I don't know about tiny, but "ugly" works for me.

Phlegm green is so becoming, donchya think?

Neil

Id hope so for Suzuka if if nippon sbk races there then sbk and motogp can too

its you

As an aside, doing my first track sprint series this weekend in my little Aygo in Class F

http://www.toyota-sprint-series.com/forums...?f=53&t=899

Number 74 .. I doubt I'll do it justice but I will try my best.



Wish me luck, I hope he is smiling down on me too.

Andy

GOOD LUCK Andy!

Give um heck and post some pictures!

<dancing>

Go Andy . . . Go Andy . . . Go Andy

oooooo, nice ummmmmm .... pom poms. Yeh, that's it, pom poms.

Good luck and have fun Andy. Take no prisoners!

Neil

Good luck!

I noticed the steering stop, didn't know it was twisted.

They did fix a lot of the bumps but there's new ones as well. 3 is a pain in the ass still but that's the worst of it, it's a nice track.

Had an open TD on Monday and the straight forks work REALLY well. Got back down into the low 2:00's on takeoffs, right around where I was on the old bike. I'll write up a report tomorrow when I stop for dinner on my way to Buttonwillow.

Kick some ass, Andy!

FB Corse Bike "Not Yet Ready To Race"

As the established MotoGP field warm their engines for the final test of the season at Qatar starting on Thursday, back in Europe, another bike has been auditioning to join the show. At Valencia today, the FB Corse team ran a timed test in front of Franco Uncini, Dorna and IRTA's representative sent to evaluate the project, with the hope of impressing Uncini sufficiently that the team and their rider Garry McCoy would be admitted as the 18th official entry into the MotoGP class.

Their hopes have been dashed, however. Uncini's verdict, though full of praise for the team, is negative, and the FB Corse team will not be allowed to start the season at Qatar. Speaking to GPOne.com, Uncini described the project as "interesting," but said what the FB Corse really needed was more time and more miles on the bike to develop it further and refine it before it is ready to race.

Matthieu Lagrive replaces Charpentier in WSS.

I'm surprised he isn't in WSBK this year.

Since it's a bit OT, but nonetheless pertinent to support one of ours on this forum I created a topic to support you over the weekend.

Julian Simon has been testing the Desmosedici development bike at Jerez as stand in for the injured testers.
The bike had some of the new tricks like a new windshield and a rear swingarm with less lateral rigidity.
He did 115 laps
fastest 1.41.4
just 1.6 seconds from Valentino Rossi's lap record
also did a long run of 30 laps

http://www.gpone.com/news/News.asp?NNews=6647

Times as of 6pm local time. Anyone know how late they're running? I think the test is "under the lights".


1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:56.641 - - 16
2 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:56.773 +0.132 +0.132 27
3 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:56.943 +0.170 +0.302 14
4 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:57.099 +0.156 +0.458 20
5 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:57.269 +0.170 +0.628 18
6 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:57.290 +0.021 +0.649 24
7 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1:57.487 +0.197 +0.846 26
8 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.896 +0.409 +1.255 18
9 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:57.984 +0.088 +1.343 25
10 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 1:58.067 +0.083 +1.426 23
11 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:58.202 +0.135 +1.561 26
12 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Team 1:58.358 +0.156 +1.717 24
13 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:58.535 +0.177 +1.894 20
14 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:58.601 +0.066 +1.960 32
15 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 1:59.033 +0.432 +2.392 22
16 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing Team 1:59.116 +0.083 +2.475 23
17 Hiroshi Aoyama Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 1:59.441 +0.325 +2.800 32

Sorry, those times were 8pm local, 20:10.

As much as I hate Honda, I'm hoping the factory bikes can get to the front and add to the mix up front. Suzuki is fast again, but that's been their pattern for a few years. Good in testing , then nowhere at race 1.

Super Sic finailly kicking the shit out of the other rookies, well except for one rookie.

Schedule is 18:00 - 24:00 local time, for both days.

Class of 2010



Simoncelli

Aragón seems in for 2010. It seems that Hungary is a hopeless project that never finishes. Although it will mean there'll be four Spanish races, I'm sure it will be a full house, which of course is excellent! But will the race be known as the European Grand Prix or what will it be?

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82220

awww man looks like Marlboro comes off Ducati here too

23.40 times- Stoner at the top


1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:55.717 - - 48
2 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:55.954 +0.237 +0.237 44
3 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:55.971 +0.017 +0.254 58
4 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:56.540 +0.569 +0.823 59
5 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:56.588 +0.048 +0.871 53
6 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1:56.811 +0.223 +1.094 55
7 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:56.838 +0.027 +1.121 45
8 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 1:56.855 +0.017 +1.138 70
9 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:57.099 +0.244 +1.382 40
10 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:57.402 +0.303 +1.685 50
11 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Team 1:57.509 +0.107 +1.792 68
12 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.689 +0.180 +1.972 53
13 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 1:57.822 +0.133 +2.105 53
14 Hiroshi Aoyama Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 1:57.888 +0.066 +2.171 73
15 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.891 +0.003 +2.174 63
16 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:57.960 +0.069 +2.243 56
17 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing Team 1:58.209 +0.249 +2.492 58

That would have put him 4th on the grid last year.

Motogp.com is saying that Lorenzo cant ride more than 3 laps at a time because of the pain.

And so much for Hayden becoming a front-runner. At least he'll start the season off much closer than he was last year.

Well, the advertising is subminial, and they didn't have the space TIM has now last year either, so I reckon there are no worries... for the moment.

Looks to be the final results for day 1


1 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:55.402 +0.017 +0.254 62
2 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:55.717 +0.315 +0.569 48
3 Ben Spies Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:55.954 +0.237 +0.806 44
4 Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:56.540 +0.586 +1.392 59
5 Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:56.588 +0.048 +1.440 54
6 Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 1:56.811 +0.223 +1.663 62
7 Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:56.838 +0.027 +1.690 45
8 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 1:56.855 +0.017 +1.707 74
9 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing Team 1:56.923 +0.068 +1.775 72
10 Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:57.099 +0.176 +1.951 40
11 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:57.402 +0.303 +2.254 57
12 Marco Melandri San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.605 +0.203 +2.457 60
13 Hector Barbera Aspar Team 1:57.822 +0.217 +2.674 59
14 Hiroshi Aoyama Interwetten-Honda MotoGP 1:57.888 +0.066 +2.740 75
15 Marco Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:57.891 +0.003 +2.743 63
16 Aleix Espargaro Pramac Racing Team 1:57.898 +0.007 +2.750 64
17 Alvaro Bautista Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:57.960 +0.062 +2.812 56

So Vale continues to try and 'stamp his authority' on the tests this year.

He's still a couple tenths away from Stoner's pole position last year, though.....

What´s up with Dani Pedrosa? He´s never been mid-field before. I could understand if he was quickest of the Honda brigade, but he´s not, so he obviously has issues. I can´t believe Honda have built another lemon. Their bike at the end of last season was really starting to show promise.

Yep, Vale went out with 10 minutes to go and set his fast time. Ben crashed in the last hour, I haven't heard any reports about his condition. All the new guys from 250's are the slowest, and the rookie from superbikes is 3rd quickest. Has anyone heard JB going on about superbike riders not being able to go fast on GP bikes recently?

Ben's fine.

Thanks for the racing thread .. you do realise I will likely come dead last. I've got my list of excuses aleady though.

Rossi is definitely trying to put the wind up Ducati. All the Yamaha's with uninjured riders are pretty fast, I think Yamaha's engineers have done a good job over the winter. I expect Lorenso to be up there too of course. As mentioned above it would be good to see Honda mixing it at the top, so hopefully they can improve.

Spies to quote masterchef " He just gets betta and betta ....

Andy

Dani might be slow but at least he isn't injured going into the season for a change. 2 seconds is a huge gap though.

I don't think Dani is actually slower than De Puniet on the new bike, it's testing, come the race I am pretty sure he will be at the sharp end of the Honda riders.

Stoner back on top, following a lap that beat Rossi's time from yesterday

Hayden in P4

http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/82257

Go Stoner!

Lots of people crashing on the 2nd day so I guess the conditions were worse?? Stoner pulled out a good time but crashed, Rossi didn't put up a faster time than day 1 but didn't crash so it's a bit hard to tell what went on on the 2nd day.

Currently it looks like 1 Ducati v 4 Yamaha. Hmm, come on Honda.

nobody beat last year's pole position time

So we have 4 motogp races in Spain... great! Not that anything is wrong with that but this could have been a good time for GP to go to Portimao

Motomatters.com's David Emmet knows it all in a post published today:



Translation.

MotoGP 2011

Fiat Yamaha
Vale Rossi (2010 World Champ)
Ben Spies

Ducati Marlboro
Casey Stoner (2010 Runner up)
Dani Pedrosa

Repsol Honda
Jorge Lorenzo

Thats a bit dramatic.

For one, I think Lorenzo is doing his reputation more good by staying Rossi's teammate and largely matching him. Being a mere 'front-runner' on the Honda is not gonna do him as much good, I dont think. Honda would need him to win the World Championship if his reputation is gonna get any better, and thats gonna be tough with Casey still at Ducati and Vale still at Yamaha. Its a very risky move for Lorenzo, and one that could backfire dramatically. I think he'll keep pushing to actually beat Vale at his own game. It'll be one of the greatest accomplishments of this decade if he can do it, and it would mean much more than him winning the world championship on a Honda.

I also dont see Dani going anywhere. Nobody in their right mind is going to jump on that Ducati alongside Stoner until the bike appears 'friendly' to other riders. Its pretty much a death-trap at this stage.

It seems pretty obvious Vale wants Yamaha to choose between himself & Jorge for next year.
No prizes for guessing which way they will go. I think Jorge will be at HRC next year. Ducati is a lesser possibility but a chance none the less.
Pedrosa will hope to replace Lorenzo as Vale's team mate, but if Spies has a big rookie year he would be in the box seat to move up.
I think Stoner will stay at Ducati but it probably wont stop Suppo having a might big try at tempting him to HRC.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_0jyKabLHVc

Given there respective ages though would it be wise for Yamaha to dump Lorenzo, plus he's still improving. certainly last year there wasnt a great deal between the two, also when you look at Stoner's performances when he made his comeback, is Rossi still that much head and shoulders above everyone else that he can still dictate the rider market?

The threat initially made by Rossi seemed to be that if Yamaha didnt ditch Lorenzo then he would be on the phone to Ducati, im not sure if this didnt come at a time when Stoner was still suffering with his illness. Since Stoner's sucessful recovery, Rossi going to Ducati seems to have been put to bed with Ducati saying there more than happy with Stoner, if Rossi's not happy with Lorenzo as his teammate then certainly i cant see him going up against Stoner at Ducati.

Are Yamaha prepared to put all their eggs into the Rossi basket, a rider just turned 31 years old, while Ducati line up a super team of Stoner/Pedrosa or even Stoner/Lorenzo, tied to multi-year contracts?

I think Pedrosa would end up at Yamaha. Him and Rossi are pretty jolly. Besides why would Ducati want Pedrosa? Especially if Puig comes along! Remember 250's and Stoner's rookie year? No way Ducati will piss off Stoner by taking Pedrosa. I think Jorge goes to Honda one way or another. Then again if Vale changes bikes it changes everything. I think Rossi still has plenty of good years. How old was Bayliss in 2008 or Haga. As far as I can tell Rossi never needed to be head and shoulders above the rest. Just in their head. What makes it interesting is what JB does! And how that will effect things

Nice song. But in Vale's case - Yes you can.

Only a few days left until Superbike and Supersport in Portugal and your guesses are needed for Guess The Bikes 2010!

http://forums.autosport.com/index.php?showtopic=125410

Thank you

I suspect Yamaha will have a great choice of riders for 2011 at the end of this season, like they have a great investment at the moment. Rossi the master, Lorenzo the talented if still accident-prone apprentice, and Spies the likely future king of MotoGP. Yes I rate Ben, no stars and striped parochialism from me - he just seems to have that real belief that marks out champions from Sheene to Schwantz. He is the first to do WSBK Champ in his rookie year isn't he?

At Yamaha, Lorenzo seemed to plateau last year in the second half, maybe a victim of the Rossi psych. Already in testing Spies looks prepared for, at the least, podiums in his rookie year. I expect both to perform very well in 2010, Lorenzo as he recovers, Spies as he learns the craft of electronic traction control and other nasties.

At Ducati, Stoner still looks like the man most likely and with a great team building their efforts around him, and Hayden motivated but resigned to the supporter role, Stoner is equal betting for 2010 champion IMO.

Honda it seems, have a long way back and they have looked as a company to be in some disarray, just look at the pathetic decline of their F1 team. Dani is for that reason, hard to assess, the promising graduate to MotoGP who looked like the successor to Rossi's throne in his first season or so but has since blown hot and more usually, cold.

Suzuki will flatter in winter testing, only to deceive with their lack of serious commitment to the most expensive MC racing endeavour on the planet.

MotoGP faces a serious challenge to their top billing. A WSBK which is now much more attractive to the manufacturers. This attractiveness, and the terribly weak numbers and depth of MotoGP, is the biggest threat to Dorna and their laughable bunch of "Spanish blazer-wearing clowns" (thanks GD!). Bring on the fireworks!

Huh? Where did you hear that? I suspect Honda spend five times what Suzuki invest. Or maybe I misunderstood you?

I think maybe you did as it reads to me that Muz is saying the same thing as you; i.e. Suzuki isn't spending as much as its rivals or as much as it needs to be successful in MotoGP, which is the most expensive form of motorcycle racing.

However, on his point about WSBK being a serious threat to MotoGP, I've been hearing/reading that same statement for something like 20 years now. It's true enough, but doesn't mean one is going to wipe out the other. For mine, I'm quite happy to see both forms exist - the more the merrier.

Neil

Don't agree with what you say about Lorenzo. If you look back last year he won FIAT Yamaha's last race in Estori in dominant fashion. The only fundamental problem with Lorenzo right now is his crashing. Lorenzo isn't going down the Biaggi/Gibernau route of being out psyched, Valentino knows this better than anyone.


Sometimes I do wish I could see the top guys in MotoGP in World Superbike... sad but Dorna/FIM have seriously fecked Grand Prix Motorcycles up.

I agree with you. I've heard the same as well. Where was all this when education was winning everything in sbk
I agree. Where was all this animosity when ducati was winning everything in sbk? As long as GP has the fastest riders on the fastest bikes it will have the prestige that sbk doesn't regardless of manufacturer support or cost

Is it just me or has Nicky made so many steps in the last few seasons he's built himself a bloody escalator.