Post-Valencia'09 MotoGP test

[Spidey]

Lorenzo? look at Spies on the privateer! Less than a week on the bike and he's already up there with the 4.

He's still a second off the pace though (and you know that Rossi and Pedrosa still have a lot left in the tank).  Still  . . . fack.    

Earlier this year, it seemed like Espagaro in GP was the weirdest move ever.  Turns out, he can really ride.

[Cider]

Lorenzo? look at Spies on the privateer! Less than a week on the bike and he's already up there with the 4.

I saw it--great performance.  He gets plenty of love around here though, he doesn't need another superfan

[EvilSteve]

and Nicky is in front of Pedrosa...

Testing times don't always represent real speed. In Spies' case maybe it does but who knows.

[derby]

and Nicky is in front of Pedrosa...

Testing times don't always represent real speed. In Spies' case maybe it does but who knows.

honda and ducati are testing their 2010 platforms.

rossi/lorenzo are too, but i haven't seen confirmation of what ben is riding yet.

[Speeddog]

From MotoGP.com:

Pos   Rider   Team   Fastest lap   Prev. Gap   Lead. Gap   Laps
1   Jorge Lorenzo   Fiat Yamaha Team   1:31.939   -   -   62
2   Casey Stoner   Ducati Marlboro Team   1:32.195   +0.256   +0.256   44
3   Valentino Rossi   Fiat Yamaha Team   1:32.528   +0.333   +0.589   55
4   Ben Spies   Monster Yamaha Tech 3   1:32.942   +0.414   +1.003   61
5   Nicky Hayden   Ducati Marlboro Team   1:32.981   +0.039   +1.042   84
6   Dani Pedrosa   Repsol Honda Team   1:33.025   +0.044   +1.086   46
7   Randy De Puniet   Lcr Honda MotoGP   1:33.111   +0.086   +1.172   76
8   Mika Kallio   Pramac Racing   1:33.125   +0.014   +1.186   84
9   Loris Capirossi   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   1:33.211   +0.086   +1.272   64
10   Marco Melandri   San Carlo Honda Gresini   1:33.326   +0.115   +1.387   85
11   Aleix Espargaro   Pramac Racing   1:33.345   +0.019   +1.406   74
12   Andrea Dovizioso   Repsol Honda Team   1:33.546   +0.201   +1.607   44
13   Hector Barbera   Aspar Team   1:34.206   +0.660   +2.267   100
14   Marco Simoncelli   San Carlo Honda Gresini   1:34.230   +0.024   +2.291   79
15   Alvaro Bautista   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   1:34.540   +0.310   +2.601   74
16   Hiroshi Aoyama   Scot Racing Team   1:35.261   +0.721   +3.322   88
17   Xavier Simeon   Gresini Moto 2 Team   1:37.279   +2.018   +5.340   58
18   Joan Olive   Promoracing   1:37.881   +0.602   +5.942   86

[DanTheMan]

Doesn't look like the new 250 crop got it together yet.

[Spidey]

Doesn't look like the new 250 crop got it together yet.

The problem with the 800cc MotoGP bikes is that if you're coming from 250s you're at a serious disadvantage because the 800s--as opposed to the 1000cc bikes--require a WSBK riding riding style.  

[Speeddog]

Inside joke?

[Spidey]

Making fun of Rossi:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/153018/1/rossi_lorenzo_welcome_great_rival_spies.html

[DanTheMan]

The problem with the 800cc MotoGP bikes is that if you're coming from 250s you're at a serious disadvantage because the 800s--as opposed to the 1000cc bikes--require a WSBK riding riding style.  

Huh? you got it ass backwards, the 800's perform more like the 250's. Rossi says so in the link you just posted. If anything Spies should have the disadvantage. And Simoncelli did fairly well on his one-off WSBK ride.

but of course testing doesn't show the true potential

[Speeddog]

Testing times do say something, maybe not the whole story, of course.

I do find it interesting that the preliminary times that Derby posted (http://ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=31738.msg552318#msg552318) showed Spies ahead of Rossi, but final times have Rossi quicker.

Methinks Rossi couldn't deal with a whole winter of the last test times showing Spies faster....

[Jester]

In the end, you can't discount raw talent and Spies has enormous raw talent.  You'd have to say, looking at first tests, that Spies might be popping in and out of a few podiums next year.  Lorenzo was fast when he came up, and while inconsistant, definately challenged right away. 

I worry a bit about the 250 guys being as far down as they are on the charts.  I will admit that with the bikes they are on, Simoncelli is the only one I expect to challenge in the top 8 riders next year.  Stoner/Rossi/Lorenzo/Pedrosa/Colin/Dovi are pretty much locks for 6 of those spots and Spies I'm sure, plus Melandri on a better bike and Hayden hopefully improving.  Its a tight bunch in the top half of the standings imo.  The zuke' and duke's will be difficult to bring home and I just don't see Aoyama  being as good as his 250 season result indicated.  I'll be looking forward to spring testing to see how it all pans out, but if Spies is immediately quick, then I expect him to do well next year.

[gm2]

granted, the aliens et al are all testing new stuff so they probably aren't going to be as fast as they were on sunday.  so i take it all with a grain of salt.. and yet, 4th is pretty effin' amazing.

i was someone who thought he was going to do exponentially better in wsbk than most predicted.  and yet, i was still way off with how well he really did.  so.. we'll see.

[EvilSteve]

Toseland was quick originally in pre-season.

Not saying Spies will go the same way as JT but it wouldn't be without precedent.

[gm2]

Toseland was quick originally in pre-season.

Not saying Spies will go the same way as JT but it wouldn't be without precedent.

JT, for whatever reason, got along a LOT better with the michelins.