MotoGP: The Big Sandbox (gritty spoilers!)

[Florin]

Originally Posted by Jim Moore

Why are they calling Pedrosa "Captain?"

Got arrested for cheating on a test for his boat driving license last week.

[viajero]

Originally Posted by maloosik

Lorenzo gets first pole
Stoner
CRUTCHLOW
Spies
Hayden
Dovi
Rossi is 12th

Crutchlow (and Tech 3) has been a bit of a surprise, at least to me. 1/2 second over Spies, too.

Only the top four are within a second, another surprise.

Hayden taking 5th is another, but may not indicate race pace. Just look at where Rossi is, who was probably more concerned with getting it comfortable for race conditions.

Should be a very entertaining race tomorrow. I wouldn't count out Pedrosa getting his bike (and himself) dialed in for the fight at the sharp end.

We could even see a first time winner, if Cal can keep it together.

[Pantah]

Despite some ADV member claims that Ben Spies is burned out, my complaint with him is that he's too hungry! He crashes a lot in practice trying to give something to his crew. He never crashed a lot before the world stage. As a result, he gets hurt.

And so it goes today.

[ysr612]

Originally Posted by Pantah

Despite some ADV member claims that Ben Spies is burned out, my complaint with him is that he's too hungry! He crashes a lot in practice trying to give something to his crew. He never crashed a lot before the world stage. As a result, he gets hurt.

And so it goes today.

he crashed alot his first year with Ulrich, John said he wasn't putting any pressure on him to perform. He puts it on himself.

[Pantah]

Originally Posted by ysr612

he crashed alot his first year with Ulrich, John said he wasn't putting any pressure on him to perform. He puts it on himself.

What? He was sixteen!

Did he crash a lot in AMA Supers?

Nah, this is a new thing.

[David_Moen]

Originally Posted by Balkan Boy

Spies holding on the throttle with the left hand until the bitter end.

He wasn't hanging on - on board video shows his hand was caught between the fairing and the bars. He did try to save it right to the bitter end though!

[Pecha72]

Originally Posted by viajero

Just look at where Rossi is, who was probably more concerned with getting it comfortable for race conditions.

Being 2.2 secs off the pace & the very last rider of non-CRT bikes(!) is not making VR comfortable, I can assure you. It is plain and simple bizarre, how he just ain´t getting it together at all the whole weekend, while his team-mate is showing the bike is not that slow.

[mdubya]

I hear Troy Bayliss is available.

[craigincali]

Rossi is going to get desperate at the start and take some people out. Go Nicky !!!

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by Pecha72

Being 2.2 secs off the pace & the very last rider of non-CRT bikes(!) is not making VR comfortable, I can assure you. It is plain and simple bizarre, how he just ain´t getting it together at all the whole weekend, while his team-mate is showing the bike is not that slow.

I will bet he rues the day he did not take the pay cut and stick with yamaha. His race craft is intact, i am sure that did not go away, but the ducati will go down in history as a career destroyer.

I bet he has nightmares. No wonder Casey had an upset stomach

[David_Moen]

Rossi seems uncomfortabe (strangley given his lurid slide-fests in the 990 days) steering with the rear wheel, which he says he has to do with the GP12. Nicky includes flat-track in his off season training and generally seems quite adaptable to a loose bike. Perhaps this is part of the difference in lap times?

[vonotto]

Rossi has never been hurt like he was when he broke his leg. He hasent been the same rider since

[Pecha72]

Originally Posted by cogitate

His race craft is intact, i am sure that did not go away, but the ducati will go down in history as a career destroyer.

May be so, but still does not explain, why he´s over a second behind Nicky. Granted that points will only be available tomorrow, and it might well be an unpredictable race, too........ but he sure looks to have a mountain to climb.

[cogitate]

Originally Posted by vonotto

Rossi has never been hurt like he was when he broke his leg. He hasent been the same rider since

Did you watch his comeback on the yamaha after his recovery? In 2009. The fairing banging race with Lorenzo in japan was epic, and sent jorge off crying to yamaha race management.

I will bet his leg was way less than 100 percent then, and his leg is way better now.

[xtop20A]

Originally Posted by Balkan Boy

Spies holding on the throttle with the left hand until the bitter end.

his hand was caught in the fairing,not on the throttle,that crash was eerrily similar to marco's

i see i was beat to it,yeah, you could see his hand clearly tied up