MotoGP Stoner Island - **SPOILERS**

[DogBoy]

Tough to say who the favorite is this weekend.  


Really interesting press conference comments starting at 11:35. Stoner says this era of MotoGP is 50% bike 50% rider.

[photomd]

  at the title.

[squeezer]

  at the title.

+1  

[nater]

Rossi -- the poor guy can't seem to catch a break this season.

[mellow_gold]

Nothing would please me more than to see Simoncelli standing on top of the podium with a big goofy grin on.

[Blunder]

I wanna see the hot wife.

[DogBoy]

FP1 + FP2

[crashtech]

 .....The Ducati fall from grace is almost complete.....I just hate they are taking the 7 and 1 time world champions down with there ship......That turd could not be competitive unless it was dropped from a cliff.....embarrassing really......considering they pooled all resources by dropping from WSBK......LMAO.....

We all know Stoner will smoke at home.....no brainer there.....I agree that I would like to see super Simo on the box.....I bet its going to be a boring ass race....Moto2 wont be.....that will be good!!!

[Capirex]

Meanwhile, in the premiere series...

Marquez plowed into the back of Ratthapark Wilariot after the chequer in FP and will start the race from the back row.  Wilariot was airlifted out.  Bradl owns the fastest lap in practice.

[squeezer]

Meanwhile, in the premiere series...

   At least the most fun one.

Bummer about Wilairot. Hope he's okay. I thought it was cool to have a Thai rider in the field.


So, any guesses on if Stoner can knock another half a second off his time and eclipse Nicky's lap record?

[crashtech]

Meanwhile, in the premiere series...

Marquez plowed into the back of Ratthapark Wilariot after the chequer in FP and will start the race from the back row.  Wilariot was airlifted out.  Bradl owns the fastest lap in practice.

 ...Oh that one is going to be good...Should be fun to watch marq to run through the pack.....

[MisterSmooth]

Well, the first 15 votes show Stoner is the STN choice by a small margin.    

[Orson]

I'm a bit disappointed Jessica Alba didn't make this poll.

[sammyseaman]

Tough to say who the favorite is this weekend.  


Really interesting press conference comments starting at 11:35. Stoner says this era of MotoGP is 50% bike 50% rider.

He's gonna turn into such a nice young man whenever he gets through puberty  

[Tyrroneous]

 ...Oh that one is going to be good...Should be fun to watch marq to run through the pack.....

On top of that, Marquez destroyed his favorite chassis, of which there was only one, and will have to ride his back-up older version chassis.  Moto2 will be fun to watch, no doubt!

[nater]

 .....The Ducati fall from grace is almost complete.....I just hate they are taking the 7 and 1 time world champions down with there ship......That turd could not be competitive unless it was dropped from a cliff.....embarrassing really......considering they pooled all resources by dropping from WSBK......LMAO.....

We all know Stoner will smoke at home.....no brainer there.....I agree that I would like to see super Simo on the box.....I bet its going to be a boring ass race....Moto2 wont be.....that will be good!!!

The only chance Rossi has is if he were to dust off his Yamaha from last year and paint it Ducati red.

[DogBoy]

On top of that, Marquez destroyed his favorite chassis, of which there was only one, and will have to ride his back-up older version chassis.  Moto2 will be fun to watch, no doubt!

There is talk penalizing Marquez for ignoring (or not seeing)  the checker at the end of the session. Crash looks ugly.

http://www.twitvid.com/RR9N8

[squeezer]

There is talk penalizing Marquez for ignoring (or not seeing)  the checker at the end of the session. Crash looks ugly.

http://www.twitvid.com/RR9N8

Wow. Makes you wonder what Marquez was looking at. Maybe he couldn't Wilairot because of the rider on the inside.

Anyone know why he was life flighted out? I'm gonna guess whiplash. It looks like his head really snapped when Marquez hit him.  

[veefer800canuck]

There is talk penalizing Marquez for ignoring (or not seeing)  the checker at the end of the session. Crash looks ugly.

http://www.twitvid.com/RR9N8

OWCH! That was nastiful! Torpedoed from behind, full bore!  

[Blunder]

There is talk penalizing Marquez for ignoring (or not seeing)  the checker at the end of the session. Crash looks ugly.

http://www.twitvid.com/RR9N8

Yup, they added 1 minute to his qualifying time for unsafe riding.

http://roadracingworld.com/news/article/?article=46356

[DogBoy]

FP3 and Final Grid.

No surprises on Row 1 but a couple on Row 2.

[Blunder]

At least Spies is middle 2nd row with Rossi well behind him.

[DredheadV2.0]

Huh - gotta wonder how losing the 2012 chassis is going to affect Marquez not only in this race, but in the remaining two subsequent.  Suddenly, all is not lost for Bradl if only he can get his head out of his ass.

And a title race looms, perhaps, in 125's, with Zarco only 30 points behind Terol and fresh off his first win.  Personally, although it would be boring to see Yet Another Spaniard win a GP title, Terol is pretty much due.  I'm sure he couldn't wait for Marquez to graduate last season, so he could finally win the championship.

[DredheadV2.0]

Lorenzo out after a morning warm-up crash.  Vale 4th fastest in warm-up.

[veefer800canuck]

FP3 and Final Grid.

No surprises on Row 1 but a couple on Row 2.

Wow, where did Bautista come from?  

[tomek]

Well , Marquez is in the different league compared to the rest of Moto2 field , real talent . He want thru that " extremely talented Moto2  field " rather easily .  

 The dude plainly can ride . 2010 chassis , 2011 chassis , it does not matter  much .  

Let`s hope he ends up on satellite MotoGP Honda in 2012 .  

[veefer800canuck]

 

Surgery to repair damage to Jorge Lorenzo's finger in Melbourne this evening has been successful. The surgeon was able to save the nerves and tendons of the injured fourth finger, as a result no functionality will be lost in either the finger or the hand. Unfortunately an extended recovery time will be required so Jorge will not race in Sepang for the Malaysian Grand Prix. A decision on the Valencia Grand Prix will be made dependent on Jorge's condition after his return to Barcelona. The official medical bulletin will be released tomorrow morning.

Stoner Island indeed. If the rain had come earlier in the race, it would have been a whole different jar of vegemite.

Congrats Casey. I bet Rossi and Nicky wish they were still on Hondas this year.

Sad for Bautista, he was having a cracking race until........

[crashtech]

 ...I was watching Rossi going in to the corner thinking to myself "he is going in to hot for a ducati".... .....Least Nicky knows the limits of the bike.....

Congrats Stoner ...But we all knew that was going to happen......

Lorenzo..... is right on that pic above........I like the expression on the female corner workers face....LMAO!!!!! Lorenzo looks like he is screaming......

[DredheadV2.0]

Well , Marquez is real talent .

You're finally coming around.  Well, baby steps, I guess.  

[phoenix]

what injury did Spies have? Will he race again soon?

[garry]

what injury did Spies have? Will he race again soon?

Possible concussion I think. Said he was having trouble concentrating or something.

[DogBoy]

I can't get enough of watching Stoner powerslide through those sweepers. Such a badass.

Congratulations to CS on the championship and the win.

[DredheadV2.0]

Yep.  The guy has been nearly immaculate this season.  While I'm often rooting against him, just a little bit and just to make the race competitive, no one can deny he's at the pinnacle of his immense talent right now.

Congrats, Casey, on the best birthday present a fella could want.  

[tomek]

You're finally coming around.  Well, baby steps, I guess.  

As usual you are twisting my post , what else is new ?  

Are you gonna give Marquez some credit and finally  admit he is much better ridah then you favorite Aryan wunderkind ?  

[DredheadV2.0]

As usual you are twisting my post , what else is new ?  

Are you gonna give Marquez some credit and finally  admit he is much better ridah then you favorite Aryan wunderkind ?  

Pretty sure I did a couple races back.  Try to keep up.

I think, though, that as a Polack you've got a chip on yer shoulder against the racer you disparage, calling him "Teutonic" and "Aryan."  Get over it.  Germans AND Russians fucked shit up in my Motherland (Estonia) too, but I got nothing against Stefan for it (who's Bavarian anyway, not High German).

Hey, since Bradley Smith started from the back and took 4th a few races back, are you willing to say h's a "talent" as well?  How about Iannone, who wins races yet almost always qualifies mid-pack or worse?

[tomek]

  .

[DredheadV2.0]

I've been feeling the same way all season.  

[Tyrroneous]

For some reason, I'm always hoping Bautista does well.  Maybe its because I want Suzuki to stay in MotoGP.  After seeing him start on the front row, I sure was hopeful of a good showing for Suzuki.  Congrats to Stoner, he's ridden hard and smart all season.  

Marquez's ride through the Moto2 field was impressive--a master class in damage limitation.  And how did Bradl NOT crash after touching the back wheel of Alex DeDangerous's bike?!    

[DredheadV2.0]

Marquez's ride through the Moto2 field was impressive--a master class in damage limitation.  And how did Bradl NOT crash after touching the back wheel of Alex DeDangerous's bike?!    

Talent, possibly?  That was a crash for most guys on the grid.

Can he pull it together and stay ahead of Marquez for two more races?  Doubtful, but it does give us something to get excited about for the remainder of the season.

Agree on Bautista - I think it's 'coz he's such a nice f**king guy, versus the talented yet douchey Simoncelli.  I gotta say I miss the distups between Baustista, Simo, Barbara and the occasional Aoyama sneaking past them all in 250's.  Those were some wild races.