Why do you think these guys can't maintain pace?
Dunno if I'm actually qualified to give an explanation Simon, bit I'll give it a shot.

From what I've found in the past twelve months, the higher the class, the more spot on your setup has to be. Things you can ride around on say a 600 that's not perfect, will be amplified twice on a Superbike. Hence the reason you'll see the best racing ever in 125s. Not bad in 250s and downright proccessional in MotoGP.

Same goes for Superstock. Versus Supersport and then onto Superbike.

I thought it'd be the other way, got a little handling problem? No worries, I'll just use the horsepower. Ahhh-ahhh, I don't think so Mr Trash, the extra power makes it fucken worse. Heaps worse. So I reckon if your GP bike's not SPOT on, you're gonna pay dearly.

Funnily enough the vastly experienced Mr Williams warned me of this exact phenomina twelve months ago.

[merv]

Love the quote from Edwards on this page http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/May/080517c.htm

Julian Ryder had this to say "Colin Edwards, who was mightily displeased to be baulked by Marco Melandri while on a good run with his last qualifying tire. "Good job it didn't happen in Texas, I carry a gun there!", was the Edwards analysis. I think he was joking..."

Yeah why can't Edward string a decent race together? His WSB days against Bayliss saw some ding dong battles that he could win at times and Troy would win the others.

[riffer]

I thought it'd be the other way, got a little handling problem? No worries, I'll just use the horsepower. Ahhh-ahhh, I don't think so Mr Trash, the extra power makes it fucken worse. Heaps worse. So I reckon if your GP bike's not SPOT on, you're gonna pay dearly.



Yeah, you could have a point. But there's two issues I have here. Firstly, the riders who have great qualifying laps can't manage to do it in the actual race. Getting the holeshot doesn't seem to have too much of an effect here. Some riders seem to just be able to keep a consistent pace at or just under the lap record, lap after lap. Others can't do it.

The other thing is looking back at the last year with Casey Stoner. Now he could be a freak but I recall seeing his Ducati bucking and weaving and generally looking very unhappy but he just kept the throttle pinned and kept in the lead. Freakish skills or setup? I've also read (but who can believe this) that Stoner is a rider that gets on the power faster and harder than any other rider in the field, and that until Ducati found a way to get the bike to handle this he had a real problem with it. Perhaps Ducati found a way to harness that power with the suspension setup better than anyone else. Who knows, but it's a pretty good explanation.

I still think there's a fair bit of mindfuck going on too, but it seems to be all internal now, rather than psyching out the other riders. I miss the Rossi/Gibernau and Rossi/Biaggi type battles - Pedrosa/Lorenzo are wusses. It's too nice at the moment. We need a good punch up in the pits.

[CHOPPA]

dry race Stoner Rossi Lorenzo

wet race rossi vermulen west.... hmm

[Cleve]

Ha ha. Rossi did it. Down with those who said he was past it! 2 in a row and now leading the chamionship. Good to see Colin up there too. Yamaha 1-2-3. Yehaa...

[Crasherfromwayback]

I confess I'm one on them!

Rossi telling the owners of Moto GP he'd leave the series if he didn't get his Bridgestones (after Bridgestone to him to fuck off), and the owners warning Bridgstone they'd make it a one make tyre series (and not their tyres) unless they gave them to him SUCKS BIG TIME.

I have been hoping that would bite him in the arse after all the years he's had preferential treatment and fantastic advantages with Michelin.

Still, he's obviously got the bit between the teeth and riding like the multi time champ he is.

Lorenzo is the one that is impressing m HUGELY right now too. What a tough cunt.

I for one hope Stoner and Ducati get back to winning ways soon. Makes for more exciting racing when you've got a few different bike/rider combo's going for it.

[BigG]

Its been a long time coming Yamaha in the top three pity Toseland got knocked off could have been Yamaha in top 5, Lorenzo is something else whent like the clappers to get second, he's my pick for the Championship.

[roogazza]

I'm being very controlled here ! :banana::banana::banana: Gaz.

[denill]

I'm being very controlled here ! :banana::banana::banana: Gaz.


Yes you are Gaz. Why?? :dodge:

What a great ride from Rossi. What a GUTSY ride from Lorenzo. What a fitting reward for Edwards (who's been there or thereabouts, with no reward this season) What a great day for Yamaha. When was the last one make podium? It would most probably have been a Honda podium?

Stoner? Well the Ducati's slumped to being a bit of a piglet in '08, hasn't it. Certainly nothing in the hands of the other 3 Ducati riders.

The best man and machine won (as always). But hey what a season it's shaping up as. :clap:
Cheers, Bill

[Matt Bleck]

Rossi must be very worried about his team mate......

[Badjelly]

The trouble with the GP racing, is any one of the riders have the skill to tring a couple of real good laps together durin qalifying, giving nice close times and an unrealistic idea that it's going to be a close race. But after quater of the race is run, it seems there's only a few able to run consistantly in that bracket. And it's usually the same three or four riders.


What a great ride from Rossi. What a GUTSY ride from Lorenzo. What a fitting reward for Edwards (who's been there or thereabouts, with no reward this season) What a great day for Yamaha. When was the last one make podium? It would most probably have been a Honda podium?

Stoner? Well the Ducati's slumped to being a bit of a piglet in '08, hasn't it. Certainly nothing in the hands of the other 3 Ducati riders.

The best man and machine won (as always). But hey what a season it's shaping up as. :clap:


Are you guys talking about the same championship?

I haven't seen Le Mans yet, but I'm looking forward to it!

[denill]

BTW. So what about the 'tyre thing'?? :whistle:

Bridgestone 1st, Michelin 2nd & 3rd??

[NZsarge]

Ha ha. Rossi did it. Down with those who said he was past it! 2 in a row and now leading the chamionship. Good to see Colin up there too. Yamaha 1-2-3. Yehaa...




What a great ride from Rossi. What a GUTSY ride from Lorenzo. What a fitting reward for Edwards (who's been there or thereabouts, with no reward this season) What a great day for Yamaha. When was the last one make podium? It would most probably have been a Honda podium?

Stoner? Well the Ducati's slumped to being a bit of a piglet in '08, hasn't it. Certainly nothing in the hands of the other 3 Ducati riders.

The best man and machine won (as always). But hey what a season it's shaping up as. :clap:
Cheers, Bill

Right on! :niceone:
Valiant effort from Stoner but it slipped away from him.
Not at all surprised that Rossi won (mega stoked actually) but i'm a bit suprised (just a little bit) that he pulled a gap like that though.
I would'nt be as bold as to say Lorenzo will be champ but he will be, maybe not this year (although I would'nt bet against it altogether) but he will be at some stage.
Good on Colin Edwards, he's a superb fighter.

[riffer]

Not at all surprised that Rossi won (mega stoked actually) but i'm a bit suprised (just a little bit) that he pulled a gap like that though.

You obviously haven't watched a lot of MotoGP then. That's a classic Rossi move. I still remember Phillip Island where they gave him a ten second penalty. Didn't stop him getting 20 seconds ahead of the field.

[NZsarge]

You obviously haven't watched a lot of MotoGP then. That's a classic Rossi move. I still remember Phillip Island where they gave him a ten second penalty. Didn't stop him getting 20 seconds ahead of the field.

Yes, I know he is well capable but in this age of electronics ie:very similar bike performance and tyre performance it not that often (well this season anyway) that we are seeing the rest of the field being gaped by one rider.
Rossi has'nt be able to do that for little while now but this might be a sign that all is reasonably well in the Yamaha camp at the moment. :niceone:

[hang0ver]

Rossi must be very worried about his team mate......

Amen to that...

How's he gonna ride when his ankles have healed?

[Mort]

The Doc rules again.... Lorenzo is the main threat I think - He is injured but I think he made a drama of it in the pit being carried from the bike... if there was no way he could walk there was no way he could ride a MotoGP bike to 2nd place. (He really pisses me off having to have a lollipop stuck in his gob all the time)

I think Stoner has blown it for this year. The Yamahas seem to have the pace at the moment. It looks to me that Ducati won't be able to mount the dominant attack on the title they did last year.

Rossi loves to beat the Spaniards.... He put Pedrosa in his place a few times - I wonder if he can do the same to Lorenzo...

[NZsarge]

The Doc rules again.... Lorenzo is the main threat I think - He put Pedrosa in his place a few times - I wonder if he can do the same to Lorenzo...

I think even a well Lorenzo might be just shaded by Rossi, time will tell I guess.

[roogazza]

[QUOTE=denill;1569307]Yes you are Gaz. Why?? :dodge:
/QUOTE]
Fuck it ! He was great wasn't he ?
His teammate has something special too ! I'm not pretending to be an expert here but I love the confidence Rossi shows in a scrap .
Edwards, .... he made third but I'm picking thats his best.
Did pretty boy Toseland get a push back from that other Italian boy ? That might bring him back to earth . Gaz.

[Crasherfromwayback]

Lorenzo is the main threat I think - He is injured but I think he made a drama of it in the pit being carried from the bike... if there was no way he could walk there was no way he could ride a MotoGP bike to 2nd place. (He really pisses me off having to have a lollipop stuck in his gob all the time)


You for real? His team nor himself have 'invented' his ankle fractures. Yes as far as ankle fractures go, I'm sure they're not that major, but he ain't faking it.

Adrenalin is obviously fuelling him, and he's without doubt riding in a lot of pain. When the race (s) are over, he's hurting.

Respect.

[White trash]

I'm far from Lorenzos biggest fan but JESUS, has the man got nuts!

[denill]

Lorenzo is the main threat I think - He is injured but I think he made a drama of it in the pit being carried from the bike... if there was no way he could walk there was no way he could ride a MotoGP bike to 2nd place.

You can't say that!!! :bash: :bash: How the fuck do you know that's the case?? :bash: :bash:


(He really pisses me off having to have a lollipop stuck in his gob all the time)

Yeah, I'm with you there. I think he's doing as a sort of 'signature'. If so I reckon he could find something a bit more apropriate, FFS.

[White trash]

As for the lollipop, one of the mans main sponsors is Chuppa-Chups for christs sake, of course he's gonna have one in his gob.

[denill]

As for the lollipop, one of the mans main sponsors is Chuppa-Chups for christs sake, of course he's gonna have one in his gob.


Oh, OK. That make a BIG difference.

Thanks for putting me right cos it did piss me off. :laugh:

But I'm all for riders 'pushing' their sponsors. A few Kiwis could take notice.

[MIXONE]

As for the lollipop, one of the mans main sponsors is Chuppa-Chups for christs sake, of course he's gonna have one in his gob.

I hope he never scores any sponsorship from Durex then:eek5:

[Mort]

I thought it was brilliant to pick up Angel Nieto on his bike at the end - Angel had special leathers made for the event too.... This is part of what makes Rossi great... to organise such things.... I hope it drives him on to beat Agustini's record.

[Matt Bleck]

The Doc rules again.... Lorenzo is the main threat I think - He is injured but I think he made a drama of it in the pit being carried from the bike... if there was no way he could walk there was no way he could ride a MotoGP bike to 2nd place. (He really pisses me off having to have a lollipop stuck in his gob all the time)



WHo was it that broke both their legs so bad they grafted them together to promote healing, and he then went on to win the next race in the series? Mick Dohaan? He was also carried on.

Whore-hay has the mental edge, he doesn't think he's good, he KNOW"S he's good. I hate the little coont too, but I reckon he is the next champ.... :(

[puddytat]

I reckon it'll be Rossi's year ....Totally stoked for the dude. As for Lorenzo I'll take a punt & say he'll end up like Gibernau,always the bridesmaid.
What I do like is how Moto gp has changed since Rossi came along as in everyone took a "chill pill" & the up tight mofo's like Biaggi & co have taken thier shite attitudes elsewhere...Formula 1 is the prime example of ego's that stop drivers seemingly enjoying thier results

[quallman1234]

So much for boring, it was a fanstastic race, espically watching rossi slowly itching forward through the "Traffic" and then pissing off. They had a wee 4 bike scrap for a while! :2thumbsup

[Chrislost]

fookn mean race.
those yamahas are looking good once they get outa the traffic huh!

[pritch]

I'm far from Lorenzos biggest fan but JESUS, has the man got nuts!

Amen!

I was interested to see the fuss Rossi made of the Yamaha factory rep who looked a bit startled at being bear hugged and having his hair ruffled etc after the race.

Rossi had asked the factory to bring back the previous man (Furosawa?) who Rossi felt had the ability to get things done back at the factory in Japan.

For Yamaha to get a 1 2 3 somebody got something done.

[Badjelly]

As for Lorenzo I'll take a punt & say he'll end up like Gibernau,always the bridesmaid.

Sete only managed to be the bridesmaid for 2 years. I remember the first race he won, on a Suzuki, in the wet, somewhere in Spain, with a "make way for me" pass on Barros at the last corner. I think that was the last year of the two-strokes, 2001? He had a couple of years as Rossi's main rival then faded away to bitter, helmet-tossing mediocrity. (If any MotoGP rider can be called mediocre.)

I think Jorge is a class above Sete.

[denill]

A second day of post-race testing at Le Mans concluded early when the Ducati Corse engineers, studying the data in their possession, singled out the component that caused the breakdown of Casey Stoner's engine in the Grand Prix de France. It was therefore decided not to continue with the test in the afternoon in order to avoid further damage to other engines. Engineers back at the Borgo Panigale factory will now replace the component in question before the team's home race at Mugello in just over a week's time.

However, sunshine yesterday and today had allowed Stoner to complete the majority of work planned for this test and the Australian was straight back on the pace this morning on race tyres.

1. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda1'33.106
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team1'33.661
3. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro1'33.994
4. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki1'34.108
5. John Hopkins (USA) Kawasaki Racing1'34.484
6. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP1'34.730
7. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda1'34.752
8. Shinya Nakano (JPN) San Carlo Honda Gresini1'34.911
9. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini1'34.926
10. Anthony West (AUS) Kawasaki Racing1'35.082
11. Marco Melandri (ITA) Ducati Marlboro1'36.064
12. Erwan Nigon (FRA) HRC Test Team1'36.341
13. Olivier Jacque (FRA) Kawasaki Racing1'37.424

Le Mans record lap: V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2006, 1'35.087
Le Mans best Lap: C. Edwards (Yamaha) 2007, 1'33.616

[denill]

Melandri must be rueing the day he signed with Ducati <_< <_<

[roogazza]

Bill,
The Ducati still looks like it has a speed advantage (tho not like last year)
if its sorted that very long straight at Mugello will be the proof of the pudding. When I was there in 05 the fastest thru the traps did like
343 kmph !!!! The straight has a kink to the left and a hump just before braking and I will always remember Rossi pulling a mono there.
Put a glass of red on Rossi Aye ? Gaz.

[denill]

Bill,
The Ducati still looks like it has a speed advantage (tho not like last year)
if its sorted that very long straight at Mugello will be the proof of the pudding. When I was there in 05 the fastest thru the traps did like
343 kmph !!!! The straight has a kink to the left and a hump just before braking and I will always remember Rossi pulling a mono there.
Put a glass of red on Rossi Aye ? Gaz.

This is getting far too boring Gaz. I'm having to agree with ya! :argh:
Cheers, Bill.

PS: To have been at Mugello - wow!!! :niceone:

[quallman1234]

Kawa was the fastest tho the speed traps appently. Interesting tehe