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San Marino practice
San Marino practice
Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
Re: San Marino practice, and elsewhere
Paul B wrote:
> Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
> West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
> is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
> looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
It's kind of hard to say who will have what, given the unfamiliarity
with the track and the rain. But Stoner had a half second on Rossi in
that session, which is huge. In the Q Stoner was perhaps consistently
fastest on race tires and went sub-35.4 in two different stints, while
Rossi's best was a fastest 35.35 but may have had a little more trouble
getting to that level. In P2-3 Stoner did six stints, got down to steady
35s in the 5th one, 7 of them, the last a 35.41, then into the 34s in
the last one, 34.85 the best. Rossi took the same approach, also got
down to mid-35s in the 5th, but didn't make the jump in the last one,
although he did get to a 35.23.
West, Checa, Edwards and Vermeulen got down into the 35s late in that
session as well, while de Puniet did his a bit earlier and then dropped
beck. Hayden in 8th got down to 3 high ones right at the end, but his
best race tire was a 36.02 in QP. De Puniet got down to 35.62, Hopkins
35.77, Pedrosa 35.97, Checa 35.61, and then Vermeulen did nine race tire
35s, the best a 35.34. Edwards got down to 35.66, while West didn't get
out of the 36s.
What this all suggests to me is that the Bridgestones once again have an
edge here, and Stoner has some minor margin over Rossi so far. It looks
to me that it will be down to these two, with Rossi riding inspired at
home perhaps what gives him a real chance. Otherwise, I'd think it'd be
another Stoner walk. After those two who knows, but Hayden needs to find
something to stay in it. Once again the Repsol Hondas look very similar,
and they did manage to find something in the race at Brno. Checa is the
big surprise, and I don't know where he's finding that speed. My best
guess for 3rd is one of the Risla Suzukis.
That Melandri getoff was pretty brutal, and he's detuned at the end of
row 4. Capirossi is sadly lost once again, on the 5th row, so it looks
like Italy's hopes ride with Rossi. And Ducati, of course.
Meanwhile in Georgia, Spies has taken the pole point after today's
session was rained out, pushing his lead to 7. He was 0.3 up on Mladin,
who was in turn a full 1.5 up on DiSalvo in 3rd. But 3rd through 10th
were only separated by a half second, so it looks like two wars starting
later today, the usual up front for the win and the championship and a
big one for that last podium spot. Bostrom put the pother Ymaha in 4th,
and then the big surprise Ellison in 5th ahead of the only American
Honda of Zemke (where is Hodgson?). Mladin just edged Spies in the
warmup, with DiSalvo still 3rd and over a second back.
Rog Hayden is on SSport pole, and Hayes in FX and Spies in SStock. Hayes
and Spies should clinch this weekend, which means Spies will only be
focused on SB at Laguna, and Hayes should be riding the SB, unless Honda
is trying out someone else, meaning Hodgson, but don't bet on that. In
SSport Hacking is 0.25 back in 3rd and Hayes 0.3 back in 4th, not that
it really matters. Should be good, and it's LIVE ON SPEED tomorrow...
Paul B wrote:
> Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
> West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
> is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
> looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
It's kind of hard to say who will have what, given the unfamiliarity
with the track and the rain. But Stoner had a half second on Rossi in
that session, which is huge. In the Q Stoner was perhaps consistently
fastest on race tires and went sub-35.4 in two different stints, while
Rossi's best was a fastest 35.35 but may have had a little more trouble
getting to that level. In P2-3 Stoner did six stints, got down to steady
35s in the 5th one, 7 of them, the last a 35.41, then into the 34s in
the last one, 34.85 the best. Rossi took the same approach, also got
down to mid-35s in the 5th, but didn't make the jump in the last one,
although he did get to a 35.23.
West, Checa, Edwards and Vermeulen got down into the 35s late in that
session as well, while de Puniet did his a bit earlier and then dropped
beck. Hayden in 8th got down to 3 high ones right at the end, but his
best race tire was a 36.02 in QP. De Puniet got down to 35.62, Hopkins
35.77, Pedrosa 35.97, Checa 35.61, and then Vermeulen did nine race tire
35s, the best a 35.34. Edwards got down to 35.66, while West didn't get
out of the 36s.
What this all suggests to me is that the Bridgestones once again have an
edge here, and Stoner has some minor margin over Rossi so far. It looks
to me that it will be down to these two, with Rossi riding inspired at
home perhaps what gives him a real chance. Otherwise, I'd think it'd be
another Stoner walk. After those two who knows, but Hayden needs to find
something to stay in it. Once again the Repsol Hondas look very similar,
and they did manage to find something in the race at Brno. Checa is the
big surprise, and I don't know where he's finding that speed. My best
guess for 3rd is one of the Risla Suzukis.
That Melandri getoff was pretty brutal, and he's detuned at the end of
row 4. Capirossi is sadly lost once again, on the 5th row, so it looks
like Italy's hopes ride with Rossi. And Ducati, of course.
Meanwhile in Georgia, Spies has taken the pole point after today's
session was rained out, pushing his lead to 7. He was 0.3 up on Mladin,
who was in turn a full 1.5 up on DiSalvo in 3rd. But 3rd through 10th
were only separated by a half second, so it looks like two wars starting
later today, the usual up front for the win and the championship and a
big one for that last podium spot. Bostrom put the pother Ymaha in 4th,
and then the big surprise Ellison in 5th ahead of the only American
Honda of Zemke (where is Hodgson?). Mladin just edged Spies in the
warmup, with DiSalvo still 3rd and over a second back.
Rog Hayden is on SSport pole, and Hayes in FX and Spies in SStock. Hayes
and Spies should clinch this weekend, which means Spies will only be
focused on SB at Laguna, and Hayes should be riding the SB, unless Honda
is trying out someone else, meaning Hodgson, but don't bet on that. In
SSport Hacking is 0.25 back in 3rd and Hayes 0.3 back in 4th, not that
it really matters. Should be good, and it's LIVE ON SPEED tomorrow...
Re: San Marino practice, and elsewhere
"Mark N" <menusbaum@NYETSPAMearthlink,net > wrote in message
news:13dj7gcqf7bond9@corp.supernews,com ...
> Paul B wrote:
> What this all suggests to me is that the Bridgestones once again have an
> edge here, and Stoner has some minor margin over Rossi so far. It looks
> to me that it will be down to these two, with Rossi riding inspired at
> home perhaps what gives him a real chance. Otherwise, I'd think it'd be
> another Stoner walk. After those two who knows, but Hayden needs to find
> something to stay in it. Once again the Repsol Hondas look very similar,
> and they did manage to find something in the race at Brno. Checa is the
> big surprise, and I don't know where he's finding that speed. My best
> guess for 3rd is one of the Risla Suzukis.
So 5 michelins in top 10, and 5 Bridgestones. Mixed up quite a bit.
Stoner is one of many on Bridgestones.
If only ONE change was made of 0.176 of a second, it would read Michelin
Bridgestone Michelin.
How, from the facts - and all the homogenous mix of tyres in the top 10 do
you get it's the Bridgestones making Stoner lead, and the Michelins making
Rossi not?
It can't be done - but I would bet my house that if you changed Stoner and
Rossi's Tyres, Stoner would still be a top two/three player consistently,
and Rossi would still be far less consistent than previous years. The
Ducati is a good package. Package, as in machine, rider, tyres,
technicians, motivation levels.
Tyres themselves are PROVEN not to be the determining factor when you look
at the actual results, - they are A factor, as most certainly is the colour
of the motorcycle. It is the selection and use of the equipment (including
tyres) that is more important - otherwise why don't they finish
1,2,3,4,5,6,7?
Rossie and Doohan clearly can't ride, they just had better tyres or
equipment. Bollocks.
Stoner can ride. The Duke is FAST, and HANDLES, and pound for pound treats
GOOD tyres better than others = great results.
My 2c (worth what you paid for it.)
Mike
"Mark N" <menusbaum@NYETSPAMearthlink,net > wrote in message
news:13dj7gcqf7bond9@corp.supernews,com ...
> Paul B wrote:
> What this all suggests to me is that the Bridgestones once again have an
> edge here, and Stoner has some minor margin over Rossi so far. It looks
> to me that it will be down to these two, with Rossi riding inspired at
> home perhaps what gives him a real chance. Otherwise, I'd think it'd be
> another Stoner walk. After those two who knows, but Hayden needs to find
> something to stay in it. Once again the Repsol Hondas look very similar,
> and they did manage to find something in the race at Brno. Checa is the
> big surprise, and I don't know where he's finding that speed. My best
> guess for 3rd is one of the Risla Suzukis.
So 5 michelins in top 10, and 5 Bridgestones. Mixed up quite a bit.
Stoner is one of many on Bridgestones.
If only ONE change was made of 0.176 of a second, it would read Michelin
Bridgestone Michelin.
How, from the facts - and all the homogenous mix of tyres in the top 10 do
you get it's the Bridgestones making Stoner lead, and the Michelins making
Rossi not?
It can't be done - but I would bet my house that if you changed Stoner and
Rossi's Tyres, Stoner would still be a top two/three player consistently,
and Rossi would still be far less consistent than previous years. The
Ducati is a good package. Package, as in machine, rider, tyres,
technicians, motivation levels.
Tyres themselves are PROVEN not to be the determining factor when you look
at the actual results, - they are A factor, as most certainly is the colour
of the motorcycle. It is the selection and use of the equipment (including
tyres) that is more important - otherwise why don't they finish
1,2,3,4,5,6,7?
Rossie and Doohan clearly can't ride, they just had better tyres or
equipment. Bollocks.
Stoner can ride. The Duke is FAST, and HANDLES, and pound for pound treats
GOOD tyres better than others = great results.
My 2c (worth what you paid for it.)
Mike
Re: San Marino practice, and elsewhere
"Mike Richardson" <miker@why.spam.me.bigpond.dot,net .au> wrote in message
news:STkCi.29420$4A1.27443@news-server.bigpond,net .au...
>
> "Mark N" <menusbaum@NYETSPAMearthlink,net > wrote in message
> news:13dj7gcqf7bond9@corp.supernews,com ...
Late edit - I did not mean the you in the sentence below to be YOU Mark N -
I just used your message to inserty myself in the discussion - no attack
meant.
>
> How, from the facts - and all the homogenous mix of tyres in the top 10 do
> you get it's the Bridgestones making Stoner lead, and the Michelins making
> Rossi not?
>
> Mike
>
>
>
"Mike Richardson" <miker@why.spam.me.bigpond.dot,net .au> wrote in message
news:STkCi.29420$4A1.27443@news-server.bigpond,net .au...
>
> "Mark N" <menusbaum@NYETSPAMearthlink,net > wrote in message
> news:13dj7gcqf7bond9@corp.supernews,com ...
Late edit - I did not mean the you in the sentence below to be YOU Mark N -
I just used your message to inserty myself in the discussion - no attack
meant.
>
> How, from the facts - and all the homogenous mix of tyres in the top 10 do
> you get it's the Bridgestones making Stoner lead, and the Michelins making
> Rossi not?
>
> Mike
>
>
>
Re: San Marino practice, and elsewhere
Mike Richardson wrote:
> "Mark N" wrote
>> Paul B wrote:
>> What this all suggests to me is that the Bridgestones once again have an
>> edge here, and Stoner has some minor margin over Rossi so far. It looks
>> to me that it will be down to these two, with Rossi riding inspired at
>> home perhaps what gives him a real chance. Otherwise, I'd think it'd be
>> another Stoner walk. After those two who knows, but Hayden needs to find
>> something to stay in it. Once again the Repsol Hondas look very similar,
>> and they did manage to find something in the race at Brno. Checa is the
>> big surprise, and I don't know where he's finding that speed. My best
>> guess for 3rd is one of the Risla Suzukis.
> So 5 michelins in top 10, and 5 Bridgestones. Mixed up quite a bit.
> Stoner is one of many on Bridgestones.
> If only ONE change was made of 0.176 of a second, it would read Michelin
> Bridgestone Michelin.
>
> How, from the facts - and all the homogenous mix of tyres in the top 10 do
> you get it's the Bridgestones making Stoner lead, and the Michelins making
> Rossi not?
What I see are the fastest race tire time of the weekend by Stoner, and
an edge of more than a half second over Rossi - 34.71 to 35.23 - which
is huge. Next is Vermeulen at 35.34, and then West at 35.58. It's very
hard to say, but I think Kawasaki and Suzuki are likely still a bit
behind the others overall, particularly Yamaha. So when you see someone
like de Puniet as high up as he is and the Suzukis faster than the
Repsol Hondas, I think the tires are factoring. It's not quite as simple
as "better" and "worse", however, as to some extent it depends on the
rider. And this isn't a fast track with a long straight, so Ducati's
power advantage isn't playing into Stoner's hands as much. So I think
Bridgestone has an edge again.
> It can't be done - but I would bet my house that if you changed Stoner and
> Rossi's Tyres, Stoner would still be a top two/three player consistently,
> and Rossi would still be far less consistent than previous years. The
> Ducati is a good package. Package, as in machine, rider, tyres,
> technicians, motivation levels.
>
> Tyres themselves are PROVEN not to be the determining factor when you look
> at the actual results, - they are A factor, as most certainly is the colour
> of the motorcycle. It is the selection and use of the equipment (including
> tyres) that is more important - otherwise why don't they finish
> 1,2,3,4,5,6,7?
>
> Rossie and Doohan clearly can't ride, they just had better tyres or
> equipment. Bollocks.
>
> Stoner can ride. The Duke is FAST, and HANDLES, and pound for pound treats
> GOOD tyres better than others = great results.
Sure it's the whole package that figures, but I think tires are the
single most important factor unless a bike is hopelessly bad. Rossi
finished 22 seconds back at the last round at Brno, and Hayden was the
top Michelin at 13 back. If you look at Brno in 2003 Rossi won, the top
Ducati (Bayliss on Michelins) was less than a second back, the top
Yamaha (Checa, also on Michelins) was 5 second back, and rookie Hayden
seeing the track for the first time was 11 seconds back. Tamada, also a
GP rookie and with developmental Bridgestones on his Honda was 23 back,
and Hopkins, on the POS Suzuki and also Bridgestones, was 56 seconds
back. Last year Capirossi beat Rossi by 5 seconds, in a race where
Bridgestone was viewed as having stepped it up again, and Hopkins was 16
seconds back in 7th. The first rider farther back than Rossi was this
year was Vermeulen in 12th. Although it was slowly improving, the Suzuki
990 was a bike that never finished on a dry race podium.
Just one round, but I think what you see there are results largely
attributable to the tires. If Stoner was on Michelins and the Ducati,
he'd probably be doing better than Last year, based on experience and a
somewhat better bike, but I don't think he'd be doing anything like what
he's doing now. Second or third, quite possible. And I do think Rossi'd
be leading the championship now on Bridgestones and probably by quite
some margin, because the best of the other bikes and riders would be on
the inferior Michelins. So far this year he's finished 1st or 2nd six
times, was 4th and 6th in the rain races, got whacked hard by inferior
tires three times, and then got overanxious and crashed in Germany when
he might well have won or at least gotten on the box. In the three races
Rossi won, two had Pedrosa finishing 2nd, and the other Hayden finished
3rd. And Edwards finished in one of the others, while Hayden finished
3rd when Pedrosa won. So it would seem those four races were the
Michelin rounds, Qatar and Catalunya pretty even, and the rest in
Bridgestone's column. Michelin has looked hopeless several times, while
Bridgestone only did in Germany, I think - and Capirossi finished 2nd
anyway.
Mike Richardson wrote:
> "Mark N" wrote
>> Paul B wrote:
>> What this all suggests to me is that the Bridgestones once again have an
>> edge here, and Stoner has some minor margin over Rossi so far. It looks
>> to me that it will be down to these two, with Rossi riding inspired at
>> home perhaps what gives him a real chance. Otherwise, I'd think it'd be
>> another Stoner walk. After those two who knows, but Hayden needs to find
>> something to stay in it. Once again the Repsol Hondas look very similar,
>> and they did manage to find something in the race at Brno. Checa is the
>> big surprise, and I don't know where he's finding that speed. My best
>> guess for 3rd is one of the Risla Suzukis.
> So 5 michelins in top 10, and 5 Bridgestones. Mixed up quite a bit.
> Stoner is one of many on Bridgestones.
> If only ONE change was made of 0.176 of a second, it would read Michelin
> Bridgestone Michelin.
>
> How, from the facts - and all the homogenous mix of tyres in the top 10 do
> you get it's the Bridgestones making Stoner lead, and the Michelins making
> Rossi not?
What I see are the fastest race tire time of the weekend by Stoner, and
an edge of more than a half second over Rossi - 34.71 to 35.23 - which
is huge. Next is Vermeulen at 35.34, and then West at 35.58. It's very
hard to say, but I think Kawasaki and Suzuki are likely still a bit
behind the others overall, particularly Yamaha. So when you see someone
like de Puniet as high up as he is and the Suzukis faster than the
Repsol Hondas, I think the tires are factoring. It's not quite as simple
as "better" and "worse", however, as to some extent it depends on the
rider. And this isn't a fast track with a long straight, so Ducati's
power advantage isn't playing into Stoner's hands as much. So I think
Bridgestone has an edge again.
> It can't be done - but I would bet my house that if you changed Stoner and
> Rossi's Tyres, Stoner would still be a top two/three player consistently,
> and Rossi would still be far less consistent than previous years. The
> Ducati is a good package. Package, as in machine, rider, tyres,
> technicians, motivation levels.
>
> Tyres themselves are PROVEN not to be the determining factor when you look
> at the actual results, - they are A factor, as most certainly is the colour
> of the motorcycle. It is the selection and use of the equipment (including
> tyres) that is more important - otherwise why don't they finish
> 1,2,3,4,5,6,7?
>
> Rossie and Doohan clearly can't ride, they just had better tyres or
> equipment. Bollocks.
>
> Stoner can ride. The Duke is FAST, and HANDLES, and pound for pound treats
> GOOD tyres better than others = great results.
Sure it's the whole package that figures, but I think tires are the
single most important factor unless a bike is hopelessly bad. Rossi
finished 22 seconds back at the last round at Brno, and Hayden was the
top Michelin at 13 back. If you look at Brno in 2003 Rossi won, the top
Ducati (Bayliss on Michelins) was less than a second back, the top
Yamaha (Checa, also on Michelins) was 5 second back, and rookie Hayden
seeing the track for the first time was 11 seconds back. Tamada, also a
GP rookie and with developmental Bridgestones on his Honda was 23 back,
and Hopkins, on the POS Suzuki and also Bridgestones, was 56 seconds
back. Last year Capirossi beat Rossi by 5 seconds, in a race where
Bridgestone was viewed as having stepped it up again, and Hopkins was 16
seconds back in 7th. The first rider farther back than Rossi was this
year was Vermeulen in 12th. Although it was slowly improving, the Suzuki
990 was a bike that never finished on a dry race podium.
Just one round, but I think what you see there are results largely
attributable to the tires. If Stoner was on Michelins and the Ducati,
he'd probably be doing better than Last year, based on experience and a
somewhat better bike, but I don't think he'd be doing anything like what
he's doing now. Second or third, quite possible. And I do think Rossi'd
be leading the championship now on Bridgestones and probably by quite
some margin, because the best of the other bikes and riders would be on
the inferior Michelins. So far this year he's finished 1st or 2nd six
times, was 4th and 6th in the rain races, got whacked hard by inferior
tires three times, and then got overanxious and crashed in Germany when
he might well have won or at least gotten on the box. In the three races
Rossi won, two had Pedrosa finishing 2nd, and the other Hayden finished
3rd. And Edwards finished in one of the others, while Hayden finished
3rd when Pedrosa won. So it would seem those four races were the
Michelin rounds, Qatar and Catalunya pretty even, and the rest in
Bridgestone's column. Michelin has looked hopeless several times, while
Bridgestone only did in Germany, I think - and Capirossi finished 2nd
anyway.
Re: San Marino practice
"Paul B" <Woofmix@gmail,com > wrote in message
news:1188639043.612054.287410@50g2000hsm.googlegroups,com ...
> Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
> West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
> is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
> looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
>
Will Stoner change from race winning mode to championship winning mode and
allow Rossi through easily?
"Paul B" <Woofmix@gmail,com > wrote in message
news:1188639043.612054.287410@50g2000hsm.googlegroups,com ...
> Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
> West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
> is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
> looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
>
Will Stoner change from race winning mode to championship winning mode and
allow Rossi through easily?
Re: San Marino practice
"Richard" <rlmccann@hotmail,com > wrote in message
news:46d9c906$1@news.orcon,net .nz...
>
> "Paul B" <Woofmix@gmail,com > wrote in message
> news:1188639043.612054.287410@50g2000hsm.googlegroups,com ...
>> Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
>> West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
>> is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
>> looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
>>
> Will Stoner change from race winning mode to championship winning mode and
> allow Rossi through easily?
No.
"Richard" <rlmccann@hotmail,com > wrote in message
news:46d9c906$1@news.orcon,net .nz...
>
> "Paul B" <Woofmix@gmail,com > wrote in message
> news:1188639043.612054.287410@50g2000hsm.googlegroups,com ...
>> Stoner clocks the fastest time ahead of Rossi and impressively Ant
>> West. Hayden and Pedrosa are down in 8 and 9 and surprisingly Hoppers
>> is only 11th fastest while his team mate Vermulen is 6th. It's
>> looking like a Stoner, Rossi battle for the race.
>>
> Will Stoner change from race winning mode to championship winning mode and
> allow Rossi through easily?
No.
