Valencia MotoGP **Spoilers**

[DogBoy]

End of many eras this weekend.

Both FP1 and FP2 were wet sessions.

[motodog650]

End of many eras this weekend.

Both FP1 and FP2 were wet sessions.

Don't appear as though Hayes is 'skeered' of it...

[DogBoy]

Go Get 'em Josh.

[squeezer]

Go Get 'em Josh.

Results won't look good, but I think 3-4 tenths off Crutchlow on both a track and a bike he's never been on looks impressive to me. Go Josh!

[Tyrroneous]

If qualifying and race are dry, all this riding around in the wet is doing nothing to really help Hayes learn the brakes and tires.  But 10th in P2 aint too shabby!    

[Blunder]

It rains is Spain?

That's a cool pic of Hayes.  

[Tyrroneous]

It rains is Spain?

Mostly in the plains.  

MotoMatters.com is reporting rain forecasted for the rest of the weekend.  Which, I have to believe is good news for Hayes.  

I'm confused though.  The Ducatis are known to be more competitive in the wet.  But if the whole issue is front end feel and the lack thereof, wouldn't riding in the wet just exaggerate that issue?  Wouldn't they have LESS feel in the rain?  I would think the  Ducs would be less competitive in the wet because trust and feel in the front end is even more important than they are in the dry.  

Also, way cool to see Bautista at the top of P2.  Would great to see them win the last race of the 800 era.

[veefer800canuck]

Well, rain certainly will help the non-aliens. Where is Olivier Jacques when you need him?

[DredheadV2.0]

If rain is the great equalizer, this speaks well of the innate talents of some folks who've been mid-pack all season long.

Personally I would love to see Capirex on the podium.  #100 podium at the end of his career would b lovely, especially carrying Sic's number.

...as an aside, ever wonder what the last decade would have been like if Kato had been around?

[satxbonneville]

I'd love to see them leave an open slot on the grid as a gesture to Marco.

Olivier Jacques indeed. I remember that awesome ride he had at the wet race in China several seasons back.

[veefer800canuck]

I'd love to see them leave an open slot on the grid as a gesture to Marco.

Olivier Jacques indeed. I remember that awesome ride he had at the wet race in China several seasons back.

At the time he got called to china by Kawasaki, he had not turned a wheel in anger on a racetrack for like 18 months, and he proceeded to clean everyone's clocks in a torrential downpour.

One of the better races I have seen in a long time.

[DogBoy]

FP3

[DogBoy]

Stoner domination in Qualifying. Full second on Pedrosa in 2nd.

Hayes is where I would expect to see him in the dry. I think he's doing well for so little time to adapt.

[squeezer]

DePuniet in 4th?!?  Good for him and Pramac.

[motodog650]

Stoner domination in Qualifying. Full second on Pedrosa in 2nd.

1.014 to be exact. I know track conditions were a bit iffy but geezzz...

Hope Yamaha can get some good tests in between now and the first race of 2012 and come out strong with their 1000 or we're gonna see continued domination by Stoner...

[Aero]

From Eurosport:

Hayes tops Valencia warm-up.
MotoGP debutant Josh Hayes was quickest in the warm-up for the Valencia Grand Prix thanks to a bold late run on slick tyres in a damp session.

The double American Superbike champion was the first man to do a flying lap on slicks, and that allowed him to set a 1m40.469s to lead the way by 1.6 seconds over Gresini Honda's Hiroshi Aoyama and 3.3s over world champion Casey Stoner's Honda.

Impressive! I had never heard of him until a few days ago, wonder if he will ruffle a few feathers in the race?

[garry]

Interesting race for the podium spots, for the entire race even. Now it's time to go ride (dual-sport)!

[Galo]

Fab race.....Spies 2nd by 15 thousands.....ugh!!
Hayes 7th!! Methinks this will not be his last MotoGP race.....

[phoenix]

any idea how Stoner pissed away his 9 second lead? Maybe a little off-track excersion?

The big pile up at the start of the race sucked. I was trying to see if anyone was going to throw a few punches, although it was not Bautista's fault. Nick and Valentino are probably glad this season is over. What a mess they've been through.

[DogBoy]

Plenty of excitement and a great battle for second through fourth that morphs into a contest for the win. Glad to see the 800s go out with something memorable.

Very happy for Josh Hayes. Some comments from his Facebook page.

after warmup:
"Considered retiring after morning warm up. Go out on top??"

Just before the race:
"Stomach is wrecked and nerves are shot... #showtime"

 

[Snowdog]

Fantastic to see Pirro winning Moto2 and give Gresini something positive to finish the season. He said Marco was riding with him.

[Kneescrubber]

Just finished watching the race. WOW! The drive Stoner got out of the last corner was incredible. Hayes could get an offer after his debut and the incoming 1000cc bikes. Anyone know why Pedrobot faded so much?

[veefer800canuck]

Shame about Bautista going bowling. Wanted to see Suzuki do well in the last round.
And of course the others who got driven into the kitty litter.

[veefer800canuck]

Anyone know why Pedrobot faded so much?

Softer tires, according to Julian Ryder.
He must have shagged it.

[Kneescrubber]

Funny, I was thinking when Ben came out of the last corner to start the last lap; Is he thinking about what Mladin taught him? Apparently not. Mladin schooled Ben before he finally figured it out. I hope he doesn't need multiple lessons.

[nater]

That was the best race all year!  What a nail-biter to the finish.  Spies was definately riding like he had nothing to lose.

[JonS]

Just finished watching the race. WOW! The drive Stoner got out of the last corner was incredible. Hayes could get an offer after his debut and the incoming 1000cc bikes. Anyone know why Pedrobot faded so much?

Softer tires, according to Julian Ryder.
He must have shagged it.

After the commercial break, Petrosa, who had been battling Dovi just disappeared from the screen for the rest of the race. Very odd.
I was very unhappy that Val got knocked out of the race once again. As the saying goes, if he didn't have bad luck, he'd have no luck at all.  
Stoner must have been cooling his jets for the end. He was fairly fa back from Spies before the last turn.Little smarty pants!

[veefer800canuck]

Bring on the 1000's

Should be interesting. I miss the first two seasons of the old 990s, but 2012 ain't gonna be it.

[garry]

I hope 2012 is more interesting in MotoGP. I really need to get a MotoGP subscription so that I can watch Moto2 and Moto3 as well.

The tests this week should be interesting.

[Tyrroneous]

What an interesting MotoGP race!  I thought it was going to be a procession after Stoner had such a massive lead early in the race.  I'm glad I was wrong.  Feel bad for 4 riders taken out in the first corner though.  

And how 'bout Josh Hayes!  Great ride from him.  I was a little disappointed that the coverage I watched didn't even show him during the race and the announcers really didn't talk about him at all.

[motodog650]

Was a good show for Rookie of the Year coming down to the last race (and nearly last lap) Hopefully Cal can avoid the sophmore jinx that killed his fellow Brit JT's career. Good on Abraham for fighting to the end and putting in a respectful rookie season after all the pre-season 'daddy's money' talk...

[squeezer]

Was a good show for Rookie of the Year coming down to the last race (and nearly last lap) Hopefully Cal can avoid the sophmore jinx that killed his fellow Brit JT's career. Good on Abraham for fighting to the end and putting in a respectful rookie season after all the pre-season 'daddy's money' talk...

I'll confess to being dubious about Abraham and applaud him for proving me wrong. For a rookie on a one bike privateer team, that was an impressive season.   to him.

I really enjoyed this race except for the first corner -- and, I guess, the last .015 seconds. Ben rode a really smart race. If only he had gotten off the last corner well...   Hayes was fantastic. I know his finishing position had a lot to do with the first corner crash, but to be honest, given that his only time on the bike was mostly wet practice sessions, I would have been impressed if he had finished only 15 seconds behind the entire field. What he pulled off was in awesome-land.

Even Noyes had a really sweet run in Moto2. It was a pretty good day for 'mercun jingoism.  

[DredheadV2.0]

I'll admit I almost turned off the race after Dovi clipped Alvaro and sent four guys into the dirt, and four of my favorite riders to boot.  But I'm glad I kept watching - Ben's dice with the Hondas and the Cal/Karel battle made for some of the best spectatin' all year in the top class.

Sad that Rossi couldn't give Simo a proper farewell, though.  Also sad to see Capirex finish his career on a low-ish note, and likewise to see Hiro leave MotoGP after finishing last in his final race, behind a test rider and Hayes and all, on the same track where 2 years ago he became world champion.  Honestly, I've never been so happy to see a GP season end; this one was just depressing all around (unless you love Hondas )

[tomek]

I'll admit I almost turned off the race after Dovi clipped Alvaro and sent four guys into the dirt .

As usual ,   . Racing accident but if you absolutely , positively have to blame someone for it , it was Bautista`s fault .
Rule #1 of racing . The guy in the front has the line . Period .
 You know ,  they don`t have  fucking rearview mirrors on race bikes .  I`m talking very basic things here .

You are biased toward certain riders and as result unable to see what happens on the track straight .    

[DredheadV2.0]

As usual , I'm a blithering idiot.  

I know it was a racing incident.  I know it's just racing.  I have nothing against Dovi - I actually quite like the guy - I'm just going by what I saw in the nearly endless replays.  Yes, the guy in front always has the line.  What I saw on my little computer screen was his rear wheel drifting into Bautista's.  That doesn't mean he's at fault or that I'm blaming him, you piece of work, it just is what it is.

You are biased against anything I post, and unable to see what happens in this forum straight.

Here - go argue with these guys.  Lots of kindred souls for you to argue with.

[tomek]

 you piece of work

Personal attack . Again . When wrong on something you seem to loose your cool fast . Stressed out perhaps ? Relax , it is only  an internet and we are  discussing thing totally  irrelevant in the real life - racing .  

BTW , I strongly suggest bigger screen and on board cameras may not  give a full picture , you don`t see the  direction of the travel of individual bikes in relation to the race track . What you see  ( or perhaps want to   see ) as a drifting of the back wheel might actually be bike behind turning into back wheel , or , most likely in this case , combination of both .
The rider in the back has better view and should react accordingly .  

Anyhow , words clipping and sent clearly imply what you had in your mind in the first post .

Now , that link , I don`t need to argue with even more guys , you keep me busy overtime .
 
 

 

 

[satxbonneville]

As usual ,   . Racing accident but if you absolutely , positively have to blame someone for it , it was Bautista`s fault .
Rule #1 of racing . The guy in the front has the line . Period .
 You know ,  they don`t have  fucking rearview mirrors on race bikes .  I`m talking very basic things here .

You are biased toward certain riders and as result unable to see what happens on the track straight .    

Well thank CheeseWiz that you're here to keep Dred in line and save us from him expressing his OWN FUCKING OPINION about what he saw. Why don't you give this shit a rest or go hang out in PO where this kind of childish nitpicking of a single person is expected. There was a nice low-key thread going on here until you jumped in with your perpetual hard-on for anything Dred posts in this forum area. Get a life, man.

[Ralf]

I know it was a racing incident.  I know it's just racing.  I have nothing against Dovi - I actually quite like the guy - I'm just going by what I saw in the nearly endless replays.  Yes, the guy in front always has the line.  What I saw on my little computer screen was his rear wheel drifting into Bautista's.  That doesn't mean he's at fault or that I'm blaming him, you piece of work, it just is what it is.

You are biased against anything I post, and unable to see what happens in this forum straight.

Here - go argue with these guys.  Lots of kindred souls for you to argue with.

Dred, you shouldn't even dignify his mean-spirited words with a response. It really is a shame that a fun and courteous thread has to be dragged down by someone who obviously gets his jollies by being needlessly belligerent.

[mugwump58]

 

[stromgal]

Hey, at least I got introduced to the Professor Internet flow chart!     Thanks!

[DogBoy]

Anyone heard about Yuki Takahashi's condition after his low altitude flight on Sunday? Landing looked rough.