Predicitions for Welkom

asha · 15 Apr 2003, 12:47 (Ref:570063)

Firstly, i think this race, like the rest of the season, is going to see VERY empty without Kato. I hear that Sete and the Telefónica Movistar Honda team are going to a Welkom because they believe thats what Kato would have wanted, and i'm sure they know better then anyone. Kato is a racer and i'm certain that he would want everyone to race and have fun (it just seems his character).

That said, lets talk about the race.

I think that the Ducati will be strong here, and Loris is very good at this circult! Over the last few years he has put some suburb performances at the track. He is my hot tip for the win (put $5 each way just to be careful).

Rossi? what hasn't been said about him?

Max, I'm sure Max is happy to consolidate some solid performances at this stage of the year (it tends to be his weekness - he always is stronger in the latter half of the season). I see Max on the podium again (definately top5)

And then? take your pick?
troy, colin, ukawa, sete, abe

followed by (again in no order)
haga, barros (injured), OJ, Nakano, KRJR, hopkins, hayden, checa

Did i miss anyone?

oh and i hope to see the new KR 4 stroke too!

f1manoz · 15 Apr 2003, 12:56 (Ref:570071)

IMO it will be a battle between Loris and Rossi this time out. I'm going to play it safe and NOT pick a winner, but hopefully it will be close.

Biaggi will be in the top 5 as will Barros. His knee shouldn't be as big a problem as it was in Suzuka, and Alex is one tough cookie, he should get through it.

Expect a big performance from Abe. Checa will be mid-pack at best.

I think Troy and Colin will struggle this time round. Troy will probably be further up simply because of the bike.

wreckless · 16 Apr 2003, 10:06 (Ref:570930)

Id love to see a yamaha up there, but checa has no show, so barros will be flying the flag, 3rd for him.

I think loris had a good show there last year, cant see why he cant put in a top 5

But it is sure hard to go past rossi

Gerrit · 16 Apr 2003, 10:57 (Ref:570965)

I very much doubt that the KR-V5 will be at Welkom....... but I for one will not be sorry to see the KR3 in action again . As far as I'm concerned the V5 can stay away permanently!

asha · 16 Apr 2003, 13:00 (Ref:571107)

Gerrit: that a very strong opinion! Care to explain? Is it because its a 2 stroke?

f1manoz · 16 Apr 2003, 13:03 (Ref:571111)

Asha,

All you need to do is look at the signature. That explains it all!

asha · 16 Apr 2003, 13:10 (Ref:571125)

oh.. *enables signatures*

Oh I see now!! LOL

Gerrit · 16 Apr 2003, 13:19 (Ref:571137)

Yes, Asha, because it is a two-stroke

!!!!! But also because, without ANY development test rides at all, chances are the V5 might not even qualify, or if it did, at the back of the grid. At tracks like Welkom, Jerez, Donington and the Sachsenring the two-stroke would certainly be faster, despite the total lack of development since the last GP of 2002. McWilliams and Aoki were faster at Barcelona during the IRTA tests than they were at the GP last year. Reason? The Bridgestone tyres had improved markedly since then; McW was over 1 sec faster.
With the KR3, Team Roberts can still clobber the Kawasakis, WCMs, at least one Suzuki (Roberts Jr.) and maybe an Aprilia and a few Yams. With the V5, they will be right at the back of the pack- desperately trying to sort things out in practice sessions. Or, as Kevin Cameron said, " developing it from the back of a truck".

moto1 · 18 Apr 2003, 00:52 (Ref:572706)

I think the V5 will surprise alot of people, It certainly got Honda worried, and Kenny wouldn't let it race without knowing it can do the job it was intended to do. Put Jeremy on it and he will be up there before the end of the season, Philip Island is gonna be good for the Irish this year.

MichaelH · 18 Apr 2003, 00:54 (Ref:572707)

I think Ukawa might be strong, he did win last year after all. I think we need a bad performance/bad luck story for Rossi...just to keep the others in the hunt-it aint fair!

ATF · 25 Apr 2003, 20:24 (Ref:580981)

Ducati are looking quite good. Maybe just maybe...

MichaelH · 25 Apr 2003, 20:53 (Ref:581011)

hmm, I'd prefer to see Edwards up there than Bayliss...but the Aprilia needs work. My realistic tip for victory is Italian and his initials are VR........again.

ATF · 26 Apr 2003, 20:43 (Ref:581642)

Edwards 8th, Bayliss 9th on the grid.

f1manoz · 28 Apr 2003, 10:04 (Ref:582653)

Well, we all got it wrong but I think that was the only result that should have happened.

asha · 28 Apr 2003, 13:41 (Ref:582835)

I will admitt that i was wrong about it being a "very empty" weekend without Kato because he was so present at the circuit and during the race that it was truely uncanny.
Sete's pole!
His pole time !!
And that inspired win!!!

It was also lovely to see how the riders paid tribute to Kato in there own way along with the minute slience before the race.

well done motogp

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