2009 MotoGP thread!

[chee16]

the 2009 season is almost here and it looks to be a good one.

FIM MotoGP World Championship Series
4/12 Losail International Circuit, Qatar *
4/26 Motegi, Japan
5/3 Jerez, Spain
5/17 Le Mans, France
5/31 Mugello, Italy
6/14 Catalunya, Spain
6/27 Assen, Netherlands **
7/5 Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca, USA ***
7/19 Sachsenring, Germany
7/26 Donington Park, Great Britain
8/16 Brno, Czech Republic
8/30 Indianapolis Motor Speedway, USA
9/6 Misano, San Marino
9/20 Balaton, Hungary
10/4 Estoril, Portugal
10/18 Phillip Island Circuit, VIC, Australia
10/25 Sepang, Malaysia
11/8 Valencia, Spain

[chee16]

here are the times from the final day of testing at Sepang on February 7th.

OFFICIAL LAP TIMES

1. C.Stoner (Ducati) 2:01.043
2. V. Rossi (Yamaha) 2:01.137
3. L. Capirossi (Suzuki) 2:01.262
4.C.Edwards (Yamaha Tech3 ) 2:01.413
5. T.Elias (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 2:01.560
6. C. Vermeulen (Suzuki) 2:01.666
7. J. Lorenzo (Yamaha) 2:01.907
8. ANDREA DOVIZIOSO (REPSOL HONDA TEAM) 2:01.955
9. M.Kallio (Pramac Ducati) 2:02.386
10. N.Hayden (Ducati) 2:02.497
11. A.De Angelis (San Carlo Honda Gresini) 2:02.523
12. S.Gibernau (Ducati guinea ecuatorial) 2:02.727
13 R.De Puniet (LCR Honda) 2:03.418
14. Yuki Takahashi (Scot honda) 2:03.474
15. N.Canepa (Pramac Ducati) 2:03.901
16. J.Toseland (Yamaha Tech 3) 2:03.953

[chee16]

so........ heres my take on things:

Rossi has a new bike and tons of confidence after beating Stoner last year not only in points but also mentally. Rossi is one of my favorite riders to watch not only because he wins a lot, but he always seems to have a little bit extra left, whether that be a different set of lines or a favorite corner to pass at, you never know what he is going to do.

Stoner isn't my favorite rider, but i don't hate him and there is no denying how fast he is. i think the biggest problem he will face this season (besides Rossi of course) is his physical conditioning. he admitted last year that certain tracks wore him down physically by the end, and in combination with his wrist still healing, he may struggle.

Pedrosa, in my can be very fast when his set up is good and he can get away quickly at the start, but if he has to battle with someone, his rhythm gets disrupted and he falls back. he will be up there but not a title contender.

as for the rest, there are many that could be contenders, i think Edwards will finally win one this year, Lorenzo will show some brilliance again, i would really like to see Hayden mix things up in front. Dovisioso ( ithink thats how you spell it) may be up there too. i won't list my opinions on the whole field, that would be crazy.

so all you MotoGP fans, weigh in and give some opinions here.

[bpave777]

Look at Colin up there. Glad to see he's back again and running strong. I don't see Dani's times in your list? Any idea why? Are you subscribed to MotoGP.com. I get Speed, but I might have to subscribe. I do have a lead on some torrents from Europe that are helpful when all else fails.

I'm rooting for Rossi, again.

So strange seeing Sete back in the mix. I'm curious to see if those old mental war wounds Rossi has inflicted on him still exist.

[chee16]

i use underground torrents when I need to, they recently went invite only but they are really great.

i have to be honest about Sete, i think he will be in the top ten consistently but i doubt that Ducati would want him battling for the lead on a satellite ride. they want the factory boys upfront. just ask Elias and Guintoli about last years bike, though Marco did worse on the factory bike.

i think James Toseland is going to have a rough year of it though, he crashed really hard in sepang and just can't get away from his pushy superbike ways and carry some corner speed. i think it would be cool if Spies took his place instead of Edwards. but i am kind of an Edwards fan.

i haven't figured out where Dani went for the last list, he was on all the other list and the latest one i could find he was in eighth, then the last list he was gone. i didn't hear anything about him crashing or anything so that is weird.

[chee16]

Ok for some reason it took me a while to find this but apparently Pedrobot (Dani Pedrosa) left on the second day of testing because of a leg injury. he was right up there before that, but i think he has proven in the past to be a bit of a wimp.

Also there is still no word on whether Melandri will ride the Dornasawki (Kawi run by Dorna). i think Rossi's comments were great when he said that he thought that Kawi dropped out because they did so badly last year and the bike hadn't improved since then, so they used the economic climate as a excuse.

[chee16]

Sete Giberneau will now miss the Qatar test next month! i knew he was washed up! he really wasn't setting the pace on the Ducati anyways but if he did drop out that makes 16 for a grid size. they would have to replace him.

[chee16]

Marco Melandri will be the only Kawisaki rider this year and it will not be green. it will be a Kawi but be run by Dorna apparently in a last ditch effort to keep 18 bikes on the grid so they don't breach their contract with FIM. Kawi has agreed to support the engines but we all know there will be no upgrades. apparently Marco will be riding for free also.

John Hopkins was never mention to be considered for the roll. he is without a ride indefinitely now. poor Hopper. now all he can do is hope for someone to crash and have to sit out a few rounds so he can take their place.