Regarding the tv cover... from what I've seen motogp.com offers for 100Euros (<85ukp) the full season cover in high definition + exclusive news + 2012 off season test... I don't know if this option is available to you because of the licences that a channel might pay but if it is I beleive it's a must. Also, regarding Ducati... I think these guys are in serious trouble... they brought in Malesia all three bikes from their last months development to be tested from Rossi and Heyden, the bikes that Rossi didn't like! GP11.1 which is the last frameless bike, GP0 with the first frame from FTR, the one that works team used in Valencia and GP12 the bike that Franco Battaini and Carlos Checa tested will full secrecy a week ago in Jerez ... at the same time Hector Barbera does better lap time from Rossi with the "old" GP0 that he will ride the new season... I'm really afraid that something is not working well with Ducati factory team.
does anybody know if there are any speed trap results from this test, would be interesting to see how much faster than the 800's they are going
I see Stoner has just smashed it up again, a sub 2minute, .6 clear of 2nd and in classic style he did it on his 2nd lap Fook me that boy can ride. Happy days!
Stoner is a great rider, just a shame he's got no personality I know he does not need it for riding but much how I feel about Alonso in F1 and Stoner in Moto GP. Not a fan of either
For my point Stoner does what he's payed for, a classic Australian like Doohan used to be when he was racing... low profile bastard but his results make all the talking. Did you check Crutchlow! That's what I call tranformation, really great result!
The problems with tests are unless you are there and know what is going on the times are pointless. only people at the track really know how good the times are as they can be set on different compound tyres , also stoner only really does 3-4 lap thrashes to check how the bike works when he is really pushing. other riders will search for more of a race setup so doing longer runs at a slower pace. yes stoner was fast and he is an amazing rider we simply wont know how fast he is untill the lights go off on the first race. as honda still have chatter issues it wont have good race pace untill it is fixed
Normally I'd agree with that but unfortunately everybody was saying the same thing last year, I am a massive stoner fan I'll admit BUT I honestly believe he gets his set up 'good enough' just for him, others may try and tweak to such a degree that they need it mentally ... But stoner has been doing the same since he's been in motogp and never ever lacks race pace, quick out laps, bang bang bang... Back to the garage, top of time sheets and watch. Back out again, red rag to a bull mentality and goes and bangs another stupid fast lap in..... That's stoner and I can't help but sit gobsmacked at the audacity of the kid, he's just relentless and it must be demoralising for other riders cos that style and aggression won't be lost on them, they'll see it and think the same.....I think he's ace Personality aside (which I have no problem with by the way) I'd rather watch him in action more than anybody else, if I want personality I'll find a fat bird...... And I don't like fat birds Racing is about being fast and let's face it, he IS by far the fastest rider on that grid and has been for quite some time, it's just the ducati couldn't keep up or upright to give him more titles. Whatever happens its gonna be a great season, please god sort the weather out as cabin fever is kicking in with me now and I need a blast out on the blade!
Selected times from the bbc Selected MotoGP test times from Sepang: 1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Honda 1'59.607 2. Jorge Lorenzo (Spn) Yamaha 2'00.198 3. Dani Pedrosa (Spn) Repsol Honda 2'00.256 4. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 2'00.495 5. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Ducati 2'00.824 7. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 2'01.108 15. Colin Edwards (USA) Forward Racing CRT 2'04.722 Take Stoner out the equation (he's on another planet and the honda is sorted already) - and the new GP12 is within .6 sec from Lorenzo - think that is quite impressive for a first test!! considering they were about 1.5secs off all last year... they might just find themselves competitive at this rate... maybe, just maybe?
I have to admit I diidn't use to have much time for Stoner until he had all his 'problems' at one point it seemed like he might not race again. The guy came back and proved what a great rider he is and showed great strength of character. I don't care about his personality, I love to see him race and have a huge amount of respect for his skills. It's not like we are going to get married There are some racers whose personalities I really like, unfortunately none of them are likely to be on the top spot at the end of the season, but then it is a bike racing championship.
tbh when the racing ends I go home....don't hang around to chat... wink wink lol Last year at SS watching Stoner is the P I S S S S S S I N G rain was the best, the man is just something else no one could come close, and when you hear that RCV R I P into life mid turn with a roooooster 20 foot long of the back wheel you think.... Yeah thats some big balls right there...
Did'nt Stoner break the race lap record on his second lap ? first one was probably the out lap as well, LOL !!!!!!!!!! It must be soul destroying for other riders that he can be so fast so quick. Personally I don't care if he moans, in fact I don't even noticed it, I just see an awesome talent ringing the neck out of the most brutal motorcycles in the world effortlessly whilst others search for the perfect set up.
I love em all tbh, well not sure about JL, or BS....lol I rekon JL is into man love with BS... Well thats what CE said...lol
Stoner is no doubt the fastest at the mo.... But certainly not the best racer!! But that's the same for ped also... J1 is annoying, but least he likes a scrap. Wlf ; )
It's an interesting point Jimbo is making there. The small field and huge disparity in performance between the so called aliens and the rest of the field plus the attrition of the race itself does have a tendency to spread the survivors out a bit far for regular, paint trading racing so we've got a whole generation of premier class riders who are more time trialers than racers. I'm not saying that they can't do it, of course they can, and to a level that exists only in our dreams. But I wonder if the spread of the field is misleading us, the observer as to the real differences between the riders. We've had glimpses of it over the last couple of years, Rossi and Lorenzo in a couple of memorable dices and all three HRC bikes have had their moments with each other. But more often than not the close racing has been at the sacrifice of one or the others tyres or fitness levels that has caused a back off and subsequent re establishment of the status quo. I'm on record here of not being a lover of Casey Stoner but I will fight any disparagement of his frankly, unbelievable ability to ride a bike fast around a track. My worry is, increasingly, that's all I'm watching the MotoGP boys do. It's not their fault and it may sound like I'm belittling what they do, trust me, I'm really not, but are the races themselves becoming more and more like an extension of qualifying? I've put my extinguisher by my chair for the inevitable flame.
I liked last years racing even if it was a little zzzzzz, but im a sad git and could watch one bike going round and round! I love superpole and all that and the motogp testing, damm I just love to see the bikes with or without riders...lol. I agree with all the points people make and all I can say is bring on race 1...
Amen to that Arthur ! Bring on race one. The one thing I will say is I don't agree with any comments made about stoner not being a good racer, I think that's impossible to quantify to be honest. Stoner in the most part beats the competition in to submission, it's only a rare occasion he gets caught up with a couple of other riders for a duel and let's be honest even then he gets past and fooks off within the next lap or so,look at laguna last year for examples for balls out overtakes, you can't possibly say he can't do it. The only time he fails is when he's hammered the times that much his tyres are shot and it's on a track where he can't get a 30second lead on whoever is 2nd, that's when they catch him up. Any duels he had before that we're on the ducati and I think anybody can see how hard that was to ride in to 6-7th place by VR and every other ducati rider (a lot of champs failed on that bike), let alone stick the thing on pole and lose out to an occasional duel with Rossi or Lorenzo. It's just simply not the same. If being a racer is quantified by having to pass and be passed for lap after lap then the only thing that'll make stoner a racer is if he slows down........ Where's the fun in that.
