Thanks for the reminder! Those are the 2nd practice times. :flashy
Looks like things are heating up! I'm wondering if the whole season is going to be a guessing game, or if the regulars are going to dominate the charts again.
We'll see what happens come race time, but I just love that he's up there since it sticks it to KTM that bailed on KR racing, proves that a small factory can be competitive (assuming Honda gives you a motor) and that the old dog still can strut his stuff. He'll be a consistent top 10 this season, as least he didn't wine like Biaggi on that POS Zook.
Wow dry times. Looks like it's going to be a tough year for Rossi. makes for exciting races! maybe if he doesn't do well this year he'll stick around for a while longer?
Man i feel for Hopkins.. anytime your times are near Hofmann's you've got a problem. and wtf is up with Nakano? tech difficulties?
speed is showing the race at 11:00am on sunday, with 250 after for a change.
Boo..urns. Not a good preview for Kawi. Randy de Puniet is out with a prior hand injury. Nakano can't find grip.
Shinya Nakano also suffered today; finishing the first two free practice sessions in 13th overall, after struggling to find a good rhythm around the long, and technically demanding, Losail circuit.
"Today I just couldn't find a good rhythm on the bike. We are a little way off on set-up at the moment, not far off, but far enough to cause me some problems on the track. I lost grip at the front and the back during both practices today, which means I wasn't able to push as hard as I would have liked," he explained.
"I think we only need to make small changes to the bike to see a big difference, and once I'm able to push, I'm confident I can improve on my lap time considerably. At this track tyres are critical, and tomorrow we must focus on working our way through the tyre options that Bridgestone have available for us here," the Japanese concluded.
You must be joking, right? KRJR is one of the biggest whiners in the paddock, especially when he was with Suzuki, and I suspect the media just got tired of reporting his neverending criticisms of everything but his riding. I predict this practice performance is a flash in the pan and he won't be anywere near the lead pack come raceday. But I guess it's great for all those American websites who have a fascination with anything Kenny Roberts (Sr & Jr).
You must be joking, right? KRJR is one of the biggest whiners in the paddock, especially when he was with Suzuki, and I suspect the media just got tired of reporting his neverending criticisms of everything but his riding. I predict this practice performance is a flash in the pan and he won't be anywere near the lead pack come raceday. But I guess it's great for all those American websites who have a fascination with anything Kenny Roberts (Sr & Jr).
thing is, for his whining to be valid, he'd have to be riding the zook again, and it would have to suck just as bad as when he did ride it.
zook has made a lot of progress with the XRE bikes. i think the bigger part of the performance equation is the riders. hopkins i don't think will come close to the success (if you want to call it that) of hayden, and vermin i suspect will do his time on the zook to learn the circuit, then bolt for a better ride.
zook needs to spend a metric assload of money and get a rossi.
thing is, for his whining to be valid, he'd have to be riding the zook again, and it would have to suck just as bad as when he did ride it.
zook has made a lot of progress with the XRE bikes. i think the bigger part of the performance equation is the riders. hopkins i don't think will come close to the success (if you want to call it that) of hayden, and vermin i suspect will do his time on the zook to learn the circuit, then bolt for a better ride.
zook needs to spend a metric assload of money and get a rossi.
KRJR was their seasoned rider and he clearly didn't get them where they needed to be in their development cycle. I think it's great that Chris V. came to the team ... hopefully he brings a fresh, winning attitude and accelerates the Suzuki MotoGP program.
Hopkins has talent.. as much as hayden? i'm not sure, I'd like to see both on different rides to help decide True the suzuki has come along way, but I'd say it's still far behind, it's still a nail..
I think going to pneumatic valves was a bandaid approach to getting more hp. we'll see if it helps any..
MotoGP qualifying times from the Qatar Grand Prix at Losail, round two of the 2006 world championship.
1. Casey Stoner AUS Honda LCR 1min 55.683 secs
2. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 55.721 secs
3. Toni Elias SPA Fortuna Honda 1min 55.735 secs
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team 1min 55.793 secs
5. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 1min 56.008 secs
6. Valentino Rossi ITA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 56.076 secs
7. Sete Gibernau SPA Ducati Marlboro Team 1min 56.177 secs
8. Colin Edwards USA Camel Yamaha Team 1min 56.230 secs
9. Shinya Nakano JPN Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 56.237 secs
10. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts 1min 56.272 secs
11. Chris Vermulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 56.356 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Fortuna Honda 1min 56.822 secs
13. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1min 56.981 secs
14. Carlos Checa SPA Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 57.299 secs
15. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team 1min 57.822 secs
16. Makoto Tamada JPN Konica Minolta Honda 1min 57.891 secs
17. James Ellison GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 1min 58.674 secs
18. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 59.591 secs
19. Jose Luis Cardoso SPA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP 1min 59.733 secs
Stoner's talent is starting to show!
Hayden's close.
You could put a blanket over the first 4.
The Docters chatter problems have been solved apparently. Should be able to draught along for awhile then slip past as tires deteriorate. Thats if no one drew the short straw to take him out again. Tee Hee
Vale q'd 6th on a race tire ... didn't use Q tires b/c it compounds the chatter problems. He'll get his usual flier start and be pushing to the front within the first few corners ... provided he doesn't get torpedoed.
And KRJr is back where he belongs ... on the 4th row.
Qualifing obviously Means Nothing , Watched the Race Early this Morning on the Dish . Won't post the Results , Don't want to spoil it for anyone who Has to wait until tomorrow to see it on SPEED.
All I will tell you is if your a Suzuki fan :laughing :laughing Don't bother:devillook
Great race! I watched it on the MOTOGP website - didja see Hopkins? Heehee..
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