2011 Laguna Seca MotoGP

[jonny hurlock]

Ben Bostrom in a LCR Honda as a wild card

American Bostrom secures LCR ride for Laguna Seca event - MotoGP news - AUTOSPORT.com (http://www.autosport.com/news/report.php/id/93184)

[Allyc85]

Awesome, hope he kicks Elias's ass! :D

[CaptainRaiden]

Interesting to see Bostrom as a wildcard, highly unlikely though he'd be able to do anything. I don't get why the two support classes, the 125s and the Moto2, don't race here. Anybody know if there's a specific reason for this?

[chunder27]

The reason si that the AMA also race there that weekend and there simply isnt enough room to have all of them (despite the fact half them woould not qualify for a club race anywhere else) and the 2 and 125 paddocks in the paddock.

Laguna are only allowed a few "noisy" days a year and this is the only date AMA can go there.

Bostrom on that bike is a joke, why not Blake Young, JD Beach, Eslick, Herrin, someone young surely! Awful decision

[chac47]

IMO Ben Bostrom being given a ride at Laguna Seca is a good decision but then I'm a fan and it's been a long time since I've seen him race. :D

[CaptainRaiden]

Is that a girl? Is that a transvestite? NO, it's Jorge Lorenzo!

http://photos.motogp.com/2011/07/22/01+jorge+lorenzo,+motogp-2_slideshow.jpg

:laugh:

[themo]

IMO Ben Bostrom being given a ride at Laguna Seca is a good decision but then I'm a fan and it's been a long time since I've seen him race. :D

Gp debut at 37

[NinjaMaster]

Bostrom on that bike is a joke, why not Blake Young, JD Beach, Eslick, Herrin, someone young surely! Awful decision


IMO Ben Bostrom being given a ride at Laguna Seca is a good decision but then I'm a fan and it's been a long time since I've seen him race. :D

I like the slower Ben too Sue but Chunder is right, Bostrom debuting at 37 years old is a complete waste of time. Good luck to him though, it's not his fault he got the opportunity (btw, nice to see you back Sue. How's Christchurch?).

Also, Yamaha continue to be the 'fun' team in MotoGP with all their riders and some past greats playing dress-ups as Raiden showed with Lorenzo. Here they are all together:

http://photos.motogp.com/2011/07/22/01+jorge+lorenzo,+05+colin+edwards,+11+ben+spies,+ 35+cal+crutchlow,+motogp-4_slideshow.jpg

Just of note (and to fuel the rider size debate), check out how short Kenny Snr is compared to the rest of the group. See, short statured riders winning at GP isn't a new thing...

Standing at the end of day 1:
1 1 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 260.6 1'22.056
2 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 263.2 1'22.197 0.141 / 0.141
3 27 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 264.5 1'22.231 0.175 / 0.034
4 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 262.4 1'22.537 0.481 / 0.306
5 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 259.6 1'22.615 0.559 / 0.078
6 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 260.6 1'22.803 0.747 / 0.188
7 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 257.0 1'23.056 1.000 / 0.253
8 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 256.8 1'23.135 1.079 / 0.079
9 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 256.8 1'23.183 1.127 / 0.048
10 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 259.6 1'23.195 1.139 / 0.012
11 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 261.4 1'23.369 1.313 / 0.174
12 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Mapfre Aspar Team MotoGP Ducati 258.9 1'23.424 1.368 / 0.055
13 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 256.0 1'23.707 1.651 / 0.283
14 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati 255.1 1'23.811 1.755 / 0.104
15 24 Toni ELIAS SPA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 260.3 1'23.830 1.774 / 0.019
16 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 255.6 1'24.590 2.534 / 0.760
17 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 255.7 1'24.663 2.607 / 0.073
18 23 Ben BOSTROM USA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 252.4 1'26.159 4.103 / 1.496

Props to Jorge Lorenzo. There was lots of talk him being a one-hit-wonder, the title was automatically Casey's, Jorge couldn't lead development of the Yamaha, etc, etc, but he's really riding brilliantly and proving he's a worthy reigning world champ. This could still turn out to be a classic year.

[chac47]

[quote="NinjaMaster"]I like the slower Ben too Sue but Chunder is right, Bostrom debuting at 37 years old is a complete waste of time. Good luck to him though, it's not his fault he got the opportunity (btw, nice to see you back Sue. How's Christchurch?).

Hi Clint, You and Chunder are probably right about Ben but yes "good luck" to him. About Christchurch - it's not a city I'd recommend for a holiday right now that's for sure and I'd wouldn't mind being away from it for a while.

[CaptainRaiden]

Props to Jorge Lorenzo. There was lots of talk him being a one-hit-wonder, the title was automatically Casey's, Jorge couldn't lead development of the Yamaha, etc, etc, but he's really riding brilliantly and proving he's a worthy reigning world champ. This could still turn out to be a classic year.

Gotta agree with you there, Ninja. Lorenzo has impressed me a lot in the last few races. In fact I'm starting to change my opinion on him. He's taking the fight to Stoner, and now the ball is firmly in Stoner's court. If Stoner sorts out his tyre issues, we could have a mouth watering fight for this year's title.

[NinjaMaster]

Hehe, best one yet.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pijkSmA9rsc&feature=youtu.be&hd=1

[CaptainRaiden]

That was just.....painful to watch. *shudders*

[Rod Richardson]

Qualifying,,,,,Elbows 4th.
MOTO GP

1, Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing 1’21.202
2. Stoner Repsol Honda + .072
3. Pedrose Repsol Honda + .183
4. Spies Yamaha Factory Racing + .376
5. Simoncelli San Carlo Honda Gresini + .494
6. Dovisioso Repsol Honda +.525
7. Rossi Ducati Team + 1.033
8. Barbera Mapfre Aspar Team Moto Gp Ducati
9, Hayden Ducati Team
10 Crutchlow Monster Yamaha Tech 3
11 Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3
12 Bautista Rizla Suzuki Moto Gp
13 Abraham Cardion Ab Motoracing Ducati
14 Aoyama San Carlo Honda Gresini
15 De Puniet Pramac Racing Ducati
16 Capirossi Pramac Racing Team Ducati
17 Elias LCR Honda Moto Gp
18 Bostrom LCR Honda Moto Gp

[NinjaMaster]

Surely this is Lorenzo's race to lose? His times during qualifying were undeniably impressive - 19 laps in the 1:21s versus Stoners 4 and Pedrosa about 6. His most likely challenger wil be Pedrosa I think whose MO is pulling something out of nothing on race day. Spies is going to fight so hard for a home podium but Simoncelli may well be keen to spoil his party, especially if he can do it on the last corner...

[Rod Richardson]

Ninja, you were right.....It was Lorenzo's to lose and he rode brilliantly throughout the race but no better than Pedrosa who was giving him a run for his money until Stoner who, after a mediocre start, whistled past and took off after Lorenzo. Heart in the mouth stuff that pass by Stoner on Lorenzo for the lead then it was game-over with a winning margin of 5.634 secs.
Lorenzo had trouble getting off his bike and was limping after the race. Must have had a Stone(r) in his boot.
Great rides by Spies, Rossi (almost got Dovi) and Hayden and Bautista on the Suzuki was looking good for a while.

1, Stoner Repsol Honda
2. Lorenzo Yamaha Factory Racing+5.634
3. Pedrose Repsol Honda
4. Spies Yamaha Factory Racing
5. Dovisioso Repsol Honda
6. Rossi Ducati Team
7. Hayden Ducati Team
8. Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3
9. Barbera Mapfre Aspar Team Moto Gp Ducati
10 Aoyama San Carlo Honda Gresini
11 Abraham Cardion Ab Motoracing Ducati
12 Capirossi Pramac Racing Team Ducati
13 Elias LCR Honda Moto Gp

[Ranger]

Stoner's finest GP win, without doubt.

Two great MotoGP races in a row. :up:

[EavesFan09]

Shame about Cal like. Anyone in Moto2 likely to be a decent prospect from the UK in MotoGP?

[chunder27]

Redding, he is far too big for Moto2 or should I say Moto Suter but only if uyou are Marques who the bike was designed for! And the team are decided on running abike with Beemer engines already, so a sure shoe-in.

Smith will syat anotehr year I reckon

Wouldnt say that was Stoners best win, some of his 250 rides were superb, and the wet weather rides on that pile of a Ducati are amazing really. I would recommend watching Phillip Island a few years ago on the Duke, spinning it up everywhere, superb.

[CaptainRaiden]

Stoner's finest GP win, without doubt.

Two great MotoGP races in a row. :up:

Probably would have been a closer battle if Lorenzo was 100% fit though.

[Allyc85]

I may have fallen asleep last night and missed the pass for the lead... but what a pass it was!

http://www.youtube.com/user/MotoGP#p/u/4/AEpEvG88gl0

41 seconds into this vid is mad though!

[52Paddy]

A good drive from Spies too in the latter half of the race. A shame that he lost so much off the line, though, and couldn't find pace until the race was into its second phase.

[EavesFan09]

Another observation from me as a newbie to MotoGP having defected from favoring the WSBK. Shoot me down if you really think I am talking rot, but through my eyes Bautista on the Rizla Suzuki looked good for a bit, did he not. Seemed in a decent place before he went out.

[52Paddy]

I agree but I don't want to read too much into it. He's had a quiet enough season.

[The Phantom]

Another observation from me as a newbie to MotoGP having defected from favoring the WSBK. Shoot me down if you really think I am talking rot, but through my eyes Bautista on the Rizla Suzuki looked good for a bit, did he not. Seemed in a decent place before he went out.

Bautista is riding as well as the Suzuki will allow him to. General consensus seems to be that the Suzuki works well in hot conditions (for whatever reason). Laguna and Malaysia are two tracks that favour it. Bautista has the ability to run at Dovi's pace given the right equipment, and he's one of the more switched on racers in MotoGP.