The official 2009 season MotoGP thread!

[avanti]

The new season of the most exciting motorsport championship on the planet is right around the corner so I thought it was about time to create a new thread!

The calendar:


The first test has already started at Sepang. Here are the times from day 1:

Testing continues on Friday and Saturday.

1. Loris Capirossi ITA Suzuki MotoGP2mins 01.869secs
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2mins 02.038secs
3. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2mins 02.324secs
4. Chris Vermeulen AUS Suzuki MotoGP 2mins 02.803secs
5. Toni Elias ITA San Carlo Gresini Honda 2mins 02.886secs
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda 2mins 03.088secs
7. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha 2mins 03.254secs
8. Dani Pedrosa ESP Repsol Honda 2mins 03.312secs
9. Sete Gibernau ESP Onde 2000 Ducati 2mins 03.750secs
10. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Fiat Yamaha Team 2mins 03.894secs
11. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team2mins 04.002secs
12. Alex de Angelis SMR San Carlo Gresini Honda 2mins 04.396secs
13. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Ducati 2mins 04.405secs
14. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha 2mins 04.502secs
15. Randy de Puniet ITA LCR Honda MotoGP 2mins 04.882secs
16. Toshihiko Fujiwara JPN Yamaha Test Rider2mins 05.024secs*
17. Yuki Takahashi JPN Scot Honda 2mins 05.098secs
18. Wataru Yoshikawa JPN Yamaha Test Rider 2mins 05.140secs*
19. Niccolo Canepa ITA Pramac Ducati 2mins 05.270secs

* Yamaha test riders

As last year I expect it to be a battle between Rossi and Stoner, but hopefully Hayden will return to his 06 form on the Ducati. Lets hope the Kawasaki situation gets sorted out quickly so Melandri and Hopkins don't have to sit out, they are both great riders!


Something to set the mood

+ YouTube Video

+ YouTube Video

[Redliner]

The Qatar GP will again be during the night? I hope so, it was awesome!

[avanti]

Originally Posted by Redliner

The Qatar GP will again be during the night? I hope so, it was awesome!

Yes, Qatar will be a night race

Here are some pictures from today.

[EvoEvo]

Nice pics!

Rossi v Stoner. I'm looking forward to that.

[Karoug]

I am hoping for a good old fashioned Rossi vs Gibernau battle!!

[Redliner]

Wow....great pictures!

[avanti]

I don't know if you guys heard about Valentino's accident the other day.
http://www.motogp.com/en/news/2009/V...+home+in+Italy

Italian cuts left hand and foot in domestic accident.

2008 MotoGP World Champion Valentino Rossi was one of the riders with the fewest crashes in his title-winning season, but a fall at home could affect preparations for the defence of his crown.

The Italian received stitches to his left hand and foot before flying out to Sepang for the Official MotoGP Test, a result of his falling onto a glass table when closing the curtains at home. Rossi´s left ring finger and the sole of his foot were cut when the table broke.

[avanti]

MotoGP - Sepang - Test Day 2

01 Casey STONER(Ducati) 2:01.483 (29 giri)
02 Loris CAPIROSSI (Suzuki) 2:01.555 (45)
03 Valentino ROSSI(Yamaha) 2:01.626 (40)
04 Dani PEDROSA(Honda) 2:01.860 (51)
05 Chris VERMEULEN(Suzuki) 2:02.086 (52)
06 Toni ELIAS(Honda) 2:02.232 (51)
07 Colin EDWARDS (Yamaha) 2:02.241 (37)
08 Andrea DOVIZIOSO(Honda) 2:02.434 (44)
09 Nicky HAYDEN (Ducati) 2:03.034 (58)
10 Jorge LORENZO (Yamaha) 2:03.056 (51)
11 Sete GIBERNAU (Ducati) 2:03.308 (40)
12 Alex DE ANGELIS (Honda) 2:03.518 (40)
13 Mika KALLIO (Ducati) 2:03.774 (55)
14 Niccolo CANEPA (Ducati) 2:04.021 (45)
15 Yamaha Tester (Yamaha) 2:04.312 (36)
16 Yuki TAKAHASHI (Honda) 2:04.332 (65)
17 Randy DE PUNIET (Honda) 2:04.507 (48)
18 Yamaha Tester (Yamaha) 2:04.536 (50)
19 James TOSELAND (Yamaha) 2:04.597 (36)

[avanti]

MotoGP - Sepang - Test Day 3

01 Casey STONER Ducati MarlboroTeam 2:01.043
02 Valentino ROSSI Fiat Yamaha 2:01.137
03 Loris CAPIROSSI Team Suzuki 2:01.262
04 Colin EDWARDS Tech3 Yamaha 2:01.413
05 Toni ELIAS San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:01.560
06 Chris VERMEULEN Team Suzuki 2:01.666
07 Jorge LORENZO Fiat Yamaha 2:01.907
08 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Repsol Honda 2:01.955
09 Mika KALLIO Pramac Racing 2:02.386
10 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Marlboro Team 2:02.497
11 Alex DE ANGELIS San Carlo Honda Gresini 2:02.523
12 Sete GIBERNAU Guinea Ecuatorial 2:02.727
13 Randy DE PUNIET LCR Honda 2:03.418
14 Yuki TAKAHASHI Scot Racing Team 2:03.474
15 Niccolo CANEPA Pramac Racing 2:03.901
16 James TOSELAND Tech3 Yamaha 2:03.953
17 Yamaha Test Yamaha Factory 2:04.328
18 Yamaha Test Yamaha Factory 2:04.614

Video from Sepang.

+ YouTube Video

[DarkReaper]

Wow in the first video at about 3:20, who pushed in the clutch of whom? Quite a dastardly move, I hope it was on the outlap.

[Mally Dangerous]

Originally Posted by DarkReaper

Wow in the first video at about 3:20, who pushed in the clutch of whom? Quite a dastardly move, I hope it was on the outlap.

That was Colin Edwards pulling in Valentino Rossi's clutch as a joke. I can't remember which race it was but I think I was on the cool-down lap so it wasn't done in mean spirits.

[motogpboy]

Gah...that Honda has got to be one of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen. Every 800 they've had since 07 has just been grotesque.

Excuse me for being shallow but the ass on that thing... eugh.

[Twerp128]

Valentino just got the Monster sponsorship. I'm getting a free pit shirt from work!

[DarkReaper]

Originally Posted by motogpboy

Gah...that Honda has got to be one of the ugliest bikes I've ever seen. Every 800 they've had since 07 has just been grotesque.

Excuse me for being shallow but the ass on that thing... eugh.

I don't know. The ass looks fine to me, nice and slim just the way I like it.
Only the fairing looks like on of those aftermarket kits to tack on your faired naked bike to make it look like a sportsbike.

[avanti]

Its Valentino Rossi's birthday today, congratulations Vale!!

[pfrocker]

oh the big 3, and still performing strong.

[motogpboy]

Originally Posted by DarkReaper

I don't know. The ass looks fine to me, nice and slim just the way I like it.
Only the fairing looks like on of those aftermarket kits to tack on your faired naked bike to make it look like a sportsbike.

I dunno..to me the front looks too low. It should have a higher bubble windscreen.. It just looks awkward. One of my favourite front ends of all time has got to be the Duc 998 F02... that with the double bubble is just...sex.

My main problem with the rear end on the RC212 is how SHORT it is. It doesn't cover the rear tyre... It looks like one of those stupid "street bikes" from the THQ moto gp series that started on Moto GP 3.. like some stupid Rat bike... ugh. That's what I don't like about it.

[DarkReaper]

To be fair, the entire rear end is just deadweight. It serves only to hold the exhaust in place. So why not keep it to the minimum length.
Just look at the monoposto and biposto versions of the Ducati 999.

[motogpboy]

still pretty much covers the tyre. The 212's tail is just too short for me, Aesthetically.

About the only bikes I like with short tails are cafe racers or just most forms of naked bikes. Especially the new speed triple mmmmmmmm.

[DarkReaper]

Hmm, the pic I posted seems to have referrer protection and didn't show up here. Hope this one does:


On the duc only the exhaust is covering the rear wheel.