Moto GP, 250 & 125 - 2009

[Rod Richardson]

First test coming up in Malaysia 5 February. I've seen differing scheduled test dates from then on.

I cannot see the logic in there being so many race date clashes between Moto GP and WSBK which means that we TV viewers are in for some late night viewing and bleary-eyed Mondays as well as arguments with the partner over possession of the remote control............C'est la vie!

With the new tyre rule contributing to a more level playing field, I expect the 5 favoured front-runners (Rossi/Stoner/Pedrosa/Lorenzo/Hayden) to get a bit of curry from Capirossi and Vermeulen and possibly Edwards. (crikey....that's about half the field accounted for)

The 250's are going to be interesting and produce some great tussles. I would again expect Ronald McDonald lookalike Simoncelli to be the one to beat.

The 125's are also expected to produce the usual great racing and who knows what the outcome is likely to be. My guess is that young Brad Smith and Scott Redding will be well up in the rankings as the year progresses. Have they started shaving yet?

[maxu05]

The clashes with dates shouldn't be too much of a problem for me this year. I have just had Foxtel installed. The IQ system means that I can record it and watch it at a more convenient time. I can record up to 3 programs and watch another program live at the same time.
The new tyre rule should make things more interesting. It should level out the field, though, I would expect the former Michelin runners to take a few races to adapt, despite the preseason tests. I don't think any rider will totally dominate this year, though, the Rossi factor will remain.
Should be good though, can't wait for it to start.

[NinjaMaster]

Despite MotoGP's lack of numbers on the grid, (I'm more in favour of quality over quantity anyway) I think this year is really shaping up as a cracker. I don't expect the single tire rule to really have much effect. The same factory Honda/Yamaha/Ducati riders will be consistently at the front with the Zooks and privateers having the odd challenging result but ultimately making up the numbers.
The 250 class should again be led by Simoncelli and Bautista but I expect Mattia Pasini, Hector Barbera and Thomas Luthi to all be stronger this year. Gabor Talmacsi and Mike di Meglio are real wildcards as to how they will perform on the bigger bikes.
125 is completely unpredicatable. Will we see the continued emergence of youngsters like Espargaro, Redding or Terol (amongst others) step up the the plate to take the title or will it be one of the more established riders finally hit their straps and fulfill their potential Mike di Meglio style.

All in all, despite the troubles the series has seen in recent times, there is still plenty to be positive about for 2009.

[Rod Richardson]

Moto Gp Sepang Final Test 3
Stoner 2.01.043
Rossi
Capirossi
Edwards
Elias
Vermeulen
Lorenzo
Dovizioso
Kallio
Hayden
De Angelis
Gibernau
De Puniet
Canepa
Toseland 2.04.614

[Ranger]

I have to admit I thought Hayden would've got to within a second of Stoner at some point this week considering Casey's wrist injury.

Hopefully he won't have a Melandri-esque 2009.

[The Phantom]

I have to admit I thought Hayden would've got to within a second of Stoner at some point this week considering Casey's wrist injury.

Hopefully he won't have a Melandri-esque 2009.

He's not even the second fastest Duc... not good.

I expected more from Gibernau too, given his previous experience and relatively successful results with the Ducati. Maybe it's become even more of a demon due to Stoner's development - even Canepa is struggling with it.

It's a scary proposition - take a rider whose modus operandi is to simply wrings every ounce of performance possible from his bike, and put him on a monster of a bike whose manufacturer is happy to just keep shovelling on the coal as fast as they can... not only a nightmare for competing manufacturers, but his own team-mates are also left in the dust.

I really really really would like to see how Rossi would go on the Ducati, the way things are going Ducati will eventually have no choice but to either run a single factory rider, or lure Rossi away from Yamaha?

[The Phantom]

I have to say that Hayden looks like he's going pretty damn hard... thought it was Stoner at first glance.

http://www.mcnews.com.au/MotorcycleRacing2009/MotoGP/Test_Feb_Sepang/Gallery_A/images/Hayden_09SepT_1623_AN.jpg

He does look good. I really hope the guy has a good year, he's earned it.

[Rod Richardson]

MotoGP Official Night Test at Losail, Qatar

Session 2 - 02/03/09

1Casey StonerAUS1:57.139--37
2Valentino RossiITA1:57.747+0.608+0.60851
3Colin EdwardsUSA1:57.817+0.070+0.67841
4Andrea DoviziosoITA1:57.879+0.062+0.74060
5Chris VermeulenAUS1:58.018+0.139+0.87924
6Loris CapirossiITA1:58.264+0.246+1.12542
7Jorge LorenzoSPA1:58.400+0.136+1.26163
8Alex De AngelisRSM1:58.441+0.041+1.30253
9Nicky HaydenUSA1:58.577+0.136+1.43854
10Dani PedrosaSPA1:58.619+0.042+1.48028
11Randy De PunietFRA1:58.936+0.317+1.79755
12Toni EliasSPA1:59.036+0.100+1.89756
13Yuki TakahashiJPN1:59.153+0.117+2.01465
14Marco MelandriITA1:59.195+0.042+2.05663
15Niccolo CanepaITA1:59.266+0.071+2.12736
16Mika KallioFIN1:59.764+0.498+2.62548 1
7James ToselandGBR2:00.234+0.470+3.09551

Session 1 - 01/03/09

1Nicky HaydenUSA2:00.717--31
2Marco MelandriITA2:00.867+0.150+0.15035
3Mika KallioFIN2:01.020+0.153+0.30329
4Alex De AngelisRSM2:01.074+0.054+0.35715
5Niccolo CanepaITA2:01.328+0.254+0.61126
6Chris VermeulenAUS2:01.843+0.515+1.1266
7Yuki TakahashiJPN2:03.221+1.378+2.50418
8Andrea DoviziosoITA2:03.233+0.012+2.51615
9James ToselandGBR2:03.417+0.184+2.7007
10Randy De PunietFRA2:03.580+0.163+2.86318
1Colin EdwardsUSA2:03.652+0.072+2.9358
12Toni EliasSPA2:08.637+4.985+7.9203
13Jorge LorenzoSPA2:24.832+16.195+24.1151
14Valentino RossiITA1:12:31.872+1:10:07.040+1:10:31.1551
15Dani PedrosaSPA-.-----0
16Casey StonerAUS-.-----0
17Loris CapirossiITA-.-----

[Corny]

Dani Pedrosa: The bike came down on top of me
http://pix.crash.net/motorsport/360/PA547620.jpg

And again: Dani is injured

[The Phantom]

Final times from last day (night) of Qatar testing - Hayden on the move:

Pos. Rider Bike Time Fast Lap Total Laps
1 Casey Stoner Ducati 1'55.744 22 31
2 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1'56.733 64 82
3 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1'56.972 30 75
4 Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 1'57.224 70 70
5 Nicky Hayden Ducati 1'57.225 35 53
6 Loris Capirossi Suzuki 1'57.253 21 42
7 Randy de Puniet Honda 1'57.401 44 77
8 Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1'57.449 74 74
9 Colin Edwards Yamaha 1'57.515 22 46
10 Alex de Angelis Honda 1'57.591 57 61
11 Toni Elias Honda 1'57.804 64 66
12 Mika Kallio Ducati 1'57.938 28 54
13 Niccolo Canepa Ducati 1'57.946 16 50
14 Yuki Takahashi Honda 1'58.412 29 29
15 James Toseland Yamaha 1'58.786 35 51
16 Marco Melandri Hayate 1'58.851 73 73

Current lap record held by Casey Stoner, 2008 race, with a lap of 1'55.153