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. 

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

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

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.