Moto Gp Round 10: Donnington Park

[Allyc85]

Soo whos going? Ive only ever been once (in 2006) and cant wait for sunday with the prospect of another Rossi V Lorenzo shoot out with Pedrosa in the mix as well!

Not sure where im going to watch from yet. We watched from the old hairpin last time which was good as you saw the bikes for a while, but we didnt see much action.

[The Phantom]

I'd love to say "me" :)

Any place I've been to watch bike and car racing, I've found general admission to be ok, but on the times I've paid up and been in a grandstand I've always felt it to be a worthwhile expense, especially if you get one with a Superscreen for replays and between-race info/entertainment.

Can't wait for this race, the Magnificent Four (or 'The Aliens' as Randy dePuniet calls them) should turn on another brilliant show :eek:

[patnicholls]

Yep, I'll be there as ever (2001-present), at the Old Hairpin.

I never think of Donington as a Ducati circuit (I would imagine it's Yamaha-y more than anything else), but Casey's won the last two. However he's struggling with illness recently, so it may be a three-way shoot out between the Yamahas and Dani who of course thumped everyone in 2006 when he won his first big-class race.

Either way, am looking forward to it though it'll be a kind of sad day because as things stand it'll be the last at Donington for some time with things scheduled to move to Silverstone for 2010 onwards.

There's just something about Donington ............I'm always waiting, waiting for it to bite. It dealt very harshly to Nori Haga recently.

[Allyc85]

Nightmare! Just asked mum to print out my ticket as she bought it for me birthday and theres nothing in her email account from Donington, no nned for it so close to the event!

[Allyc85]

Ok thats sorted it, some muppet put .com instead of co.uk on the email address for the tickets...

Anyway still undecided where to watch from, especially as the infield viewing is restricted with the building work about to start. Was thinking of the Foggy esses so we can see the bikes twice on one lap?

[MrJan]

Get there early to get a spot at the T**t-face Esses as there isn't much space and I seem to remember that it was packed when I go there.

We watched on the infield at the old hairpin the year that it hossed down with rain, forgotten anything about the race TBH but Westy was on the Kwaka when it was the darker green.

Anyway no visit for me, got the far more mouthwatering prospect of driving around an airfield in the rain.....although now with twin 40s :D :D :D I'll probably be wet but at least I'll be noisier than usual ;)

[Allyc85]

Yea I remember the foggy esses beng busy last time, and we wont be there till around 8am so i think itl be the exit of the old hairpin unless we can squeeze in.

Practice times from this afternoon.

Pos Rider Bike Time Gap
1. Dani Pedrosa Honda 1m38.627s
2. Casey Stoner Ducati 1m38.872s + 0.245s
3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha 1m38.917s + 0.290s
4. Andrea Dovizioso Honda 1m39.069s + 0.442s
5. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 1m39.105s + 0.478s
6. Marco Melandri Hayate Kawasaki 1m39.130s + 0.503s
7. Mika Kallio Pramac Ducati 1m39.209s + 0.582s
8. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1m39.379s + 0.752s
9. Toni Elias Gresini Honda 1m39.755s + 1.128s
10. Nicky Hayden Ducati 1m40.116s + 1.489s
11. Loris Capirossi Suzuki 1m40.419s + 1.792s
12. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 1m40.522s + 1.895s
13. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Honda 1m40.850s + 2.223s
14. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki 1m41.467s + 2.840s
15. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda 1m41.861s + 3.234s
16. Alex de Angelis Gresini Honda 1m42.210s + 3.583s
17. Niccolo Canepa Pramac Ducati 1m42.696s + 4.069s

Hard to make any conclusions from the times with it being a wet session that dried right at the end, but I think itl be the usual suspects at the front.

Toseland had decent pace when it was full wet but got bumped down towards the end and then ran out of fuel when the track was at its driest!

[Rod Richardson]

125 GRID
1 38 Bradley SMITH (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Bradley+Smith) GBR Aprilia 1'37.442
2 93 Marc MARQUEZ (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Marc+Marquez) SPA KTM + 0.131
3 60 Julian SIMON (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Julian+Simon) SPA Aprilia + 0.307
4 33 Sergio GADEA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Sergio+Gadea) SPA Aprilia + 0.407
5 6 Joan OLIVE (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Joan+Olive) SPA Derbi + 0.432
6 18 Nicolas TEROL (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Nicolas+Terol) SPA Aprilia + 0.547
7 44 Pol ESPARGARO (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Pol+Espargaro) SPA Derbi + 0.675
8 11 Sandro CORTESE (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Sandro+Cortese) GER Derbi 0.925
9 12 Esteve RABAT (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Esteve+Rabat) SPA Aprilia + 1.029
10 29 Andrea IANNONE (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Andrea+Iannone) ITA Aprilia + 1.042
11 45 Scott REDDING (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Scott+Redding) GBR + 1.059
12 24 Simone CORSI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Simone+Corsi) ITA Aprilia 1.059
13 17 Stefan BRADL (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Stefan+Bradl) GER Aprilia +1.113
14 99 Danny WEBB (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Danny+Webb) GBR Aprilia + 1.128
15 94 Jonas FOLGER (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Jonas+Folger) GER Aprilia +1.406
16 7 Efren VAZQUEZ (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Efren+Vazquez) SPA Derbi + 1.437
17 88 Michael RANSEDER (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Michael+Ranseder) AUT + 1.639
18 77 Dominique AEGERTER (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Dominique+Aegerter) SWI Derbi + 1.747
19 71 Tomoyoshi KOYAMA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Tomoyoshi+Koyama) JPN Loncin + 1.924
20 73 Takaaki NAKAGAMI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Takaaki+Nakagami) JPN Aprilia + 1.951
21 35 Randy KRUMMENACHER (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Randy+Krummenacher) SWI Aprilia + 1.959
22 8 Lorenzo ZANETTI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Lorenzo+Zanetti) ITA Aprilia + 1.965
23 14 Johann ZARCO (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Johann+Zarco) FRA Aprilia + 2.091
24 39 Luis SALOM (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Luis+Salom) SPA Aprilia + 2.900
25 53 Jasper IWEMA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Jasper+Iwema) NED Honda + 2.940
26 32 Lorenzo SAVADORI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Lorenzo+Savadori) ITA Aprilia + 3.014
27 16 Cameron BEAUBIER (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Cameron+Beaubier) USA KTM + 3.067
28 5 Alexis MASBOU (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Alexis+Masbou) FRA Loncin + 3.644
29 86 Karel PESEK (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Karel+Pesek) CZE Derbi + 3.687
30 89 James LODGE (http://www.motogp.com/) GBR Honda + 4.129
31 91 Martin GLOSSOP (http://www.motogp.com/) GBR Honda + 4.336
32 69 Lukas SEMBERA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Lukas+Sembera) CZE Aprilia + 4.638
33 87 Luca MARCONI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Luca+Marconi) ITA Aprilia + 4.984
34 90 Timothy HASTINGS (http://www.motogp.com/) GBR Honda + 5.031
35 92 Paul JORDAN (http://www.motogp.com/) IRL Honda + 5.95


250 GRID
1 40 Hector BARBERA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Hector+Barbera) SPA Aprilia 1'31.802
2 58 Marco SIMONCELLI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Marco+Simoncelli) ITA Gilera + 0.092
3 4 Hiroshi AOYAMA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Hiroshi+Aoyama) JPN Honda + 0.253
4 6 Alex DEBON (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Alex+Debon) SPA Aprilia + 0.466
5 63 Mike DI MEGLIO (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Mike+Di+Meglio) FRA Aprilia + 0.841
6 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Alvaro+Bautista) SPA Aprilia + 0.862
7 75 Mattia PASINI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Mattia+Pasini) ITA Team Aprilia + 1.081
8 14 Ratthapark WILAIROT (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Ratthapark+Wilairot) THA Honda + 1.244
9 17 Karel ABRAHAM (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Karel+Abraham) CZE Aprilia + 1.343
10 52 Lukas PESEK (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Lukas+Pesek) CZE Aprilia + 1.401
11 35 Raffaele DE ROSA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Raffaele+de+Rosa) ITA Honda + 1.416
12 12 Thomas LUTHI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Thomas+Luthi) SWI Aprilia + 1.558
13 15 Roberto LOCATELLI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Roberto+Locatelli) ITA Gilera + 1.603
14 55 Hector FAUBEL (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Hector+Faubel) SPA Honda + 1.701
15 16 Jules CLUZEL (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Jules+Cluzel) FRA Aprilia + 1.820
16 25 Alex BALDOLINI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Alex+Baldolini) ITA Aprilia + 1.966
17 48 Shoya TOMIZAWA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Shouya+Tomizawa) JPN Honda + 2.099
18 10 Imre TOTH (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Imre+Toth) HUN Aprilia + 2.859
19 7 Axel PONS (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Axel+Pons) SPA Aprilia + 3.549
20 95 Ralf WALDMANN (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Ralf+Waldmann) GER Aprilia + 3.606
21 53 Valentin DEBISE (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Valentin+Debise) FRA Honda + 3.798
22 11 Balazs NEMETH (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Balazs+Nemeth) HUN Aprilia + 4.400
23 8 Bastien CHESAUX (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/profiles/Bastien+Chesaux) SWI Honda + 4.507
24 64 Luke MOSSEY (http://www.motogp.com/) GBR Aprilia + 5.425


MOTOGP GRID
1 46 Valentino ROSSI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Valentino+Rossi) ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Fiat+Yamaha+Team) Yamaha 1'28.116
2 3 Dani PEDROSA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Dani+Pedrosa) SPA Repsol Honda Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Repsol+Honda+Team) Honda + 0.095
3 99 Jorge LORENZO (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Jorge+Lorenzo) SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Fiat+Yamaha+Team) Yamaha + 0.286
4 27 Casey STONER (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Casey+Stoner) AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Ducati+Marlboro+Team) Ducati +0.330
5 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Andrea+Dovizioso) ITA Repsol Honda Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Repsol+Honda+Team) Honda + 0.662
6 5 Colin EDWARDS (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Colin+Edwards) USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Monster+Yamaha+Tech+3) Yamaha + 0.749
7 33 Marco MELANDRI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Marco+Melandri) ITA Hayate Racing Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Hayate+Racing+Team) Kawasaki + 0.949
8 24 Toni ELIAS (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Toni+Elias) SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/San+Carlo+Honda+Gresini) Honda + 1.059
9 52 James TOSELAND (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/James+Toseland) GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Monster+Yamaha+Tech+3) Yamaha + 1.154
10 14 Randy DE PUNIET (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Randy+de+Puniet) FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/LCR+Honda+MotoGP) Honda + 1.318
11 36 Mika KALLIO (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Mika+Kallio) FIN Pramac Racing (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Pramac+Racing) Ducati + 1.483
12 15 Alex DE ANGELIS (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Alex+de+Angelis) RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/San+Carlo+Honda+Gresini) Honda + 1.484
13 7 Chris VERMEULEN (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Chris+Vermeulen) AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Rizla+Suzuki+MotoGP) Suzuki + 1.982
14 65 Loris CAPIROSSI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Loris+Capirossi) ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Rizla+Suzuki+MotoGP) Suzuki + 2.037
15 69 Nicky HAYDEN (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Nicky+Hayden) USA Ducati Marlboro Team (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Ducati+Marlboro+Team) Ducati + 2.152
16 88 Niccolo CANEPA (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Niccolo+Canepa) ITA Pramac Racing (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Pramac+Racing) Ducati + 2.456
17 41 Gabor TALMACSI (http://www.motogp.com/en/riders/Gabor+Talmacsi) HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP (http://www.motogp.com/en/teams/Scot+Racing+Team+MotoGP) Honda + 3.077

[The Phantom]

Aliens at the front.

I assume Hayden had set-up problems, I know he said the track is very slippery which wouldn't help his confidence.

Edwards will be smug after outqualifying Toseland at his home round. Another blinder from Melandri and Elias is still clearly chasing contracts :)

1'34.28" is the 107% cut-off, based on Rossi's time. Talmacis' 1'31.193 still gives him three full seconds in hand... his qualifying so far has been pretty ordinary, but he's staying aboard and finishing races, and obviously will be learning each and every time he rides. Which round did he join, will he do nine races this year? If so, he will not be a rookie in 2010, and therefore would be eligible for a factory bike :)

[AndyRAC]

What were Ducati playing at? Surely they should have covered both possible scenarios.

[Corny]

Marlboro Ducati, what a fool is the one that has thought this strategy, unbelievable

Rossi can be quit happy considering his crash. He even made his championship lead bigger with his mistake.

Enjoying race, though I was hoping Edwards finally to win a GP. Seems he's just missing that last few metres every time he gets close

[The Phantom]

Well that sure was a weird one.

Hell of a ride from Dovisioso - he pushed hard all the way and saw off all comers including Valentino - regardless of conditions it was a well-deserved win. Brilliant rides from CE and RDP as well, and de Angelis also rode a very good race.

Perpetual Finding Gold In A Bucket Of S%$# Award - Rossi

Not sure what award the factory Duc team deserves... had they pitted in the first five laps they may have finished top ten? but then again you've always gotta go with your first choice... no, hang on - that's when you're ordering a meal. Not racing a bike. When racing a bike it's 'I'll have what he's having, thanks'.

Very weird... at least Lorenzo played along with their clown act, and Stoner only lost 9 points to Rossi and made two up on Lorenzo (hard to believe that the damage was so little given the magnitude of the on-track difference).

Standings:

1 Rossi 187
2 Lorenzo 162
3 Stoner 150
4 Pedrosa 115
5 Edwards 103 (life in the old dog yet!)
6 Dovisiozo 94

Seven rounds to go, still lots of room yet for a challenge on Rossi.

[markabilly]

poor colin, will he ever win a motogp????

[leopard]

Hiroshi performed extremely dominant, showing us that he can do something that averages can't, riders like Bautista let alone Simoncely aren't any better at track with wet at some spots.

Dovisiozo performed constantly giving Rossi pressure, worked out falling him off, only need to keep the rhythm until finish and win the race.

Who said number 4 brings misfortune :eek: :)

[Allyc85]

What a days racing. really enjoyed every race yesterday with so much action and close racing, the moto gp race was so up and down! We ended up watching from the exit of the Foggy esses so could also see the bikes going into the last corner, both corners had loads of overtaking and crashes. The track invasion was great fun, though you could see the riders wernt impressed, taking to the grass and cutting out of the car park section to get back to the pits!

Saw Rossi crash right in front of us, couldnt believe after seeing Lorenzo chuck it down the road at high speed!

Congratualtions to Dovvi on what was a brilliant ride in tricky conditions, pressuring Rossi into his mistake. He certainly showed Danni how its done.

Also a great ride by Edwards, he was nowhere for the first few laps then suddenly just blasted through the field! He was so close to that win, I think De Puniet (who had a bit of a wobble at Foggys) passing him with a couple laps to go just gave Dovvi that gap.

Mad ride by Toseland! Started well, dropped down the field, then back up to fith, dropped down again before finishing 6th after a great battle with Rossi on the last lap.

Aoyama was brilliant in the drying conditions, never seen a ride manage his tyres so well!

And what was going on in the 125s seemed like nobody wanted to win it with a couple of the leaders crashing out. Was gutted when I heard Bradley smith had crashed out as he really needed some solid points at minimum.

[Roby44]

Dovi rode very well..Well done!! I had my money on him!! :)

[Roby44]

Hiroshi performed extremely dominant, showing us that he can do something that averages can't, riders like Bautista let alone Simoncely aren't any better at track with wet at some spots.

Dovisiozo performed constantly giving Rossi pressure, worked out falling him off, only need to keep the rhythm until finish and win the race.

Who said number 4 brings misfortune :eek: :)

#4 has been very unlucky for Dovi especially the last 3 races prior to this one. So maybe he has now used up all his bad luck!!! He said he was a litle worried after Vale fell, because he was following Vale's line!!

Cute and honest!!and a darn good rider!! ;)

[leopard]

#4 has been very unlucky for Dovi especially the last 3 races prior to this one. So maybe he has now used up all his bad luck!!! He said he was a litle worried after Vale fell, because he was following Vale's line!!
You may see without Vale in front of him Dovi tends to be more careful, riding slower so that Edwards and RdP came closer. He got the advantage from following Vale's racing line, relatively free from wet of drying track, it has nothing to do with used up bad luck of running #4 :)



Cute and honest!!and a darn good rider!! ;)
RdP is still better, look carefully :)

[Roby44]

You may see without Vale in front of him Dovi tends to be more careful, riding slower so that Edwards and RdP came closer. He got the advantage from following Vale's racing line, relatively free from wet of drying track, it has nothing to do with used up bad luck of running #4


RdP is still better, look carefully

Randy

http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/MareeBrooks/DSC_0141-1.jpg


Dovi.....


http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/MareeBrooks/1-1.jpg




http://i8.photobucket.com/albums/a20/MareeBrooks/2.jpg

[The Phantom]

Typical, you can't open a motorcycle-related website or magazine these days without seeing topless models... :rolleyes: what about the children? Won't somebody please think about the children! :p :

[leopard]

Randy

Dovi.....


They are motogp riders not stevedores, I think if they went for excessive body builder will make them look funny. :)

[Roby44]

They look ok to me!!

[Allyc85]

A few of my pics.

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0124.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0116.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0118.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0120.jpg

[Allyc85]

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0129.jpg

Love this pic of Dovi giving the thumbs up!

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0131.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0132.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0144.jpg

http://i436.photobucket.com/albums/qq85/Allyc_85/Moto%20GP%2009/DSCF0142.jpg

[Corny]

Good pics! It seems that Donington is a bit oldschool with the crowd going on the track. Did you see how everyone almost pulled Toseland off his bike?

The pictures you made are from real close as I can see.. That can be different on some MotoGP occasions!

Thanks for pics. You should have had a great weekend. BTW also see the Sachsenring's topic for my pics ;) haha

[The Phantom]

Great pics Ally.

RdP is still better, look carefully :)

I'm always looking very carefully at deP. ;)

[Allyc85]

Good pics! It seems that Donington is a bit oldschool with the crowd going on the track. Did you see how everyone almost pulled Toseland off his bike?

The pictures you made are from real close as I can see.. That can be different on some MotoGP occasions!

Thanks for pics. You should have had a great weekend. BTW also see the Sachsenring's topic for my pics ;) haha

Was that on the pit straight as there was a huuge crowd? I was stood under the podium and suddenly someone shouted Toseland and sprinted off. Was stood there trying to decide and in the end stayed, I think I made the right choice as id never have got near him!

Yea we got very close, its so easy to get onto the track at Donington as theres big gaps under the safety fences where you can easily crawl through! It was amazing being so close to the bikes, Dovy actually got very close and in a way I wish I hadnt been taking the pic so I could have watched him by or patted him on the back or something! But then it is one of my favourite pics ive ever taken. Oh and the noise the Ducati makes, even at low revs, stunning and has probably made my hearing twice as bad.

Sadly some people that got onto the track took it too far. One guy tried running into the pitlane but got slammed against the wall by security while I saw another fan fighting with a member of the Suzuki team on the pit wall. Theres no need for it what so ever, I was just so happy to be on the track to be able to applaud a brilliant ride by the top 3 :)

[Corny]

Oh and the noise the Ducati makes, even at low revs, stunning and has probably made my hearing twice as bad.

Indeed that's very, VERY impressive! I've watched MotoGP for 5 days this year, and everytime when the Ducati came past for the first time, it was like WOW what a noise! Absolutely a great, great machine with definitly it's own characters

[MrJan]

Great pics, I always remember that when I went there were people on the track and when I watched the TV coverage back Suzi Perry was going on about how it was such a shame etc. etc. Really pisses me off that when it goes to Italy everyone is lapping it up and talking about how the Italian fans are so passionate when basically they are doing the same thing that the Brits get bad press for.

[pettersolberg29]

Just got back from holiday. Watched the race in a rainy Devon and loved seeing Dovi on the top step. I hope for more of the same soon!

[NinjaMaster]

Well that sure was a weird one.

Hell of a ride from Dovisioso - he pushed hard all the way and saw off all comers including Valentino - regardless of conditions it was a well-deserved win. Brilliant rides from CE and RDP as well, and de Angelis also rode a very good race.

Perpetual Finding Gold In A Bucket Of S%$# Award - Rossi

Not sure what award the factory Duc team deserves... had they pitted in the first five laps they may have finished top ten? but then again you've always gotta go with your first choice... no, hang on - that's when you're ordering a meal. Not racing a bike. When racing a bike it's 'I'll have what he's having, thanks'.

Very weird... at least Lorenzo played along with their clown act, and Stoner only lost 9 points to Rossi and made two up on Lorenzo (hard to believe that the damage was so little given the magnitude of the on-track difference).

Standings:

1 Rossi 187
2 Lorenzo 162
3 Stoner 150
4 Pedrosa 115
5 Edwards 103 (life in the old dog yet!)
6 Dovisiozo 94

Seven rounds to go, still lots of room yet for a challenge on Rossi.

Pretty spot on summation there Phantom. :up:

I was really disappointed Colin couldn't get his first win (as much as Dovi deserved it) as I think it is possibly his last opportunity whereas Andrea should get plenty more. Also, Randy is turning out to be the surprise packet of the season and could strengthen a claim to Hayden's ride in my opinion. Speaking of which, Nicky's gamble was worthwhile despite it not coming off though Stoner's really sums up where he is at the moment. Unless some rest over the break sees Casey's illness heal up, he clearly only feels he can win through some luck coming his way through similar gambles and unless he gets fit again then I can only see a 2-horse race to the title.

[NinjaMaster]

Great pics, I always remember that when I went there were people on the track and when I watched the TV coverage back Suzi Perry was going on about how it was such a shame etc. etc. Really pisses me off that when it goes to Italy everyone is lapping it up and talking about how the Italian fans are so passionate when basically they are doing the same thing that the Brits get bad press for.

Despite the pics being good, I've always hated track invasions, wherever they are. It robs the riders of being able to celebrate the race and the public of watching them celebrate (burnouts, wheelies, etc.) as they can only try and pick their way through the throngs to get back to the pits. Some day, someone will get run over or a rider knocked off and hurt. Just hold back and cheer from the stands like the rest of us. :mad:

[Corny]

It robs the riders of being able to celebrate the race and the public of watching them celebrate (burnouts, wheelies, etc.) as they can only try and pick their way through the throngs to get back to the pits.
The new engine rules will also do that!

[MrJan]

Just got back from holiday. Watched the race in a rainy Devon and loved seeing Dovi on the top step. I hope for more of the same soon!

As we say down here, "Come to sunny Devon, where it rains 6 days in seven" :D

[patnicholls]

Just realised I hadn't posted any thoughts on Donington's action despite having been there...I was at the opposite side from AllyC at the Old Hairpin, and due to the dampness there was a lot more passing there than usual!

Three quite weird races as you all know, and a suitable send-off for MotoGP at Donington if that does turn out to be the end for now (as things stand, we're scheduled to be at Silverstone next year but this may change with all the F1 shenanigans).

The 125s was of course spoilt a bit by the rain interuption but then the five-lap shootout was pretty exciting nonetheless. Gutting for Bradley of course but in the rain you'll always fancy Julian Simon for the win (he won here in 2005 on a KTM) and he really took advantage with the other championship runners all on the floor. Nice to also see a few shocks in the final reckoning like Takaaki Nakagami in 5th, Luis Salom in 6th and Lorenzo Zanetti in 7th, along with welcome returns to the top end of the results for Simone Corsi and Scott Redding.

The 250s wasn't the most exciting wheel-to-wheeler ever, but was a masterclass in control from both Hiroshi and Alvaro Bautista who performed wonders on their wet tyres on an almost completely dry track. It was also bizarre to see the guys who changed to dry tyres part-way through charging past even though they were well down overall (Alex Baldolini set fastest lap, but finished 16th and didn't feature in the TV coverage at all).

And the big boys...something of a cracker also. I'm pleased to see Dovi get his first big-class win, although if it hadn't been for a shocking start it'd have been Colin taking the spoils after a very strong charge through in the second half (I think this was down to changing settings pre-race and taking time to get used to them to be fair - possibly changing settings for damp conditions which ultimately helped him). The drunken part of the crowd I think thought it was Toseland coming through, so they had a mixture of disappointment and then being pleased that he was 6th in the end. Of course, the big story was the Ducati tyre gamble - it failed spectacularly in the end but I tell you what, it wasn't far off working! If it'd rained a bit harder a bit earlier, it'd have been a masterstroke (it did rain throughout, and got heavier) but the tyres were chewed up in the first couple of laps - the Ducatis literally set their fastest laps on lap two of 30, everyone else did so later.

Anyway, an eventful day!

I think soon I'm going to do a round-up of my nine years attending MotoGP at Donington as a piece, since it's been a while since I've done one...

[patnicholls]

Great pics, I always remember that when I went there were people on the track and when I watched the TV coverage back Suzi Perry was going on about how it was such a shame etc. etc. Really pisses me off that when it goes to Italy everyone is lapping it up and talking about how the Italian fans are so passionate when basically they are doing the same thing that the Brits get bad press for.

For me it's a question of timing.

Last year or so, the fans broke out from where I was as soon as they saw Casey and Valentino go past us on the last lap (a third/half-way round) and they were literally almost in the way of the guys at the bottom of the top ten who were still racing, which is not on. In fact, yep I agree with Clint - people shouldn't be on the track on the slow-down lap. Once they're in the pits it's then fine for the crowd to come out onto the track to celebrate the podium with the riders. That's how they do it in Italy particularly (when you watch F1 at Monza, the crowd aren't on the main straight whilst the cars are on track, and it shouldn't be different for bikes). You do get the ODD guy with the appropriate flag to give to the podium men, but as I understand it that's pre-planned in most instances so the rider will pick up a flag from a fan club member.

[MrJan]

I don't actually like seeing anyone on the track, I just find it a bit annoying when the Brits are classed as hooligans and the Italians as passionate. I don't really see the point of being on the track (even though Ally got some mint photos from doing it)

When Exeter got promoted in May I got caught up in the moment and ended up on the pitch, at which point I realised that I didn't really know what I was doing. Due to being pretty much drunk on excitement I wandered about like a lost child until I found my brother (who looked equally lost). I'm fairly sure that I'd feel equally lost and a whole lot more scared during a track invasion :laugh: