hope it's good

(This post can be a partial spoiler, do not read it if you haven't seen the race yet )

While watching the P.I. race, I was thinking... "Look, just take ROSSI and his Blue Yamaha out of the scene, and we would have the same Stoner absolute domination we've had since 2007".

Rossi is great and I admire him, but I also love to see some serious competition in the field.
Think that even now, with these 800cc and electronics etc., Stoner still crashes during QP and 3 races in a row, Rossi 12th from the grid and just about wins--but Stoner was too far gone to make the gap

Rossi and his Yamaha have spoilt that potential scene for Stoner this season but have made and are making the whole WC really fascinating and interesting. I think deep down Stoner too likes it better like this. He has recently acknowledged Rossi as the greatest champion ever and the toughest contender he ever met.

Otherwise, we would have to content ourselves with commenting Stoners solo greatness, enjoying his scything through the fields and his final inevitable passes on Pedrobot or others.
Like this instead, thanks to Rossi, it is much better. And we are assured that as long as he races, Stoner will have to be at his very best.

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Kawasak...+run+third+bike

Supposedly Ducati was willing and Ezpeleta was wanting 40% of the field to commit to Michelin.The rumored 3rd Kawasaki was going to put them over the top but they were waiting on word from KHI.
Will they reconsider or is the tire deal done.

When does one cease to be a "noob"?

This topic would be best discussed over the summer but this dude wrote a pretty good article. I can't say that I agree with everything he said but he makes some very interesting points.

Crash Link

The single tyre rule for 2009 has reignited the debate over what the MotoGP World Championship should stand for.

The move from 500cc two-strokes to 990cc four-strokes in 2002 saw the MotoGP championship increasingly branded as a 'prototype' class, the two-wheeled equivalent of Formula One and a place where the fastest, most exotic, motorcycles are raced by the best riders in the world.

That is how 'MotoGP' would introduce itself to a stranger at a party (or a potential sponsor) and also how MotoGP sought to distance itself from the visibly similar World Superbike Championship - a distinction that is yet to penetrate into most mainstream minds. To the general public, the main difference between MotoGP and World Superbike is simply the riders.


The end of open tyre competition in MotoGP removes a further element of MotoGP's prototype philosophy - but does it really matter?

After all, every motorcycle on the MotoGP grid has been powered by a four-cylinder engine since the start of 2007. Not much radical experimentation there then, especially since WSBK features both twin and four cylinder machines, but no-one really complained.

Even MotoGP's perceived role as a proving ground for cutting-edge technology, essential to improve future road bikes, has come to little.

Ducati produced a limited edition road replica of its Desmosedici, but BMW, Aprilia and KTM have all decided that MotoGP experience was unnecessary for the creation of their new high-performance road bikes - which they will refine and promote by racing in World Superbike (Superstock in KTM's case) instead.

If a new high performance motorcycle can be built by a major manufacturer without any MotoGP input, it is hard to see how road tyre development will grind to a halt now that open competition has been extinguished. Anyway, when was the last time a road rider popped out to buy a qualifying tyre?

So should MotoGP re-evaluate it's propose, admit it's main power is as a marketing tool and concentrate on providing entertainment under a simple 'best riders, fastest bikes' banner? From now on, when in doubt, should the show always come before everything else (except safety)?

Many MotoGP fans, and indeed motorcycle racing fans in general, continue to be mystified at how Formula One, a championship which offers so little actual racing action, continues to prosper.

MotoGP continues to be heavily influenced by F1. So how does F1 define its purpose?

Like MotoGP, the answer will be different depending on the person asked and their relationship with the championship, but this is how a young F1 engineer described the purpose of a Formula One team at the start of a guest lecture for engineering students at a British university, around five years ago.

"The purpose of a Formula One team is to generate income for its sponsors."

No mention of winning races or world championships, although those are presumably the best - but far from only - methods of maximising income for sponsors. The engineer is now the technical director of a major British-based F1 team.

And just how important is the hi-tech argument for the likes of F1 and MotoGP anyway?

After all, as long as a MotoGP machine continues to lap a circuit faster than any other racing motorcycle then most fans will perceive it to be technically superior, whatever the actual cost of its individual components.

Perhaps MotoGP should remember the following phrase, used to combat objections to F1s increasingly strict technical regulations - including a single tyre supplier and a freeze on engine development:

'Put all the engineers on one side of a room and all the drivers on the other, then let the fans in and see who they go and talk to.'

But could a balance have been struck whereby tyre competition was allowed to continue in MotoGP?

Tyres are the single most important component of a racing motorcycle, yet there are no technical restrictions on things like materials or construction, only a maximum rim width. Compare that with the detailed fuel regulations, for example, which list the precise chemical composition allowed.

Might a way have been found to restrict large areas of tyre development, in the same way that other areas of a motorcycle are limited, thereby reducing the potential performance difference between brands? Could corner speed have been addressed by limiting the amount of compound difference allowed between the middle and sides of a tyre for example?

That might have addressed the safety/corning speed issue highlighted as the official reason, along with costs, for introducing the new rule - although Michelin stated that it was never given a chance to make any proposals:

"Michelin regrets not being able to contribute to the organisers' important discussions to improve rider safety and reduce costs," said part of a statement announcing that Michelin would not bid for the exclusive 2009 tyre rights.

Bridgestone is set to be officially announced as the exclusive MotoGP tyre supplier by October 18.

What future direction do you think MotoGP should go in?

Link

Julian is one of my favorite commentators by far, he's quite a character.

Anyway this is a good read about Sunday's race at PI.

His assessment is similar to my own. PI is a fantastic track. It is probably one of the only tracks on the entire calendar that I'm glad I won't ever get to race it on a motogp bike. The raw speed of that place is just plain scary.

I was suprised that Dovi came out with this. Casey got belted about the ears for public outbursts after Laguna and now Dovi complains about JT who rode one of his best races...

Andrea Dovizioso - Seventh
`I feel I made a tremendous race. If I had not had to recover from last after being pushed off the track at the start, we could have had a podium. At the start I kept on the left for the first turn, Lorenzo was almost alongside me and then he moved outside. This resulted in me finishing on the grass. From here I started a great comeback, even if in those first laps I could not push 100%, but instead I followed Valentino Rossi who also had the pace to gain positions. With Lorenzo we could have moved towards third position, but Toseland was too aggressive and a little dangerous while fighting for the lead of the group. The last ten laps the tyres were finished and I was not able to push anymore. At one of the corners, I had to go wide to avoid Toseland, who I was lining up to overtake, but because of this Nakano made it past us both. I am sorry to have lost the fourth place because it was a reality today.´

From motogp.com Dovi

Legitimate gripe or should he harden up?

Comment:

I couldn't find one soo sorry!!

but I feel that at least most cool forums should have one of these threads

Well you know what to do. Just post what you have on or just what you like!

Ok 'll start

i got the album Anti-Diluvian Chronicles on but in no order!

My Dying Bride - The Whore, The Cook and the Mother (Probs my fav song)

After: My Dying Bride - Catherine Blake

http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2008/Grand+P...e+rule+for+2009

now official

C`mon boys `n` girls


not pretty without me teeth,normal service resumed shortly

When Rossi overtook Nakano and Edwards together into turn one, the on board shot showed him adjusting a little knob just before he downshifted into the corner whilst under braking.

What was he adjusting? Apart from that, what kind of freak is he to be able to pass two riders in one go AND adjust his bike whilst cornering?

hey guys
just moved to london from Australia ( last month ), i love the motoGP havent missed a race this year, being an aussie Stoner is my boy but like the other millions of fans out there love watching Rossi storm through the field.

havent been watching much of the 250's but watched hector barbera at Misano and thought he was great, sure makes things intresting!

I plan on going to Valencia for the last Race this year which im really looking forward to only ever been to phillip island last year watching stoner was something special!

Anyone going to Valencia this yeat late October??? any tips or hints about spain would be cool aswell!

thanks

Lamu22

LINK
MotoGP race review, Phillip Island
Casey's secret win
(07/10/2008)



Sometimes you've got to feel sorry for Casey Stoner's luck. Not often, but sometimes. Firstly he was born in Australia - but that's not where the bad luck ends. Take this weekend's dominant flag-to-flag win by the sulking ex-ex-crasher. On any other 08' MotoGP Sunday there would have been nothing on track to watch meaning the race director could sat back with some chilled tinnies and followed Casey's progress. This would give Stoner the much needed publicly in his futile attempts to be liked. Sadly this was no ordinary Sunday and, running squarely against the grain, we were indecently subjected to some far more interesting real racing behind him. What would be odds on that? Longer than the ones on Colin winning a race? Probably not.

Things started poorly for Stoner. After predictably leading from pole the Aussie's incredible set of opening corners were more or less ignored as we instead watched Pedrosa's second bend antics. Our smiles became wider whilst the depressed Spaniard's frown frowned yet more as he found out the hard way that the Bridgestone front tyre, famed for keeping Randy de Puniet out of hospital last year, was no match for the Michelin on cold grass. Having ran more off-course than Gobert's career and without having ever tested the off-road capabilities of his tyres Thumbelina attempted to, Euro-style, push the front on Australia grass. Soon he'd be pushing his spanking new and newly ruined Honda back to the garage. If depression was contagious then Philip Island 08 would be the new Jonestown.

As Pedrosa flopped to floor like a sack of unwanted donkey meat the rest of the pack remained professional and focused…except for poor Chris 'rain to reign' Vermeulen who in a fit of laughter seized up harder than an LC350 and ran straight on. His race was over, but it was no great loss for the Vermin. His Suzuki, like every MotoGP bike Suzuki has built, is a sensitive work of art - and therefore has no place in Australia and refuses ever to perform there.

Okay Casey…here's your fifteen minutes…or three anyway…

Perfect. So we heard...

After our ribs had stopped aching and our tears dried the focus of the race was once more focused on the race. Up front Stoner was predictably leading but following, closer than his family ties, was the inbred farmhand Nicky Hayden. The Honda hating American legend was all over Stoner like a cousin at a barn dance yet somehow we knew that Stoner, unlike the aforementioned relative, had enough in hand to fend off the advancing Nicky. So the focus switched to the new world champion Valentino Rossi…

After being distracted whilst qualifying by what Rossi believed was the 'missing link' (but later turned out to be a regular Australian man opening a tin of Fosters with a pointy stick he'd found) the '08 champ crashed his Yam and hurt his neck. It's unknown if the neck injury was caused by the double take or the crash but the nert outcome would be the same - a lowly twelve place qualifying position.
So as Stoner led the race now unnoticed we were all enjoying watching Valentino Rossi slice through the field like a butcher's knife through Sete's wig. Lap after lap the Italian 46 would effortlessly pass another rider or two tricking us into foolishly dreaming of a possible end-of-race fight for the lead. Then, it all came to an end, when Rossi caught the musical James Toseland in third…

James Toseland started his MotoGP career at Qatar in spectacular style. Qualifying on the front row and racing hard until the end James used this superb opening race as a solid platform to base his slow and gradual demise from. By Donington Park, mid-season, and after running over his own head into the first corner of the race, the Brit officially seemed to have reached his lowest possible ebb. Since that ebb JT then continued to be tossed around in the sea of failure along with Hodgson until oddly he was successfully washed up onto the Phillip Island coastline.

Having pressured Dani into his amusingly amusing spill on the opening lap Toseland had been fighting, and getting the better of, the loonbag Lorenzo. The charging Rossi however steamed passed JT and into third as if his pasta rations depended on it. There were 20 laps now remaining and every single viewer started to wonder if and how long it would take the furry yellow champion to catch the leaders.
As we pondered and did the mental calculations on our fingers we then noticed Toseland was back in front of Rossi. Now we all know that when Rossi is on a charge riders get passed and never the other way around.
Some sort of 'time bubble' was the all too obvious answer…but it wasn't true. There had been no rip in the fabric time, not even a crease. James Toseland, failure that he's successfully been, was so on fire that he'd retaken Rossi for third - this was his concert and he wasn't planning on playing second fiddle.
These strange happenings left some of the smug yellow-clad Rossi fans confused and scared (far worse than the time they'd thought they'd have to have an email address that didn't have the number 46* in it) whereas the others simple yelled at Toseland for unfairly getting in the way of Rossi.

Why is Africa in such trouble? There is one fundamental reason that is consistently overlooked: no reliable transportation.

The UK has waited a long, long time for a MotoGP rider that isn't utterly crap. Suddenly James Toseland was blowing all these heady dreams out of the water by upping the game and looking 'competent'. His competence meant that Rossi simply couldn't find a way past. And on the single occasion he did the boring Brit was able to retake him on the next corner.

Eventually though Rossi, using a tactic of forceful riding and continuous semi-toxic nasal bombardment, found a way past Toseland and scampered away into the distance like the time he saw a young woman getting undressed. But JT's battles weren't over. His battles were about to make Mahler's Symphony No. 3 look like a pop jingle.
In the time that Rossi had spent trying to pass JT a train of Lorenzo, Dovizioso and Shinners 'I'm free' Nakano had patiently formed behind the Italian. Now it was their turn to fight James...and one of them was destined to lose.

Clearly Ladyboy Shinners could be counted out of this scrap as when it comes to on track fights he's elsewhere flirting with rich businessmen in the paddock. This then left just the old 250 rivals of Lorenzo and Dozi to launch a two pronged attack** on the plucky, in-tune Brit.
The crowd's excitement reached fever pitched when the beer went on sale at half price - but on the track it happened when the battling threesome headed into the first corner three abreast. 16 rounds we've waited for this.
The final lap was never set to be pretty…but JT was about to make it 'Kurtis pretty'. Having finally lost out on track position to both Loony and Dozi the Tech 3 rider rammed back under Dovizioso at the hairpin with all grace and elegance of a drunken Australian thug (see: an Australian) in a ballet dress. Both riders were forced wide allowing Nakano to sneak past. But don't panic folks - it wasn't a real overtaking manoeuvre by Nakano - just a 'oh look they've let me through so I can overtake in a non-threatening manner' kind of pass.

Afterwards Dozi was furious with Toseland labelling him 'an idiot' and 'dangerous with a sensible haircut'. Looks like we'll have another crybaby in Repsol Honda next year.

Upfront Casey had won the race unnoticed…but Hayden was struggling. And it was tyre problems. Now the Hayden family don't like to try things new - hence their 'close' family. And, despite being advised to run a harder rear tyre, Nicky decided to use the medium one he'd been using all weekend. As the final stages approached, and compounded by the American's extra baggage, his rear tyre fell to pieces like ****.
Annoyingly for family Hayden this allowed Rossi to overtake Nicky on the last lap to claim second. Annoyingly for Stoner was that nearly all the race he was ignored.

It wasn't until the podium celebration that people began questioning why Casey was up there that it twigged. What an unlucky chap he is.

* eg. areswipe46@hotmail.com
* Not in the de Angelis sense thankfully.

You know you love him, Randy De Puniet, everyone's favorite gravel tracker. The race commentators darling, nothing's better then when the commentators say "oh there goes Randy again" or "we all knew that was going to happen". No one's better at picking up a dusty banged up bike and checking it to see if it's rideable then De Puniet.

Guess what lap RdP will bin it in the upcoming Misano race. Also will it be a low side or high side, and will he pick up the bike and race on or retire.


my guess:
-lap 5
-lowside
-he will race on

2009 Factory Lineup

Fiat Yamaha
Valentino Rossi
Jorge Lorenzo

Repsol Honda
Dani Pedrosa
Andrea Dovizioso

Marlboro Ducati
Casey Stoner
Nicky Hayden

Monster Kawasaki
John Hopkins
Marco Melandri

Rizla Suzuki
Loris Capirossi
Chris Vermeulen



I can't wait for next year. As much as I hate to say this, I think the Pedrosa/Dovi team is the one I'd be most worried about. For the first time since 2006, it looks like HRC will field two riders with pace. It looks like Dovi may place in the top 5 on a satellite bike this season! I suspect Puig/Pedrosa will be strong next year as well. The pneumo lump should be running well and Honda are going to be sending lots of bikes into battle. Anyone off the pace will be torpedoed by Elias, DeAngelis, DePuniet, or Takahashi. It will be rough for non-Honda riders who get caught off line on race day.

If Lorenzo stops crashing I think Fiat Yamaha could beat them. Rossi is airtight but somewhat vulnerable when the power isn't sufficient. Lorenzo is an unknown. Highly talented but the nightmares of the highsides in 2008 will certainly haunt him into next season; especially if he has another one early in 2009.

I'd like to think that Stoner/Hayden will be the front runners, but I have to be realistic. Ducati haven't fielded 2 consistently fast riders in the 800 era. Plus, there are too many tracks where the Duc doesn't work. Furthermore, I suspect some intervention with the tires and Ducati rely very heavily on good prototype rubber. I think Ducati have hired Hayden to help develop a more ridable bike, I really hope Ducati don't start changing Stoner's bike unless he falls off the pace. I think Hayden will do well, but will be somewhat inconsistent in his first season. Worst of all for Ducati, China is off the calendar--those were easy points in the bag.

Kawasaki looks really intriguing. If they can get that stupid bike together, they should be able to make serious progress in 2009.

Rizla *yawn* Suzuki. Hmmm........no disrespect to Chris or Loris--both are classy and talented individuals--but Rizla just seems like a flat, boring place to be next season. Hopefully, I will be wrong.

Bring it on!

My fears come true!!! Moto GP on Eurosport is now on my language Good old Toby & co. I miss them soooooo much!!!

I have to buy new TV now, because old one doesn't have "dual audio" (or whatever thas's called) option.

(This post can be a partial spoiler, do not read it if you haven't seen the race yet )

While watching the P.I. race, I was thinking... "Look, just take Stoner and his red Ducati out of the scene, and we would have the same Rossi absolute domination we've had since 2001".

Rossi is great and I admire him, but I also love to see some serious competition in the field.
Think that even now, with these 800cc and electronics etc., Rossi could still crash during QP, start 12th from the grid and win--but for Stoner.

Stoner and his Ducati have spoilt that potential scene for Rossi in the last two seasons but have made and are making the whole WC really fascinating and interesting. I think deep down Rossi too likes it better like this. He has recently acknowledged Stoner as a great champion and the toughest contender he ever met.

Otherwise, we would have to content ourselves with commenting Rossi's solo greatness, enjoying his scything through the fields and his final inevitable passes on Pedrobot or others.
Like this instead, thanks to Stoner, it is much better. And we are assured that as long as he races, the Doctor will have to be at his very best.

I paid for a season pass on MotoGP.com and when I log in, I can't watch the videos. Can anyone help or just help me watch the race before someone tells me the results. AHHHHH!

Oh damm, Bautista's bike failed in the last lap of the race while leading!!!

Anyway congrats to Lüthi the guy really needed this win, after such a horrible start of the season.

250cc was pretty exciting too, Lorenzo crashed out very early in a stupid over optimistic manouver, clearly he's lost it mentally. What a spoilt brat I think he needs a good slap on the face to stop acting like a crybaby.

Takahashi won his first GP, beating his more experienced teammate Dovizioso, and it was a Honda 1,2,3 with Shuhei Aoyama third just ahead of his brother Hiroshi on the KTM. Again Aprilia failed miserably, De Angelis a distant 5th was the best Aprilia.