***Spoiler Estoril MotoGP Thread***

[Yamadog]

Starting off with pole:

Pos  Rider             Bike           Time
 1.  Jorge Lorenzo     Yamaha    (M)  1:35.715
 2.  Dani Pedrosa      Honda     (M)  1:35.948  + 0.233
 3.  Valentino Rossi   Yamaha    (B)  1:36.199  + 0.484
 4.  Nicky Hayden      Honda     (M)  1:36.266  + 0.551
 5.  Colin Edwards     Yamaha    (M)  1:36.289  + 0.574
 6.  James Toseland    Yamaha    (M)  1:36.790  + 1.075
 7.  Andrea Dovizioso  Honda     (M)  1:36.998  + 1.283
 8.  Randy de Puniet   Honda     (M)  1:37.223  + 1.508
 9.  Casey Stoner      Ducati    (B)  1:37.253  + 1.538
10.  John Hopkins      Kawasaki  (B)  1:37.346  + 1.631
11.  Shinya Nakano     Honda     (B)  1:37.664  + 1.949
12.  Loris Capirossi   Suzuki    (B)  1:37.786  + 2.071
13.  Chris Vermeulen   Suzuki    (B)  1:37.843  + 2.128
14.  Toni Elias        Ducati    (B)  1:38.561  + 2.846
15.  Anthony West      Kawasaki  (B)  1:38.775  + 3.060
16.  Alex de Angelis   Honda     (B)  1:38.823  + 3.108
17.  Marco Melandri    Ducati    (B)  1:39.115  + 3.400
18.  Sylvain Guintoli  Ducati    (B)  1:39.355  + 3.640

Yamaha and Honda rock! What has happened to Ducati?!!

[squeezer]

Yamaha and Honda rock! What has happened to Ducati?!!

Good question.  And is Stoner really that much better than the rest of them?

Michelin sure has the qualifying pace this year.  I'm looking forward to this one.

[Jeff N]

Looks like a new generation is feeling its oats, but damn, they're getting younger every year.

[desert_rider]

Does anybody know if Nicky is going to be running the new engine?

[DogBoy]

The Hondas are still using conventional valves and springs this weekend.

In other news, Toseland and Edwards have air valve engines from Yamaha for this race.

[miles]

Lorenzo's done it.  Wow.His first win, but it only took him his third MotoGP start, and his third qualifying pole.
Pedrobot second, Rossi third.  Edwards in fourth.
Some other guys came in later.


5/7 of the top guys on I-4 engines.  Only Pedro and Casey manger to get their stinky V-4 bikes into the top seven. (second and sixth, respectively)

[stromgal]

Unbelievable start for the 'rookie'. While I'm flummoxed by the change in who's strong/who isn't from last year, it sure does make for interesting racing.  

[Yamadog]

Cracking good race! Vale must be really glad he demanded Bridgestones, although the commentators were trying to say the 'Stones weren't expected to do well until China Lorenzo very impressive! Great season so far

[tomek]

5/7 of the top guys on I-4 engines.  Only Pedro and Casey manger to get their stinky V-4 bikes into the top seven. (second and sixth, respectively)

,,,,,,,and only V4 guys crashed out of the race,,,,,,,,

90 deg. V4 is barge like handling device,,,,,,,,no front end feel,,,,,,,,,,,and 800s are all about front end.

The only way they can win is via massive hp advantage and superior tires,that what "happend" to Stoner last year,,,,,in 08 hps are pretty even and Stones are not superior any longer,actually at present moment they blow,just ask Rossi..

BTW,it is good that Rossi switched to Bridgestones,otherwise it would`ve been another boring year in MotoGp( a.k.a. Rossi winning 10-12 races )

[Jeff N]

How old is Lorenzo? Freddie Spencer was the youngest winner of a GP when he was victorious at Spa back in '82, or was it '83? I recall the announcers saying that Jorge is only 20.  

No matter. To have all the pole positions so far and to podium every race is pretty amazing.

[Yamadog]

,,,,,,,and only V4 guys crashed out of the race,,,,,,,,

90 deg. V4 is barge like handling device,,,,,,,,no front end feel,,,,,,,,,,,and 800s are all about front end.

The only way they can win is via massive hp advantage and superior tires,that what "happend" to Stoner last year,,,,,in 08 hps are pretty even and Stones are not superior any longer,actually at present moment they blow,just ask Rossi..

BTW,it is good that Rossi switched to Bridgestones,otherwise it would`ve been another boring year in MotoGp( a.k.a. Rossi winning 10-12 races )

Just have to feed the animals don't you I'm surprised the v4 defender hasn't weighed in already.

[Yamadog]

How old is Lorenzo? Freddie Spencer was the youngest winner of a GP when he was victorious at Spa back in '82, or was it '83? I recall the announcers saying that Jorge is only 20.  

No matter. To have all the pole positions so far and to podium every race is pretty amazing.

According to his website he was born 4 May 87.

[spinmaster]

I know that tis a little early to predict a champion but how pissed do you think Vale is going to be when Jorge is the '08 champion?  

[squeezer]

What do you think Marco Melandri is thinking about now?  After looking so strong on satellite teams, he finally snags a ride with a factory squad -- and not just any factory squad, but the one with the rider that dominated last season.  He must have thought he won the lottery.  Now, he's back of the grid.  Amazing.

I agree that this season looks fun.  I love to see rookies do well.  And while our guys haven't been challenging for wins, they're at least riding well enough to make rooting for them fun.

[dnlwthrn]

How old is Lorenzo? Freddie Spencer was the youngest winner of a GP when he was victorious at Spa back in '82, or was it '83? I recall the announcers saying that Jorge is only 20.  

No matter. To have all the pole positions so far and to podium every race is pretty amazing.

I believe the announcers (MotoGP live feed) said something about him being several months older than Spencer was for his first win...  Or something like that.  So he was close to being the youngest, but not quite.

[Tyrroneous]

Overall, a pretty good race, especially the first half.  Sucks for Nicky.  He was gaining on the leading group when he crashed out.  I was hoping he'd at least get a podium spot.    I'm glad that Hoppers and Edwards had decent showings though.  


Jorge's performance this far has been amazing.  I don't think anybody expected him to come in and clean house like he has.  How long can he keep this up?

[Yamadog]

Ilove these guys! http://www.motogpnews.com/home.php?pageid=1035

And as usual Kropotkin does a beautiful of reporting the race http://blogger.xs4all.nl/daisy/archive/2008/04/14/377016.aspx

[desert_rider]

Ilove these guys! http://www.motogpnews.com/home.php?pageid=1035

From MGPN:

In the race Casey made a good start before dropping back. He fell back partly thanks to a big piece of his dash falling off which, like an injured sparrow, was left flapping around - something every Ducati owner can relate to.

 

[1KPerDay]

Funny, I was thinking the same thing as he was trying to stuff broken bits back inside his fairing.

[LicketySplat]

Soup reports that the flappage on Stoner's bike came from one of Dorna's onboard cameras. http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2008/Apr/080413rn.htm  I'm sure he was just thrilled about that.