So much for restricting MotoGP

[Busamav]

Seems like its as suspected , although a little sooner than could be hoped for ,

the bikes are already dipping under the 990 lap Record at Sepang ..


Hopper and Edwards lead the pack after day 2

[shot2bits]

Is this on TV anywhere?

[Busamav]

shot2bits said:

Is this on TV anywhere?

Unfortunately not , but if you subscribe over at Motogp , then theres video and often live track side feed

[shot2bits]

OK, thanks. MotoGP should be everywhere, it's by far the most interesting and exciting to watch.

[kingb]

they simply cant win

if they cut the power bikes will obviously get lighter and therefore higher corner speeds. i dont really see how they could slow it down with out damaging the sport.

[carrera2]

kingb said:

they simply cant win

if they cut the power bikes will obviously get lighter and therefore higher corner speeds. i dont really see how they could slow it down with out damaging the sport.

Tyres surely?

[FourWheelDrift]

Here are the day 2 times.

1. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.806 secs
2. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 1.930 secs
3. Chris Vermulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.275 secs
4. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 2.538 secs
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.619 secs
6. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.793 secs
7. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 2.806 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 2.948 secs
9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 3.098 secs
10. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.190 secs
11. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 3.253 secs
12. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 2min 3.633 secs
13. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 2min 3.681 secs
14. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.700 secs
15. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 2min 3.800 secs
16. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 3.895 secs
17. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 4.124 secs
18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 4.171 secs
19. Makoto Tamada JBR Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 4.350 secs
20. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 4.892 secs

[kingb]

carrera2 said:

kingb said:

they simply cant win

if they cut the power bikes will obviously get lighter and therefore higher corner speeds. i dont really see how they could slow it down with out damaging the sport.

Tyres surely?

yeah i guess but taking away grip would be dangerous and smaller tyres means less rolling resistance!!

[dern]

FourWheelDrift said:

Here are the day 2 times.

Can't wait for the new season... go Colin!

[carrera2]

kingb said:

carrera2 said:

kingb said:

they simply cant win

if they cut the power bikes will obviously get lighter and therefore higher corner speeds. i dont really see how they could slow it down with out damaging the sport.

Tyres surely?

yeah i guess but taking away grip would be dangerous and smaller tyres means less rolling resistance!!

It wouldn't be dangerous it would jsut mean they had to slow down a touch. Worked in f1 - however it's in our interests for them to limit engine size as road bikes will get more punch per cc.

[FROSTYR1]

FourWheelDrift said:

Here are the day 2 times.

1. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.806 secs
2. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 1.930 secs
3. Chris Vermulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 2.275 secs
4. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 2.538 secs
5. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.619 secs
6. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.793 secs
7. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 2.806 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 2.948 secs
9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 3.098 secs
10. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.190 secs
11. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 3.253 secs
12. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 2min 3.633 secs
13. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 2min 3.681 secs
14. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.700 secs
15. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 2min 3.800 secs
16. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 3.895 secs
17. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 4.124 secs
18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 4.171 secs
19. Makoto Tamada JBR Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 4.350 secs
20. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 4.892 secs

Blimey! I would have thought Rossi and Hayden would be further up the list than 5th and 8th........

[FourWheelDrift]

I wouldn't read too much into their times.


In respect to the restrictions and reduction in engine capacity this year, yes the 800s are quick, but imagine how much quicker another season of developed 990cc bikes could be. Although their engine development lifespan was almost peaking their knowledge of setting up and perfecting the big bikes might have seen some much quicker times than those of the 800s.

[FourWheelDrift]

FourWheelDrift said:

I wouldn't read too much into their times.

Told you so. Day three times.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 0.936 secs
2. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.026 secs
3. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 1.274 secs
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.664 secs
5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 2min 1.691 secs
6. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 1.878 secs
7. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 2min 1.884 secs
8. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 2min 2.266 secs
9. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 2.407 secs
10. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 2.489 secs
11. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 2min 2.583 secs
12. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoG (B) 2min 2.630 secs
13. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 2min 2.927 secs
14. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 2min 3.040 secs
15. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 2min 3.077 secs
16. Makoto Tamada JPN Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 3.308 secs
17. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 2min 3.330 secs
18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 2min 3.572 secs
19. Shinichi Ito JPN Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 2min 3.973 secs

[veetwin]

Day 2 - Rossi's time was a consequence of simulating race distance on race tyres, certainly nothing to worry about if he only manages 5th position still within a second of the best time.

Day 3 - Rossi back on top, he will be unbreakable this season!!

[Rawwr]

Rossi with an axe to grind is going to make for some great entertainment. Wish Stoner would pick his pace up a little, though.

[YamR1V64motion]

poor Nicky though,he just doesnt seem to get on with that tiny RC212V.

[FourWheelDrift]

I think Nakano might be wondering if he's done the right thing moving to Honda, after seeing where Randy dePuniet is with the Kawasaki.

[Busamav]

FourWheelDrift said:

I think Nakano might be wondering if he's done the right thing moving to Honda, after seeing where Randy dePuniet is with the Kawasaki.

dont forget he has also swapped tyre manufacturer too. I hope he gets a win this year , but i dont ever see him bothering the main contenders

[kingb]

i think rossi will be dominate the year. i think he will be really determined after last year and all his bad luck. these new bikes are ment to have higher corner speeds and nicky likes to back it in. edwards is fairly smooth so i guess its all good for him and as pedrossa has only resently come from 250s i would expect him to bu quick.

[Steve_T]

I hope Hopkins is on a more competitive mount this year. He seemed to have the pace on times, but not be able to maintain it last year, so I'm curious what he can do. Caprossi is very fast on the right circuit, so I hope he's up there mixing it for more of this year. If Rossi is up there the whole season, I can't see Haydon defending his title, I think Pedrosa will out perform him once the Honda is sorted. When all's said and done though, I think you're right, Valentino is the man to watch. This is very much a development year for the 800s, the Rossi and Burgess partnership is likely to be a step ahead looking at how they sorted the M1 out.

Steve.