Motegi

:D we get to watch the races at a respectable hour (1.45pm start NZ time), see Akira Yanagawa in action again and re last week's races, more of the same I hope :s mokin:

[The Phantom]

Akira! Wooo, forgot he was racing! Thanks Chac.

Network 10 originally scheduled it for 3am Monday morning!!! Morons. Lots of complaints meant a re-schedule to Sunday afternoon, but I'll be watching on Foxtel so I don't have to suffer the "commentary" of Greg Rust and Darryl Beattie ;)

Here's to a great race!

1. Pedrosa
2. Rossi
3. Stoner

I do hope Rossi beats Stoner, I want to see a fight at Phillip Island...

[tha_jackal]

Akira struggling early on, unlike Akiyoshi! Theres a surprise..

Good session in FP2 though, Guintoli had a prang when looking quick (did he have a quali on?) Westy upped his pace a heap from the first session, CV didnt?

Stoner had a go at kicking Checa ala Hopper and even punched his bike a few times for squirming around, how dare it not be perfect, world champions these days..

Rossi's bike shat itself all the way down pit lane and Kurtis Roberts is STILL bringing up the rear, those upgrades musnt have arrived...

Bring on tommorow and QP none the less!

MotoGP Free Practice 2

1. Pedrosa 1m47.86
2. De Puniet 1m48.25
3. Melandri 1m48.35
4. Hopkins 1m48.36
5. Stoner 1m48.44
6. Akiyoshi 1m48.45
7. Capirossi 1m48.49
8. West 1m48.52
9. Hayden 1m48.55
10. Tamada 1m48.58
11. Edwards 1m48.61
12. Nakano 1m48.69
13. Checa 1m48.71
14. Rossi 1m48.78
15. Elias 1m48.88
16. Guintoli 1m49.38
17. Barros 1m49.39
18. Vermeulen 1m49.55
19. Yanagawa 1m50.22
20. Ito 1m50.76
21. Roberts 1m51.56

[ChrisS]

The circuit seems to suit Kawasaki, Kurtis may actually have a chance to finish ahead of someone

[Ranger]

Funny how things turn out when Michelin have an advantage again!

Qualifying results:

Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Daniel Pedrosa Honda (M) 1:45.864
2. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (M) 1:46.255 + 0.391
3. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) 1:46.575 + 0.711
4. Randy de Puniet Kawasaki (B) 1:46.643 + 0.779
5. Toni Elias Honda (B) 1:46.804 + 0.940
6. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) 1:46.912 + 1.048
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) 1:46.997 + 1.133
8. Loris Capirossi Ducati (B) 1:47.047 + 1.183
9. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) 1:47.121 + 1.257
10. Marco Melandri Honda (B) 1:47.136 + 1.272
11. John Hopkins Suzuki (B) 1:47.163 + 1.299
12. Shinya Nakano Honda (M) 1:47.295 + 1.431
13. Kousuke Akiyoshi Suzuki (B) 1:47.316 + 1.452
14. Carlos Checa Honda (M) 1:47.334 + 1.470
15. Alex Barros Ducati (B) 1:47.367 + 1.503
16. Makoto Tamada Yamaha (D) 1:47.714 + 1.850
17. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 1:47.914 + 2.050
18. Sylvain Guintoli Yamaha (D) 1:48.085 + 2.221
19. Akira Yanagawa Kawasaki (B) 1:48.569 + 2.705
20. Shinichi Ito Ducati (B) 1:49.548 + 3.684
21. Kurtis Roberts KR (M) 1:50.035 + 4.178

Hopefully Stoner doesn't beat Rossi... a title won at Phillip Island will be much sweeter. :D

[tha_jackal]

Goooo Ant! Highest placed of the Aussies, bring on race day..

[ChrisS]

Did Michelin have the upper hand through out qualifying or did they just put good laps when the qualifiers came on?

[fatman]

Wish I had seen qualifying. looks like it was a pretty interesting hour. The race should also be pretty interesting. Dani could run away with it tho.

I watched the live timing screen on the Motogp website (how desperate am I just to see something!) I was wondering what was going on with some of the riders - Rossi e.g - but then suddenly their lap times came down. Wish we got live coverage of the quals.

I was watching the live timing screen on the Motogp website - how desperate am I just to see something. Wish we got coverage of the quals.

[Ranger]

Stoner and Rossi were near the back for much of the session (especially Stoner, who with 10 or so minutes left was still 16th. Interestingly, the Kawasaki's were in the top 5 for much of the session, particularly Randy.

[osg]

Quali results now offically mean squat.... we have rain at Motegi during the warmup...... Melandri and Stoner at the top, with Pedrosa and Rossi outside the top 10.

[osg]

Bizarre race. Well Done Casey on your first World Title, you deserve it after a season of dominance. Congrats Loris also on the race win.

To Yamaha and Michelin. You suck.

To Vale........ we look forward to next year.

[tha_jackal]

SPEWIN for my man Westy, would have been on the podium if not for the penalty, IMO.. Wonder if he had a clutch release or launch control issue?

But really, all congratulations must go to Casey, what a brilliant season and what brilliant composure he showed today, hes earned it, no one can deny him that

[ChrisS]

unexpected top 4 finishers, opportunistic results, they had nothing to lose took a risk to go on dries and it payed off while the leader all waited too long. Still Capirossi showed signs of his old self with some aggressive riding.

Guintoli embraced a lot of people today , Factory Yamaha, Michelin, Tamada...

Rossi made a great comeback from 8th to 1st after a bad start but it all went wrong after his bike change. Little Dani was also doing well but it looks like he stayed out one lap too many. Shame about West, a podium was thrown out the window

Congratulations to Stoner, he rode rather conservatively today, now that the championship is out of the way hopefully he will return to his aggressive ways (more on him on his own thread)

[jim mcglinchey]

..bloody Rossi, he always does something stupid at the critical moment, like fall off or pit again, I was sure that Casey was going to have to take the show to Aus for a real party.

Congrats to Casey, I knew he was something to look out for when he won the last round of the 125s at Valencia in 03, he was the only guy whose name didnt end in a vowel, and Ive been watching him since.

That was an embarassment for Suzook with their wild card beating their full timers, what the hells happening Chris V this weather?

[Wim_Impreza]

It was really an interesting race again. Melandri, Stoner, Rossi and for sure Pedrosa were waiting too long to go on slicks. Capirossi did a good tactic and finally he drove to the victory. Good playing Loris, sure his experience was good for a race as this one. It's a pity for Pedrosa.

Rossi made again some faults and he had not the good tactic. Only 13th.

Congratulations to Casey Stoner, Bridgestone, Ducati, his beautiful woman and all the people in the team. Great and dominating season from Stoner, like Doohan did in the nineties.

Also an excellent race from Randy de Puniet and Sylvain Guintoli. Especially for Guintoli on the Dunlop tires and with a private machine. Elias was a good third. I am sorry for Anthony West, he was driving so well but had a jump start. Hopefully we will have another wet round in the next races.

I am looking forward to the next round, Australia is always a nice race on a good track.

[T-D]

fun race, but am i gutted for west. 2 pit stops and he finishes 7th. looking at how well depunter did even with his off-tack excursion, a vistory was in the offing today for either kwack rider had they just executed.

marco complaing about the rain rules hampering the leaders is really silly in my estimation. the team have pit boards and can see the other riders times. the minute guintoli did a lap 4 secs ahead of he leaders, the team should have got the sign out. he didn't need to do 4 extra laps to know that the decision was sound.

[The Phantom]

the minute guintoli did a lap 4 secs ahead of he leaders, the team should have got the sign out. he didn't need to do 4 extra laps to know that the decision was sound.

Good call.

Was great to see Capirossi do it, I almost picked him for the win out of affection. Great way for Ducati to wrap up the title, they seem to have a knack for stealing the thunder from the other teams and it seems they even do it to each other :)

[ShiftingGears]

What was Valentino expecting could be done when he pitted for the second time?

[leopard]

What was Valentino expecting could be done when he pitted for the second time?
Nothing, he just make sure that team crew was still in the pit.

[The Phantom]

What was Valentino expecting could be done when he pitted for the second time?

He thought he had a flat tyre...

[leopard]

He thought he had a flat tyre...
Probably, he may also looking for it, he should check it here in F1 and feedback forum :laugh: :p :

[ozrevhead]

Nothing, he just make sure that team crew was still in the pit.

Probably, he may also looking for it, he should check it here in F1 and feedback forum :laugh: :p :

LMAO :D

[NinjaMaster]

It was an intriguing race. I was really happy for Cappa to win after such a rough season. Hopefully Hayden can get one bt seasons end too.

Before the race, I was hoping for Rossi to beat Stoner so Casey could win the title in front of us at the Island but as soon as the race started I couldn't help myself and cheered for Casey! The only shame was that the conditions didn't really allow for the straight up fight the race deserved. Oh well, Stoner deserved it anyway.

I was really hoping Guintoli could somehow get on the podium but he just couldn't quite do it and it was good for Elias to get up there again. It was also great to see my beloved Kawasaki get their annual podium. Hopefully there are many more to come.

And poor Dovi, twice in a row is good enough to beat Jorge but is beaten by someone so he can't maximise his win over Lorenzo. Fantastic ride by Kallio and nice to see KTM getting stronger all the time. I was particularly rapt to see Yuki Takahashi doing so well, just a pity he ran off the track and dropped some spots.