MotoGP 2008 Round 3 - Grande Premio de Portugal, Estoril Portugal

[flying finn]

MotoGP 2008 Round 3 - Grande Premio de Portugal, Estoril Portugal

Friday 11.04
Free Practice 1 > 10.00 - 11.00
Free Practice 2 > 13.55 - 14.55

Saturday 12.04
Free Practice 3 > 10.00 - 11.00
Qualifying > 13.55 - 14.55

Sunday 13.04
Race (28 laps x 4.182km = 117.096km) > 13.00 - 14.00

will this year's race match 2007 when Rossi beat Pedrosa by 0.175s with Stoner 1.477s behind in third ?
will Skippy bounce back after the horrors of Spain ?
more here > www.motogp.com/en/motogp/index.htm

Championship Standings

1. PEDROSA Dani SPA > 41
2. LORENZO Jorge SPA > 36
3. ROSSI Valentino ITA > 31
4. STONER Casey AUS > 30
5. DOVIZIOSO Andrea ITA > 21
6. TOSELAND James GBR > 20
7. HAYDEN Nicky USA > 19
8. CAPIROSSI Loris ITA > 19
9. HOPKINS John USA > 13
10. NAKANO Shinya JPN > 10
11. EDWARDS Colin USA > 9
12. MELANDRI Marco ITA > 9
13. DE PUNIET Randy FRA > 7
14. VERMEULEN Chris AUS > 6
15. WEST Anthony AUS > 3
16. ELIAS Toni SPA > 3
17. DE ANGELIS Alex RSM > 2
18. GUINTOLI Sylvain FRA > 1

[Pro Racer]

Casey to rebound, Rossi to be on fire and have a thrilling battle, Hore hey to battle Pedrobot for last spot on the podium.

[Gerben24]

It will be interesting to see how the rookies will do at this track. They tested at the previous 2 tracks before racing, so they had a lot of data. None of the rookies have tested here.

Has Toseland ever ridden here? I can't remember if WSBK have been to this track in the last 10 years . Toseland and Edwards will have the air valved engine if I have to believe the media. This could be a tough weekend for JT, lots of new stuff to learn.

[Dani Filth]

i think it's about time rossi wins one

[jhansen]

Well, I think the race will be pants, but at least we don't know who is going to win. Casey was pretty strong here last year, but had a slight fade mid race that lost it for him. So I think he has a chance. Pedrobot ran well here last year also and had a great fight with Rossi. So those two are a given. Add Lorenzo to that list I think. Hayden has gone well here, so he's a maybe, IF he gells with the bike. Not sure about Suzuki or Kawi.

125's and 250's should be awesome.

[Pro Racer]

i wish Kwaka would bring back "The Screamer" sooner rather then latter.

[CDK 7]

Originally Posted by Dani Filth

i think it's about time rossi wins one

me to

[mac]

Big long straight for the Dukes at Estoril...

[jhansen]

FP1:

1 Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro 1:47.900
2 Valentino Rossi - Fiat Yamaha 1:48.599
3 Shinya Nakano - San Carlo Gresini Honda 1:48.754
4 Anthony West - Kawasaki Racing 1:48.873
5 John Hopkins - Kawasaki Racing 1:49.530
6 Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1:49.787
7 Loris Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki 1:49.903
8 Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 1:50.123
9 Sylvain Guintoli - Alice Ducati 1:50.278
10 Randy De Puniet - LCR Honda 1:50.442
11 Andrea Dovizioso - JiR Scot Honda 1:50.447
12 Jorge Lorenzo - Fiat Yamaha 1:50.588
13 Marco Melandri - Ducati Marlboro 1:50.761
14 Alex De Angelis - San Carlo Gresini Honda 1:51.195
15 Toni Elias - Alice Ducati 1:51.392
16 Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1:52.045
17 Colin Edwards - Tech 3 Yamaha 1:53.196
18 James Toseland - Tech 3 Yamaha 1:53.907

Partially wet track.

[jhansen]

FP2:

1 Dani Pedrosa - Repsol Honda 1:38.507
2 Valentino Rossi - Fiat Yamaha 1:38.547
3 Colin Edwards - Tech 3 Yamaha 1:38.632
4 Nicky Hayden - Repsol Honda 1:38.688
5 Jorge Lorenzo - Fiat Yamaha 1:38.868
6 Andrea Dovizioso - JiR Scot Honda 1:39.171
7 Casey Stoner - Ducati Marlboro 1:39.202
8 Shinya Nakano - San Carlo Gresini Honda 1:39.309
9 Randy De Puniet - LCR Honda 1:39.332
10 John Hopkins - Kawasaki Racing 1:39.474
11 Loris Capirossi - Rizla Suzuki 1:39.591
12 Chris Vermeulen - Rizla Suzuki 1:39.946
13 James Toseland - Tech 3 Yamaha 1:40.055
14 Alex De Angelis - San Carlo Gresini Honda 1:41.033
15 Marco Melandri - Ducati Marlboro 1:41.112
16 Anthony West - Kawasaki Racing 1:41.572
17 Sylvain Guintoli - Alice Ducati 1:41.875
18 Toni Elias - Alice Ducati 1:43.262

Dry track and windy.

[jhansen]

So in FP2 the top 11 were covered by roughly 1 second. The remaining 7 riders are separated by 3.3 seconds. That strikes me as odd.

The underperforming team award has to go to Alice Ducati so far. I figured they'd do a bit better this year. Melandri's nightmare continues. I wonder if it ever entered his mind that the Ducati would be difficult to ride?

I also see a pattern developing at the sharp end.

[BootsOntheSide]

Hopefully James will improve over the weekend, I guess he's the only rider who doesn't know this track? Agreed that Stoner is probably single-handedly keeping Ducati competitive for now.

[Schummy]

Now a question is if Stoner can do a nice race or if he is going to have a disappointing race. If it is the late, things can begin to look a bit worrying in terms of title.

We must not forget Casey has been magnificient only the last season, it is not the same for Rossi, for example.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by Schummy

We must not forget Casey has been magnificient only the last season, it is not the same for Rossi, for example.

Rossi hasn't won a title since 2005... He's on a much more disturbing trend line. And the only ones looking magnificent so far this season are those two Spanish fellows. But I wont be writing off Stoner anytime soon.

[Chiefy]

I had a dream that Marco Melandri got pole position... Just so that, if it happens, you all understand I knew it first!

[Pro Racer]

whats wrong with the GP8 front Casey hates it and both are stacking it alot has Brigestone or Ducati done something different if it's the later maybe a trip back to the GP7 front set-up if possible.

[vorsprung]

Quali:
1. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 35.715 secs
2. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 35.948 secs
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 36.199 secs
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 36.266 secs
5. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 36.289 secs
6. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 36.790 secs
7. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 36.998 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 37.223 secs
9. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 37.253 secs
10. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 37.346 secs
11. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 37.664 secs
12. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 37.786 secs
13. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 37.843 secs
14. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 38.561 secs
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 38.775 secs
16. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 38.823 secs
17. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 39.115 secs
18. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 39.355 secs

whats wrong with the GP8 front Casey hates it and both are stacking it alot has Brigestone or Ducati done something different if it's the later maybe a trip back to the GP7 front set-up if possible.

Bridgestone riders were complaining about front end feel in Jerez and according to a Dunlop tech, who posts on another board, front tyre has been a Bridgestone strength in past years.

[Knowlesy]

This Lorenzo is a bit of a scamp in qualifying.

A great shame to see the Ducati's struggling.

[jhansen]

So I see the pattern continues. Who's been the best on long runs? Weather report? Oh please let the race be interesting!

Originally Posted by Knowlesy

A great shame to see the Ducati's struggling.

Do you mean that?

[Gerben24]

Lorenzo was most impressive during long runs, but that was also the case in Jerez.

It's wet in warm up.

I dont know if its going to be interesting race... (its usually not when its wet).

[ozrevhead]

Casey was fastest in morning practice - ducati struggling may not be as long as most would hope!

[chunder]

I think Jorge will struggle with arm pump, rumour is it is so bad he is having an op straight after the race today.

For me it will be Pedrosa again, sadly for the sport!! Dullest man in motorsport!

[Pro Racer]

fingers crossed Casey can get the Duc moving.

i think Rossi would be kicking himself that he switched to Bridgeys, Hore Hey seems to be doing better on the Michelins.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by jhansen

Do you mean that?

[Knowlesy]

Hmmm....

If Rossi had displayed a bit of patience with Michelin (they were always going to hit back) he'd be walking this championship.

I fear a year of Pedrobot and Lorenzo Land woefulness!

Congrats to Jorge!

Casey who?