MotoGP Round 3 - Turkey

[Ranger]

Several questions to occupy this thread until race weekend:

Will we see Bridgestone hit back at Michelin in the tyre war? Or will they still be caught sleeping after their dimmed performance at Jerez?

Will Honda lift their game? Yes, they have been on the podium 2 times out of 2 this year, but they are still looking rather... how shall I say - unthreatening. Whereas Yamaha seem to have the best chassis and likewise for Ducati with their engine, Honda are still looking somehow planted in there with not the greatest mix of either. In short, thus far the 212 doesn't look to be a race-winning motorcycle (but that's just my opinion).

Istanbul Park is a quick and flowing racetrack. Ducati are in my mind going to be the quick guys come race day. Rossi, however, said something about an engine upgrade that'll be able to take place after Jerez. Will that happen? I'm inclined to think that Rossi or Edwards will be on the top step of the podium anyway, but how much of a difference would that engine development make in terms of lap times?

And as for my picks:

1. Rossi
2. Stoner
3. Elias
Pole: Pedrosa

[tha_jackal]

Still 17 days away Honda and namely Hayden need to lift their games, aswell as Capirossi..

Tips:

MotogGP

1. Stoner
2. Melandri
3. Hopkins
Pole> Pedrobot

250

1. Luthi
2. Lorenzo
3. Bautista
Pole> De Angelis

125

1. Bancaja
2. Bancaja
3. Pesek
Pole> Bancaja

Its to bloody far away!

[leopard]

I think a bit different, while Yamaha has a pledge with their decent chassis, and Ducati powerful engine will be their mainstay, Honda has the sweetest combination of that two pretty fair parameters.

In long term, Ducati performance at Lossail, and domination of Yamaha at Jerez will not make me being done to put Honda beneath of them.

Melandri, the king of Istanbul will make a great surprise after his furious beefing on Honda to get the same bike and number one part from Honda, win or get out.

For prediction i tend to make it conservative:

motogp:
1. Rossi
2. Pedrosa
3. Melandri

250cc:
1. Bautista (quiete reasonable to step forward from second place)
2. Lorenzo
3. de Angelis

125
whoever, preferably Pablo Nieto and Steve Bonsey

[fatman]

I think Turkey is about as hard to predict as both previous races.

Melandri should be strong but I think it all depends on the bike and tires.

Stoner will possibly be the man to beat if he can get his Duc set up as sweet as he had it at Qatar, although his bridgestones need to also perform.

Dani looked pretty good last year. I don't expect him to crash out this time around.

Rossi will be somewhere at the sharp end.

Edwards is a lottery ticket.

Hayden will look strong at the beginning of the race but will fade.

Hopkins, Elias, Chris V, Capirossi, Checa and Nakano all have an opportunity to impress but not all of them will be able to.

I'm reluctant to even guess but I'll go.

1-Stoner
2-Rossi
3-Melandri

[The Phantom]

1 - Stoner
2 - Rossi
3 - Hopkins

Pole - Rossi

I agree Fatman, it's a hard one to pick.

[Ranger]

What a slow 4 weeks! :\

[fatman]

So after the first two practise sessions everyone is at least 2 seconds off the pace. Can we tell anything from these times ?

Nice to see a Ducati 1-2 at the front. 8 Bridgstones in the top 10 is a bit of a surprise.

I know in the morning session most riders only did a few laps because conditions sucked. Does anyone know how many laps were done in the afternoon? Can bridgestone last the race or will Rossi and Dani be picking them off one by one come sunday?

It's still anyones guess but Stoner looks like the best pick for a win so far.

[NinjaMaster]

Practice results after Friday

Pos. Rider Team Bike Time
1 Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati GP7 1:54.200
2 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati GP7 1:54.979
3 John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R800 1:55.062
4 Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha M1 1:55.120
5 Toni Elias Honda Gresini Honda RC212V 1:55.158
6 Olivier Jacque Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:55.651
7 Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R800 1:55.707
8 Alex Hofmann Pramac D'Antin Ducati GP7 1:55.736
9 Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team Honda RC212V 1:55.865
10 Marco Melandri Honda Gresini Honda RC212V 1:55.910
11 Kenny Roberts Jr Team Roberts KR212V 1:56.071
12 Randy De Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:56.225
13 Alex Barros Pramac D'Antin Ducati GP7 1:56.233
14 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda RC212V 1:56.312
15 Colin Edwards Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha M1 1:56.320
16 Carlos Checa Honda LCR Honda RC212V 1:56.555
17 Makoto Tamada Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1:56.923
18 Shinya Nakano Konica Minolta Honda Honda RC212V 1:56.936
19 Sylvain Guintoli Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha M1 1:57.245

Stoner fastest by nearly 8 tenths!!

[Corny]

bridgestone looks to be the better one in Turkey..

[Ranger]

All that and it's a Yamaha 1-2 in qualifying! :\