Qatar MotoGP testing...

[gm2]

huh, i think you're right.  it says "Ceramic composite materials".  ezpeleta had specifically mentioned metal rotors at one point... transference.  =)

[Speeddog]

I did the same thing, NP. 

[The Don]

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)

[gm2]

interesting
http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143632/1/ducati_confirms_carbon_fibre_swingarm.html

[MonsterMan1036]

interesting
http://www.crash.net/MotoGP/News/143632/1/ducati_confirms_carbon_fibre_swingarm.html

Here's a close up



and the frame naked

[The Don]

Can someone tell me if Moto GP teams use carbon wheels and if not why?

[gm2]

forged magnesium usually.  many debates about the why; mainly reliability.

[derby]

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:

[Jester]

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.

[Speeddog]

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.

[ZLTFUL]

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.

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)

[desmoquattro]

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

[ZLTFUL]

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...

[desmoquattro]

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.

[derby]

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.