Qatar - *Spoiler*:

[NZsarge]

Correct...but it's not doing Melandri and his mates much good is it?

True but it's plainly an advantage the Stoner can use when racing the likes o Lorenzo and Rossi.

[johan]

Correct...but it's not doing Melandri and his mates much good is it?

True, it more proves Casey's true talent.
I hope this years race will be more even, not more or less be dominated by one rider. Obviously, Ducati doesn't have as much advantage as in last year's first race, the others bikes have improved quite a bit, which is good!

Too bad that pneumatic engine wasn't finished in time.

[gav]

Toseland's bike faster than Pedrosa's? uh huh ......

[denill]

The Ducati still have the top speed advantage according to this table.

Top speeds as per TV?

Melandri 334.4
Stoner 330.6
Elias 328.4
Rossi 326.2
Pedrossa 325.6
Guintoli 324.4
Lorenzo 323.4
Toseland 322.4
Vermuelin 321.8

[roogazza]

Only by people that couldn't see it was simply Stoner wringing the Ducatis neck!

Pete, take off your Stoner cap for a minute. What do you think happened to make Rossi push to the front in the first ten but then slowly seem to fade, tyres ? or motor ? he seemed his old self, something looked to happen ?

Ok put the cap back on .... the Duc seemed to have plenty when he decided to use it, tho not as much as last year ? Gaz.

[Badjelly]

Has Dani Pedrosa ever outbraked Valentino Rossi into a corner? He had a couple of goes at Qatar at the end of the main straight and couldn't do it.

[denill]

Not a bad READ ON QATAR:
Except for - "It is probably the only thing that will have really annoyed the Doctor over the whole race weekend."

What do you think?

[roogazza]

I dunno Bill, like everyone, just guessing. Have read a few reports this morn with all the excuses etc. Seems like he just wasn't fast enough, thru to they're working on it. We'll have to wait till Jerez ? Gaz.
ps. I'm eating pie till then.

[denill]

I dunno Bill, like everyone, just guessing. Have read a few reports this morn with all the excuses etc. Seems like he just wasn't fast enough, thru to they're working on it. We'll have to wait till Jerez ? Gaz.
ps. I'm eating pie till then.

Not suckin up Gaz, but I can't accept that Rossi has actually 'lost it'.
I have never hidden my belief felt that Stoner had his measure, but to be comprehensively beaten by Lorenzo et al???? I dunno, just doesn't seem right???

Bring on Jerez!!!

[denill]

Not suckin up Gaz, but I can't accept that Rossi has actually 'lost it'.
I have never hidden my belief felt that Stoner had his measure, but to be comprehensively beaten by Lorenzo et al???? I dunno, just doesn't seem right???

I know! Put some Yamaha stickers on a Ducati and paint in Fiat colours, haha.

BTW. If you notice I am not around as from tomorrow and for the next few weeks - I am not sulking. We will be riding some Aussie back roads on a hired BMW R1200GS and staying in small towns. Going: Brisbane, Tenterfield, Tamworth, Dubbo, Canberra, Thredbo, Cann River, Omeo, Bright, Lockhart, Bathurst, Hunter Valley, Armidale, Cassino, Tamborine and back to Brizzy. 'Bout 5,000ks - which is not far in Aussie. But - Yeeehaaa..................

[SlowHand]

Don't they tune the chassis to work with the particular brand of tyres? I remember reading about Ilmor project having to go back a couple steps when their tyre supplier changed.

Sure, Rossi and Burgess would have thought about the effects of swapping brands, but what happens to the development parts when the 3 bikes have Mitchelins and the 1 bike with former multiple world champ is on Bridgestones?

[denill]

Sure, Rossi and Burgess would have thought about the effects of swapping brands, but what happens to the development parts when the 3 bikes have Mitchelins and the 1 bike with former multiple world champ is on Bridgestones?

Yeah, what happens?

Are the bikes built round the tyres?

Or the tyres built to suit the bike?

The set-up differences between the two Fiat Yamahas will be HUGE!

[BarryG]

The setup difference between two riders, even on the same tyres, can often be huge too. Rossi reckoned having Colin as a team mate was a good thing as their settings were apparently often quite similar (mind you, the cynic in me reckons Rossi would not have likely wanted a team mate he couldn't beat!) I rather doubt much information sharing would have been evident between Rossi and Lorenzo this year, even on the same tyres.
Of course, Rossi's self belief is legendary, and even Lorenzo won't shake that, but this year, if he doesn't win more races than last year, he might just be starting to see the faint outlines of the writing on the wall.
Fascinating first race, and the lights weren't nearly as naff as I initially feared, so a bit of Gaz's crow has to be eaten here too!
Enjoy your Aussie trip, Bill.
Cheers
Barry

[gav]

While Rossi no doubt enjoyed Edwards as a team mate, its interesting reading an interview with Edwards now he has left. His comment was whenever Rossi had a problem the majority of his team left him to work with Rossi, and Edwards would be left with just one engineer. Also Bridgestone supply the same tyres to all teams, its up to Rossi and his team to get the bike to suit the tyres, he won't get the same personal attention as he had from Michelin. Don't forget that Ducati were one of the first teams to switch to Bridgestone, that experience is going to be hard to replicate overnight. Apparently the Fiat team had extra tyre testing done at Phillip Island but only Bridgestone tyres were tested, no support for Lorenzo! With the showing of the Tech 3 team, you think Rossi might be suggesting that the new engines can just wait a little longer before Tech 3 get them (if at all?)