MotoGP [R]

Discussion in 'Automotive' started by SueB, Apr 6, 2005.

  1. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    The FIM Road Racing World Championship Season begins this weekend with the Grand Prix of Spain. We'll see if the rest of the field can make any headway against the juggernaut that is Valentino Rossi.

    Riders/Teams for 2005 (<- indicates a move and last year's team; R = rookie)

    3 - Max Biaggi (Italy) Repsol Honda <- Camel Honda
    4 - Alex Barros (Brazil) Camel Honda <- Repsol Honda
    5 - Colin Edwards (USA) Gauloises Yamaha <- Movistar Honda
    6 - Makoto Tamada (Japan) Konica Minolta Honda <- Camel Honda
    7 - Carlos Checa (Spain) Ducati Marlboro <- Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
    10 - Kenny Roberts (USA) Suzuki
    11 - Ruben Xaus (Spain) Fortuna Yamaha <- Ducati D'Antin
    12 - Troy Bayliss (Australia) Camel Honda <- Marlboro Ducati
    15 - Sete Gibernau (Spain ) Movistar Honda
    21 - John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki
    24 - R - Toni Elias (Spain) Fortuna Yamaha
    27 - R - Franco Battaini (Italy) Blata WCM
    33 - Marco Melandri (Italy) Movistar Honda <- Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha
    44 - R - Roberto Rolfo (Italy) D'Antin
    46 - Valentino Rossi (Italy) Gauloises Yamaha
    56 - Shinya Nakano (Japan) Kawasaki
    64 - Loris Capirossi (Italy) Ducati Marlboro
    66 - Alex Hofmann (Germany) Kawasaki
    67 - Shane Byrne (Great Britain) Team Roberts <- Aprilia
    69 - Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda
    77 - R - James Ellison (Great Britain) Blata WCM

    Aprilia has dropped their MotoGP racing team (they'll still participate in 125cc and 250cc series), which led to Jeremy McWilliams' jump to World Superbike.

    Here is the calendar -

    April 10 - Spain (Jerez)
    April 17 - Portugal (Estoril)
    *May 1 - China (Shanghai)
    May 15 - France (Le Mans)
    June 5 - Italy (Mugello)
    June 12 - Catalunya
    June 25 - Netherlands (Assen)
    *July 10 - Laguna Seca
    July 24 - Great Britain (Donington)
    July 31 - Germany (Sachsenring)
    August 28 - Czech Republic (Brno)
    Sept 18 - Japan (Motegi)
    Sept 25 - Malaysia (Sepang)
    Oct 1 - Qatar (Losail)
    Oct 16 - Australia (Phillip Island)
    *Oct 23 - Turkey (Istanbul)
    Nov 6 - Valencia

    * new venues for 2005
     
  2. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Rossi disappointed the Spanish crowd by setting a lap record to take pole position in today's qualifying session for tomorro's race. Home favorite Sete Gibernau had been setting the pace all weekend but had to settle for second, followed by Melandri, Hayden, Nakano and Capirossi. Problems for Max Biaggi, who only managed to qualify in 16th spot.

    Sunday's race begins at 2 pm local time (8 am Eastern US time), with delayed coverage in the US on Speed Channel at 3 pm Eastern.
     
  3. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Formula One & MotoGP :


    Frenchmen, not allowed !

    [​IMG]


    :( :eek:
     
  4. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Sort of like Americans, at least in Formula 1. I'm actually surprised there's not more American fan interest in MotoGP, given the number of American riders currently on the tour. Maybe the race in Laguna Seca this season will help.
     
  5. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    My advice of the day...Watch this last lap dudes ! Watch it !!! :eek: :cool:
     
  6. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    No kidding. Wow, just wow. In fact, the last 3 laps were incredible, starting when Rossi first passed Gibernau. Then 2 or 3 lead changes on the last lap before the two riders bumped in the final turn, with Rossi forcing Gibernau into the gravel. Looks like the ill will between those two since last year's Qatar track sweeping controversy won't be letting up anytime soon. Marco Melandri got the final podium spot after American Honda rider Nicky Hayden slid off the track from third place when not under in any pressure.
     
  7. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Alex Barros will be on pole for tomorrow's GP of Portugal in Estoril, with Sete Gibernau and Carlos Checa joining him on the front row. Valentino Rossi could only get the 4th-fastest time in today's qualifying session and will start on the second row of the grid, with fellow Italians Marco Melandri and Loris Capirossi beside him. The factory Repsol Honda team riders continue to struggle with Biaggi qualifying 8th and Hayden 9th.

    The race starts Sunday at 8 am Eastern US time and will be aired on Speed Channel at 4 pm.
     
  8. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Barros won the race fairly easily in the end, but only because Gibernau crashed out from a pretty comfortable first place position about halfway through. The track was damp with sprinkles, so that might've done Sete in. It was the first race where the new rules that the race has to be completed even in rainy conditions came into play. Although nobody changed bikes, the pits had them ready. Rossi's bike could not match Gibernau or Barros, but he still finished second to hold onto his lead in the championship with Biaggi finishing third after a strong start from the third row. Gibernau's teammate Marco Melandri continued his strong first Honda campaign finishing 4th.

    Championship Standings
    Rossi - 45, Barros - 38, Melandri - 29, Biaggi - 25, Gibernau - 20
     
  9. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]



    Well, here's news I'd missed that Olivier Jacques will be racing in the next two MotoGP races, in place of Alex Hofmann:

    http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/050420/23/af7w.html

    Nicky Hayden has the fastest practice time so far in Shanghai for this weekend's first-ever Chinese GP.​
     
  10. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Here are the first two rows of the grid after today's qualifying:

    Gibernau ... Melandri .... Capirossi
    Hopkins ... Hayden ... Rossi

    Seems like Rossi's Yamaha and technical driving style is not that suited to this "F1" track which has its huge straightaways. Sort of surprising to be Hopkins up there. Alex Barros, currently second in the championship, could only manage the 11th-fastest time while Hayden's teammate Max Biaggi struggled in qualifying again and will start 14th.

    The race takes place Sunday at 3 pm local time in Shanghai which is 3 am Eastern US time. In the US, it'll be shown on Speed Channel at 2 pm EDT on Sunday.
     
  11. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Yeah, I was surprised to see that on a eurosport rerun of the quali...Cool, unexpected, even if the green color does not suit him... :D
     
  12. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Well, Jacque ended up having an incredible ride to second place in the rain, his first-ever podium finish in MotoGP/500cc. Great stuff. Rossi was also helped by the wet conditions and got the win as the Honda teams struggled to keep pace. Marco Melandri passed teammate Gibernau (who was having some sort of problem with his bike) on the last lap for the third podium spot. Now Rossi has a huge lead in the championship race with Melandri second. The top 10:

    Rossi 70, Melandri 45, Barros 43, Biaggi 36, Gibernau 33, Edwards 25, Jacque (!) 20, Nakano 19, Checa 17, Hayden 16
     
  13. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    *amazed*

    I was expecting a decent performance... :eek: , next race : Le Mans :D
     
  14. PsychedelicCeltic

    PsychedelicCeltic New Member

    Dec 10, 2003
    San Francisco/London
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Laguna Seca will be fun to watch. Go to their website and download their lap of the circuit (I think it's a champ car camera or something..it's mounted on the wing I guess).

    It's a phenomonal circuit.
     
  15. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    After showing little promise in the 3 earlier practice sessions, Valentino Rossi has won pole position for tomorrow's French GP at Le Mans. He will be joined on the front row by Yamaha teammate American Colin Edwards and Marco Melandri, who outqualified his Movistar Honda teammate Sete Gibernau. American Nicky Hayden is 5th on the first factory Honda, ahead of Shinya Nakano from Kawasaki. Full grid here:

    http://www.motogp.com/en/motogp/results/results_2754.htm?event_id=2754&subevent_id=5141&result=34419

    Sunday's race starts at 1400 local time (8 am Eastern US) and will be aired in the US on Speed Channel at 1:00 pm EDT.
     
  16. Nanbawan

    Nanbawan Member

    Jun 11, 2004
    Haute Bretagne
    Club:
    Stade Rennais FC
    Nat'l Team:
    France
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Apparently, there should be rain during the race. Another Jacque come-back ? ;)

    For those who wonder if it is the same circuit as the 24 hours (automobile), here is the track, the solid black lined draw is the 24H one. Bikes use the "Bugatti" circuit which is permanent (the 24H uses a portion of 'real' road), it is on grey on the graphic and has the start/finish line in common with the 24H circuit.

    [​IMG]
     
  17. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Thanks for that track map. I never knew the 24-hr circuit was so long.

    Anyway, the rain never materialized and Rossi held off Gibernau in a tense finale to get the win today. American Colin Edwards got the last spot on the podium ahead of Melandri in 4th, Biaggi in 5th and Hayden in 6th.

    Gibernau professed to be happy with the performance which moved him from 5th to 3rd in the championship. But Rossi still seems likely to run away with things:

    Rossi - 95
    Melandri - 58
    Gibernau - 53
    Biaggi - 47
    Barros - 43
    Edwards - 41

    Three weeks until the next race, in front of Rossi's adoring fans at the Italian GP in Mugello.
     
  18. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Great race today in Mugello, with the home fans elated to have 4 Italians in the top 4 places. Rossi came in first after a tough battle with Max Biaggi and, earlier, Marco Melandri. Loris Capirossi passed Melandri in the last lap and got the final podium spot, the first podium of the season for Ducati. Sete Gibernau crashed out of the race and can pretty much kiss his championship hopes good-bye (although so can almost everybody not named Rossi).

    Rossi 120
    Melandri 71
    Biaggi 67
    Gibernau 53
    Barros 52

    Quick turnaround to the next race, next week in Catalunya.
     
  19. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Yet another win for Rossi last weekend in Barcelona. He seems to toy with his adversaries. This time, it was Gibernau who got passed and defeated in his home race with 3 laps remaining. Incredibly, Rossi then went on to set a track record on the next lap, on tires which had nearly a whole race worth of wear on them. It makes for a boring championship, but there seems little doubt that he is the best ever.

    Honda humbled by Rossi
    http://www.eurosport.com/home/pages/v4/l0/s39/e9324/sport_lng0_spo39_evt9324_sto730425.shtml

    Rossi is getting close to doubling the points of his rivals after only 6 races:

    Rossi 145
    Melandri 87
    Biaggi 78
    Gibernau 73

    Next up, Assen in two weeks, on its traditional Saturday date.
     
  20. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    5th win in a row and 6th on the season for Valentino Rossi last weekend at Assen in the Netherlands. There's just no beating this guy although Marco Melandri put up something of a challenge most of the way. Rossi's Yamaha teammate, American Colin Edwards, got his second podium finish of the season, finishing in third. Nicky Hayden was 4th and Sete Gibernau 5th.

    Next up is the Red Bull US GP at Laguna Seca, California on July 10. Speed Channel will be showing qualifying (yay!) live at 5 pm on Saturday July 9 The race will also be shown live at 5 pm Eastern time on Sunday. Let's hope it's a better show than this year's F1 US GP (can't help but be).
     
  21. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Tickets are sold out for the weekend at the US GP at Laguna Seca. The race has its own website:

    www.redbullusgrandprix.com

    MotoGP Event schedule (all times local - Pacific Daylight Time)

    Friday
    10 am-12 noon - Free Practice 1
    2 pm-3 pm - Free Practice 2

    Saturday
    10 am-11:40 am - Free Practice 3
    2 pm-3 pm - Qualifying Practice (live on Speed Channel)

    Sunday
    2 pm - RACE (live on Speed Channel)

    There is an extra practice session because so few riders are familiar with the circuit. Wish I could be there.

    [​IMG]
     
  22. MatadorCE

    MatadorCE New Member

    Jan 12, 2004
    TX
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    One of my co-workers is there. He said every hotel/motel within 150 miles is sold-out (he arranged his stuff a while back). 100k+ plus people expected just for race day....absolutely nuts. I wish I was there as well. I hope SpeedTV comes through with awesome coverage just like they do for the F1 GP at Indy.
     
  23. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    American Nicky Hayden had the fastest time in today's two practice sessions, with a fast lap of 1'24.228. Rossi had the 6th-fastest time in the morning session but his best time was only good enough for 9th on the day as everybody else improved with the warmer track in the afternoon.

    Hayden 1'24.228 (practice session 2)
    Bayliss 1'24.451 (2)
    Biaggi 1'24.542 (2)
    Barros 1'24.564 (2)
    Hopkins 1'24.679 (2)
    Edwards 1'24.696 (2)
    Gibernau 1'24.802 (2)
    Melandri 1'24.938 (2)
    Rossi 1'24.969 (1)
    Checa 1'25.042 (2)

    It'd be a great day for the sport in the US if Hayden could get his first MotoGP win here.
     
  24. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Nicky Hayden takes his first pole position - handily, even, by over 3/10ths of a second ahead of Rossi. Hayden has been fastest all weekend; we'll see if he can translate that speed to the race. The full grid for today's race:

    Hayden, Rossi, Barros
    Bayliss, Edwards, Hopkins
    Biaggi, Checa, Tamada
    Nakano, Melandri, Roberts
    Gibernau, Capirossi, Hofmann
    Xaus, Elias, Rolfo
    Byrne, Ellison, Battaini

    Speed Channel isn't quite putting F1 USGP-type resources into this, but it was still great to see coverage of qualifying for the first time. In the last few minutes, things were changing so fast and furious the cameras couldn't keep up. I sure wish F1 would go back to an open qualifying session.

    The race starts at 5 pm EST today. Guess it'll be a late night for the European fans.
     
  25. SueB

    SueB New Member

    Mar 23, 1999
    Waterbury, VT
    Re: MotoGP 2005 [R]

    Brilliant (if not very exciting) first-ever MotoGP win for American Nicky Hayden at Laguna Seca. Hayden led all the way to take the victory. Another American, Colin Edwards, took second ahead of championship leader Valentino Rossi.

    There may not have been a lot of overtaking, but it's still great watching those guys going through the Corkscrew and handling all the elevation changes at this track:

    http://cache-1.sportinglife.com/pictures/general/allsportnickyhayden.jpg

    And who knew Michael Jordan was a huge MotoGp fan.

    Good LA Times article about the race:
    http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-bikes11jul11,1,4475932.story?coll=la-headlines-sports
     

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