MotoGP News - Motegi Results

This is what MotoGP racing is all about! What a fantastic showing by the Kings... hard-core, exciting racing. I decided not to run a spoiler on this race - only because it deserved to be watched first hand. If you watched it, I'm sure you'd agree - and, you're welcome :)

Yuki Takahashi bulldozed Nicky Hayden on the first lap... tragic!!! It was a rookie mistake by Takahashi, and Nicky took a righteous hit. He suffered a concusion and both were (obviously) out for the rest of the race. Colin Edwards' crew spent the race in "Time Out" after incorrectly mapping the bike.... oops. He ended up claiming the 12th spot at race end.

Honda!! There you are! After some initially dismal performances, the Honda paddocks have returned to the boards - two in the top 5, led by Dani Pedrosa who turned in a brilliant performance earning himself a well-deserved podium spot. Andrea Dovizioso pulled off a 5th place finish - solid display of skills.

Casey Stoner - out of the top three!?!? It boiled down to a problem with the front brakes - a setback that may have seen a lesser rider out of the top ten or retiring from the race all together, but Stoner soldiered on and pulled off an impressive 4th place finish.

Jorge Lorenzo.... WOW! He was on fire! He turned in an absolutely flawless performance and helped to make this one of the most exciting races we've seen in a long time. He and teammate Valentino Rossi held on to the top two spots for Fiat Yamaha. Good luck pulling this guy into the Repsol camp, Honda. There's no doubt that if he keeps on turning out races "Motegi Style", Fiat is not going to be willing to part with him.

Of course, I have to mention Marco Melandri and Hayate Racing. He finished a strong 6th with glimpses of the podium along the way. Good things will come to him - and so it is written :) I also have to throw in Mika - he finished a very respectable 8th this weekend - seriously, keep your eye on this kid.

One more thing.... John Hopkins, former Rizla Suzuki rider, turned World Superbike Stiggy Racing jockey, suffered a wicked high side in his Assen practice session this past weekend. He sustained a dislocated hip as a result (ouch!!). Here's wishing you a quick and flawless recovery Hopper!!

Okay, that'll do it for this round of crap-spewing by Kristen.... here are the results of Motegi. The Gathering of the Bullets will continue this weekend in Jerez

1	J. Lorenzo	Yamaha
2	V. Rossi	Yamaha
3	D. Pedrosa	Honda
4	C. Stoner	Ducati
5	A. Dovizioso	Honda
6	M. Melandri	Kawasaki
7	L. Capirossi	Suzuki
8	M. Kallio	Ducati
9	J. Toseland	Yamaha
10	C. Vermeulen	Suzuki
11	R. De Puniet	Honda
12	C. Edwards	Yamaha
13	A. de Angelis	Honda
14	N. Canepa	Ducati
15	T. Elias	Honda

Until next time....

Rubb'er Down

Kristen

MotoGP News - Motegi FP1 and a dirty rumor

I entertained myself in the wee hours of the morning this morning by watching the Kings zip around the Twin Rings for their first free practice. I know what you're thinking.... "Kristen, how do you do it? With your schedule rivaling that of the social elite.... where do you find the time?" It's just one of those sacrifices that are made for the love of the sport - the good of the regime, if you will. But I digress... (mostly because we all know that I only do it because I am that much of a dork).

I love the airing of the FP's!! This morning was no disappointment. Casey Stoner lit out of the paddock and laid down some unbelievable lap times. Each time he tripped the lights he was a little faster - as was Rossi. Stoner made a few mistakes which were evident in his wide turns and one trip to the gravel pit. That's what FP is for though. Jorge Lorenzo snuck in to the top 3 by the end of the 45 minute play-date. He was definitely on his game - solid riding indeed. The top 5 was rounded out by Chris Vermeulen and Colin Edwards.... nice to see them back at the top of the time sheets.

Surprisingly absent from the leaderboard was Honda. The best showing from them was Dovizioso who struggled into 7th - the closest runner-up was Toni Elias, in 9th. What's happening Honda? For years they have been one of the top rides in the paddock. It appears lately that they are slipping, while Suzuki has rifled up the boards, keeping company with the Yams and Ducs.

Marco Melandri did a splendid job with his Kaw finishing up in the top 10 (eighth) - I can't help but to smile for him after all the crap he's been through. Dani Pedrosa - well, Dani, I understand there are still some unhealed wounds there - further aggravated by your little brush with de Angelis in Qatar, so we'll consider 11th a small victory. Nicky, your still riding with stitches in your chest after your righteous bin in Qatar, so there's your free pass for your 12th place spot. Even though you seem to be struggling with your Duc (holy typo!! If not for the backspace key and proofreading that little statement could have been a disaster!).

Mika Kallio - I like this kid!! - wiped out hard during practice. The camera didn't catch the entire episode, but it was a wicked high side, and almost looked as if his legs got tangled in the wheel. He refused the stretcher and walked (limped) off on his own and was back on track by the end of practice... scuffed leathers and all. There is a certain quiet confidence about Mika that I like. I'm keeping my eye on him this season.

James Toseland just eeked into the top ten aboard his Monster Tech3 machine. I have not followed James' career up until he made his appearance in MotoGP, so this is purely off-the-cuff (in other words, no throwing rotten fruit) but his riding style appears to be a bit scattered. He is very twitchy on the bike - almost like high-speed ADD.

As for the rumor, it was whispered that Repsol is winking at Jorge Lorenzo from a dark corner, looking to him as a possible replacement for Dani Pedrosa. I personally think that Jorge has a pretty solid seat and a world of opportunity with Fiat Yamaha (even with the pit wall in place). Who knows? The "Shifting of the Contracts" is just another one of those things that keeps this sport interesting.

Okay, enough of my yammering.... below are the results of FP1. I will once again shift my chaotic social schedule around so that I can feast my eyes upon qualifying around 1 tomorrow morning. I just made me laugh.

1	V. Rossi	Yamaha
2	C. Stoner	Ducati
3	J. Lorenzo	Yamaha
4	C. Vermeulen	Suzuki
5	C. Edwards	Yamaha
6	L. Capirossi	Suzuki
7	A. Dovizioso	Honda
8	M. Melandri	Kawasaki
9	T. Elias	Honda
10	J. Toseland	Yamaha
11	D. Pedrosa	Honda
12	N. Hayden	Ducati
13	Y. Takahashi	Honda
14	S. Gibernau	Ducati
15	A. de Angelis	Honda
16	R. De Puniet	Honda
17	M. Kallio	Ducati
18	N. Canepa	Ducati

Until next time....

Rubb'er Down

Kristen

MotoGP News - Qatar results

The first MotoGP race of the 2009 season in Qatar is now history. It was a good race, not a great race. Casey Stoner rode a brilliant race from grid to flag. He was never even challenged by Rossi, who finished second - over 7 seconds off Casey's pace. Another 3+ seconds behind Rossi, his teammate, Jorge Lorenzo crossed the line in 3rd.

Marco Melandri, riding for team Hayate was well into the action until he ran wide and off the track. He caught up to the tailers of the race, and claimed a few positions before the end of the race. James Toseland was a victim of the same mistake, running wide and taking an unplanned agricultural excursion, but he stayed astride and finished as well - although out of the points. The only rider to crash out was Loris Capirossi who suffered a spectacular low side mid-race.

Dani Pedrosa, who is still healing from his winter surgery on his left knee, was nailed by Alex DeAngelis during a corner pass. He clung to his bike like a champion, recovered his composure, banged his lever back into place and finished his race like a true professional. Obviously spooked by the close call, and most likely re-injured from the concussion that pinched his injured leg between the two bikes, Pedrosa was overtaken several more times, finishing just ahead of his former teammate, Nicky Hayden, 11th and 12th respectively.

DeAngelis made his way to 6th before the crossing the finish line, Dovizioso landed 5th, and Colin Edwards, who rode an absolutely solid, clean race on his Monster sponsored Yamaha (which, I might add, is sporting a rockin' paint scheme this year!) finished 4th.

All in all, a good race, worth the extra 22 hour wait. It can only get better from here!! 13 days from today, the boys will hammer out the Twin Rings of Motegi. Here are the finalized results from Race one in Qatar:

1	C. Stoner	Ducati
2	V. Rossi	Yamaha
3	J. Lorenzo	Yamaha
4	C. Edwards	Yamaha
5	A. Dovizioso	Honda
6	A. De Angelis	Honda
7	C. Vermeulen	Suzuki
8	M. Kallio	Ducati
9	T. Elias	Honda
10	R. De Puniet	Honda
11	D. Pedrosa	Honda
12	N. Hayden	Ducati
13	S. Gibernau	Ducati
14	M. Melandri	Kawasaki
15	Y. Takahashi	Honda

Until next time....

Rubb'er Down

Kristen

Qatar Canceled

The first race of the 2009 season in Qatar has been canceled due to weather conditions. The 125 class ran only 4 laps before it was red flagged for rain. The result was a half-point race. 45 minutes later, the kings of MotoGP were on the grid, 2 minutes from starting the first race of the season, and the rains came. Qatar is in the middle of the desert, where it rains only 4 or 5 days a year. The races there are run under the lights in order to escape the extreme desert heat of the day. Because of the primarily dry conditions, there is no drainage on the track. On top of that, the lights that are required for the racers to run at night, reflect on the wet track and create a white-out effect. So, ultimately, it was an impossible race to run.

Nicky Hayden, who was injured yesterday during qualifying, did show up for the race, appeared relieved, as did Dani Pedrosa, who is still healing from his winter-break surgeries on his knee.

As it stands now, the officials are discussing possibly running the race tomorrow. This is posing a problem with riders and team members who have flights booked to leave Qatar tomorrow and head for Japan for race 2. Updates will be posted as they become available.

Until next time ....

Rubb'er Down :)

Kristen

MotoGP News - Rough Day for Dani and Nicky

Qualifying proved interesting indeed yesterday. The end result found Casey Stoner and his Ducati Marlboro machine taking pole, followed closely by Valentino Rossi aboard his Fiat Yamaha beast. The top three was rounded off by Vale's teammate, Spaniard, Jorge Lorenzo. The second row starters will be Loris Capriossi, dropping the hammer for Rizla Suzuki, Colin Edwards, piloting the newly sponsored Monster Yamaha (Tech 3) and Randy dePuniet on his as-of-yet-unrashed LCR Honda, sponsored by Playboy.

Repsol Honda's anchor rider, Dani Pedrosa, struggled through qualifying, landing in 14th. Dani is still healing from the surgeries he had over the winter break. His knee is not 100% healed, and it showed. Nicky Hayden was not entirely on his game. As he tried to wrestle his Duc into submission towards the end of the QP session, he had a horrific high speed high-side. He was carted off track on a stretcher and is undergoing a round of x-rays due to the extreme back pain he is experiencing. His participation in the premier race this afternoon has not yet been decided.

Until next time ....

Rubb'er Down :)