EKhatch

I usually don't keep up on all the testing and what not but I am really excited to see how this season plays out. Here are the results I found from the first practice/test session today.

1 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'39.791 284.360
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'39.861 283.986 0.070
3 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'39.906 287.769 0.115
4 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'40.572 284.285 0.781
5 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1'40.579 284.584 0.788
6 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'40.650 283.315 0.859
7 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'40.821 285.110 1.030
8 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'40.900 282.870 1.109
9 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'40.987 287.310 1.196
10 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'41.049 290.088 1.258
11 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1'41.122 281.837 1.331
12 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 1'41.160 285.941 1.369
13 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'41.168 282.870 1.377
14 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 1'41.226 287.539 1.435
15 72 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 1'41.362 278.422 1.571
16 59 Sete GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando Ducati 1'41.737 282.352 1.946
17 88 Niccolo CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing Ducati 1'41.851 276.994 2.060
18 64 Kousuke AKIYOSHI JPN Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'42.286 280.738 2.495
19 22 Vittoriano GUARESCHI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 1'42.324 279.865 2.533

Were is Danny Pedrosa???

EngineNoO9

http://superbikeplanet.com/2009/Mar/...rydernotes.htm


I agree completely with Rossi on this. I miss the 990's. The 800's are cool in their own regards but competition has gone down since they were introduced...



With that said I'm really hoping that a spec tire brings in closer competition but I really dunno.

EKhatch

Less than two weeks away. I really hope that Hayden can get the Duc sorted out and run consistently near the front this season. Hell I hope there are just some good battles near the front the majority of the season.

EngineNoO9

He ran into issues in that session with some clutch problems. Had to get on the backup bike and it wasn't setup the same so he lost some time. The reduction of practice is going to hurt him as well. Hayden may not be the most natural talent in the paddock but with what he lacks he adds with his determination. It's very clear he can hang when he gets a bike under him working well like the rc211v. I unfortunately think these 800's are terrible and just don't suit him well. He fits in better with the liter bikes in WSBK imo.

toshiro

So is Stoner's wrist going to hold out? I thought they were talking about him maybe pulling out of the season.

05 600RR

Only time will tell, but I'm hoping this season is good racing. WSBK has been pretty good though so far.

Quiks66

OMGWTFKAWASAKI? I thought they pulled out of the season. It may have been just the factory Kawi that bailed, leaving the even-lesser prepared privateer Kawi to die trying. Sorry to say, but I believed Hopper when he complained about Kawasaki not being able to keep up with Yam/Hon/Duc in MotoGP. The Kawi can put a nice testing/qualifying time together, but small problems (that would quickly be resolved by a factory team) will plague them.

I'd love to see Colin Edwards and Nicky towards the front this year. Bring back some USA spirit for road racing.

Starscream

Avanti Dovi!!!!

EngineNoO9

btw I saw you asked where Pedrobot was. He broke his leg pretty bad at the previous test in a nasty crash. Claims are he'll be at the opening but superbikeplanet reported today that he can barely bend his knee at all. We will see....

i drive a honda

how many seasons has yamaha been running the 2 cylinders fire at a time system? couple years now right?

EKhatch

Hmm that sucks. He's not one of my favorite riders but at least he has proven he can run up front and that's what we need are more battles for the podium spots.

Starscream

Maybe then will HRC suit the bike more to Dovi's style? I surely hope so. I want to see his maiden win this season, and battling for the lead in many races

EKhatch

Not sure but it is strange how dominate the WSB is compared to what they are running in the new AMA Pro racing division. Sure some of it could be the rider Spies but Bostrom is no slouch. Are the specs that much different between the classes?

As for motoGP I only remember them talking about the firing order starting last season so I am not really sure.

withemptyeyes

definitely pulling for hayden this year. i think the duc will suit him well if they can ever get it dialed in..

05 600RR

I am suprised with the Suzuki so far. They have consistently been quick in practice. It will be interesting to see how they do in a crowd.

EngineNoO9

AMA superbike is a lot closer to a stock bike. WSBK is built more and isn't restricted as much. However it's more the rider then anything with the results you're seeing. The R1's were very competitive last year in WSBK and the yamaha team in AMA was buying their bikes to run here and still didn't have success. Spies when he went over and first tested the older model immediately said he didn't understand why they weren't competitive.


Btw it's not a big bang motor, it's a long bang. They don't fire simultaneously. They've been running this since winter testing in 2003 for the 2004 season on the 990's.

EKhatch

Argh, practice starts right as my lunch break ends. I'll have to wait untill I get home to check the results. Any pre race predictions?

Starscream

1- Stoner
2- Rossi
3- Dovizioso
4- Lorenzo
5- Hayden

Quiks66

Borrowed from another forum...FP1 times from Qatar.

Starscream

Mika looking good

EKhatch

Wow Hayden is still struggling. Nice to see Edwards up there.

life sux die

for those of you who do not have access to RU, but would like to D/L the races, p/m me i've found a similar site that does not require an invitation.

Quiks66

Dammit, Nicky.

Starscream

I feel happy for Melandri. Hope to see him up there this season.

slm

Lots of other riders have struggled with that Duc and I was never convinced that Hayden shoud jump on that bike, but it might have been his only "good" choice.