Round 1 Moto GP Qatar.

[cmoore]

what an awesome start to the season.....three Yamaha's in the top five......!!!......Stoner just seems to have these racing issues...he's always good in practice......

and the Moto2 racing was fantastic as well.....the passing moves and position swapping was breathtaking....

[svr]

what an awesome start to the season.....three Yamaha's in the top five......!!!......Stoner just seems to have these racing issues...he's always good in practice......

and the Moto2 racing was fantastic as well.....the passing moves and position swapping was breathtaking....

Was a good race, although if Stoner had stayed upright it would have been like previous years at Qatar where he's just pissed off. And how good is Spies???!!!
Moto2 just looks slow. I've heard that they've got a fair bit less power than a decent supersport. Will be plenty of `action' tho as full grids of good riders overriding slow bikes = lots of crashes.

[Badjelly]

You're lucky this site has no "insufferable smug bastid" smilies

I find one can usually get the effect across without a smilie.

[Toast]

I still think they suck arse! Over a second slower than the bikes they replaced and they're not 250 two strokes!

You think they'll still be slower after a season of development?

Was a good race, although if Stoner had stayed upright it would have been like previous years at Qatar where he's just pissed off. And how good is Spies???!!!
Moto2 just looks slow. I've heard that they've got a fair bit less power than a decent supersport. Will be plenty of `action' tho as full grids of good riders overriding slow bikes = lots of crashes.

Yeah less power than a supersport bike so that they stay reliable. Lap times will surpass 'em

Quite a good article in the June issue of Superbike about the Moto2 class. I wasn't a massive fan before but reading about the stories of the different chassis manufacturers giving it a go got me pretty keen on the whole thing!

[Oscar]

I find one can usually get the effect across without a smilie.

It was much easier when I owned a BMW.
BMW owners do a good line in smug and insufferable.
The bastid thing comes natural to me....

[rachprice]

You're lucky this site has no "insufferable smug bastid" smilies....

Ahhh I still haven't seen it though I downloaded to watch the first opportunity I get!

Though I did hear what happened....silly casey, he pulled the pin and tucked the front even though he was way ahead (not the first time he has done that either)

Bet Rossi was pissing himself laughing in his helmet going shit yeah you little champion because I still reckon if he didnt bin it he would have shat all over them!

Go spies in 5th!! Definitely one to watch, and I also hear he pulled a pretty sweet move on old pedrosa.....doesnt care who they are just that they are in front of him haha I cant wait till he gets closer up the front!

Also great to see Nicky Hayden up the front too!

[Kiwi Graham:Me]

Fantastic to watch;

Moto 2, what a massive grid!! this class can only get better. I hope polotics doesnt come to the party but with the buy right on engines hopefully its been squashed before it can start.

Moto GP, Casey up to his race fails again, good to see someone else pushing the Yamahas for position and what about Spies..his corner speed and lean angles are bloody impressive eh!!
Role on two weeks.
KG

[Peter Smith]

Spies is a man on a mission. His fastest lap of the race was quicker than Haydens and Divo's.
For the first race of the season and to be only 4 sec behind the winner was awesome.
He may even get a win this season.
Its going to be good.

[PirateJafa]

Haha! Good bloody work Hayden - especially after a dismal last year!

[Crasherfromwayback]

Spies is a man on a mission. His fastest lap of the race was quicker than Haydens and Divo's.
For the first race of the season and to be only 4 sec behind the winner was awesome.
He may even get a win this season.
Its going to be good.

Aye. I think those here that said he would only ever be good on a Superbike must be feeling like dolks now.

[denill]

Spies is a man on a mission. His fastest lap of the race was quicker than Haydens and Divo's.
For the first race of the season and to be only 4 sec behind the winner was awesome.
He may even get a win this season.
Its going to be good.

Fastest Lap of Each Rider
1 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'55.537 5 5
2 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'56.042 19 22 0.505 0.505
3 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'56.043 20 22 0.506 0.001
4 11 Ben SPIES USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 YAMAHA 1'56.087 17 22 0.550 0.044
5 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'56.157 16 22 0.620 0.070
6 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'56.162 13 22 0.625 0.005
7 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1'56.221 8 22 0.684 0.059
8 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'56.398 4 22 0.861 0.177

[denill]

Moto GP, Casey up to his race fails again,

Stoner said:
"The bike bogged at the start so I didn't get away well but I felt good and I was able to pass the other guys. Once I got to the front I started to get into my rhythm but I lost the front end a couple of times in long corners so I made the decision to try to ride a bit smoother and not put so much pressure on the front tyre with the full tank. Unfortunately that is what led to the crash because looking at the telemetry I didn't have enough load on the front, so I guess in hindsight I should have stuck to the way I'd been riding all weekend. It's my mistake and I apologise to the team because we'd done a great job this weekend and we leave empty handed. Having said that it's not a complete disaster because we've found this weekend that the bike has improved in areas where we have struggled in the past - for example the rear grip was unbelievable - and we have a long, long way to go."

[codgyoleracer]

Notes:
1) Man the Honda was F A S T - in a straight line.......
2) IMO - Rossi was never going to lose it after Stoner hiffed it away
3) Stoner did his fastest lap on the lap preceding falling , got a pit board reading Rossi coming & lasted one corner.......
4) Spies, Impressive with a capital F
5) pass of the race - Lorenzo on Dovi.........

[Crasherfromwayback]

Notes:
1) Man the Honda was F A S T - in a straight line.......
2) IMO - Rossi was never going to lose it after Stoner hiffed it away
3) Stoner did his fastest lap on the lap preceding falling , got a pit board reading Rossi coming & lasted one corner.......
4) Spies, Impressive with a capital F
5) pass of the race - Lorenzo on Dovi.........

Aye...as much of a Stoner fan as I am...the boy needs to stay on!

Best pass of the race for me...Spies on Pedrosa.

[roogazza]

Stoner said:
"The bike bogged at the start so I didn't get away well but I felt good and I was able to pass the other guys. Once I got to the front I started to get into my rhythm but I lost the front end a couple of times in long corners so I made the decision to try to ride a bit smoother and not put so much pressure on the front tyre with the full tank. Unfortunately that is what led to the crash because looking at the telemetry I didn't have enough load on the front, so I guess in hindsight I should have stuck to the way I'd been riding all weekend. It's my mistake and I apologise to the team because we'd done a great job this weekend and we leave empty handed. Having said that it's not a complete disaster because we've found this weekend that the bike has improved in areas where we have struggled in the past - for example the rear grip was unbelievable - and we have a long, long way to go."

Got ya message Ta Bill.
If you are having a couple of loses with the front with a full tank and then you ease off and biff it ??? Bit of a no win situation, no ?
As Glen said in No3 note, the lap before, he got the message Rossi was coming ! That's gotta put the shits up ya . No doubt he qualifys well and is fast, but shit happens. G.