***Spoiler Dutch MotoGP @ Assen Thread***

[Yamadog]

First blood:

Assen MotoGP free practice one results:

1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'36.569
2 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'37.186
3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team HONDA 1'37.398
4 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1'37.437
5 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'37.470
6 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'37.480
7 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP HONDA 1'37.507
8 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'37.652
9 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 1'37.821
10 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP HONDA 1'37.951
11 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team YAMAHA 1'37.987
12 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'38.082
13 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha YAMAHA 1'38.198
14 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP SUZUKI 1'38.341
15 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team DUCATI 1'38.435
16 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team KAWASAKI 1'38.768
17 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team DUCATI 1'39.020
18 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team DUCATI 1'39.805

[phoenix]

hopefully not another weekend where I get my hopes up for Nicky and then all I hear is "...and Hayden drops down to...."


I guess this means that Spies' interview is temporarily suspended.

[Yamadog]

FP2

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 36.087 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 36.819 secs
3. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 36.931 secs
4. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 37.012 secs
5. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 37.126 secs
6. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 37.137 secs
7. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 37.187 secs
8. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 37.251 secs
9. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 37.280 secs
10. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 37.282 secs
11. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 37.326 secs
12. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 37.357 secs
13. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 37.838 secs
14. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 37.960 secs
15. Anthony West AUS Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 38.413 secs
16. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 38.656 secs
17. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 38.667 secs
18. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 39.214 secs

And Loris crashed again and will not ride. Ben Spies said thanks but no thanks to deputize.

[desert_rider]

And Loris crashed again and will not ride.

   That boy is going to kill himself !!

[DredheadV2.0]

hopefully not another weekend where I get my hopes up for Nicky and then all I hear is "...and Hayden drops down to...."

Then hope for either fewer laps or a more efficient 212V motor.  Isn't the new motor supposedly even thirstier than the spring-valve?

Nicky's doing much better on this bike, but I think he'd do even better on the Ducati.

[Yamadog]

Pole:

1. Casey Stoner        Ducati Marlboro Team     1:35.520           23
 2. Dani Pedrosa        Repsol Honda Team        1:35.552 + 0.032   28
 3. Valentino Rossi     Fiat Yamaha Team         1:35.659 + 0.139   29
 4. Nicky Hayden        Repsol Honda Team        1:35.975 + 0.455   25
 5. Randy de Puniet     LCR Honda MotoGP         1:35.985 + 0.465   28
 6. Colin Edwards       Tech 3 Yamaha            1:36.278 + 0.758   23
 7. Jorge Lorenzo       Fiat Yamaha Team         1:36.532 + 1.012   26
 8. Chris Vermeulen     Rizla Suzuki MotoGP      1:36.768 + 1.248   25
 9. Shinya Nakano       San Carlo Honda Gresini  1:36.804 + 1.284   25
10. Sylvain Guintoli    Alice Team               1:36.823 + 1.303   26
11. Andrea Dovizioso    JiR Team Scot MotoGP     1:36.899 + 1.379   22
12. Alex de Angelis     San Carlo Honda Gresini  1:36.948 + 1.428   24
13. James Toseland      Tech 3 Yamaha            1:36.978 + 1.458   26
14. Toni Elias          Alice Team               1:37.287 + 1.767   25
15. John Hopkins        Kawasaki Racing Team     1:37.643 + 2.123   20
16. Anthony West        Kawasaki Racing Team     1:37.793 + 2.273   26
17. Marco Melandri      Ducati Marlboro Team     1:38.726 + 3.206   25

Apparently Hopper fractured an ankle in a big off, so we'll see if he's as tough as Lorenzo I guess. Melandri? How long will it be before Sete takes that seat?

[atypical1]

Gooooooooooooo Casey!

james

[dnlwthrn]

Hopper's out 3-4 weeks.  Fractured bone in ankle, plus 2 fractures in the tibia, plus possible knee issues.  He's not to put weight on the foot for 20-25 days.  He "might" be ready to ride again by the time they get to Laguna.

Interesting to see that the top 6 all qualified faster than the previous record lap.  I'll be watching tomorrow morning with the little ones, thanks to MotoGP.com

[DredheadV2.0]

Okay, someone please tell me what "A-style TT" means.  It's not a TT race like Manx or any of those other crazy street-assault TT races, so...

kthxbye

[Jeff N]

A-Style is an Italian clothing company.

The races in Holland, MotoGP's oldest venue (that's been badly hacked and shortened, BTW), have always been called the TT because it was once a public roads course.

[DogBoy]

The Dutch GP is a very old and historic event and still uses the TT name from the days when all races were known as TT's. At one time many races were run on public roads closed for the event.

A-style is the sponsor. A-style TT = Red Bull GP.

[DogBoy]

Jeff got me by 27 seconds.

[Jeff N]

 

[DredheadV2.0]

 

Hence my confusion.

[phoenix]

 
looks like missionary position to me.

[Dutch]

 
looks like missionary position to me.

Doggy -

[Mookie]

Holy crap, just saw Hopper's crash (well, parts of it).  He went really fast *into a wall*.  I'd say he's probably lucky to be alive  

[Aero]

 

 

A-Style is an Italian clothing company.

And I'm expecting a copyright infringement suit any day now!

[dnlwthrn]

What, no results posted yet?  


Sure was an interesting race.  I wish I would have caught the whole thing, as I missed about the first 10 laps (and all the crashes).

Summary:  Rossi lowsides on the first lap, taking out RdP as he goes down.  He somehow manages to save the bike, gets back on and keeps racing (now in last).  Edwards gets caught behind the crash, and has to work back through the pack.  Stoner passes Pedrobot for the lead, and never looks back.  Nicky settles in behind Pedrosa for a good race, and appears to be set for 3rd.  Edwards makes his way back up to 4th, and then on the last chicane (where he tried to pass Nicky 2 years ago and crashed on the last lap), Nicky's bike appears to quit.  He coasts across the line banging his fists on the tank as Edwards passes him for the final podium spot.  Rossi manages to get up to 11th (IIRC).

So the championship is all up in the air again, with Pedrosa leading Rossi by 4 points and Stoner only 25 points away from Rossi in third.

Race Results
1    C. STONER            AUS    Ducati Marlboro Team    42'12.337
2    D. PEDROSA    SPA    Repsol Honda Team    + 11.310
3    C. EDWARDS    USA    Tech 3 Yamaha            + 17.125
4    N. HAYDEN            USA    Repsol Honda Team    + 20.477
5    A. DOVIZIOSO    ITA    JiR Team Scot MotoGP    + 27.346
6    J. LORENZO    SPA    Fiat Yamaha Team    + 28.608
7    C. VERMEULEN    AUS    Rizla Suzuki MotoGP    + 32.330
8    S. NAKANO            JPN    San Carlo Honda Gresini + 34.892
9    J. TOSELAND    GBR    Tech 3 Yamaha            + 38.566
10    S. GUINTOLI    FRA    Alice Team                    + 38.817
11    V. ROSSI            ITA    Fiat Yamaha Team    + 46.025
12    T. ELIAS            SPA    Alice Team                    + 48.213
13    M. MELANDRI    ITA    Ducati Marlboro Team    + 59.594

[Jeff N]

Crap. Asimo leads the Championship.

http://www.roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=33045

[DredheadV2.0]

OMFG.

Running out of gas, in the last corner.  Unbefuckinglievable.  The sound of Nicky's voice shaking as they were interviewing him right after... there was a lot of emotion there.

Well, Stoner's back.  30 seconds faster overall than last year.  Amazing.  I can't wait to see Nicky on the Ducati.

[ReviveTheWhigs]

That was one the most entertaining races of the year.

I love Nicky's effort and passion, love the way he competes. When I saw his bike's motor cut out, I couldn't help but feel terrible for him...until I saw Colin come roaring by. Then I started laughing uncontrollably...

I appreciate the way Casey has been dominating these past two races, but to me the most impressive ride this race was performed by Rossi. Eurosport got a great shot of Rossi's bike after he pulled in. I was shocked to see the condition his shifter lever was in; I cannot believe he put in the third fastest lap of the race with hardly a  piece of metal to work with. Amazing.    

[2dealdrive]

boy, ya sure gotta feel for Nicky, gets a motor and chassis that keep him at the front and he just misses his first podium on the year.  That was a tough, TOUGH break to lose by a few ounces of gas.  Damn.  

[mugwump58]

It's for sure it was fuel? I thought I heard him say that it wasn't running right during warm up. Fuel is an easy fix. Nicky likes the 'ring, I'm hoping for good better things.

[atypical1]

That 250 race was amazing. It was a battle for the first three places and I really was not sure who was going to win that race. Wow, I gotta start watching more of the 250 races because everyone that I have seen has been good.

james

[Orson]

Wow, I gotta start watching more of the 250 races because everyone that I have seen has been good.

I think today's Grand Prix scene is much like the 1960s.

the late 1960s was a dead era in racing in the 500cc class with the MV Agusta team racing a field of privateers.

The 250 class, on the other hand, was a veritable hotbed of technology with entries such as Yamaha's V4 and Honda's inline 6. Add to the mix Benelli's inline 4, Ossa's monocoque bike and fast two-strokes from MZ, Bultaco and Aermacchi.

I think the 250 class is where it's at  

enjoy it while we can  

[mugwump58]

I'm lucky in that I'm a subscriber to Dorna. It's great that most of the races are in Europe too. For Assen I start watching at 5 am and I haven't blown the whole day by the time it's all over. Watching the 125's and 250'[soon to be 600's] IS fantastic! It's also cool to watch  the riders advance.

[Yamadog]

Great race even though Stoner just left the building--amazing display like last season. It was hard to listen to Nicky's raw emotion and not really feel for the lad. I sure hope he is out of HRC and off to Ducati as the rumors indicate. Also quite a ride from Edwards, and even Vermin showed pretty well. Vale screwed up but made the most of a bad situation. It's all to play for now!

[ol Rocket]

  I can't wait to see Nicky on the Ducati.

That would be sweet, if it's true.  Loris can hardly reach the bars, let alone hold the thing up.  The Kentucky boy has arms and legs suited to the Duc.

[hobbes]

That would be sweet, if it's true.  Loris can hardly reach the bars, let alone hold the thing up.  The Kentucky boy has arms and legs suited to the Duc.

??

Stoner's but a wee man. He doesn't pretty well!

[DogBoy]

I think Stoner is six foot tall or pretty close. He's about the same size as Rossi. Both are scrawny.



Of course, he has to be tall to keep up with those legs:

[DogBoy]

Unrelated. Just posting this pic because its cool.

[DredheadV2.0]

Yes, yes it is.  

[Yamadog]

I think Stoner is six foot tall or pretty close. He's about the same size as Rossi. Both are scrawny.



Of course, he has to be tall to keep up with those legs:

I remember reading somewhere, just cannot remember where, that Stoner is only 5'5" 135# or so but could be wrong. Adriana is HOT in my humble opinion. YMMV

Edit to add: Stoner is 170cm tall or 5.5777' so we'll give him 5'6". Weight 58kg or about 128lbs.

[DogBoy]

I was right.  

[hobbes]

I think Stoner is six foot tall or pretty close. He's about the same size as Rossi. Both are scrawny.



Of course, he has to be tall to keep up with those legs:

You're smokin' something. Rossi is "huge" at 5'7ish. Stoner is a mite. I ran into him and his girl at the Hyatt he and I were staying at back at the second Laguna GP. He's TINY!

[Yamadog]

Just got around to reading the MotoGP News race report http://www.motogpnews.com/home.php?pageid=1092

As usual they have some great quotes but here are a couple I really appreciated:

Assen, however, last season saw Casey beaten by Valentino Rossi. It was hailed as the greatest race of the season* partly because Stoner was usually so good that by lap five he'd be as a small a figure in the distance as Pedrosa is in the foreground. Now you'd think with a surname such as his Casey would go well in Holland but for whatever reason the furry 46 Italian outwitted him for the race win.

The Rossi fans lapped it up. They'd been suffering a long term lack of utter smugness and needed a fix of passive superiority. They spouted such lines as "on real track like Assen we can see who the true champion is", "now that he can't use the Ducati's superior power Casey's nothing" along with "I hate that toothy, Aussie arse."

Even the press hailed it as the greatest race ever - nobody liked Casey. Nobody still does.
To put it right the sulking Aussie needed to win by a country mile and silence them yellow clad, non-Toseland supporters. And, as Karma would have it, that's exactly what he did.
He was fastest in practice by a filthy distance. He was fastest in qualifying. His paddock scooter was handsomely quickest through the IRTAQ speed traps. He was even the quickest in the public lavatory getting in, dropping a log, washing his hands and leaving before poor Melandri had even unfastened his trousers.

Come Sunday it looked fairly certain he'd win the race. And he did. From the off zero-drag boy Pedrosa took to lead but was every bit as powerless to stop Stoner taking the spot back as he would be to stop an orphan girl stealing his dinner money.

Into the final corner of the final lap the American bean-bagger Nicky Hayden ran out of fuel. His mass drag probably didn't help. Honda claim they have a system in place that limits the power when fuel is lacking. Indeed they have. Although turning the engine off when it's all gone probably isn't the most high-tech solution.

[DredheadV2.0]

[DogBoy]

You're smokin' something. Rossi is "huge" at 5'7ish. Stoner is a mite. I ran into him and his girl at the Hyatt he and I were staying at back at the second Laguna GP. He's TINY!

Rossi is 5"11".  link

Think Stoner is for or five inches shorter in that picture? Sure Rossi is leaning back but they are not that far apart.

[dnlwthrn]

So Rossi is listed at 1.82m and Stoner is listed at 1.71m.  That's a whopping 11cm difference (or 4.33 in for us 'Muricans).  The real question is whether they measured Rossi with the 'fro or without...

[mugwump58]

The podium told the height story. Recall Collin on the lowest podium at least as tall as the other 2, the stone faced Pedrossa and Stoner. I don't seem to mind when Stoner wins.

Adriana

[Mookie]

Any update on Hopper's condition?

[ol Rocket]

author=hobbes link=topic=27372.msg629327#msg629327 date=1214840517

??

Stoner's but a wee man. He doesn't pretty well!

Aye, Hobbsie, but he doesn't fall off much any more.  Loris is even shorter, and seems to be unable to stay on the bike for any length of time these days.  Isn't he about retirement age?

[DogBoy]

Any update on Hopper's condition?

All busted up. Sorry I don't know how else to summarize this post from Hopkins website:  link

The Kawasaki pilot slid across the track and through the gravel trap before colliding feet first with the tyre wall on the outside of the corner. Unable to walk, Hopkins was transported to the medical centre by ambulance, where he underwent an initial examination by circuit medical staff.
X-rays of his injured left leg revealed that Hopkins had sustained a fracture to the bottom of his tibia and that he had also reopened a previous fracture, the result of a crash earlier in his racing career. The x-rays also showed a fracture to the lateral malleolus, which is one of the bones at the top of the ankle.
The medical staff also took x-rays of Hopkins' left knee to check for possible compression injuries after the rider complained of stiffness and pain in the joint, but these x-rays were inconclusive.
Hopkins will undergo a bone scan in Los Angeles that should reveal if there is any additional damage to the lateral malleolus and the knee joint, both of which are difficult to x-ray effectively due to their proximity to other large bones in the leg and ankle.
Only after the full extent of his injuries are known will a decision be made as to whether Hopkins will race at the German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
The initial opinion of Dr Claudio Costa of the Clinica Mobile was that, had Hopkins fractured the bones in his right leg and ankle instead of his left, then there was a good chance he could have been fit enough to ride in Germany.
Unfortunately it is the left foot that must be used to change gear up to 30 times on each lap, and for this reason there is only a slim chance that Hopkins will be fit to contest the tenth round of the MotoGP world championship in Germany, which takes place in just two weeks time.

[hobbes]

Rossi is 5"11".  link

Think Stoner is for or five inches shorter in that picture? Sure Rossi is leaning back but they are not that far apart.

Yes, I do. He's way shorter than me, and I'm 5'9". He's 171cm = 5'7" 128lbs. He's a tiny man.

[dnlwthrn]

I think it was 2 yrs ago that I went through the riders' bios looking at height and weight.  At the time, Alex Hoffman was the only "normal" rider, weighing in around 160-165.  Rossi's a beanpole, and he's one of the "bigger" riders.  Guys like Pedrosa are only slightly larger than my 7 yr old!  

[mugwump58]

Is it time for a "minimum" rider weight to be invoked?