MotoGP - it's been raining at Mugello
Discussion
Crash.net said:
Spain's Dani Pedrosa upstaged the home grown heroes by setting the Friday pace at the Italian Grand Prix, courtesy of a dry morning time, while Ducati's Casey Stoner led the way during a soaking second session - in which title rival Valentino Rossi fell. Pedrosa had pipped Fiat Yamaha star Rossi by just 0.158secs at the conclusion of the opening hour, in which Rizla Suzuki's John Hopkins was third fastest and world championship leader Stoner fourth for home manufacturer Ducati, but heavy rain then arrived shortly before this afternoon's second session - ruling out the possibility of any further improvements. The session was delayed by ten minutes due to the appalling weather, but it took another 30 minutes before the majority of the field ventured out on track - at which point Chris Vermeulen, a debut winner in the wet at Le Mans two weeks' ago, proved he'd lost none of his wet weather magic by jumping to the head of the field.
Despite having only completed four laps, that time kept the Australian in command until the final ten minutes approached, when Honda LCR's Carlos Checa - who, along with Kenny Roberts, completed the most laps this afternoon - was rewarded for his efforts by temporarily taking over the position. However, by the time a soggy chequered flag had been waved, it was Stoner who stood supreme at the top of the timesheets - the 21-year-old underlining his own wet weather ability, after an impressive third at Le Mans, as he set the wet pace by just 0.018secs over Hopkins with the Anglo-American's team-mate Vermeulen third after being just 13th this morning.
Stoner's nearest title rival Rossi was fourth in the wet, but suffered a psychological blow when he fell from his factory M1, after losing the front under braking, in the closing stages. The winner of the last five Italian Grands Prix was sent sliding at considerable speed into a gravel trap as a result - but fortunately emerged unharmed, if a little frustrated. Kenny Roberts Jr used the wet weather to give Team Roberts a welcome boost with fifth in the wet - after being just 19th in the dry. Younger brother Kurtis Roberts was unsurprisingly 20th and last on his MotoGP return this morning, and recorded 19th this afternoon - ahead of only class rookie Sylvain Guintoli, who completed just two laps.
Checa, a fighting fifth in the dry, slipped to a late twelfth in the wet while fellow Spaniard Pedrosa - who feels he made a wet weather breakthrough last time at Le Mans - was tenth in the slick conditions. World champion team-mate Nicky Hayden finished Friday eighth (dry) and 14th (wet), while countryman Colin Edwards also had a mixed day with 16th (dry) and seventh (wet) places.
Combined session times, (the 1st session times only really since practice 2 was wet)Despite having only completed four laps, that time kept the Australian in command until the final ten minutes approached, when Honda LCR's Carlos Checa - who, along with Kenny Roberts, completed the most laps this afternoon - was rewarded for his efforts by temporarily taking over the position. However, by the time a soggy chequered flag had been waved, it was Stoner who stood supreme at the top of the timesheets - the 21-year-old underlining his own wet weather ability, after an impressive third at Le Mans, as he set the wet pace by just 0.018secs over Hopkins with the Anglo-American's team-mate Vermeulen third after being just 13th this morning.
Stoner's nearest title rival Rossi was fourth in the wet, but suffered a psychological blow when he fell from his factory M1, after losing the front under braking, in the closing stages. The winner of the last five Italian Grands Prix was sent sliding at considerable speed into a gravel trap as a result - but fortunately emerged unharmed, if a little frustrated. Kenny Roberts Jr used the wet weather to give Team Roberts a welcome boost with fifth in the wet - after being just 19th in the dry. Younger brother Kurtis Roberts was unsurprisingly 20th and last on his MotoGP return this morning, and recorded 19th this afternoon - ahead of only class rookie Sylvain Guintoli, who completed just two laps.
Checa, a fighting fifth in the dry, slipped to a late twelfth in the wet while fellow Spaniard Pedrosa - who feels he made a wet weather breakthrough last time at Le Mans - was tenth in the slick conditions. World champion team-mate Nicky Hayden finished Friday eighth (dry) and 14th (wet), while countryman Colin Edwards also had a mixed day with 16th (dry) and seventh (wet) places.
1. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 50.743 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 50.901 secs
3. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 51.022 secs
4. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 51.356 secs
5. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 51.414 secs
6. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 51.553 secs
7. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 51.621 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 51.720 secs
9. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 51.803 secs
10. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 51.823 secs
11. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 51.982 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 52.057 secs
13. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 52.125 secs
14. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 52.361 secs
15. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 52.396 secs
16. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 52.630 secs
17. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 52.726 secs
18. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 53.411 secs
19. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 53.541 secs
20. Kurtis Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 55.286 secs
Rawwr said:
....he's not winning just because the Ducati is the most powerful bike on the grid.
That's the way I'm seeing it at the moment! 
To be fair he's obviously a good rider as he proved at Le Mans, slipping some way down the order before mounting a bit of a comeback, but I still think the bike is playing a HUGE part in his emergence as a title challenger this season.
That's why I like Rossi; he can ride the wheels off anything, as proven with his development of the Yam which was supposed to suck to start with, yet he still managed to win.
Stoner MAY win the title this year (god I hope not!
), but could you honestly say he's a worthy champion? My measure of a champion would be to ask what kind of a fight could they have put up if they had a different machine? In this case, I would have to say not a lot.Caparossi seems to be struggling more than Stoner this year though...So perhaps the speed isn`t the whole story...I think he was saying he needs Ducati to re engineer some things to suit him better...puzzling how Stoner seems happy & he has struggled to get regular podiums.
If he doesn`t get a podium at Mugello..I think he may seriously consider the Kawasaki team next year who have expressed interest in him...It has the speed now & IMO now needs a proper rider to take it to the extra notch.
If he doesn`t get a podium at Mugello..I think he may seriously consider the Kawasaki team next year who have expressed interest in him...It has the speed now & IMO now needs a proper rider to take it to the extra notch.
Edited by F.M on Friday 1st June 23:37
Don't forget Barros, former top series winner and still quick. His D'Antin Ducati although a customer is going to be very close to the factory bikes on spec as it's the first year of 800cc bikes (they can't run last years model). Barros has been quick some sessions, so too has Hoffman sometimes but Stoner is the most consistent of all 4.
The sport at this level is just so damn competitive....everyone is in with a chance....look at Haydon...the man last year...hanging around in 8th etc this year...still bursting his ass....It`s a funny year this year...Take away Stoner & it would be almost impossible to pick a winner from round to round....I hope Stoner has a slump in form...just to liven things up...
Combo of best bike & tyres IMO... With the speed advantage, it reminds me of the year the 4 strokes were introduced. At some circuits the 2 strokes could lap faster and had poles against the 4t's (OJ Germany & J McWilliams Aus)but as soon as the race started the 4t's would blast past and park it in the corner, wrecking the 2t's lap times... not one race was won by a 2 stroke in 02, even though at some circuits they were faster!
Rossi is having the same problem this year, he often laps faster in qualifiying(clear track), but as soon as the race starts and he encounters traffic, it ruins his lap times, whilst Stoner can simply blast by on the straight and park it.
If Yamaha can half the difference in top speed, i think he stands a good chance of regaining the title, otherwise it's going to take something VERY special from Rossi!
Rossi is having the same problem this year, he often laps faster in qualifiying(clear track), but as soon as the race starts and he encounters traffic, it ruins his lap times, whilst Stoner can simply blast by on the straight and park it.
If Yamaha can half the difference in top speed, i think he stands a good chance of regaining the title, otherwise it's going to take something VERY special from Rossi!
Edited by JS99 on Saturday 2nd June 11:06
I'm still pinning my hopes on Rossi. Stoner, talented as he is and i know he won't like it but, he is on the fastest bike. Not wanting to take anything away from the kid 'cus I should think it still takes some riding. Cappirossi, well, other things on his mind I should think. Great to see Vermuelen take a win, very much deserved, the kids' a try'er, nice bloke too.
Now, put Rossi on a Ducati at the moment and we'd see a return to a Doohan type domination, no question. Then again, if Melandri was his team mate aswell???? Put any of 'em on different [lesser]machines and see if they're still in contention. Big up the doctor!
{hope anyone for the title but Pedrosa and Honda]
Now, put Rossi on a Ducati at the moment and we'd see a return to a Doohan type domination, no question. Then again, if Melandri was his team mate aswell???? Put any of 'em on different [lesser]machines and see if they're still in contention. Big up the doctor!
{hope anyone for the title but Pedrosa and Honda]
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