MotoGP 2012

[patnicholls]

I think I'm going to finally make my first trip to Silverstone after having gone to Donington for many years. Also contemplating Barcelona as the UK has two public holidays on the Monday and Tuesday after it (in honour of the Queen's Diamond Jubilee) so there's time to visit the city (already been but good to go again) as well as the race. Not booked either of those yet.

What I have booked is...World Superbikes at Monza.

[NinjaMaster]

I'm green with envy.

[jonny hurlock]

West needs some money or he won't drive this season period.

Anthony West priced out of MotoGP | MotoGP News | Jan 2012 | Crash.Net

[NinjaMaster]

So we're getting ever closer to the beginning of the 2012 season and after two tests things are looking alot like the 2011 season. Stoner and Lorenzo are still the class of the field with Pedrosa and Spies close behind and the new 1,000cc Ducatis are, well, performing much like the 800cc Ducatis. Here are the results of the first day of final testing at Jerez:

Pos Rider Team Fastest lap Prev. Gap Lead. Gap Laps
1 Casey STONER Repsol Honda Team 1:39.146 - - 54
2 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha Factory Racing 1:39.419 +0.273 +0.273 76
3 Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1:39.579 +0.160 +0.433 60
4 Ben SPIES Yamaha Factory Racing 1:39.984 +0.405 +0.838 71
5 Cal CRUTCHLOW Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:40.130 +0.146 +0.984 74
6 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Team 1:40.512 +0.382 +1.366 77
7 Alvaro BAUTISTA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:40.545 +0.033 +1.399 56
8 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1:40.665 +0.120 +1.519 46
9 Valentino ROSSI Ducati Team 1:40.920 +0.255 +1.774 64
10 Stefan BRADL LCR Honda 1:40.983 +0.063 +1.837 64
11 Randy DE PUNIET Power Electronics Aspar 1:41.015 +0.032 +1.869 39
12 Hector BARBERA Pramac Racing Team 1:41.388 +0.373 +2.242 72
13 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1:41.603 +0.215 +2.457 71
14 Aleix ESPARGARO Power Electronics Aspar 1:42.293 +0.690 +3.147 59
15 Franco BATTAINI Ducati Team 1:42.403 +0.110 +3.257 72
16 Colin EDWARDS NGM Mobile Forward Racing 1:42.462 +0.059 +3.316 56
17 Michele PIRRO San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:42.655 +0.193 +3.509 49
18 Danilo PETRUCCI Came Iodaracing Project 1:42.750 +0.095 +3.604 39
19 Mattia PASINI Speed Master 1:43.006 +0.256 +3.860 59
20 Yonny HERNANDEZ Avintia Racing MotoGP 1:43.437 +0.431 +4.291 49
21 James ELLISON Paul Bird Motorsport 1:43.477 +0.040 +4.331 61
22 Ivan SILVA Avintia Racing MotoGP 1:44.025 +0.548 +4.879 60

Lorenzo led most of the day before Stoner pipped him at the end. Ducati will want to find that magic bullet mighty quick because Rossi 1.8 seconds behind is embarassing for them.