MotoGP Official Night Test â€" Qatar - Day Two, best times as of 9pm local time
1. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'57.747 (39 laps)
2. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.978 (18)
3. Colin Edwards, Tech3 Yamaha - 1'58.014 (29)
4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'58.430 (18)
5. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'58.908 (21)
6. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'59.194 (26)
7. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'59.225 (26)
8. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 1'59.233 (18)
9. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'59.266 (27)
10. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'59.270 (30)
11. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'59.301 (38)
12. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'59.396 (35)
13. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'59.493 (29)
14. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'59.783 (33)
15. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'59.785 (25)
16. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 2'00.152 (32)
17. James Toseland, Tech3 Yamaha - 2'00.234 (35)
Qatar Night Test, day three â€" best times as of 9pm local time
1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'56.301 (20)
2. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (36)
3. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (36)
4. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (26)
5. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'57.414 (41)
6. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46)
7. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.741 (39)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.816 (32)
9. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (36)
10. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (32)
11. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'58.243 (32)
12. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'58.302 (34)
13. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.455 (34)
14. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'58.565 (32)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'59.177 (30)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'59.575 (34)
It makes me downright giddy to see Nicky doing so well. Any time he goes faster than the midget-bot, I am happy. And of course my man Vale showing that even the old guy can still go fast. And how about the grandpa of the circuit? Nice to see the Tornado can still keep up with the kids.
colin has said that the new bike *and* the new tires are very much to his liking...
JT doesn't appear to be in the same boat. :-X
Quote from: ZLTFUL on March 02, 2009, 12:23:41 PM
It makes me downright giddy to see Nicky doing so well. Any time he goes faster than the midget-pot, I am happy. And of course my man Vale showing that even the old guy can still go fast. And how about the grandpa of the circuit? Nice to see the Tornado can still keep up with the kids.
Nicky doing well...
Marco's ride comes through...
The Suzukis still in the top 5
One potential mistake though...I thought Pramac was down to one rider, with Onde taking on the other?
Quote from: desmoquattro on March 02, 2009, 12:33:55 PM
Marco's ride comes through...
if he decides to take it after this test
Quote from: desmoquattro on March 02, 2009, 12:33:55 PM
One potential mistake though...I thought Pramac was down to one rider, with Onde taking on the other?
yeah, that was at least the reported plan.
Pedro hits the deck.
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Mar/090302pedrosa.htm (http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/Mar/090302pedrosa.htm)
eesh, re-breaking a wrist is not a good thing
http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143584/1/pedrosa_the_bike_came_down_on_top_of_me.html (http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143584/1/pedrosa_the_bike_came_down_on_top_of_me.html)
Glad that it doesn't seem as bad as initially reported.
Session 2
Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Casey Stoner AUS 1:57.139 - - 37
2 Valentino Rossi ITA 1:57.747 +0.608 +0.608 51
3 Colin Edwards USA 1:57.817 +0.070 +0.678 41
4 Andrea Dovizioso ITA 1:57.879 +0.062 +0.740 60
5 Chris Vermeulen AUS 1:58.018 +0.139 +0.879 24
6 Loris Capirossi ITA 1:58.264 +0.246 +1.125 42
7 Jorge Lorenzo SPA 1:58.400 +0.136 +1.261 63
8 Alex De Angelis RSM 1:58.441 +0.041 +1.302 53
9 Nicky Hayden USA 1:58.577 +0.136 +1.438 54
10 Dani Pedrosa SPA 1:58.619 +0.042 +1.480 28
11 Randy De Puniet FRA 1:58.936 +0.317 +1.797 55
12 Toni Elias SPA 1:59.036 +0.100 +1.897 56
13 Yuki Takahashi JPN 1:59.153 +0.117 +2.014 65
14 Marco Melandri ITA 1:59.195 +0.042 +2.056 63
15 Niccolo Canepa ITA 1:59.266 +0.071 +2.127 36
16 Mika Kallio FIN 1:59.764 +0.498 +2.625 48
17 James Toseland GBR 2:00.234 +0.470 +3.095 51
Added day 3 early session testing...
Well as I figured. I think Stoner was officially sandbagging it with the wrist. Maybe he took a page out of Rossi's book this off-season and decided to play mind games with everyone, and then comes out and demolish the competition. He's running a second ahead of the pack. Although last year, Stoner was many times qualifying half second or more ahead... so we'll see how the season shakes out.
there's not much point in sandbagging between tests.
And .6 seconds is not 1 second. .4 seconds is HUGE in this sport and we all know it. ;)
someone look up the test times from last year. wonder how much effect the metal brakes are having on lap times, if any.
Quote from: gm2 on March 03, 2009, 02:31:53 PM
someone look up the test times from last year. wonder how much effect the metal brakes are having on lap times, if any.
To my understanding, it was ceramic brakes that were outlawed as a preventitive measure to cost containment.
I *think* they're still running Carbon brakes.
huh, i think you're right. it says "Ceramic composite materials". ezpeleta had specifically mentioned metal rotors at one point... transference. =)
I did the same thing, NP. ;)
Quote from: ZLTFUL on March 03, 2009, 02:18:45 PM
And .6 seconds is not 1 second. .4 seconds is HUGE in this sport and we all know it. ;)
Taken from Moto GP.com
Last year’s Qatar poleman Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) got closest to Stoner on the timesheet, though he was nearly a full second (0.989s) behind the Ducati rider, with his best time registered late in the evening. Lorenzo’s colleague Valentino Rossi completed the top three with a 1’56.972 effort as the only other rider to go round under the 1’57 mark, the Italian satisfied with a new electronics system on the Yamaha M1
Qatar Night Test, Day 3
1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'55.744 (31)
2. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.733 (82)
3. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (75)
4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.224 (70)
5. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (53)
6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (42)
7. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'57.401 (77)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.449 (74)
9. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46)
10. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.591 (61)
11. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.804 (66)
12. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (54)
13. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (50)
14. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.412 (61)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'58.786 (51)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'58.851 (73)
interesting
http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143632/1/ducati_confirms_carbon_fibre_swingarm.html (http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143632/1/ducati_confirms_carbon_fibre_swingarm.html)
Quote from: gm2 on March 05, 2009, 10:32:49 AM
interesting
http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143632/1/ducati_confirms_carbon_fibre_swingarm.html (http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143632/1/ducati_confirms_carbon_fibre_swingarm.html)
Here's a close up
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/billybongthorten/GP09Swingarm.jpg)
and the frame naked :o
(http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c271/billybongthorten/GP09.jpg)
Can someone tell me if Moto GP teams use carbon wheels and if not why?
forged magnesium usually. many debates about the why; mainly reliability.
Quote from: gm2 on March 05, 2009, 11:10:20 AM
forged magnesium usually. many debates about the why; mainly reliability.
...and cost and service life.
btw, there are some (old) pics floating around of the ducati motogp bike testing bst wheels:
(http://www.bikehps.com/bst/ducati_bst_test.jpg)
(http://www.bikehps.com/bst/ducati_bst_closeup.jpg)
Quote from: The Don on March 05, 2009, 10:57:45 AM
Can someone tell me if Moto GP teams use carbon wheels and if not why?
I think carbon wheels are toast if they sustain any nicks etc.. correct me if I'm wrong. So the life of the wheel is far shorter I believe, and the cost higher.
Quote from: Jester on March 05, 2009, 11:45:22 AM
I think carbon wheels are toast if they sustain any nicks etc.. correct me if I'm wrong. So the life of the wheel is far shorter I believe, and the cost higher.
Problem is that they can be catastrophically damaged and it's not visible, and very hard to detect by any inspection methods.
The times I posted were from session one. The times you posted were from session two which didn't happen until AFTER I made my comment that you quoted which was still accurate at the time.
Granted, Stoner is impressively fast but then trap speed has never been what has held the Duc back. It being a bucking bronco to ride has been what has made the other bikes capable of keeping up with it on raceday.
Quote from: The Don on March 04, 2009, 10:05:03 AM
Taken from Moto GP.com
Last year’s Qatar poleman Jorge Lorenzo (Fiat Yamaha) got closest to Stoner on the timesheet, though he was nearly a full second (0.989s) behind the Ducati rider, with his best time registered late in the evening. Lorenzo’s colleague Valentino Rossi completed the top three with a 1’56.972 effort as the only other rider to go round under the 1’57 mark, the Italian satisfied with a new electronics system on the Yamaha M1
Qatar Night Test, Day 3
1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'55.744 (31)
2. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.733 (82)
3. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (75)
4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.224 (70)
5. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (53)
6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (42)
7. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'57.401 (77)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.449 (74)
9. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46)
10. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.591 (61)
11. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.804 (66)
12. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (54)
13. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (50)
14. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.412 (61)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'58.786 (51)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'58.851 (73)
Quote from: ZLTFUL on March 06, 2009, 09:26:10 AM
The times I posted were from session one. The times you posted were from session two which didn't happen until AFTER I made my comment that you quoted which was still accurate at the time.
Granted, Stoner is impressively fast but then trap speed has never been what has held the Duc back. It being a bucking bronco to ride has been what has made the other bikes capable of keeping up with it on raceday.
Stoner seems to hold his own through the corners on that bike. And it's fun to watch him slide the rear wheel around braking into turns.
BTW - Love The Vandals lyrics in your sig :)
Quote from: desmoquattro on March 06, 2009, 09:42:04 AM
Stoner seems to hold his own through the corners on that bike. And it's fun to watch him slide the rear wheel around braking into turns.
BTW - Love The Vandals lyrics in your sig :)
Anarchy Burger tastes yummy.
Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to negate anything Stoner does with the Duc as I love the Ducati factory team this year passionately. But I love Vale more. Not to mention that Stoner was fast all year last year as well and it still didn't stop Rossi from finishing on the podium in all except 2 races...
Quote from: ZLTFUL on March 06, 2009, 11:10:20 AM
Anarchy Burger tastes yummy.
Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to negate anything Stoner does with the Duc as I love the Ducati factory team this year passionately. But I love Vale more. Not to mention that Stoner was fast all year last year as well and it still didn't stop Rossi from finishing on the podium in all except 2 races...
It was that consistency that won Rossi the championship last year...combined with Stoner's inconsistency. Same story for 2007, when Stoner was consistently on the podium and Rossi had intermittent troubles. Ditto for 2006 and Hayden...he won all of 2 races, but was on the podium a lot...while Rossi has a few high-profile blow-ups.
I guess in an 18 race season, it's important to make the podium or be close in every race. There's probably more margin for crashes and mechanical failure in leagues like WSBK and AMA where there are two races per weekend.
Quote from: desmoquattro on March 06, 2009, 11:25:59 AM
It was that consistency that won Rossi the championship last year...
consistency
always wins championships, period.
schwantz'll tell you all about it. there's a reason he only has one world championship.
so where do you guys think gibernau would fit into these times, had he tested?
just curious ;D
Quote from: DuCaTiNi on March 06, 2009, 11:44:40 AM
so where do you guys think gibernau would fit into these times, had he tested?
just curious ;D
just ahead of Melandri ;D [cheeky]
Quote from: desmoquattro on March 06, 2009, 11:25:59 AM
It was that consistency that won Rossi the championship last year...combined with Stoner's inconsistency. Same story for 2007, when Stoner was consistently on the podium and Rossi had intermittent troubles. Ditto for 2006 and Hayden...he won all of 2 races, but was on the podium a lot...while Rossi has a few high-profile blow-ups.
I guess in an 18 race season, it's important to make the podium or be close in every race. There's probably more margin for crashes and mechanical failure in leagues like WSBK and AMA where there are two races per weekend.
and just think with a limitation to the number of engines used in a season how much consistancy will be more important and how many spectatular engine blow ups there might be?!?!?!
Quote from: zooom on March 06, 2009, 12:28:54 PM
and just think with a limitation to the number of engines used in a season how much consistancy will be more important and how many spectatular engine blow ups there might be?!?!?!
Safety? Screw safety as long as we're saving the teams and Dorna money. Wonder how cheap it's going to be to have a rider sit out the season. Also...the shorter test sessions...anyone else see riderspushing harder on cold tires and risking more?
Quote from: ZLTFUL on March 09, 2009, 08:09:59 AM
anyone else see rider spushing harder on cold tires and risking more?
if they blow up their alotment of motors, they'll be pushing really hard!...tires will never get warm at a 60 yard per minute pushing rate!!!
Quote from: zooom on March 09, 2009, 10:40:28 AM
if they blow up their alotment of motors, they'll be pushing really hard!...tires will never get warm at a 60 yard per minute pushing rate!!!
Ooooooooo...that's an idea...the circuit with the longest straight should feature a push race between all the racers and their bikes!!!