***Spoiler British MotoGP at Donington Park***

[Yamadog]

http://www.motogpmatters.com/results/2008/06/20/2008_donington_fp2_times_day_1_stoner_dominates_hayden_close.html

Stoner off to very impressive first day, Nicky likes the pneu motor/chassis combinattion.

Ben not so much, predictably with new moto and track. He is faster than one Duck though.

[DogBoy]

Separated at Birth?

[LicketySplat]

 

[Yamadog]

Rain for FP3:
Pos.   No.   Rider   Manufacturer   Fast Lap   Diff   Diff Previous
1   4   Andrea DOVIZIOSO   HONDA   1'43.957       
2   2   Dani PEDROSA   HONDA   1'43.995   0.038   0.038
3   69   Nicky HAYDEN   HONDA   1'44.526   0.569   0.531
4   13   Anthony WEST   KAWASAKI   1'44.528   0.571   0.002
5   50   Sylvain GUINTOLI   DUCATI   1'44.817   0.860   0.289
6   1   Casey STONER   DUCATI   1'45.031   1.074   0.214
7   15   Alex DE ANGELIS   HONDA   1'45.208   1.251   0.177
8   48   Jorge LORENZO   YAMAHA   1'45.372   1.415   0.164
9   46   Valentino ROSSI   YAMAHA   1'46.012   2.055   0.640
10   11   Ben SPIES   SUZUKI   1'46.046   2.089   0.034
11   7   Chris VERMEULEN   SUZUKI   1'46.188   2.231   0.142
12   5   Colin EDWARDS   YAMAHA   1'46.281   2.324   0.093
13   21   John HOPKINS   KAWASAKI   1'46.944   2.987   0.663
14   24   Toni ELIAS   DUCATI   1'47.685   3.728   0.741
15   52   James TOSELAND   YAMAHA   1'47.975   4.018   0.290
16   14   Randy DE PUNIET   HONDA   1'49.133   5.176   1.158
17   56   Shinya NAKANO   HONDA   1'50.406   6.449   1.273
18   33   Marco MELANDRI   DUCATI   1'52.571   8.614   2.165

[Jeff N]

Rain is forecast for Sunday.

[Scottyfizz]

I wonder how Ben is adapting to the Bridgestones. It will be good to see him actually race with someone other than Mladin.

[hobbes]

He seems to be adapting well to the 'Stones rain tires! (sorry, tyres at Donnington)

Final Qualifying times:

1   1   Casey STONER   AUS   Ducati Marlboro Team   Ducati   1'38.232   262.208   
2   46   Valentino ROSSI   ITA   Fiat Yamaha Team   Yamaha   1'38.881   261.762   0.649
3   7   Chris VERMEULEN   AUS   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   Suzuki   1'39.018   261.002   0.786
4   69   Nicky HAYDEN   USA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   1'39.270   258.375   1.038
5   5   Colin EDWARDS   USA   Tech 3 Yamaha   Yamaha   1'39.601   256.104   1.369
6   4   Andrea DOVIZIOSO   ITA   JiR Team Scot MotoGP   Honda   1'39.783   253.455   1.551
7   13   Anthony WEST   AUS   Kawasaki Racing Team   Kawasaki   1'39.995   260.686   1.763
8   11   Ben SPIES   USA   Rizla Suzuki MotoGP   Suzuki   1'40.244   261.191   2.012
9   2   Dani PEDROSA   SPA   Repsol Honda Team   Honda   1'40.350   262.017   2.118
10   56   Shinya NAKANO   JPN   San Carlo Honda Gresini   Honda   1'40.417   257.204   2.185
11   21   John HOPKINS   USA   Kawasaki Racing Team   Kawasaki   1'40.539   257.449   2.307
12   50   Sylvain GUINTOLI   FRA   Alice Team   Ducati   1'40.595   254.893   2.363
13   15   Alex DE ANGELIS   RSM   San Carlo Honda Gresini   Honda   1'40.667   253.753   2.435
14   14   Randy DE PUNIET   FRA   LCR Honda MotoGP   Honda   1'41.110   252.505   2.878
15   33   Marco MELANDRI   ITA   Ducati Marlboro Team   Ducati   1'41.379   256.653   3.147
16   52   James TOSELAND   GBR   Tech 3 Yamaha   Yamaha   1'41.751   253.158   3.519
17   48   Jorge LORENZO   SPA   Fiat Yamaha Team   Yamaha   1'41.873   254.052   3.641
18   24   Toni ELIAS   SPA   Alice Team   Ducati   1'42.933   253.574   4.701

[Jeff N]

Ben in front of Asimo?  

And Vermin in 3rd? Well, it is wet.

[Mr Sunshine]

wow what a great race!!!!

[heinee]

wow what a great race!!!!

..i'll need to wait until after 2pm pst

[protondecay123]

If you have BitTorrent you can download the BBC Sports broadcast

HERE!

[atypical1]

Good on Stoner. When he wins he wins big!

I thought that Ped was going to take Vale but it was not to be. Good race but a little one sided...hopefully the rest can be that way for Casey too  

james

[Busy Little Whiner]

Rossi don't sign with Yamaka... you know in your heart those relics of the past are dead and buried...

[Yamadog]

Good effort from Ben! Got faster with each lap I believe he said. Apparently Nicky had to switch to his b/u and then had some sort of electrical glitch during the race, but it was an encouraging race regardless. Stoner dominated, Vale best of the rest. Edwards and Lorenzo had very strong rides too. Rest of the season could be a snooze fest if the Duck is truly sorted out now, but hope not.

[phoenix]

from MCN

Donington Park MotoGP: Warning light put Nicky Hayden off stride
By Rob Hull

MotoGP

22 June 2008 21:17


Nicky Hayden’s first outing with the new Honda chassis was a big success this weekend at Donington.

The 2006 MotoGP World Champion was more competitive throughout the race weekend than any other round this season.

But during the race the American said he was slightly put off by a warning light that came up on the screen of his RCV Honda, resulting in a seventh position in the race after coming out on top in a great dice with Chris Vermeulen.

He said: “We didn’t know what to expect here, everything went smooth until this morning when we had to switch bikes.

“The first few laps of the race went okay and then about nine laps in I had a dash light come on.

“I didn’t know what it was for, but if a sensor goes bad you realise just how much you use traction control, engine braking control and things like that.

“It was nothing serious but I lost some confidence for a couple of laps, so my lap times fell and it upset my rhythm while I got my confidence back.

“The guys are looking into it now.”

[Orson]

from MCN
But during the race the American said he was slightly put off by a warning light that came up on the screen of his RCV Honda

that reminds me of stories circulating a few years ago that if Barricchelo was putting in faster lap times than Schumi, someone along the pit wall would tap a few keys on a lap top, and Barricchelo's lap times started to go up  

[hobbes]

that reminds me of stories circulating a few years ago that if Barricchelo was putting in faster lap times than Schumi, someone along the pit wall would tap a few keys on a lap top, and Barricchelo's lap times started to go up  

heh. I'm wouldn't be surprised!


I thought the race was kinda boring, but I'm very happy that Spies was mentioned so much during the broadcast. Apparently Dorna knows just how important the American market is. Spies could be a big boost for MotoGP in America if he makes the jump and does well. I'm starting to think he could do well in MotoGP in his first few years.

I'm getting more and more impressed with Colin Edwards too this year. I know that Yamaha team is the best of the satellites, but he's really riding well. I'd like to see him in WSBK because I'd love to see him throwing around a superbike, but I think he's got a chance to perform very well with this Yamaha team.

I wonder where he will be next year?

[garry]

Edwards continues to impress with just off the podium finishes.

Pedrobot doesn't seem to have the fire to put up and extended fight when he and Rossi were battling. Some fun laps to watch there. Interesting style point: both guys seem fond of hanging their left foot out in the breeze on left corners.

I hope no one dominates the series and that there is some good racing in the top 5 each week. Could make for a fun second half of the season.

[notarian]

Ever so happy to see a Ducati win. But, I had a fiver on Rossi simply because of his stunning ride in the rain at Donnington a couple years ago. Well done Casey, may it continue!

For Laguna, money's on Ducati and Casey again after last years performance and my collecting £50 from the bookies.

Edwards for 2nd place or a podium and I'll plant more dosh with the bookies on that one. Trust me, you'll make a packet on Colin at Laguna.

Note

[bogthing]

Separated at Birth?

If so, then that means he WILL indeed be racing the Ducati (Song of the Sausage creature) either that or the Vincent Black Shadow is coming back!

"When the going gets weird, the weird turn pro"

H.S.T.!