MotoGP 2008 - Donington

[patnicholls]

Let's have a Donington thread since the action's already under way...

The surprises in the big class are Jorge struggling (presumably still hurting from his Catalunya crash) and the Gresini riders further up the timesheets than usual, which is nice to see.

I'm off to Donington tomorrow - as I have been every year from 2001 onwards. Rain is forecast!

[maxu05]

Have a good time Pat and don't forget to pack the Wellies :)

[Wim_Impreza]

Enjoy the qualifying sessions, the warm-up and off course the races, Pat.

Hopefully we will see the same weather conditions as last year in Donington.

[maxu05]

Casey is looking good so far, he would have to be my pick so far, but, the Rossi factor must also come into play. I am surprised, (and happy), that Shinya is making ground, I just hope he can Qualify in a decent position. Great to see that Ant is not the tail end Charlie, I hope he can get a better grid position and have a good race, he needs it. I think this race will shake things up as far as the championship goes, and some unlikely suspects might upset the favourites. Can't wait for the race tomorrow.

[NinjaMaster]

Day 1 times:

Free Practice Two

1 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'28.253
2 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 0.576
3 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.656
4 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 0.716
5 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.739
6 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 0.954
7 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.954
8 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.088
9 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.157
10 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 1.180
11 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.188
12 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.413
13 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 1.469
14 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 1.603
15 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 2.015
16 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 2.037
17 B. SPIES USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 2.513
18 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 2.678


Thus far Stoner has beaten the competition to a bloody pulp at Donington. However, rain is forecast for Saturday so we will see what happens. Lorenzo's crashes appear to finally have caught up with him and he is struggling. Maybe wet conditions will help him. And the long awaited positive step forward for Ant West appears to have happened after his recent testing in Japan, finishing 12th fastest.

125 and 250 1st qualifying - and remember, if Satyrday is wet, these will be Sundays grids:

125cc First Qualifying

1 Simone CORSI ITA Jack & Jones WRB Aprilia 1'37.488 208.549
2 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia 1'37.520 205.410 0.032
3 Sergio GADEA SPA Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia 1'37.649 209.970 0.161
4 Scott REDDING GBR Blusens Aprilia Junior Aprilia 1'37.766 203.433 0.278
5 Pol ESPARGARO SPA Belson Derbi Derbi 1'37.949 203.587 0.461
6 Andrea IANNONE ITA I.C. Team Aprilia 1'37.950 204.281 0.462
7 Nicolas TEROL SPA Jack & Jones WRB Aprilia 1'38.034 207.665 0.546
8 Marc MARQUEZ SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 1'38.044 206.591 0.556
9 Pablo NIETO SPA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 1'38.104 202.099 0.616
10 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA JPN ISPA KTM Aran KTM 1'38.153 202.175 0.665
11 Raffaele DE ROSA ITA Onde 2000 KTM KTM 1'38.186 200.074 0.698
12 Bradley SMITH GBR Polaris World Aprilia 1'38.347 204.708 0.859
13 Esteve RABAT SPA Repsol KTM 125cc KTM 1'38.355 203.433 0.867
14 Danny WEBB GBR Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 1'38.473 201.645 0.985
15 Joan OLIVE SPA Belson Derbi Derbi 1'38.554 201.457 1.066
16 Stevie BONSEY USA Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 1'38.606 203.510 1.118
17 Sandro CORTESE GER Emmi - Caffe Latte Aprilia 1'38.724 205.215 1.236
18 Stefan BRADL GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing Aprilia 1'38.775 208.186 1.287
19 Randy KRUMMENACHER SWI Red Bull KTM 125 KTM 1'38.856 202.061 1.368
20 Michael RANSEDER AUT I.C. Team Aprilia 1'38.916 204.436 1.428
21 Mike DI MEGLIO FRA Ajo Motorsport Derbi 1'38.938 200.260 1.450
22 Takaaki NAKAGAMI JPN I.C. Team Aprilia 1'39.007 202.288 1.519
23 Stefano BIANCO ITA S3+ WTR San Marino Team Aprilia 1'39.037 205.528 1.549
24 Lorenzo ZANETTI ITA ISPA KTM Aran KTM 1'39.386 199.777 1.898
25 Pere TUTUSAUS SPA Bancaja Aspar Team Aprilia 1'39.538 204.165 2.050
26 Jules CLUZEL FRA Loncin Racing Loncin 1'39.760 200.558 2.272
27 Dominique AEGERTER SWI Ajo Motorsport Derbi 1'39.806 201.231 2.318
28 Alexis MASBOU FRA Loncin Racing Loncin 1'39.986 197.943 2.498
29 Hugo VAN DEN BERG NED Degraaf Grand Prix Aprilia 1'40.357 196.859 2.869
30 Robin LASSER GER Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing Aprilia 1'40.525 198.563 3.037
31 Robert MURESAN ROU Grizzly Gas Kiefer Racing Aprilia 1'41.070 200.074 3.582
32 Louis ROSSI FRA FFM Honda GP 125 Honda 1'41.320 197.544 3.832
33 Roberto LACALENDOLA ITA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 1'42.182 199.334 4.694
34 Matthew HOYLE GBR SP 125 Racing/Mackrory Demolition Honda 1'42.316 195.645 4.828
35 Connor BEHAN GBR Connor Behan Racing Honda 1'42.593 189.656 5.105
36 Luke HINTON GBR Buildbase/Knotts Honda 1'42.966 193.711 5.478
37 Lee COSTELLO GBR Vent-Axia Honda 1'43.149 192.604 5.661
38 Paul JORDAN IRL KRP Honda 1'43.227 194.480 5.739


250cc First Qualifying

1 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia 1'31.834 238.013
2 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 1'32.004 233.124 0.170
3 Hector BARBERA SPA Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia 1'32.353 236.810 0.519
4 Thomas LUTHI SWI Emmi - Caffe Latte Aprilia 1'32.835 237.908 1.001
5 Yuki TAKAHASHI JPN JiR Team Scot 250 Honda 1'32.853 236.033 1.019
6 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Red Bull KTM 250 KTM 1'32.983 235.004 1.149
7 Julian SIMON SPA Repsol KTM 250cc KTM 1'33.063 229.648 1.229
8 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Lotus Aprilia Aprilia 1'33.116 233.933 1.282
9 Lukas PESEK CZE Auto Kelly - CP Aprilia 1'33.276 233.124 1.442
10 Fabrizio LAI ITA Campetella Racing Gilera 1'33.281 235.055 1.447
11 Alex DEBON SPA Lotus Aprilia Aprilia 1'33.297 234.595 1.463
12 Mattia PASINI ITA Polaris World Aprilia 1'33.302 235.414 1.468
13 Roberto LOCATELLI ITA Metis Gilera Gilera 1'33.379 233.730 1.545
14 Mika KALLIO FIN Red Bull KTM 250 KTM 1'33.595 233.730 1.761
15 Manuel POGGIALI RSM Campetella Racing Gilera 1'33.660 233.275 1.826
16 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Aprilia 1'33.859 230.828 2.025
17 Hector FAUBEL SPA Mapfre Aspar Team Aprilia 1'33.954 234.136 2.120
18 Ratthapark WILAIROT THA Thai Honda PTT SAG Honda 1'34.039 233.225 2.205
19 Alex BALDOLINI ITA Matteoni Racing Aprilia 1'34.074 232.922 2.240
20 Eugene LAVERTY IRL Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 1'34.285 228.238 2.451
21 Imre TOTH HUN Team Toth Aprilia Aprilia 1'35.571 231.572 3.737
22 Russel GOMEZ SPA Blusens Aprilia Aprilia 1'37.081 225.659 5.247
23 Toby MARKHAM GBR BM GroundWorks Yamaha 1'37.675 217.028 5.841
24 Doni Tata PRADITA INA Yamaha Pertamina Indonesia Yamaha 1'38.170 225.187 6.336

[tha_jackal]

Not only is Westy 12th, but he's right next to his teammate.. Which is something he's been sturggling to do this year.. Hope he can keep progressing and put Hopper behind him after QP ;)

[NinjaMaster]

That would be nice though qualifying is definately a weakness for Ant. I'm just hoping for a strong top 10 for him, especially if he can beat his teammate.

[Roby44]

Day of Champions short video..

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/MCN/News/newsresults/videos/2008/june/jun2008-day-of-champions-highlights/?&R=EPI-101206

[Roby44]

Dovizioso makes strides in wet MotoGP Saturday session

Saturday, 21 June 2008
Andrea Dovizioso put himself in the driving seat for this afternoon´s MotoGP qualifying run, recording the fastest wet time of the weekend in the final free practice.

http://resources.motogp.com/files/images/xx/2008/MotoGP/GBR/non/225203_Andrea+Dovizioso+in+action+in+Donington+Mot oGP-1280x960-jun21.jpg.preview.jpg (http://www.motogp.com/en/photos/2008/Andrea+Dovizioso+in+action+in+Donington+MotoGP)

A frantic finale to the third MotoGP free practice session saw Andrea Dovizioso walk away with the fastest time of the Saturday morning run. The JiR Team Scot rider was the only participant unable make improvements in yesterday´s afternoon outing, but was back on form as the soaked Donington track threw up a new challenge for the riders.
Dovizioso´s quickest time was a 1´43.957 lap of the British circuit, ahead of another rider whose ability to compete to the fullest was in doubt. Repsol Honda´s Dani Pedrosa had taken a heavy bump in Friday´s second session, but continued unabated on the spring valve engine-supported Repsol Honda RC212V at just 0.038 slower than Dovizioso.
Second factory Honda rider Nicky Hayden once again showed himself to be more suited to the pneumatic valve version of the Japanese factory´s motor, half a second down on his teammate in third and with reason to be optimistic ahead of qualifying.
MotoGP´s `Rain Man´, Anthony West had no complaints about the typically British showers as he gave his best practice performance of the year. The Kawasaki rider has spent the gap between Catalunya and Donington testing in Japan, and seems to have gone some way to addressing his previous rear-grip problems.
After the indignity of finishing below debuting replacement Ben Spies in yesterday´s combined timesheet, Sylvain Guintoli bounced back as the fastest Ducati rider in fifth, ahead of 2007 World Champion Casey Stoner who led the way for most of the session.
Alex de Angelis was once again at the sharp end of the standings, ahead of the Fiat Yamaha duo of Jorge Lorenzo and Valentino Rossi and Spies himself.
Whilst no rider in the top ten took a tumble, there were crashes for five participants as they fell foul of the slippery track. Randy de Puniet, Chris Vermeulen, John Hopkins, Shinya Nakano and home rider James Toseland all had inconsequential falls.

[Corny]

1 Stoner
2 Rossi
3 Pedrosa

my prediction on tomorrow's race:P

[Roby44]

1 Stoner
2 Rossi
3 Pedrosa

my prediction on tomorrow's race:P


What!!! :eek: No..Dovi!!!! ;)

[maxu05]

1) Stoner
2) Rossi
3) Dovi

That's my pick

I'm really looking forward to Donington, always exciting and unpredictable. Stoner, Rossi, Vermeulen, Hayden on the front row. It would be great to see Hayden on the podium - let's see what this new engine is all about. It looks like the rain will be a no-show.

[The Phantom]

Final qualifying (wet):

1 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'38.232
2 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.649
3 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 0.786
4 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 1.038
5 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.369
6 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 1.551
7 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.763
8 B. SPIES USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 2.012
9 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 2.118
10 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 2.185
11 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team + 2.307
12 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 2.363
13 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 2.435
14 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 2.878
15 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 3.147
16 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 3.519
17 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 3.641
18 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 4.701

forecast: Castle Donington Sunday 22/6
Wind
Time Temp Dir Speed Gust Visibility
0700 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/images/symbols/w7.gif 16°C SSW 15 mph 33 mph Very Good
1000 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/images/symbols/w3.gif 16°C SW 23 mph 46 mph Very Good
1300 http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/images/symbols/w3.gif 16°C WSW 24 mph 56 mph Very Good
1600http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/images/symbols/w3.gif 17°C WSW 25 mph 56 mph Very Good
1900http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/images/symbols/w10.gif 16°C WSW 23 mph 48 mph Very Good

[Corny]

It can't be that Casey lets this one slip away.. He's been clearly the fastest on every day so far

[neninja]

Massive congrats to Scott Redding

The 1st British winner of a British GP since Sheene

[tha_jackal]

Here here! Redding was super dooper impressive, great future signs for you poms ;)

[Viktory]

Had an amazing weekend, first MotoGP event for me, very enjoyable. Happy that Kallio won 250.

Just a question about the crazy spectators at the end. They ran out on the track after the top 4-5 riders, so spectators were lining the course when riders came through at race pace, still racing. I thought this was insane. Is it like this at all the race meetings where spectators get to the track for the glory lap (just that they show the leaders on TV)? Very dangerous! and could ruin the riders races.

[Wim_Impreza]

Had an amazing weekend, first MotoGP event for me, very enjoyable. Happy that Kallio won 250.

Just a question about the crazy spectators at the end. They ran out on the track after the top 4-5 riders, so spectators were lining the course when riders came through at race pace, still racing. I thought this was insane. Is it like this at all the race meetings where spectators get to the track for the glory lap (just that they show the leaders on TV)? Very dangerous! and could ruin the riders races.

In Mugello, the spectators do these dangerous things every year. In Assen, it happened some years ago, too.

[Corny]

can it get more boring than this?

BTW, what does Gibernau do when he has beaten Rossi?

[patnicholls]

I'm back from my trip to Donington.

I'll start with the bad - a small minority of idiots who decided to invade the track on the last lap of the MotoGP race (I was at the Old Hairpin, and everyone from Westy downward had to avoid them. Alex de A jumped on the brakes as if to say 'what are these morons doing here?' and he was right). Muppets - putting themselves and the riders at risk. Likewise, those who didn't give Casey credit for what was a very decent performance - he rode well and was a deserved winner. Those who booed/etc. him wanted Valentino to win instead - fair enough but a bit of respect for the competitors wouldn't go amiss especially when they've ridden well. The vast majority of the 89,000 crowd were very good, however.

Anyway, on to the good! :D

I've been to Donington every year since 2001, and this year was my favourite. That includes two Rossi 11th on grid -> win races.

There was a lot of passing in all the races including the main one (the Colin/Dovi/Nicky/Chris/Shinya/Jorge battle was very good, and plenty of chage between the lower guys too). Vale and Dani swapped places a few times - Dani's first real battle with Vale where he's got past I think? - and Casey rode a blinder. Jorge's fight up to 6th from 17th on the grid was also pretty impressive, and Ben Spies gave a good account of himself with 8th in wet quali and a couple of points in the race. Shame for JT - just one of those things.

The 250s was possibly the best 250 race of the season - it went by so quickly and the three-way fight for the lead (with Hector B in there too for most of it) was refreshing in a class often with strung-out action. Mika started 14th on the grid and won, so again he put in a few moves. Marco Simoncelli has now completely proved me wrong [until this season I didn't think he was anything special; I'm wrong] although I feel for Alvaro who was unlucky in that manouvre.

And, the 125s...what can I say?

Marc Marquez on the podium in his sixth ever race - superb (he looks about 8 years old!)
Mike di Meglio - 20th on the grid to second - brilliant. Come of age this year and now title favourite.

Andrea Iannone - very unlucky, led for twenty laps and deserved to finish in the top two today. His best ever dry race by a long way.

But today was all about one guy.

The best performance of his young life. His first win, in his eighth Grand Prix [Rossi took 11, for comparison, when he won at Brno? in 1997]. The youngest ever Grand Prix winner in any class [15 years and 5 1/2 months - previous best was Marco Melandri at 15 years 10 1/2 months at Assen in 1998]. The first Brit to win a race since Jeremy McWilliams at Assen in 2001, the first to win a race at home since Ian McConnachie in June 1986 in the 80cc race at Silverstone [I'm told!] and the first to win a 125cc race in thirty-five years. One of only four home riders to ever stand on the podium of a British Grand Prix held on the mainland [as opposed to the Isle of Man, which used to be part of the GP season].

It was also his first time riding at Donington.

Today was all about Scott Redding rewriting the history books. It was an absolute pleasure to witness. I cried tears of joy.

---------------------

On Saturday afternoon in the rain, I sat watching the utterly irrelevent 250 qualifying sesson (as Friday's times would count for the grid). Just in front of us - a couple of metres of so - was a man in a Blusens team jacket who was timing Russel Gomez with a stopwatch as he came into the Old Hairpin each lap. As I put the recording of today's races on at home this evening, I saw the same man again. He was congratulating Scott on the victory in his role as team manager.

[jim mcglinchey]

[quote="Corny"]can it get more boring than this?

QUOTE]


I know how you feel, unless you're a Stoner or Ducati fan.

Felt embarrassed for JT, and at the end some idiot gave him a flag to parade around as if he'd won something.

If Dani gave up the pursuit of Rossi then he truly does not deserve to be champ. Maybe he had tyre or management issues though.

[Wim_Impreza]

We are now half in the season (8 of 17 MotoGP races) and we have never seen a fight for victory in MotoGP 2008. That is very disappointing. I have again the feeling that Pedrosa was cruising in the last laps and was happy with third...
I don't think he had tyre problems in the last laps.

Good that Stoner won, he really deserves it.

Nice race in 250 cc and congratulations for Redding and Márquez.

Lucky that there is next weekend World Superbikes, that is much more exciting than these boring MotoGP races in 2008. Where was the rain that they expected? I hope to see better races in Assen.

[ChrisS]

Congrats to Scott Redding for winning the 125cc race. Shame Iannone crashed

Simoncelli and Bautista gifted the win to Kallio in 250cc

MotoGP was a parade with Colin Edwards the only rider doing some overtaking. Edwards was lapping as fast as Rossi and Pedrosa but he ruined his race with a bad start.

Rossi was more concerned with finishing ahead of Petrosa than racing Stoner. It seems Melandri gave up. I dont think he will be racing for Ducati much longer.

Toseland needs to concentrate on racing. All the concerts and PR events trying to please the fans got in his head and ruined his race

[T-D]

chris s. jorge lorenzo passed 11 riders to achieve 6th place. don't forget his performance.

[maxu05]

I don't think the race was boring. Stoner, rode a bike that so far, no one else can handle, and left the field behind him. Rossi was taken twice, only to take command of 2nd place. Heehaw, (though I can't stand him), rode incredibly to get 6th place after admitting that he has lost confidence and started from the rear of the grid. We can't expect a race long battle for 1st,2nd,3rd every race, though I would love to see it. WSBK and Motogp are different animals. Bad luck for James, but, everyone can make a stupid mistake, bet he is kicking himself.I am sure we will have a few cracking races before seasons end.

[fatman]

There was nothing boring about any of the three races this weekend. If people find it sooo boring they should just stop watching instead of belly aching.

It was awful seeing James go down, but just awesome to see Scott Redding win. Super happy for Casey as well.

Pedrosa once again comes off not looking like a champion, although he did give it a little bit more of an effort during the middle of the race. At the end it looked like he gave up. I think he's very intimidated by Rossi.

This was the first time I was able to watch all three races on Eurosport and I have to say it was the best coverage and commentary I have seen of a motorcycle race. But then again the best I have to compare it to is SpeedTV which just sucks.

[buddie]

Well his PR shouldnt push him too much. He was there to race not to play a piano. I felt so sorry for him. But at least he didint get a slating which some other British riders get when they are in Motogp on an uncompetative package

[leopard]

The more we see him rides weaker, in contrast with his team mate whose the trend of performance is climbing. The bike doesn't have major problem, Toseland just raises my concern. :)