Round 10: Sachsenring

[DooberRoni]

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

25 Reputation Points to the first Doober that can post when and where this race is on broadcast television?

http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/SachLocalSchedule.jpghttp://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/SachsCIRCUIT.jpghttp://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/SachsPacificSchedule.jpg
Images & schedule courtesy of: © motogp.com (http://www.motogp.com)
<<<Local Time on the Left ---------------Pacific time on the right>>>


Previous Winners
http://i282.photobucket.com/albums/kk279/DooberRoni/SachsPreviousWinners.jpg
Images courtesy of: © wikipedia.org (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/German_motorcycle_Grand_Prix)

Daniel Pedrosa won it last year
Valentino has 3 wins in MotoGP but none on a 500
Roborto Rolfo won 5 years ago on a 250
No wins for Stoner

[ÜberDoober]

Capirossi will be back in action and officially, no substitute for Hopkins.

This tight, glorified go-kart track, with a lot of 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear stuff is going to be interesting. Can't wait to get up again at 4:30 on Saturday and Sunday! :ack2:

[DooberRoni]

It's been plastered all over. Somebody is missing an opportunity here. Be brave. Be bold. :cool:

[ÜberDoober]

So what exactly, if anything, does Luis d'Antin quitting mean? I thought he was the team principal/owner for the Alice Ducati squad? Somebody must be pissed at something? That's for sure?

Alice is even the title sponsor for Sachsenring.

[gonickygo]

Capirossi will be back in action and officially, no substitute for Hopkins.

This tight, glorified go-kart track, with a lot of 1st, 2nd and 3rd gear stuff is going to be interesting. Can't wait to get up again at 4:30 on Saturday and Sunday! :ack2:

Be careful UD... Sach is actually longer than Laguna, be it only 60m or so. These two are next to each on the calendar for a reason, because they are so similar... both run counterclockwise, very undulating, and pretty short by MotoGP standards. I actually like Sachring, the back half is fast and some serious elevation change.

If B'stone has their #!$* together this year Rossi and Stoner should run away... Pedrosa, Hayden, & Edwards fight for last spot on the rostrum. But I'll throw in Lorenzo for good measure.

[ÜberDoober]

Practice times are in.

Toseland crashes and trashes his Yamaha.

Pos Rider Bike Time
1. Casey Stoner Ducati (B) 1:22.318
2. Alex De Angelis Honda (B) 1:22.582 + 0.264
3. Valentino Rossi Yamaha (B) 1:22.617 + 0.299
4. Dani Pedrosa Honda (M) 1:22.759 + 0.441
5. Andrea Dovizioso Honda (M) 1:22.999 + 0.681
6. Shinya Nakano Honda (B) 1:23.038 + 0.720
7. Colin Edwards Yamaha (M) 1:23.132 + 0.814
8. Nicky Hayden Honda (M) 1:23.214 + 0.896
9. Randy De Puniet Honda (M) 1:23.360 + 1.042
10. Jorge Lorenzo Yamaha (M) 1:23.449 + 1.131
11. Chris Vermeulen Suzuki (B) 1:23.462 + 1.144
12. Anthony West Kawasaki (B) 1:23.627 + 1.309
13. Sylvain Guintoli Ducati (B) 1:23.728 + 1.410
14. Toni Elias Ducati (B) 1:24.086 + 1.768
15. Marco Melandri Ducati (B) 1:24.117 + 1.799
16. James Toseland Yamaha (M) 1:24.486 + 2.168
17. Loris Capirossi Suzuki (B) 1:24.646 + 2.328

In the second session, Stoner is reported to crashed at 120 but walked away with little more than torn leathers and rashed elbows. I was really hoping for some reason that he would have a tough time but it looks like he is once again the man to beat? De Angelis on the Gresini Honda put in a few good solid runs but our man Nicky shows up way down there in 8th. :o

Pos Rider Team Time
1. Casey Stoner Ducati Marlboro Team 1:21.582
2. Alex De Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:21.993 + 0.411
3. Colin Edwards Tech 3 Yamaha 1:22.463 + 0.881
4. Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha Team 1:22.796 + 1.214
5. Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team 1:22.894 + 1.312
6. Shinya Nakano San Carlo Honda Gresini 1:22.922 + 1.340
7. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda Team 1:22.974 + 1.392
8. Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team 1:22.975 + 1.393
9. Andrea Dovizioso JiR Team Scot MotoGP 1:23.093 + 1.511
10. Randy De Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 1:23.116 + 1.534
11. Sylvain Guintoli Alice Team 1:23.209 + 1.627
12. Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:23.274 + 1.692
13. Toni Elias Alice Team 1:23.366 + 1.784
14. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 1:23.411 + 1.829
15. Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team 1:23.452 + 1.870
16. Marco Melandri Ducati Marlboro Team 1:23.698 + 2.116
17. James Toseland Tech 3 Yamaha 1:23.864 + 2.282

Rossi was over a second slower than Stoner in the session and Melandri over two seconds slower. Both Gresini Hondas faster than the factory squad.

[ÜberDoober]

I see in the newsfeed from Autosport that Pedrosa and West also crashed on Friday. Jeez I hope this is not another Stoner runaway. :ack2:

[Gary]

Pedrosa, West, Stoner and Edwards at least all went down today. Probably more, this tracks lends itself to losing the front.

Stoner is flying, I think the only things that might stop a runaway are rain or extreme heat - but who knows, the others might speed up, one can only hope!

[ÜberDoober]

W00t! Up before the birds. They just showed Stoner's crash. Man! He was moving. Helmets on, bikes firing. My heart rate is up. :) :) :) :)

[ÜberDoober]

Half way and everyone still biding their time.

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

[ÜberDoober]

Stoner looks absolutely unstoppable. Hayden and Rossi on the 3rd row and another great qualifying effort by Colin Edwards.

Final Qualifying Order
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g223/EKron/SachQualFinal.jpg

[ÜberDoober]

Holy schnikes!

I got up at the last possible moment, just as they were rolling off on their sighting lap and was blown away by the wet conditions. What insanity.

Pedrosa tossing it with a 7 second lead and Nicky last and back in the pits for some reason. With 18 left to go, Stoner is leading Rossi by a few seconds but Vermeulen has been on the move. Anything could still happen. Wow! :)

[ÜberDoober]

Stoner does the business. Don't care what people say that it's all the bike, the boy can flat ride.

Good on Valentino to hang on to second and go back to the top of the points race and nice work by Vermeulen to make the podium with late race pressure from De Angelis.

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

[ÜberDoober]

I just read that Pedrosa has a possible broken ankle and finger? He did hit the airfence at a pretty good pace too.

Hayden had some excuse about tire choice and electronics problems. Don't know how he could have been so off there? :mad:

Yippie, though, because Laguna is only a week away! :)