Round 8: Donington Park

[DooberRoni]

bwin.com British Grand Prix
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/doningtonBANNER.jpg

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/doningtonCIRCUIT.jpg
images: © motogp.com (http://www.motogp.com/)

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/SpeedLogoBig.jpg (http://www.speedtv.com/)
Sunday, June 22
4:00pm Eastern
1:00pm Pacific
Schedule info courtesy of (clicks)
http://www.dooberville.com/forums/picture.php?albumid=6&pictureid=52 (http://www.racefantv.com/USTV.htm)
Because the one at Speed Bites!

Lots to look forward to this round. Lorenzo has been confirmed to be back and Spies is in for Capirossi. Could Toseland give us a surprise on his home turf? Will we have another tight battle at the front or another break away winner? Will rain play a factor? So many questions and so many days to wait! Let's hear it, experts!

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/DoningtonSCHED.jpg

[Gary]

I hope that schedule is accurate, they usually move the MotoGP race up an hour so it's in the usual time-slot for mainland Europe. That extra hours sleep (or the ability to watch the 250 race) would be nice!

I'll be stunned if the 'home-advantage' does anything for Toseland, too many riders have been here many times - but who knows? Edwards goes well here and has the bike, I picked him to podium, but I think it's probably just the same blind loyalty that will put also Hayden on there shortly!

[ÜberDoober]

Oh quit complaining about having to get up! :)

I hope the times are right too. I suspect it may be different so it doesn't go up against the Formula One GP from France?

Still no word that I've heard yet anyway if Honda will try the new engine? They should at least let Nicky try it - it couldn't really hurt his results unless it blows up. I've seen some pretty soggy races from Donington which everyone assumes gives some kind of advantage to Chris V but I don't know? Didn't KR JR get his last podium in the rain here a few years ago?

Donington is a track I know well from my former sim racing career. I took a few laps in a 911 and Saleen S7 yesterday just to refresh my memory. It started to rain and I ended up in the kitty litter at Coppice :)

[HeadDoober]

Let's all give Gary the clap (http://www.dooberville.com/forums/showthread.php?p=2114#post2114).

Congrats on your 100th post. Thank you! :patriot:

[Gary]

Thanks - just proves I talk too much! :cheers2:

[gonickygo]

Rossi, Pedrosa, Stoner... unless something happens to one of them...
How about a poll of who it WON'T be...

I'll start:

Hopkins, Spies, Melandri

[ÜberDoober]

West!

How could you forget? :)

[Gary]

Assuming dry weather, anyone on a Ducati not named Stoner, anyone on a Suzuki, anyone on a Kawasaki, Hayden, DeAngelis, Nakano, DePuniet.

I'm sure I missed someone - I allowed Dovi, the usual line-up and didn't exclude any Yamahas, although I think Tech 3 is unlikely to get a win.

I hope I'm wrong, I'd be glad to see one of those on my list take it!

[KingKenny]

:yrok1:Rossi, Pedrosa, Stoner... unless something happens to one of them...
How about a poll of who it WON'T be...

I'll start:

Hopkins, Spies, Melandri
I believe in miracles! Ehummmm.... didn't you leave someone off that list?

[gonickygo]

:yrok1:
I believe in miracles! Ehummmm.... didn't you leave someone off that list?

I'm always pulling for him, but reality is such that it cannot be ignored. He's 5th - 8th this year, 4th on a good day, podium will be a wet dream (oops sorry for the bad mental imagery Uber)...

[ÜberDoober]

Well, well, well. Looks like Mr. Stoner is starting the weekend off decently by leading both practices by over half a second but look who happens to be in the number two spot in the second session. Go Nicky!

Lorenzo has got to be riding a little tentatively and is seconds off the pace and Pedroboy was 11th and 6th. Autosport is reporting that Melandri is ready to step aside if Ducati can find someone faster and admits that he just cannot ride the bike. Can we see Gibernau on the grid before the end of the year? If so, sure hope he's just a seat warmer for Nicky next season. Wouldn't it be ironic if Nicky suddenly turns things around on the Honda and gets replaced by Dovi? :ack2:

I'm guessing Ducati's testing has netted them some real results and we may be in for a runaway win with Stoner on point?

As stories filter in throughout the day, keep an eye on the DooberVille MotoGP headlines page (http://www.dooberville.com/motogp.htm) for the latest! (shameless self-promotion)

Practice 1 Results
Pos Rider Team Time
1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:28.979
2. Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:29.527 + 0.548
3. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1:29.661 + 0.682
4. Andrea Dovizioso JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1:29.718 + 0.739
5. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1:29.723 + 0.744
6. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:29.787 + 0.808
7. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 1:29.878 + 0.899
8. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:29.917 + 0.938
9. Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:30.144 + 1.165
10. Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:30.220 + 1.241
11. John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team 1:30.282 + 1.303
12. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:30.309 + 1.330
13. Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team 1:30.452 + 1.473
14. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:30.690 + 1.711
15. Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team 1:30.906 + 1.927
16. Toni Elias Alice Team 1:31.103 + 2.124
17. Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team 1:31.578 + 2.599
18. Ben Spies Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:31.807 + 2.828

Practice 2 Results
Pos Rider Team Time
1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:28.253
2. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1:28.829 + 0.576
3. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:28.909 + 0.656
4. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1:28.969 + 0.716
5. Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:28.992 + 0.739
6. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:29.207 + 0.954
7. Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:29.207 + 0.954
8. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 1:29.341 + 1.088
9. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:29.410 + 1.157
10. Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:29.433 + 1.180
11. John Hopkins Kawasaki Racing Team 1:29.441 + 1.188
12. Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team 1:29.666 + 1.413
13. Andrea Dovizioso JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1:29.722 + 1.469
14. Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team 1:29.856 + 1.603
15. Toni Elias Alice Team 1:30.268 + 2.015
16. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:30.290 + 2.037
17. Ben Spies Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:30.766 + 2.513
18. Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team 1:30.931 + 2.678

[Gary]

Just heard a 'Gibernau on Melandri's bike by Brno' rumor. No idea if it's true, even the person that said it wasn't too convinced.

[KingKenny]

I heard Spies to replace Melandri by Assen! [kidding].

Ben looked good. They actually showed him for a couple of laps in "Live" 2nd FP. He is slowly improving his times lap by lap, session by session.

Nicky put in one wonder lap FP2. Maybe he found something and that will continue from here. Time will tell. Same for Rossi.

Dani took a good highside in FP2. Went back out and cruised. I don't think he is ready to podium this race.

It's Stoner's race to loose again. But, he has a case of the wigglies doing it. So it's closer than it looks. He's pressing to get the times and it may bite him or they may get some good data to improve with.

I have a feeling that 3 former champions will man the podium. Having said that ... watch it Rain and then forget all the analysis ... it's everyman swimmin for themselves.

[Gary]

There was (when I last looked) a decent chance of rain tomorrow and a probability for Sunday - it could possibly be a situation of 2 dry days and a wet race day, and if so get ready to roll the dice!

Hayden may have had a wonder lap but from what I had seen he was hovering in the top 5, so much more competitive than recent races. It's Friday, will be interesting to see what tomorrow brings.

[KingKenny]

Yep Gary. Definitely an improvement but, he didn't look or sound happy about it. All he could say was.... well at least instead of "everybody" leaving me behind down the straights I can at least keep up with them. AND it's nice to be in the top4 instead of the bottom 4 on top speed for a change. Having said that, it still looks ugly trying to turn into the corners. He's wrestling it. Fingers Crossed!:)

[ÜberDoober]

It's looking pretty darned wet this morning. I'm up at 5:00 to watch Formula One qualifying and have the 125's on now. Got a coffee, got a smoke - couldn't be happier right now! :)

ps
It's nice and sunny in France!

[ÜberDoober]

Session half over. Can I change my vote? :)

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/DoniQualHalf.jpg

[ÜberDoober]

Final Qual Results. Good run by Spies and Hayden. Stoner looks to have things well under control.

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/doniqualFinal.jpg

[Gary]

I had originally thought if it rained for the race Spies was in trouble - now I think it's his best chance for a good finish!

Rough lap for Toseland!

[ÜberDoober]

Up for the 250's today with the later schedule. It looks like a nice sunny day and a completely dry track. :)

Agreed that Spies' best shot was in the wet. Say goodbye to Vermeulen too and West will drop like a stone from 7th on the grid. I'm predicting that Stoner will run away unless Rossi has something we haven't seen yet. Hayden may run well until his Michelins go away and Pedrosa will be coming toward the front but I'm guessing that starting from 9th, he'll never catch Casey & Valentino.

I can't wait! :)

[ÜberDoober]

Nicky interviewed while waiting on the grid said they switched bikes this morning due to a problem they found. That doesn't bode well now does it?

[ÜberDoober]

WTF? Nicky was in a strong 4th and next they show Dovi & Edwards ahead of him. GRRrr!

[ÜberDoober]

Are we in Italy or what? Fans invading the track is nuts.

Ant West finished in 10th!

http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/DoningtonRESULTS.jpg

[ÜberDoober]

Good ride by Colin Edwards today and Dovizioso put in a strong performance. As suspected, nobody was able to get close to Stoner. Spies finished, which is an accomplishment but I'm sure he would have liked to place a bit better. I look for Lorenzo to be back on form at Assen next week.

Hayden, in spite of whatever dropped him out of 4th spot mid-way, showed some agression and was able to nip back by Vermeulen before the finish. Had it not been for his mistake, he put in a solid run and if they can take a bit of momentum to Holland with them, we may see Nicky steadily improve? The pneumatic valver has finished two race length runs now and I'm curious how long Honda will keep Pedrosa on the spring motor, which I've read he doesn't like? Curious situation there, for sure and I wonder what the plans are for getting it to the satellite teams. As I recall, Tech 3 got the Yamaha pneumo the race after Rossi used it for the first time but I seriously doubt Honda will be so forthcoming with their second squads?

Tough luck for Toseland all the way around from his two crashes on the same lap in qualifying to his first corner highside in the race. Pretty disappointing for the British fans, I'm sure.

Pedrosa and Rossi had a few interesting exchanges but I'm guessing the advantage pulled out by Valentino at the end was Bridgestone. John Hopkins probably isn't particularly happy with Kawasaki right now and it will be interesting to see what happened to the bike this time.

Got to remember too that Assen races on Saturday next week. Can't wait for that one, the famous Dutch TT. :)