MotoGP 2011 Brno (spoiler alert)

[Matt_P]

Peep the times from FP1.

A gaggle of Ducatis from 11th to last (woohoo!!!). Even the dismal Suzukis are doing better than the Ducs, although it would appear that Bautista not wanting to be upstaged by his wildcard teamate has upped the pace.

Very impressed by Hopper to be on the pace so early. If he keeps this up we'll prolly see him on a GP machine by next year... just in time for the litre bikes (lets just hope he doesn't land a Ducati deal!)

Pedrosa is freakin killin the rest of the field by almost a full second. Makes me wonder what could have been if he wasn't torpedoed by Simoncelli way back.


1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 56.328s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 57.294s
3. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 57.408s
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 57.587s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 1m 57.776s
6. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 57.903s
7. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki 1m 58.321s
8. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 58.345s
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 58.390s
10. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 58.497s
11. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 58.819s
12. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 58.927s
13. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 1m 58.973s
14. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1m 58.975s
15. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 59.289s
16. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 59.334s
17. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing 1m 59.706s
18. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 2m 0.201s

[Tard]

Yea Pedro' has hit the ground running! What could have been? Well who knows or cares. It's only FP1 as well.

Hopkins probably would have gone faster if he removed those ridiculous f*cking earrings. WTF? Sissy!


Anyone see the pre-event press conference. Very interesting. Big news!

The Stoner's are pregnant! Casey mentioned that had a lot to do with his initial stance on not going to Japan.
All the riders spoke about going to Motegi and ALL were in agreement, (including Abraham), that they didn't want to go but have not totally abandoned the idea of traveling to Japan. They will decide 'as a squad' over the coming weeks. They have a safety commission meeting tomorrow concerning Motegi.

Rossi was asked about the Melandri rumors about him racing for Ducati next year or looking for a Honda to ride. He jokingly said; "Ask Melandri, he seems to know so much about it".
He then stated he is definitely riding for Ducati next year, but you'll have to confirm that with Melandri.

Rossi was also asked if he had the opportunity would he like to try an aluminum frame on the Duc'. He responded he doesn't know if that's going to happen or when. He said Ducati are working hard to fix the bike.

[Matt_P]

"For sure I will race with Ducati next year, if Melandri agrees!"

Rossi laughs at Honda rumours, Ducati in 2012 | MotoGP News | Aug 2011 | Crash.Net

[sugarhillctd]

Originally Posted by Matt_P

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 56.328s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 57.294s
3. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 57.408s
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 57.587s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 1m 57.776s
6. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 57.903s
7. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki 1m 58.321s
8. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 58.345s
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 58.390s
10. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 58.497s
11. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 58.819s
12. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 58.927s
13. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 1m 58.973s
14. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1m 58.975s
15. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 59.289s
16. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 59.334s
17. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing 1m 59.706s
18. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 2m 0.201s

Looks like they need run two classes in the same race:

-a MotoGP race (1st thru 10th place- the fast bikes)

-a Moto 1.5 race (Ducatis and a couple of slower, non-factory, non-Ducatis to make the GP11 bikes look fast.


SOMEBODY, SOMEWHERE in Italy- PLEEEEEEEZE straighten out the Ducati disaster. I know it's just FP1, but this is embarrassing..........

[Matt_P]

FP2

Rossi improved quite a bit, but still over a second off pace.

1. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 1m 56.454s
2. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 56.831s
3. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 57.136s
4. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 57.174s
5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 1m 57.535s
6. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 57.631s
7. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 57.745s
8. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 57.857s
9. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 57.859s
10. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki 1m 57.880s
11. Hector Barbera ESP Mapfre Aspar 1m 58.120s
12. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 58.313s
13. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 58.454s
14. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro 1m 58.568s
15. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing 1m 58.573s
16. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 58.607s
17. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 58.999s
18. Toni Elias ESP LCR Honda 1m 59.157s

[SpeedLimit?]

^^^Uh oh, Simoncelli possibly on the front row. Lets take bets on who he takes out...lol

[sugarhillctd]

Originally Posted by SpeedLimit?

^^^Uh oh, Simoncelli possibly on the front row. Lets take bets on who he takes out...lol

As of FP2, the usual 6 fastest fill up the first 2 rows.

This could be when the Marco-pedo has his shining moment as he hits the front on the first lap and lowsides..............................taking out several of the other 5

[Tard]

That was only one hot lap from Sic. He was actually lapping in the mid to high 1.57's.
Lorenzo and Stoner were consistently in the low 1.57's and Pedrosa did a shit load of laps in the 1.56's. Although he did not improve from FP1 but he looks to have some darn good race pace.
I'm pretty sure the front row will be Pedro, Stoner Lorenzo. But ya never know.

Rossi cut a full second off his time from FP1, but it was only one lap.
Hayden shaved off a few 10ths from his best time but he's still 14th and 2 seconds off the pace! That's poor.

I had expected Abraham to be doing better on home soil and Daddy's track.

[SpeedLimit?]

^^^Does Pedrosa look healthy enough to maintain this pace for a full race?

[tye1138]

We will know a lot more tomorrow, I think something is up with Stoner's pace, he hasn't yet clicked on the switch.