| Author | Message | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
     Liquorwhere |
Sean, Absolutely, I will talk to my buddy Thomas and see what he wants to do, he will be there to see his family, and I will be there for the racing, so it should be good. I will let you know. I will send you an email. I would love to see 200mph in the straights on a regular road, that is the dogs dangly bits for sure!! D | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman |
Shamefully I've never been to Ireland. Could this be the first dream of 2010, as it's only an hour old this side of the pond. Did anyone ever tell ya, you guys are living in the past, lol Rocket | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquorwhere |
Sean, I spoke with my buddy and his family's house is 20mins from where they run Skerries, he said we need to check the dates for Skerries and the Northwest 200 because many times they are only a week apart and we may be able to see both races if it is timed right. I am really stoked about this. I was gonna do Homecoming, but I think a trip to Ireland to see roadracing wins....And he brought me an MCN and a Streetfighter Mag, I love those mags man. So expensive to get here in the states. So in other News Roger Lee Hayden is racing WSBK next year, hopefully he does well and moves on as Ben Spies did to MotoGP, we need some more Americans to cheer for, at least I have one on a green bike to root for in WSBK!! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman |
Sounds like you're committing to a fantastic adventure into the world of Irish road racing Dale. I'd hope to be able to meet up with you if I can / do make it  Rocket | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Davegess |
You are going to have a blast! These Irish RR are nuts! I have been to the Isle of Man and that is the safe and sane version of irish Road Racing. Ireland itself is a great country; wonderful people and great scenery. Bring good rain gear, they will ride regardless of the weather. Drink Guinness. Be prepared for nothing to seem organized or on time. They operate to a different sense of time than us Americans. Enjoy some of the best roads you have ever ridden on. Have fun. I am jealous! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rocketman |
What's to stop you coming Dave. If I make it, there's room enough in the Winnie? Rocket | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquorwhere |
Exactly Rocket, I just have to find a place to rent a bike from, my friend has family with motorcycles so he is good, I think I have to do the international license thingy before that. Should be a ball for sure. So Dave if you want to go, GO! It should be a great time. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Davegess |
Time and money  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquorwhere |
Gotcha, well that is me too, I am gonna be saving for it, just to make sure I have plenty to blow when I am there. Should be cool. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaimec |
http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2010/Jan/100115a.ht m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trojan |
At Last! MotoGP testing resumed properly today at Sepang, and wasted no time in restoring the status quo from 2009. with Rossi and Stoner immediately fastest on day one. Edwards and Capirossi were as usual fast in testing, but the surprise to me is just how far off the pace Pedrosa and Melandri are on day one. All of the GP new boys are unsurprisingly filling the bottom half of the order, so it will be interesting to see how they improve on day two, and with just 2.5 seconds separating 1 from 17 it looks like it will be pretty close  1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.411 sec (21 laps) 2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.902 sec (26 laps) 3. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 1.932 sec (27 laps) 4. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.102 sec (38 laps) 5. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.630 sec (33 laps) 6. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.792 sec (28 laps) 7. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 2.846 sec (34 laps) 8. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 3.078 sec (45 laps) 9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 3.264 sec (29 laps) 10. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 3.302 sec (37 laps) 11. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 3.412 sec (35 laps) 12. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.563 sec (32 laps) 13. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.609 sec (22 laps) 14. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 3.651 sec (41 laps) 15. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 2min 3.653 sec (44 laps) 16. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.681 sec (30 laps) 17. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 3.722 sec (40 laps) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Smoke |
it should be a good year of spectating in Moto Gp!! thanks for the update Matt. tim | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trojan |
previous times published were morning times only. End of day times after another 2 hours of scorching 40 degree heat (110 F) didn't look too different though. Rain stopped play 1/2 early at 4.30 so testing resumes tomorrow Pos Rider Bike Time Diff Previous Fastest Total 1 Valentino Rossi Yamaha 2'01.411 0.000 0.000 15 54 2 Casey Stoner Ducati 2'01.902 0.491 0.491 12 42 3 Colin Edwards Yamaha 2'01.932 0.521 0.030 23 48 4 Loris Capirossi Suzuki 2'02.102 0.691 0.170 21 58 5 Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha 2'02.165 0.754 0.063 56 57 6 Andrea Dovizioso Honda 2'02.630 1.219 0.465 18 51 7 Nicky Hayden Ducati 2'02.792 1.381 0.162 22 46 8 Dani Pedrosa Honda 2'02.866 1.455 0.074 50 52 9 Mika Kallio Ducati 2'02.987 1.576 0.121 70 70 10 Hector Barbera Ducati 2'03.030 1.619 0.043 57 59 11 Aleix Espargaro Ducati 2'03.133 1.722 0.103 53 54 12 Ben Spies Yamaha 2'03.142 1.731 0.009 53 55 13 Randy De Puniet Honda 2'03.456 2.045 0.314 52 62 14 Alvaro Bautista Suzuki 2'03.558 2.147 0.102 35 51 15 Marco Simoncelli Honda 2'03.563 2.152 0.005 19 54 16 Marco Melandri Honda 2'03.609 2.198 0.046 17 28 17 Hiroshi Aoyama Honda 2'03.651 2.240 0.042 40 66 18 Yamaha Test Rider Yamaha 2'05.732 4.321 2.081 16 40 19 Yamaha Test Rider Yamaha 2'06.206 4.795 0.474 25 36 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaimec |
Wow! Colin faster than Pedrosa and Lorenzo?? Who'da thunk it! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trojan |
Colin Edwards isn't called the 'Winter World Champion' for nothing and always seems go much better in testing than during the season. 2009 was an exception and hopefully he'll continue that form into 2010. He certainly has something to prove now that Spies shares his garage and it will be interesting to see just how much 'sharing' really does go one between them when the season starts. The Fiat Team have already announced that Rossi and Lorenzo will NOT share data this year, so how long before that spreads along pit lane? Capirossi is another who always seems to go better in winter tests than in actual races....maybe they should start a winter series | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaimec |
Poncharal stated in an earlier interview that the wall in the Tech 3 garage is actually only half a wall, and that the staff can freely move back and forth between the two teams in the back, though the front remains partitioned so the actual crews can work without distraction. This is different from the Fiat garage which really is two separate, non-connecting rooms. But, as you said, let's see how long this lasts. Still, Colin has a reputation of being everybody's favorite team mate (Toseland notwithstanding) so we'll see how it plays out. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trojan |
End of day two times have just been posted from Sepang. The Aliens have yet again moved into the top 4 places, but impressive form shown from Spies and Espargaro in particular. 1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 0.925 sec (32 laps) 2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.320 sec (36 laps) 3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.680 sec (60 laps) 4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.822 sec (50 laps) 5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.266 sec (31 laps) 6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.272 sec (56 laps) 7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.479 sec (42 laps) 8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.493 sec (55 laps) 9. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 2.647 sec (33 laps) 10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.763 sec (48 laps) 11. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 2.810 sec (55 laps) 12. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 2min 3.032 sec (51 laps) 13. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 3.043 sec (48 laps) 14. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 3.195 sec (56 laps) 15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.245 sec (49 laps) 16. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.274 sec (37 laps) 17. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 3.359 sec (53 laps) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaimec |
Looks like Ben is over his jet lag... Excluding the four aliens Ben was once again the fastest rider on a bike with which he has little experience on a track he's never seen before yesterday. Yeah... 2010 is going to be an interesting year! (Message edited by jaimec on February 05, 2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
Go Team Texas!  | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
From those times, I'd say there's only one, maybe two racers who qualify for out of the world type status. Little Pedro is almost a full second back from the Doctor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vagelis46 |
Hondas do not look to be in a good shape. What happenned to Melandri ?? He was supposed to be a great rider riding a slow bike. All the Hondas seem too slow, while the Ducatis seem to have slightly improved. Simoncelli ?? I am sure that Spies will soon be fighting with the rest of the top4. He is superfast and superspectacular. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trojan |
Hondas do not look to be in a good shape. What happenned to Melandri ?? He was supposed to be a great rider riding a slow bike. All the Hondas seem too slow, while the Ducatis seem to have slightly improved. Simoncelli ?? I am sure that Spies will soon be fighting with the rest of the top4. He is superfast and superspectacular. Don't read too much into the first test of the year. We don't know what was being tested or what the teams were trying to achieve on the first 2010 test day. Honda may have had more parts to test than Yamaha or Ducati. Spies was absolutley the 'best of the rest' on day two but still 2 seconds off the lead pace set by Rossi, so still has a way to go to bridge the gap to the 'aliens'. Remember Toseland put the Yamaha on the front row in his first GP but then failed to cover himself in glory after that. Spies will be beter than Toseland but it remains tobe seen if he can get up with the top 4 on a regular basis. Melandri and Simoncelli (and all the Honda riders) will undoubtedly get faster as the season approaches and I think the next test will be a more accurate. Simoncelli had a crash in the morning and rode injured in the afternoon because testing time is so scarce. He didn't want to waste more testing time by crashing again so didn't push too hard in the afternoon. We won't really know if anyone has been sandbagging or (as Suzuki did last year)flattering to deceive until the first race. As the old saying goes.......when the flag drops the BS stops | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaimec |
Makes one wonder: Did Rossi show all his cards? Or is he still holding something back? I remember how he sandbagged the preseason the year he switched to Yamaha. Shocked the hell out of everyone at the first race! | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Blake |
Matt, Check your math? Lap time gaps to position ahead and to #1 (Rossi).
(Message edited by blake on February 08, 2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Fresnobuell |
I remember how he sandbagged the preseason the year he switched to Yamaha. Shocked the hell out of everyone at the first race! It must be nice to be that good at something. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquorwhere |
What is nice to see also is Nicky in the top ten, and improving steadily, I fear that if he does not really have a good showing this year it will is last in the GP, but I would think WSBK would welcome him with OPEN arms, if only he can hold out to 2012 and get back on the 990 that suits him better. Ben is an alien like the other four, so fast, just blows the the conventional out of the water. Nothing but applause for that young man, and finally a Texas Congressman recognized his achievements on the house floor. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Vagelis46 |
Spies will do great this season. He is the fastest rider to move to motoGP after Casey Stoner moved to motoGP. After only the 2nd test he is as fast as the top4 and we all know that he is really tough during the race. I think he will do better than Pedrosa and possibly Lorenzo, if he is smart enough not to push too hard and crash in many races. I personally have a new favourite motoGP rider and that is #11. I still consider #27 to be the fastest at the moment, but Spies have demonstated a more "tough" and "mean" profile so far. Rossi......Last year we had the wall in the garage......This year (it is official) that Rossi will not share any data and communication with any Yamaha rider.......He will definately have an 100% updated bike that does not share a single component with the rest of the Yamahas. This guy is a real a#@. I wonder why he is adored by millions of racing fans.....Maybe because people want to cheer for the winners, regardless of their arrogant attitude. And on top of that we have to endure his boyfriend on TV on every single motoGP session and TV broadcast........... I think Rossi will fall bad this year and it is going to hurt for him and his fans. For sure Spies, in some races, will teach Rossi and the rest a lesson. Spies is the biggest "fighter" I have seen in the last years. Maybe he looked that way because he was so superior than the rest of the WSBK field and he made it look too easy, as Rossi used to do up to 2007. Somehow I feel sorry for Spies and in particular Lorenzo. They will race against Rossi with a bike that will be inferior and fans will judge them as if they are riding an identical machine. I know that I sound heretic and for most of the people I talk blasphemy, but this is the truth and the truth sometimes is painful and unacceptable. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaimec |
I think you're living in a fantasy world. No way is Lorenzo getting "inferior" equipment to Rossi. Spies (and Edwards) on the satellite bikes will always (and HAVE always) been behind the factory bike in development. I said it last year and I'll say it again: Your hatred of Valentino Rossi goes beyond the rational. And Spies got his mental toughness by being the teammate of the surliest son of a bitch in the AMA Paddock. After four years with Mat Mladin, everything else is a vacation. (Message edited by jaimec on February 08, 2010) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Liquorwhere |
And Spies got his mental toughness by being the teammate of the surliest son of a bitch in the AMA Paddock. After four years with Mat Mladin, everything else is a vacation. He said as much last in an interview with superbikeplanet.com, it is what it is, Rossi is the best and until someone knocks him off the top for more than an year then I will be willing to discuss it. I will be cheering for my fellow Americans, Nicky, Ben and Colin, cheering like hell for Team TEXAS, like Colin said they are Red, White and F U! I love it, it should be a great season...as far as Rossi having a boyfriend...I think that is old news I think it has been out for some time that his is at the minimum a switch hitter. yuckkk...but fast on a track. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Trojan |
He will definately have an 100% updated bike that does not share a single component with the rest of the Yamahas. This guy is a real a#@. I wonder why he is adored by millions of racing fans.....Maybe because people want to cheer for the winners, regardless of their arrogant attitude. Where does that misinformation come from? The two factory yamahas will be identical and the only difference will be rider setup. The Tech 3 amahas will start the season pretty mcuh identical to the factory bikes too, but won't getupdates so quickly so will fall back as the season progresses (although I suspect Ben Spies may get more favourable treatment from Yamaha direct). Honda rides have not shared setup data since 2008, and it makes sense to keep personal setup data to yourself (it is an individual sport not a team game!). Why should a world champion have to share his setup with anyone else? It certainly doesn't happen in other sports. Rossi is the least arrogant world champion I have ever met, and compared to other prima donnas who have won the championship fewer times than him he is positively humble (Have you ever met Casey Stoner, Phil Read (snr), or Kenny Roberts(jr)for example!). Rossi is the class of his generation and probably won't ever be bettered in terms of his winning record (or even his superb attendance record at every GP since he started). Sooner or later he will be beaten by younger riders coming up, but I don't think that time has yet come. Spies is of course extremely talented and will make a huge impact on MotoGP. I don't think he will challenge for the top step this year or even regularly break into the top 3, but I have been wrong before. As for the 'gay' Rossi slurs, maybe you need to check a few facts before posting stuff like that. |
