Offical MotoGP Thread 2010

[Titch]

As the season start draws ever closer i think its time to get the thread back and start discussing what could possibly one of the best ever motogp seasons.

2010 MotoGP calendar:

11 April Qatar, Losail

25 April Japan, Motegi

2 May Spain, Jerez

23 May France, Le Mans

6 June Italy, Mugello

20 June Great Britain, Silverstone

26 June Netherlands, Assen

4 July Catalunya, Barcelona

18 July Germany, Sachsenring

25 July United States, Laguna Seca

22 August Czech Republic, Brno

29 August United States, Indianapolis

5 September San Marino, Misano

19 September Spain, Aragon*

10 October Malaysia, Sepang

17 October Australia, Phillip Island

31 October Portugal, Estoril

7 November Spain, Valencia



* replaces Balatonring, Hungary

[StefanWolves]

so i suppose now you know everything about motogp

Edited by iAdam (Forum Super Moderator); Please do not post to cause arguments.

[Titch]

so i suppose now you know everything about motogp

*** ? so because i discuss MotoGP means i know everything, righttt....

[Hecktix]

Rossi topped the majority of preseason testing, topping 5/6 days of testing. However the final test at Qatar last week was topped by Casey Stoner.

I think the most interesting thing this season will be the progress of Ben Spies, the current World Superbike Champion who has taken James Toseland's seat at Monster Tech 3.

[Titch]

Rossi topped the majority of preseason testing, topping 5/6 days of testing. However the final test at Qatar last week was topped by Casey Stoner.

I think the most interesting thing this season will be the progress of Ben Spies, the current World Superbike Champion who has taken James Toseland's seat at Monster Tech 3.

Yes, Lorenzo will be out to proove a point this year, should be a VERY intresting battle between Rossi, Stoner and Lorenzo

[Hecktix]

I think it will be more of a Stoner V Rossi battle this year rather than Lorenzo.

Something tells me the spaniard won't be doing much, he can't handle pressure, which has clearly been shown in the past two years.

[Titch]

I think it will be more of a Stoner V Rossi battle this year rather than Lorenzo.

Something tells me the spaniard won't be doing much, he can't handle pressure, which has clearly been shown in the past two years.

i dont know how you can say he cant handle pressure, he had some of the greatest pressured battles last year and performed VERY well, he had alot of pressure on him on several races in his last season of 250cc and i am 100% sure he will be in there to, infact i would even put money on him winning atleast 4 races.

[iAdam]

i dont know how you can say he cant handle pressure, he had some of the greatest pressured battles last year and performed VERY well, he had alot of pressure on him on several races in his last season of 250cc and i am 100% sure he will be in there to, infact i would even put money on him winning atleast 4 races.

He said himself he can't handle the pressure, that's why he binned it so many times.

Oli is right, there will be no major competition from Lorenzo, his nerve is showing signs of cracking and he needs to refine his riding style. He also needs to take Rossi off the pedestal he has him on in his head, else he won't be a serious competitor for the title.

[Hecktix]

i dont know how you can say he cant handle pressure, he had some of the greatest pressured battles last year and performed VERY well, he had alot of pressure on him on several races in his last season of 250cc and i am 100% sure he will be in there to, infact i would even put money on him winning atleast 4 races.

He'll win races, not the title.

And I can easily say he cracks under pressure... considering each race he fell last year (apart from Jerez) he had been beaten by Rossi in the previous race (trying to prove a point so hard he falls off :rolleyes:) and the race he wasn't beaten by Rossi previously was his home round at Jerez, where the pressure was fully on.

I mean look at Brno, he was faster than Rossi, must have had a better tyre, yet falls trying to make the most ridiculous move on Rossi's strongest corner?

The mans an idiot, he'll win a few races but he will not win a title when Rossi is at Yamaha (I doubt he'll win one ever if Ben Spies joins the factory team).

You only have to look at stoners action after he returned from his illness last year, this year it's gonna be very hard to beat Casey Stoner or Valentino Rossi. If Stoner had been in his prime last year, Lorenzo wouldn't have finished second.

[Titch]

He said himself he can't handle the pressure, that's why he binned it so many times.

Oli is right, there will be no major competition from Lorenzo, his nerve is showing signs of cracking and he needs to refine his riding style. He also needs to take Rossi off the pedestal he has him on in his head, else he won't be a serious competitor for the title.

I dont agree at all

and to the pedestal bit, how does that work when they dont get on soo much they have a partition's wall in between the 2 bikes becuase they didnt get on at all and lorenzo showed his dislike for rossi.

You two mark my words, lorenzo will be in it :)

im going for Rossi for the title.

[Hecktix]

Well actually the partition was put in the garage in 2008 as Rossi rode on Bridgestone tyres and Lorenzo rode on Michelins, the tyre companys requested the divider, not the riders. In 2009, Rossi chose to keep the division as he likes his own personal space - they still share 99% of data.

Lorenzo has openly said "Valentino is better than me", he has also said he idolises him and that is his problem - he thinks Rossi is a fantastic rider and thinks too often about how hard it is to beat Rossi.

Lorenzo won't win a MotoGP championship until he's on a Honda.

[iAdam]

I dont agree at all

and to the pedestal bit, how does that work when they dont get on soo much they have a partition's wall in between the 2 bikes becuase they didnt get on at all and lorenzo showed his dislike for rossi.

You two mark my words, lorenzo will be in it :)

im going for Rossi for the title.

But all I said was facts :S and actually quoted him from an interview with him.

As to the pedestal, nine time world champion, won on the fastest bike, won on the slowest bike, dominated every class he's been in, even if you don't like him, you'll fear him if you're on the same track as him. When Rossi is behind him lorenzo thinks up all crazy stuff in his head about how he's playing with him. Rossi's nickname is The Doctor, He clinically pulls apart his opponents. It all adds up.

And no, he wont, sorry, not with yamaha.

[Titch]

But all I said was facts :S and actually quoted him from an interview with him.

As to the pedestal, nine time world champion, won on the fastest bike, won on the slowest bike, dominated every class he's been in, even if you don't like him, you'll fear him if you're on the same track as him. When Rossi is behind him lorenzo thinks up all crazy stuff in his head about how he's playing with him. Rossi's nickname is The Doctor, He clinically pulls apart his opponents. It all adds up.

And no, he wont, sorry, not with yamaha.

im not saying hes going to win the world championship, but you two were writing him out of the picture completely at start of thread like he wont even be competeing for race wins or podiums ect. He will be up there, maby not managing to hold his nerves and get as many points, but he will be there getting podiums, poles etc and if you think he wont be your very ignorant.

[Hecktix]

Lorenzo will win a couple, perhaps there could be a satellite victory this year, Marco Melandri has won a race on the Gresini Honda before and he's back there this year.

Toby Moody tips Ben Spies to win a race.

Sepang Test Feb '10:
1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 0.271 sec
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 0.512 sec
3. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 0.703 sec
4. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 0.988 sec
5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 1.014 sec
6. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 1.320 sec
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.439 sec
8. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.478 sec
9. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 1.692 sec
10. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 1.732 sec
11. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 1.980 sec
12. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 2.078 sec
13. Hector Barbera SPA Paginas Amarillas Ducati 2min 2.080 sec
14. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 2.082 sec
15. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 2.367 sec
16. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.689 sec

Qatar Test March '10
Casey Stoner Ducati GP10 1.55.353
Valentino Rossi Yamaha YZR-M1 1.55.860
Andrea Dovizioso Honda RC212V 1.55.879
Nicky Hayden Ducati GP10 1.56.115
Loris Capirossi Suzuki GSV-R 1.56.195
Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha YZR-M1 1.56.504
Randy de Puniet Honda RC212V 1.56.504
Colin Edwards Yamaha YZR-M1 1.56.722
Mika Kallio Ducati GP10 1.56.767
Ben Spies Yamaha YZR-M1 1.56.779
Aleix Espargaro Ducati GP10 1.56.897
Alvaro Bautista Suzuki GSV-R 1.56.898
Dani Pedrosa Honda RC212V 1.56.935
Marco Melandri Honda RC212V 1.57.222
Hector Barbera Ducati GP10 1.57.223
Hiroshi Aoyama Honda RC212V 1.57.251
Marco Simoncelli Honda RC212V 1.57.379

[iAdam]

Can I point out that stoner was out and ill for a hell of a lot of races last year, so Lorenzo didn't have to compete with him as well. So it's like throwing him in at the deep end with a third armpit (to quote an old, and fired BBC presenter) all over again, he needs to settle in, which will take a long time.

[Titch]

Lorenzo will win a couple, perhaps there could be a satellite victory this year, Marco Melandri has won a race on the Gresini Honda before and he's back there this year.

Toby Moody tips Ben Spies to win a race.

Sepang Test Feb '10:
1Valentino RossiFiat Yamaha Team2:00.271--39 2Casey StonerDucati Marlboro Team2:00.512+0.241+0.24133 3Nicky HaydenDucati Marlboro Team2:00.703+0.191+0.43242 4Colin EdwardsMonster Yamaha Tech 32:00.988+0.285+0.71735 5Ben SpiesMonster Yamaha Tech 32:01.014+0.026+0.74344 6Loris CapirossiRizla Suzuki MotoGP2:01.320+0.306+1.04950 7Andrea DoviziosoRepsol Honda Team2:01.439+0.119+1.16846 8Dani PedrosaRepsol Honda Team2:01.478+0.039+1.20757 9Hiroshi AoyamaInterwetten-Honda MotoGP2:01.692+0.214+1.42150 10Alvaro BautistaRizla Suzuki MotoGP2:01.732+0.040+1.46125 11Randy De PunietLCR Honda MotoGP2:01.980+0.248+1.70958 12Marco MelandriSan Carlo Honda Gresini2:02.078+0.098+1.80760 13Hector BarberaAspar Team2:02.080+0.002+1.80952 14Mika KallioPramac Racing Team2:02.082+0.002+1.81166 15Yamaha T Yamaha T
2:02.287+0.205+2.01618 16Aleix EspargaroPramac Racing Team2:02.367+0.080+2.09649 17Marco SimoncelliSan Carlo Honda Gresini2:03.689+1.322+3.4182
Qatar Test March '10
1Casey StonerDucati Marlboro Team1:55.7171:55.353-- 2Valentino RossiFiat Yamaha Team1:55.4021:55.860+0.049+0.049 3Andrea DoviziosoRepsol Honda Team1:56.8111:55.879+0.477+0.526 4Ben SpiesMonster Yamaha Tech 31:55.9541:56.779+0.075+0.601 5Nicky HaydenDucati Marlboro Team1:56.8551:56.115+0.161+0.762 6Loris CapirossiRizla Suzuki MotoGP1:57.0991:56.195+0.080+0.842 7Jorge LorenzoFiat Yamaha Team1:56.8381:56.504+0.309+1.151 8Randy De PunietLCR Honda MotoGP1:56.5881:56.504-+1.151 9Colin EdwardsMonster Yamaha Tech 31:56.5401:56.722+0.036+1.187 10Mika KallioPramac Racing Team1:56.9231:56.767+0.227+1.414 11Aleix EspargaroPramac Racing Team1:57.8981:56.897+0.130+1.544 12Alvaro BautistaRizla Suzuki MotoGP1:57.9601:56.898+0.001+1.545 13Dani PedrosaRepsol Honda Team1:57.0471:56.935+0.037+1.582 14Marco MelandriSan Carlo Honda Gresini1:57.6051:57.222+0.287+1.869 15Hector BarberaAspar Team1:57.8221:57.223+0.001+1.870 16Hiroshi AoyamaInterwetten-Honda MotoGP1:57.8881:57.251+0.028+1.898 17Marco SimoncelliSan Carlo Honda Gresini1:57.8911:57.379+0.128+2.026

Ben spies will be a future world champion if he can get a good bike next year.

[Hecktix]

Ben spies will be a future world champion if he can get a good bike next year.

He will be on the Fiat Yamaha next year, he'll win races this year too. My stats were wrong above, they were the Day 3 test not the combined Qatar test.

Ben Spies finished 4th or 5th on the Tech 3 Yamaha, so this year he will be a big podium contender, and will win Rookie of the year by a mile :)

[iAdam]

Who we fancying for moto2 Champ on test data. I know it's early days but I reckon Reddings in for a fight.

[Blinger1]

17 October Australia, Phillip Island
I would love to go visit that one day, as well as the F1s again.

I hope stoner does well this season.

[iAdam]

Stoner is always fighting, he's a good rider, but only on the Ducati, shove him on any other bike and he'd be average. But because he's the only one who can ride that damn ducati, he's better than average.

[Titch]

Stoner is always fighting, he's a good rider, but only on the Ducati, shove him on any other bike and he'd be average. But because he's the only one who can ride that damn ducati, he's better than average.

i have to agree, him and that ducati go together like bread and butter

[Hecktix]

Stoner is always fighting, he's a good rider, but only on the Ducati, shove him on any other bike and he'd be average. But because he's the only one who can ride that damn ducati, he's better than average.

Nicki Hayden is looking ever more promising on the ducati, I think we could see a few top 5 finishes from him this season, possibly a top 5 in the championship. Will be tough though with the likes of Spies, Edwards and the Hondas always bringing up the rear of the top 3.

Mika Kallio rode the pramac GP9 extremely well considering for years that bike has usually never broken the top ten (with the exception of Elias in a couple of races in 2008) so it will be interesting to see how he gets on with the desmo GP10.

In terms of Moto2, I would love to see Scott Redding running at the front but his team is very small so I don't know if he will be able to infiltrate the big outfits such as Tech 3, Aspar, Gresini etc. Obviously all of those are going to be big names in the championship fight with Takahashi, Simon & Di Meglio and of course Toni Elias who imo has to be the championship favourite ~ afterall, he has won a MotoGP race and you can't say that for anybody else in the Moto2 category!!!

[iAdam]

We'll have to wait and see how moto2 pans out this year.

[Hecktix]

FP1: 20:30 GMT+1 :D

[Titch]

Qualifying at 8.45

[Titch]

Qualifying results.

Stoner - 1st
Rossi - 2nd
Lorenzo - 3rd

[Titch]

well well well, stoner bottled it and dropped the bike.

Rossie wins from lorenzo who had a stunning race considering hes struggled all weekend and still has a broken hand. Dovi in third after a great pass from last corner to finish line. Hayden in fourth. Spies having a fabulous first race finishing in fifth.

[Hecktix]

http://resources.motogp.com/files/images/xy/2010/MotoGP/n508670_rossi.wheelie_4.slideshow.jpg

classic race by the doctor, he knew he couldn't win and was expecting a second, stoner falling off a bit of a god send.

Slightly worried by the Yamaha's lack of power, especially as rossi was slowest through the speed trap, they need to pick this up, ideally before Motegi which has several longish straights.

The speed on the Honda is immense, Dovizioso really becoming a man upon that bike, Pedrosa failing as usual. Lorenzo rode a very interesting race, he knew he had the pace all the way through therefore laid off to protect his hand then made a dramatic finish, the most interesting thing was even though Lorenzo sped up a lot towards the end, Ben Spies didn't get off his tail too much, great things for the new rider.

Gutted for Nicky Hayden, it's excellent to see someone else riding the ducati well.

Unfortunate for Bautista, excellent ride by Hiroshi Aoyahma and Marco Simoncelli.

I've got a sneaky prediction that Rossi will take the title and keep his job at Yamaha for next year, Lorenzo will leave Yamaha and Ben Spies will replace him. Lorenzo will then replace Dani Pedrosa at Honda. Pedrosa has already been told if he doesn't get in the title fight this year he will not ride for Honda in 2011.

[Titch]

Valentino Rossi left bruised after motocross fall

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/motorsport/motorbikes/8626627.stm



MotoGP world champion Valentino Rossi has suffered bruising after falling from a motocross bike during a training exercise in Italy.

Rossi, 31, had been preparing in Pesaro ahead of next weekend's Japanese Grand Prix when he took a tumble.



The Italian rider, who won the first MotoGP race of the season in Qatar last weekend, was sent for X-rays after expressing discomfort in his back.



But he was cleared to compete at next week's race in Motegi on 25 April.



The Yamaha rider currently leads the MotoGP leaderboard after recording his 104th victory in Qatar, a race which saw arch-rival Casey Stoner fall from his bike while leading on lap five.



Rossi, who has won nine world championships during his 14 years in the sport, went on to finish the race a second clear of his team-mate Jorge Lorenzo.



Second-placed Lorenzo finished runner up to Rossi in last season's MotoGP championship, over 40 points behind the seven-time MotoGP champion.

[iAdam]

He'll be fine, he's a good rider and will bounce back without any 'down time'.

You're correct with you predictions oli.

[Hecktix]

He'll be fine, he's a good rider and will bounce back without any 'down time'.

You're correct with you predictions oli.

I have an alternative too, which would be Lorenzo Spies at Yamaha, Rossi, Hayden @ Ducati and Stoner Dovizioso at Honda.

I'm even more inclined towards the second one as Rossi has hinted at finishing his careeer on an Italian bike.

[Titch]

I have an alternative too, which would be Lorenzo Spies at Yamaha, Rossi, Hayden @ Ducati and Stoner Dovizioso at Honda.

I'm even more inclined towards the second one as Rossi has hinted at finishing his careeer on an Italian bike.

rossi on a ducatti im liking!

[Hecktix]

rossi on a ducatti im liking!

Well I'm all for a good conspiracy and it adds to the fun of things.

Rossi said at the end of last year that he has told Yamaha that they have to choose between him & Lorenzo for 2011.

With no disrespect for Rossi, he doesn't have many world championship winning years left in him, Lorenzo is 10 years younger than Rossi and has a lot of championship potential for the future. So as a business decision Yamaha would have to choose Lorenzo really - especially if there was a Honda seat (which there will be) trying to lure him.

Rossi likes a challenge, the ducati would be a challenge. Ducati are Italian, Rossi is the most famous motorcyclist in the world and also Italian, Ducati would willingly ditch Casey Stoner for Rossi. Simples.

That leaves Stoner without a ride, but does it, we've seen him ride a Honda relatively well in 2006 - when he didnt hit the gravel that is.

So that's my conspiracy anyway. You heard it here first.

[iAdam]

That is gospel, worth betting on tbh.

[iAdam]

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/sport/sportresults/MotoGP/2010/April/apr1810-japanese-motogp-cancelled/?R=EPI-123503

What a scam.

[Hecktix]

Well I'm all for a good conspiracy and it adds to the fun of things.

Rossi said at the end of last year that he has told Yamaha that they have to choose between him & Lorenzo for 2011.

With no disrespect for Rossi, he doesn't have many world championship winning years left in him, Lorenzo is 10 years younger than Rossi and has a lot of championship potential for the future. So as a business decision Yamaha would have to choose Lorenzo really - especially if there was a Honda seat (which there will be) trying to lure him.

Rossi likes a challenge, the ducati would be a challenge. Ducati are Italian, Rossi is the most famous motorcyclist in the world and also Italian, Ducati would willingly ditch Casey Stoner for Rossi. Simples.

That leaves Stoner without a ride, but does it, we've seen him ride a Honda relatively well in 2006 - when he didnt hit the gravel that is.

So that's my conspiracy anyway. You heard it here first.

Oh, my predictions are good:

http://www.crash.net/motogp/news/159628/1/stoner_to_honda_a_done_deal.html

[iAdam]

That would be interesting, I'd like to see an Italian on an Italian machine. He's always said he wants to end his career on an Italian bike.