2008 Moto Gp under way.

[Coddy]

Upto the track in Doha tonight, to see the first of the night time action.
Track lighting impressive, and not really a huge difference to daytime racing.



Good to see Bradley Smith and Danny Webb finishing 1-2 in 125cc after 1st free practice.



For moto gp . First practise session ended like,



1. Stoner.
2. Lorenzo.
3. Dovizioso.
4. Rossi.
5. Pedrosa (running number 2 instead of normal 26).
6. De Puniet.
7. Edwards.
8. Toseland.
9. Hayden.
10. Hopkins.

Casey Stoner looked impressive. Topped the timesheets from 3rd lap until the end.

Rossi looks like he means business. Not like his normal off waiting 2 minutes into the session started before going out. Was first bike on track.

Randy De Puniet and Dovizioso looked good. Lorenzo was going quick, so was Toseland and Edwards. Toseland has a decent crash at turn 1 after posting his fastest time, but was uninjured.

Hayden and his sulky mate Pedrosa didnt look anything special. Maybe had a qualifier on at the end to get up the timing sheet. Apparenetly running 2007 bikes as 2008 has to much problems.

Kwakers were nowhere, Suzukis fukkin loud.

Pramac Ducatis tidiest paintjob, but off the pace. (1098 like it, mmmm). Will get pics the morn.

Biggest Toseland, Dovizioso and Lorenzo.

Biggest looked to be Melandri, Hopkins and West.

Hopefully get a hold of a camera with a better zoom for the actual race, to get some better pics.

[Coddy]

Final times from 1st qualifying for Moto Gp.

Good on Lorenzo, Toseland, Dovizioso and De Angeles. 2nd, 3rd, 5th and 6th All Moto GP Rookies. (Proof that electronics are a big aid??).

3 Yamaha's in top 4. Where is the 4th Yamaha (wishing he didn't have Bridgestones???).

P1 so far for Stoner. Where are the other Ducati's 14th, 15th, 18th. Is this proof (kamikaze) that Stoner maybe is as good as it seems.

Repsol's .

Hopkins, do you want yer Suzuki back .

1. Stoner. Ducati. 1.55.442.
2. Lorenzo. Yamaha. 1.55.453.
3. Toseland. Yamaha. 1.55.812.
4. Edwards. Yamaha. 1.55.942.
5. Dovizoso. Honda. 1.55.963.
6. De Angeles. Honda. 1.56.120.
7. De Puniet. Honda. 1.56.234.
8. Vermulen. Suzuki. 1.56.279.
9. Rossi. Yamaha. 1.56.395.
10. Capirossi. Suzuki. 1.56.922.
11. Pedrosa Honda. 1.56.962.
12. Nakano Honda. 1.56.962.
13. Hayden. Honda. 1.57.045.
14. Melandri. Ducati. 1.57.091.
15. Elias. Ducati. 1.57.311.
16. Hopkins. Kawasaki. 1.57.416.
17. West. Kawasaki. 1.57.934.
18. Guintoli. Ducati. 1.58.500.

[Jinx]

Just been watching the practise... disappointing for Rossi, I wonder if he is kicking himself for moving to Bridgestones !

Good on Lorenzo and Toseland though

[Dickie]

Toseland went very well, impressive.

Repsol Honda really struggling though.

[steve]

Just been watching the practise... disappointing for Rossi, I wonder if he is kicking himself for moving to Bridgestones !

Good on Lorenzo and Toseland though

Rossi might have been doing his usual routine of tryin to choose a good race tyre for sunday night rather than gettin the fastest time

well impressed with Toseland , Pedrosa should open his eyes so he doesnt run up the back o folks comin out o the corners , jester

[Coddy]

Few pics from Saturdays qualifying.


West / Kawasaki.


Rossi / Yamaha.


Rossi / Yamaha.


De Puniet / Honda.


Haydon - Pedrosa / Honda.


Stoner - Elias / Ducati.


Toseland / Yamaha.


Toseland - Edwards / Yamaha.


De Angelis / Honda.


Lorenzo / Yamaha.


Devizioso / Honda.


Stoner / Ducati.


Guintoli / Ducati.


Vermulen / Suzuki.


West / Kawasaki.


Toseland / Yamaha.



Stoner topped the times for 50 minutes of the session, only Rossi and Lorenzo had a turn at the top. Cant see Stoner being beat tomorrow, but you never know.

Toseland in top 10. Again De Angeles right up there.

Melandri really struggling with the factory Ducati.

De Puniet blootered his bike big time.

Rossi and West were inches from having a crash in the pits as Rossi left his garage as Westy was coming into his.

[Dickie]

Qualifying's just finished.

Lorenzo on pole.

Toseland 2nd.

Just hope some of these Yamahas have a race set-up to give Stoner a run for his money tomorrow.

[Jinx]

Yamaha's are doing well eh ! Good to see Toseland doing so well and looking forward to seeing the race tomorrow, hopefully they will gub Stoner !!

[Coddy]

Qualifying's just finished.

Lorenzo on pole.

Toseland 2nd.

Just hope some of these Yamahas have a race set-up to give Stoner a run for his money tomorrow.

3 of the 4 Yamahas have been in top 6 for most of qualifying, with what i would say was race tyres. Have to say, there running well.

Guy who was upto the track with me knows nothing about MotoGp. But even he noticed that ALL the press, photographers are in garages for bikes #46 and #48, but not bike #1.

Wife was with me also, and she reckoned the best bike at Lusail was a Piaggio MP3 400 on a show stand. Stupid coo.

[airwave]

Qualifying's just finished.

Lorenzo on pole.

Toseland 2nd.

Just hope some of these Yamahas have a race set-up to give Stoner a run for his money tomorrow.

3 of the 4 Yamahas have been in top 6 for most of qualifying, with what i would say was race tyres. Have to say, there running well.

Guy who was upto the track with me knows nothing about MotoGp. But even he noticed that ALL the press, photographers are in garages for bikes #46 and #48, but not bike #1.

Wife was with me also, and she reckoned the best bike at Lusail was a Piaggio MP3 400 on a show stand. Stupid coo.

one of the very few times I have been envious of a 'wanabe' berry picker (fencing wire specialist)
the night time racing looks really good.
the guys on Eurosport are running slo mo cameras, the shots of the guys backing in at the end of the main straight at 205 mph, flames spitting out exhausts which are glowing red hot, sparks bright as you like erupting off toe sliders / pegs / knee sliders as the guys go round turn 1.

Floodlit racing may be a bit of a winner for the armchair fans

[getitright]

what about the lads in the GP125's!!!!

THREE riders in the top five, first Brit on pole in GP125 in 35 years, GET IN!!

Now I cant see myself sitting down for much of that race, I'm gonna be jumping and shouting at the TV like a loon.

[D3LS M]

What about the lean angle JT had on that slow camera

I though they were away to show him going down when I seen how far over he was

[Gazza]

what about the lads in the GP125's!!!!

THREE riders in the top five, first Brit on pole in GP125 in 35 years, GET IN!!

Now I cant see myself sitting down for much of that race, I'm gonna be jumping and shouting at the TV like a loon.

Exaclty what I was thinking.


1. Smith (Aprilia)
2. Talmacsi (Aprilia) +0.066secs
3. di Meglio (Derbi) +0.109secs
4. Redding (Aprilia) +0.303secs
5. Webb (Aprilia) +0.351secs
6. de Rosa (KTM) +0.376secs
7. Terol (Aprilia) +0.591secs
8. Gadea (Aprilia) +0.711secs
9. Olive (Derbi) +0.832secs
10. Corsi (Aprilia) +0.854secs

[Coddy]

Bradley Smith has been impressive all weekend. Plus in testing last few weeks. Looks like he is on a bike with a chance of winning.

I think the bikes that Danny Webb and Scott Redding are on, are a bit less advanced than Smiths, and Webber has been either 1st or 2nd for most of practise. Scott Redding has been drifting about anywhere from 5th to 10th most of practise also, so good chance of a win and a podium, but minimum should be a podium for one of the 3 guys.

For the big boys, i can see the race being between Stoner, Lorenzo, Rossi, Toseland, De Angeles, Dovizioso and De Puniet.
Stoner again looks fast on the straights, but the Yams are much quicker on the twisties.
Wouldn't read too much into Rossi only being 10th. The reason for him wanting Bridgestones was the Michelins take 3-4 laps to get going and by then, Stoner was gone. So should see Rossi slicing through the pack in first few laps, to get up from 7th.
Michelin has always been the better qualifier (7 out of top 9 are Michelin with only Stoner and Rossi in the mix).
Watching them on what i think was race tyres, it was always, Stoner, Rossi and Lorenzo top 3.

Heaps of support for Toseland there, due to the expats living here in Doha. Loads of guffy STD Dod flags on the railings opposite his garage. Came out prior to qualifying and gave his supporters a wave.

Airwave. No need to be jealous, Berry pickers have nothing on Peterheid loons.

[W111PAC]

aaright min?

nae bad pics. you need to bide off the pop your hands are a bit shakkie.

Hope young Smithy does well. he deserves it.

got it sussed on the nigerian telly so we should be ok for the night

hope mr rossi pulls it out the bag, but i doubt

[ollie]

what about the lads in the GP125's!!!!

THREE riders in the top five, first Brit on pole in GP125 in 35 years, GET IN!!

Now I cant see myself sitting down for much of that race, I'm gonna be jumping and shouting at the TV like a loon.

that was impressive racing, think whole street heard me shouting them on

well done to all 3 oh them, unlucky for smith tho.

young Scott Redding being youngest rider in 60 year history to be on front row grid position too

[Coddy]

Well that was good. Plus, thats the first time i have seen the grandstand at Lusail full. Maybe the locals are getting into this, there were even a few camel jockeys there, and they usually only go if its free, although 14 quid for the entire weekend pass is not to bad, considering its 25 quid for BSB at Knockhill (warmer as well).

Well done to Scott Redding and Danny Webb. Dunno what happened to Bradley Smith, seemed to just bottle it or maybe a problem with the bike, which is not good as he was the fastest 125 all weekend. Really thought he was up for the win.

250 was a good race.

As for the main event, when Rossi hit the front i thought here we go, good battle with Stoner coming up, but no. Getting the feeling that his aura of invincibility is going. Good stuff from Lorenzo, Devizioso and of course Toseland. Pedrosa was a suprise 3rd for me.

[Jinx]

Well that was good. Plus, thats the first time i have seen the grandstand at Lusail full. Maybe the locals are getting into this, there were even a few camel jockeys there, and they usually only go if its free, although 14 quid for the entire weekend pass is not to bad, considering its 25 quid for BSB at Knockhill (warmer as well).

Well done to Scott Redding and Danny Webb. Dunno what happened to Bradley Smith, seemed to just bottle it or maybe a problem with the bike, which is not good as he was the fastest 125 all weekend. Really thought he was up for the win.

250 was a good race.

As for the main event, when Rossi hit the front i thought here we go, good battle with Stoner coming up, but no. Getting the feeling that his aura of invincibility is going. Good stuff from Lorenzo, Devizioso and of course Toseland. Pedrosa was a suprise 3rd for me.

to everything you said ! They said Bradley Smith had problems with his bike which is a shame.

I started getting really excited when Rossi got in front, thought it was going to be back to the racing in 2005 but then Stoner ran away with it again Well done to the rest of them, would like to be a fly on the wall in the Fiat garage !

[D3LS M]

Bring back sete,cause the GP's have been boring since he went.....IMO of course

[Jinx]

Bring back sete,cause the GP's have been boring since he went.....IMO of course

I actually agree with you !! Not coz I liked Sete but it was great racing then, I still occasionally watch the MotoGP 2005 review and i'm still on the edge of my seat every race. Plus I love watching the aftermath of Jerez

[fazermal]

Where the fek did Pedrosa come from, 8th on the grid and leading into the first corner, must be cause he`s a short ring piece, power to weight ratio

[kamikazee]

Well that was good. Plus, thats the first time i have seen the grandstand at Lusail full. Maybe the locals are getting into this, there were even a few camel jockeys there, and they usually only go if its free, although 14 quid for the entire weekend pass is not to bad, considering its 25 quid for BSB at Knockhill (warmer as well).

Well done to Scott Redding and Danny Webb. Dunno what happened to Bradley Smith, seemed to just bottle it or maybe a problem with the bike, which is not good as he was the fastest 125 all weekend. Really thought he was up for the win.

250 was a good race.

As for the main event, when Rossi hit the front i thought here we go, good battle with Stoner coming up, but no. Getting the feeling that his aura of invincibility is going. Good stuff from Lorenzo, Devizioso and of course Toseland. Pedrosa was a suprise 3rd for me.

dont worry coddster was only first race have a little faith rossi will be up there, was good race, if you just blank out stoners Ducati, hope we are not in for another boring year again?? i see stoner had to really slipstream everyone he made passes on down the enormous start finish straight eh??? NOT!!! i knew lorenzo would do well, it was intense race though kept on thinking that pedrosa was gonna plough into the back of my mate just like in qualifying

[al]

I've just finished watching the race and I was really impressed with Stoners ride. Early on in the race you could see him eying up the other riders and "probing" to see where he could make his brake. One of the things I found interesting was that he was taking a slightly different lines from the likes of Rossi.

You could see in the last two thirds of the race that it wasn't all easy for Stoner, he was really having to work the bike. Performance wise it looks like Honda & Yamaha have caught up with Ducati. Don't know if it was my TV but it looked like Stoner was running quite soft suspension compared to the others which might of helped on this track.

For me the real star of the race was Lorenzo. That was a couple of gutsy overtakes he made on Rossi towards the end of the race. Ironically it reminded me of Rossi's style from a few years ago before he started worrying about the tax man. Don't get me wrong, I'm a big Rossi fan but I just get the feeling he has lost some of his spark and drive that made him a pleasure to watch.

Big Kneed Al (master of the emergency stop & "stand up" comedian).