MotoGP: The Big Sandbox (gritty spoilers!)

[xtop20A]

Originally Posted by Pecha72

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.

i think that nicky has steadily IMPROVED as a rider,while rossi has not learned to adapt and seemingly stagnant

[Pecha72]

I'm not saying Rossi is over the hill.. but he's NOT where he wants to be, and it's the second year on the red bike, too, last year was excusable (well, sort of!) but now they cannot afford to be in the dark.

Nicky's form could be an indication, that they're not totally screwed. But if tomorrow Vale races as bad as he qualified, then I wonder what the hell is up with him.

[trav72]

Spies tweeted this pic saying "Here's what a jackass looks like"

[dolomoto]

I was fortunate enough to get off base to attend the '10 MotoGP round. If you didn't already know, 95% of the people in Qatar are from somewhere else. The 5% that are from there represent the wealthiest nation in the World due to their natural gas reserves. Spectating sucks at the track. One grandstand (half empty, btw). Hardly any food (Pizza Hut and Dunkin Donuts IIRC). No vendors...well, except for these guys.

Camel rides anyone?



The grandstand..



At least you're close to the track...



There was a stunt show...



LL MotoGP



This speaks for itself:



And, I busted curfew by 3 hours. It was worth it!

[mdubya]

[Silver]

I think Nicky has just improved, he has more time with the Ducati being hard to ride that Vale. Also again think about how many new bikes they have been on, NUTS, as many changes as they've made, yes he's still slow but then again is showing improvement in a few places where as last year there were none. Again, some of you have the season and Rossi's career all decided out already and we haven't even seen the first race yet.

[greglewis]

Originally Posted by cogitate

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

I don't think it's his leg that's the problem - more likely the helmeted area.

[Jutta]

1. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 54.634s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 54.855s
3. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.022s
4. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing (YZR-M1) 1m 55.512s
5. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Team (GP12) 1m 55.637s
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Monster Yamaha Tech3 (YZR-M1) 1m 55.858s
7. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda (RC213V) 1m 55.905s
8. Hector Barbera ESP Pramac Racing (GP12) 1m 55.983s
9. Stefan Bradl GER LCR Honda (RC213V) 1m 56.063s
10. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing (GP12) 1m 56.198s
11. Alvaro Bautista ESP San Carlo Honda Gresini (RC213V) 1m 56.521s
12. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Team (GP12) 1m 56.813s
13. Colin Edwards USA NGM Forward Racing (Suter-BMW CRT) 1m 57.644s
14. Randy De Puniet FRA Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1m 58.266s
15. Aleix Espargaro ESP Power Electronics Aspar (ART CRT) 1m 58.520s
16. Yonny Hernandez COL Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 1m 58.795s
17. Michele Pirro ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini (FTR-Honda CRT) 1m 59.085s
18. Mattia Pasini ITA Speed Master (ART CRT) 1m 59.195s
19. Danilo Petrucci ITA Came IodaRacing (Ioda-Aprilia CRT) 1m 59.664s
20. Ivan Silva ESP Avintia Blusens (FTR-Kawasaki CRT) 2m 0.493s
21. James Ellison GBR Paul Bird Motorsport (ART CRT) 2m 0.757s

[ErikY.]

Gotta be happy for Cal. Hopefully he keeps the rubber down this season and pulls off some wins.

I can't help thinking that Nicky's years of dirt and flat track experience give him advantage over others when on a slippery bike or slippery track. We know he's good in the rain for sure.

It would be nice to see a few torches passed this year.

Would also like to see Bautista up there drinking champagne too.

I was hoping, last year on hearing about the CT inclusion for '12, that it would bring new life but I have my doubts, given the 3-4 second differences in lap times. I think there might be a push from Dorna for lots of cameras at the back to watch the battles for 13th and slower. If there is stuff to watch back there then that's fine, but it would still be a bit weird watching guys trying to be pleased to be 12th or 13th, or being interviewed after because they beat a satellite bike

But I'm happy the season is open

[dontlr]

Motomatters Qatar report

[Turder]

Look how much smoother Honda's slick gearbox is. Yamaha's chassis is somewhat upset with every upshift, especially when leaned over on the fast lefthander (after 1:23 on the Yamaha video).

Qatar - Honda OnBoard

Qatar - Yamaha OnBoard

I bet the rider on the Honda video is Stoner. Nobody cuts inside kerbs like he does

[RaY YreKa]

Originally Posted by ErikY.

Gotta be happy for Cal. Hopefully he keeps the rubber down this season and pulls off some wins.

I can't help thinking that Nicky's years of dirt and flat track experience give him advantage over others when on a slippery bike or slippery track. We know he's good in the rain for sure.

It would be nice to see a few torches passed this year.

Would also like to see Bautista up there drinking champagne too.

I was hoping, last year on hearing about the CT inclusion for '12, that it would bring new life but I have my doubts, given the 3-4 second differences in lap times. I think there might be a push from Dorna for lots of cameras at the back to watch the battles for 13th and slower. If there is stuff to watch back there then that's fine, but it would still be a bit weird watching guys trying to be pleased to be 12th or 13th, or being interviewed after because they beat a satellite bike

But I'm happy the season is open

The Eurosport commentary was saying that the best CT bike will get a spot in parc ferme, as they did for Edwards' best Q time (0.5 behind Rossi?). British Superbikes does a similar thing with their EVO class.

[scottmoto16]

Originally Posted by ray_rev

The Eurosport commentary was saying that the best CT bike will get a spot in parc ferme, as they did for Edwards' best Q time (0.5 behind Rossi?). British Superbikes does a similar thing with their EVO class.

Thats a great idea , maybe it might encourage a few more sponsors to get on board with the CRT's as well , putting a bit more money into the sport.

[scottmoto16]

I think tyre management is going to play a huge part this year.

Was it Cal C that said , in one of the interviews on MotoGP.com, it is possible to destroy a tyre in a couple of laps if you tried ??

Could be a good year for the guys that don't mind the bike moving around (lots) at the later stages of the race.

Nicky , Casey , Cal .........

Or those good at management.

Lorenzo , Rossi......

[Drif10]

I just hope that whether it be tires, design, weather, lappers... that it not be another procession like last year.

Talk about watching paint dry. With the highlight being when a fly got stuck in the paint.