Hmmm...fresh - Jerez MotoGP Discussion

[Knowlesy]

Two Ducati's and a Kwaka on the front row!

How cool is that?!?

And good effort from Dani Pedrosa in fifth as well.

Grid:
1: Capirossi Gibernau Nakano
2: Hayden Pedrosa Elias
3: Melandri De Puniet Rossi
4: Edwards Vermeulen Hopkins
5: Roberts Checa Stoner
6: Tamada Cardoso Ellison
7: Hoffman

250cc:

1: Lorenzo Takahashi Barbera Aoyama (S)
2: De Angelis West Aoyama(H) Simoncelli
3: Baldolini Locatelli Dovizioso Heidolf
4: Smrz Tizon Debon Davies

125cc:

1: Pasini Bautista Pesek Simon
2: Faubel Kallio Talmasci Gadea
3: Nieo Olive Di Meglio De Rosa
4: Corsi Rodriguez Koyama Iannone

Previous Winners
MotoGP: 05 Rossi 04 Sete 03 Rossi 02 Rossi 01 Rossi 00 KrJr
250cc: 05 Pedrosa 04 Rolfo 03 Elias 02 F. Nieto 01 Katoh 00 Waldmann
125cc: 05 Simoncelli 04 Simoncelli 03 Cecchinello 02 Cecchinello 01 Azuma 00 Alzamora

MotoGP.com Fact of the day:
This is the first time since 1993 that there hasn't been a Honda on the front row. Allthough if there were four to a row still that wouldn't be true.

[SALEEN S7R]

Indeed, good to have the Ducati's at the front of the grid, although not entirely unexpected when you look back at their pre season testing form. Interesting to see the Yamaha's struggling so much, Rossi only mananging 9th! I dont fancy his chances for tommorow.

[Oaksnaf]

Oil late on the track ruined some of the key runners qual runs though with four minutes remaining.

[Oaksnaf]

Originally Posted by Oaksnaf

Oil late on the track ruined some of the key runners qual runs though with four minutes remaining.

Whops was mis-informed. Take no notice of last post.

[ATF]

I missed the first 10 minutes of it so didn't see all the commotion! But good effort for Ducati and well done Shinya! I'm being careful not to discount Rossi though...still reckon he will make the podium!

[BootsOntheSide]

BBC referred to the session as being fragmented, but I don't know exactly what happened, or whether the grid really is topsy-turvy as a result.

[Knowlesy]

Well it was fragmented in the sense that the session was stopped after four minutes and then ran non-stop for the final fifty-six minutes.

[ATF]

I don't think it affected the outcome, Capirossi was clearly the best! Hoping for a good race tomorrow!

[Knowlesy]

Ducati procession by the looks of things, unless they get Rossi sorted out.

I personally want to see the Kawasaki of Nakano spring a shock!

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by knowlesy

Ducati procession by the looks of things, unless they get Rossi sorted out.

I personally want to see the Kawasaki of Nakano spring a shock!

I remain skeptical, Bridgestone have their BS-Q tyres that they pull out for the occasions (Remember Kenny's performance in Brazil '04?) and the Duke cuts through it's tyres.
Also, in preseason testing Melandri was the fastest on "real" rubber.

Having said that it wouldn't be too much of a shock to see them do a 1-2, but I don't think it's likely.

[Knowlesy]

It can go either way....they can fall away dramatically like you say, but on the other hand they could perform like they did in Malaysia and Motegi last year and be very strong.

I think they'll be OK personally, but we will see.

[SALEEN S7R]

Personally I think Gibernau will take the win tommorow, if not at least make the podium with Capirossi a outsider for the win but defintely a top 5 finisher. Providing the Bridgestones can last the distance I cant see anything realisticaly beating the Ducati's on pace today.

[Dani Filth]

125 Pasini/Simon
250 Barbera/Lorenzo
MotoGP Rossi/Capirossi

Ducati usually goes well at Jerez, but i don't think BS will last, at least will not have a that big advantage.

[Knowlesy]

Capirex!!!!!!!!

And what a debut from Pedrosa......he's some boy, despite the fact his physique makes Loris Capirossi look physically massive!

[SALEEN S7R]

Today's race was a bit boring IMO, great performance by Capirossi and Pedrosa though, considering it was Pedrosa's first ever Moto GP race I think he performed exceptionally well and ran Capirossi hard up until the final few laps, a definite title contender if today's race is anything to go by.

[Schummy]

SALEEN: Particularly if Little Toni (Elias) goes on crashing Rossi

Good race, although a bit devoid of emotions in the last laps. And Rossi has a handicap of points to start with. I think it was a requirement from Dorna to spice things a bit.

Where was Nakano? I hoped some good results for him.

One of the less happy men there is going to be Hayden. His rookie team mate has won over him clearly and he had to fight with supposedly unnexpexted opposition from Elias (although he was motivated in this home track). Only Melandri was worse among the title contenders, but at least Marco was not beaten by a rookie mate... errr... well, Elias is not a rookie.

Sete was good (in training at least) but he continues cursed...

Biaggi did not make anything this GP... ummm... sorry for this tasteless joke

An interesting game would be to follow who is going to crash more often: Sete, Checa or the notorious Randy de Puniet . Anyway I hope they do well, in fact I like all of them! (buuut... they are a bit McCrash!). The rider I would like to see crashing a bit (without any injuries, of course) is Valentino, so things would be interesting points wise. Ok, it is not fair play and sportsmanship...

[Knowlesy]

Hayden and Pedrosa were on different bikes I'm led to believe.

However, Dani may well have beaten him anyways. It was certainly pretty comprehensive today.

Very very impressive debut.

[chunder]

Exactly his debut was one of the most impressive in recent years, but Casey was good also I think considering he has hardly done any testing either, he was 4th for a bit!

As for Dani, he got past Hayden really quickly aswell, coz as usua; Nicky was a bit of a roadblock after a good start!

He apparently is ont eh chassis built last year at Brno, Dani is so much smoother, Hayden always has the bike sliding in wierd places, must knacker the tyres!

Think Loris had it all under control, he went for it with 4 laps to go after Dani got within a few tenths, though whether that was Dani wilting a bit or Loris lapping quicker...

[asha]

The rookies certanly had the rides of the day.

It wont be long before motogp becomes the Stoner, Pedrosa, Elias show (era)

[marcus]

awesome effort by pedrosa , I thought for sure he was going to get Loris , but it didnt happen.

Loris gave it a squirt when he needed to and broke Dani's spirit I guess.

great effort by Stoner , his start was simply awesome.

a good way to start off the year I think , bring on Qatar

[Dutton]

I want to beat my video recorder. It's what I get for not watching it live...

Alas, the Gripe of the Mother would've been unbearable.

[Schummy]

If I had to choose just three riders from Jerez, I think I'd choose Capirossi, Pedrosa and Lorenzo. They did well and left a mark for future races. Possibly I'd consider Angelis, Hayden and Bautista as the others who gave me a good impression (but Hayden need to be even better to match the high expectations he deserves). Pesek and Barbera close the "positive bag" in my mind.

That's just perfomance wise. If we enter rookie actuations or bad luck, then others can be nominated with fairness.

Disappointments? Melandri, Nakano (respecting grid position, but Kawa is this way), possibly Edwards (his race's pace was mediocre at best). I would not want to mention Poggy, who looks to have big problems with his career (he is a double champion, not less).

Special mention to poor Luthi, who won my Bad-Luck trophy.

[ATF]

Good race today, what an impressive ride from Pedrosa! Good win for Capirossi but it would have been interesting to see where Rossi would have finished!

[Hazza]

And On a side note, in the 250s what did you guys think of Shuei's riderless bike trick and the poor sod in my avatar?

How did that bike get so high?

[ATF]

Originally Posted by Hazza

And On a side note, in the 250s what did you guys think of Shuei's riderless bike trick and the poor sod in my avatar?

I didn't see the 250/125 races but from what I can see, I think he's a very lucky rider!!!