Does it Matar at Qatar? MotoGP Rnd 1

[Hazza]

THIS IS IT! The most anticipated two wheel debut of the year.

As they say in that silly MotoGP add


ARE you Read-y?

[jhansen]

Are you ready boots? Heck yeah!

Lots of questions will be answered. Bring it!

[SALEEN S7R]

Indeed a lot of questions should be answered. Im really looking forward to see if Pedrosa can up his game a little now after the Jerez test to take the fight to Rossi.

[Gerben24]

Originally Posted by jhansen

Lots of questions will be answered.

First answer:

Title sponsor for the factory Yamaha team will be Fiat.

http://www.crash.net/news_View~cid~6~id~144089.htm

[BootsOntheSide]

Did Rossi break a contract to go to Ferrari then?

Should be a great season - Yamaha, Suzuki and Ducati should all take the fight to Honda. Pedrosa and Melandri might take the Honda fight to Hayden as well. A shame for many Tenthers that we've got a second successive season of a sole British rider on a backmarking team, but maybe Toseland or Smith will change that for 2008?

[f1manoz]

I would like to see this is one of the most open in years with the new regulations for 2007, but I think Honda and Rossi will be the ones up front like usual. Although I'm expecting a lot from Ducati this year. They have been impressive during testing and hopefully can carry that form into the season proper.

[Knowlesy]

It will be Rossi and Pedrosa on their own and I'd have to favour Rossi's experience in the overall battle.

I do hope Capirossi has a chance.

[jhansen]

Yeah, Pedrobot is the only Honda rider I'm giving any chance right now. Honda are definitely behind him. Plus, he's so small that Honda's lack of power doesn't have much effect on him. Rossi vs. Pedrobot for the title with Rossi taking it. Suzuki and Ducati will pick up the scraps. Maybe one of the other Honda riders will bag a win later in the season after some bike development.

[Hazza]

Originally Posted by BootsOntheSide

Did Rossi break a contract to go to Ferrari then?

Not sure if this is the question that you are asking:
Fiat owns Ferrari.

But Toyota owns a controlling steak in Yamaha afaik.

Interesting.

[Knowlesy]

Originally Posted by Hazza

But Toyota owns a controlling steak in Yamaha afaik.

Mmmm....sounds tasty.

[chunder]

Think to be honest Vale will clean up completely this year, the bike has been incredible in resting and the Honda's have only been where they want to be and that is Pedrosa fast and the rest nowhere including their world champion!

Point of intrerets after earlier comments about Dorna biting the hand that feeds, they are charging 6 Euris for footage from the weekend and 60 Euros for the year.
Plus if you want Hi resolution uts anotehr 50 Euros! Thats the price of a weekend ticket at Donington, its insanity, greedy Spanish pigs!

[Hazza]

Hasn't it been allways like that? Or was it a little bit less?

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by chunder

Think to be honest Vale will clean up completely this year, the bike has been incredible in resting and the Honda's have only been where they want to be and that is Pedrosa fast and the rest nowhere including their world champion!

Have to agree. I'm expecting a dominating win from Rossi.

[Davhut]

I'm ready for more Rossi!

[Gerben24]

If there's going to be weekends like China and Donington 2006, where the robot dwarf was fast out of the box, Rossi won't run away with it. As Pedrosa will disappear from the start and Rossi will be to busy making up for the places he lost at the start.

But in a head to head battle I have never seen Pedrobot being very strong, so you would be inclined to give the trophy to Rossi.

In the end I think it's going to be a fight between Rossi and Dani. As Dani is the only one so far thats been able to handle the new minibike from Honda.

It also seems that Michelin has made a big step with their new front tire. I think they are only going to use the 16 inch front tyre now, instead of the 16.5 (which is weird, as Rossi never liked that tyre (but then again, I could be wrong)). From the preseason testing it has seemed that Michelin has made a bigger gain than the Bridgestones. My impression was that de Puniet was the fastest bridge runner, especially on one lap.

Anyway, I'm ready for the new season. Let there be a dry race at Mugello with a classic fight between the Italians

[Gerben24]

1st Free practice times from Crash.net:

1. Colin Edwards USA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 1min 56.665 secs
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 56.745 secs
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Factory Yamaha Team (M) 1min 56.787 secs
4. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 57.095 secs
5. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 57.270 secs
6. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 57.281 secs
7. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 57.443 secs
8. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 57.491 secs
9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 57.705 secs
10. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 58.021 secs
11. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 58.238 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 58.262 secs
13. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 58.315 secs
14. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 58.559 secs
15. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 58.774 secs
16. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 58.924 secs
17. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 59.598 secs
18. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 59.679 secs
19. Andrew Pitt AUS Ilmor GP (M) 2min 0.587 secs
20. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 2min 1.495 secs
21. Jeremy McWilliams GBR Ilmor GP (M) 2min 1.767 secs


Qatar Test – 16/02/2007 (800cc):
Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 55.471secs

[Hazza]

Comeone Guys, you can't still deny THE COLIN. Or the Casey.

[sizzle]

Originally Posted by Hazza

Comeone Guys, you can't still deny THE COLIN. Or the Casey.

Just as long as Casey doesn't do to much of your avatar Hazza

[Hazza]

That is entirely possible.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by Hazza

Comeone Guys, you can't still deny THE COLIN. Or the Casey.

Except that Rossi is better. Edwards cannot beat Rossi on the same bike. Rossi knows it, and so does Edwards.

[jhansen]

Afternoon session:

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2007/Mar/070308a.htm

1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha M1 1:56.464
2 Colin Edwards Yamaha M1 1:56.779
3 Casey Stoner Ducati GP7 1:56.839
4 John Hopkins Suzuki GSV-R800 1:56.972
5 Carlos Checa Honda RC212V 1:56.981
6 Dani Pedrosa Honda RC212V 1:56.990
7 Marco Melandri Honda RC212V 1:57.112
8 Loris Capirossi Ducati GP7 1:57.247
9 Toni Elias Honda RC212V 1:57.382
10 Shinya Nakano Honda RC212V 1:57.574
11 Alex Barros Ducati GP7 1:57.620
12 Chris Vermeulen Suzuki GSV-R800 1:57.636
13 Randy De Puniet Kawasaki 1:57.686
14 Kenny Roberts Jr KR212V 1:57.738
15 Nicky Hayden Honda RC212V 1:57.922
16 Alex Hofmann Ducati GP7 1:58.206
17 Olivier Jacque Kawasaki 1:58.523
18 Sylvain Guintoli Yamaha M1 1:58.720
19 Andrew Pitt Ilmor X3 1:59.930
20 Jeremy McWilliams Ilmor X3 2:00.125
21 Makoto Tamada Yamaha M1 2:00.188.

[rustyfan]

So.. what's up with Hayden?

Also, I agree completely with those thinking Rossi will dominate this year and losing out last season has probably made him extremely motivated as well.

[jhansen]

Originally Posted by rustyfan

So.. what's up with Hayden?

Not sure, but he didn't exactly leave the Qatar test on good terms.

[f1manoz]

Yamaha's already look in ominous form. Suzuki and Ducati are already impressing, but the Honda's... wow! Usually they are always quickest out of the box, but not this time...

[Knowlesy]

Oh dear, this looks ominous....

Still, Pedrosa could be in with a shout later in the weekend.