Moto GP Season Finale - Valencia

jhansen · 3 Nov 2009, 15:35 (Ref:2574953)

Well, 2009 is set to come to a close with the last major two wheel race of the year...Moto GP at Valencia. The title race is done and dusted and Rossi has ticked off another one. He said he will be out to have some fun. Stoner has been in top form and Lorenzo is always quick. We'll see if Pedrosa can factor for the win as well. A three or four rider battle would be great, but given the way the season has gone, I'd settle for even a two rider scrap.

Most of next year's rides are snapped up, so there's not much drama left in that sense. However, we do get a wild card rider for this event, 2009 World Superbike champion Ben Spies. All eyes will be fixed on him to see how he can cope on the Yamaha M1.

The 250 title is heavily swung in Aoyama's favor. All he has to do is finish 11th. However, should he toss it down the road then Simoncelli has a real chance. On a sour note, this event marks the last race for the magnificent 250 class. It has provided some stunning racing over the years. I hope it goes out on a very high note.

In 125, Simon has already sealed the deal and Smith is a lock for second. But as always, the small displacement class will still put on a great show.

Also, we have post season testing to look forward to following the grand prix weekend. Lots going on!

skells22 · 3 Nov 2009, 15:49 (Ref:2574961)

here are the times for this last two wheels races and if you want to know the times here it comes. 125cc 9.45am & 250cc at 11.15am shown on Eurosport live. BBC as per normal showing the main race live and this time it is BBC2 with race gets lights out at 1.00pm.

jhansen · 4 Nov 2009, 17:07 (Ref:2575729)

One-off superbike inspired livery for Ben Spies. I like it!

**Dani Filth** · 4 Nov 2009, 18:45 (Ref:2575782)

possible sponsor for Tech3 for 2010 ?? ..

2000yellow360 · 4 Nov 2009, 20:20 (Ref:2575841)

Anyone else going to be there for the races?

Art

**Dani Filth** · 4 Nov 2009, 20:27 (Ref:2575849)

I wish ...

LE .. regarding livery .. from what I see it looks even better than on the SBK bike

GORDON STREETER · 4 Nov 2009, 23:18 (Ref:2575980)

I could go to this one as its about 230 miles away and on good roads. At least its on a decent circuit compared to the industrial site they use for the F1 GP ! .

GORDON STREETER · 5 Nov 2009, 16:41 (Ref:2576465)

It should be OK with the 4 at the front showing how it should be done , plus the Edwards/Toseland/Spies battle. I don't know how its going to pan out but it should be a "bit" more exiting than most of the season so far.

**gomick** · 6 Nov 2009, 08:40 (Ref:2576863)

My tip - Spies will mix it at the front... Paintjob looks good & fast

!

DavidStHubbins · 6 Nov 2009, 10:29 (Ref:2576913)

Time to shift downstairs and watch hours and hours of GP practice - and drink lots of cups of tea

2000yellow360 · 6 Nov 2009, 15:54 (Ref:2577069)

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomick

My tip - Spies will mix it at the front... Paintjob looks good & fast

!

Nope, bike isn't up to current spec of the factory bikes, I suspect. Maybe he will end up in 5th or so, but he'll have to ride the wheels off of it.

Art

jhansen · 6 Nov 2009, 15:56 (Ref:2577071)

15th in frist practice, within a couple tenths of Toseland. He has some work to do.

DavidStHubbins · 6 Nov 2009, 17:05 (Ref:2577122)

Very strange watching Spies so far off the pace! But then he didn't crash, and he got quicker and quicker on unfamiliar machinery and - I think - an unfamiliar track. I still think he'll beat Toseland in the race and finish well inside the top ten. I pick 8th.

jhansen · 6 Nov 2009, 18:18 (Ref:2577181)

According to Julian Ryder, Spies ran the whole session on one set of tires. So not all bad I guess. Unless everyone else did the same thing.

GORDON STREETER · 6 Nov 2009, 19:15 (Ref:2577223)

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'32.813 308.747
2 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'33.195 306.556 0.382
3 3 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'33.241 310.701 0.428
4 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'33.499 307.079 0.686
5 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'33.910 307.167 1.097
6 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'34.106 309.633 1.293
7 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1'34.123 302.267 1.310
8 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'34.382 306.643 1.569
9 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'34.427 306.469 1.614
10 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'34.462 305.862 1.649
11 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Ducati 1'34.696 308.924 1.883
12 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team Kawasaki 1'34.859 305.862 2.046
13 52 James TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 1'34.865 300.500 2.052
14 24 Toni ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'34.873 306.209 2.060
15 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 1'35.052 306.556 2.239
16 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'35.131 301.591 2.318
17 41 Gabor TALMACSI HUN Scot Racing Team MotoGP Honda 1'35.258 305.775 2.445
18 44 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Pramac Racing Ducati 1'35.458 301.087 2.645

I would think this is representative of something like the final qualifying.

jhansen · 6 Nov 2009, 19:19 (Ref:2577229)

Apparently the top speed of Spies raised a few eyebrows, given his 15th place lap time. He was right there with Rossi and Lorenzo, and quicker than Edwards and Toseland. Some are speculating that Yamaha gave him a bit of horsepower, since his bike isn't subject to the multi-race engine life restriction, or that he may be testing parts. Yamaha have denied this.

**Dani Filth** · 6 Nov 2009, 20:51 (Ref:2577279)

Randy usually goes well at Valencia .. until he crashes

**gomick** · 8 Nov 2009, 10:24 (Ref:2578146)

Aspar 125cc bikes bore me... Come' on 250's!

**Dani Filth** · 8 Nov 2009, 10:29 (Ref:2578150)

we got a glimpse of what's to come from the 250s in warm-up this morning with Bautista following Simoncelli for about 10 minutes

**gomick** · 8 Nov 2009, 11:29 (Ref:2578198)

Simoncelli is messing with Aoyama... Dont drop it Hiroshi

**gomick** · 8 Nov 2009, 11:51 (Ref:2578215)

Funny stuff this racing - Hiroshi runs off & keeps it up, Simoncelli crashes out of 1st

Congrats to Hiroshi & Honda - 250cc World Champions

**ghinzani** · 8 Nov 2009, 12:05 (Ref:2578221)

250 exciting to the last, great class, great champion in Hiro. Cluzel showed well early on too, keeping up and mixing it with the 4 '250 aliens'.

ozrevhead · 8 Nov 2009, 12:12 (Ref:2578227)

Wonderfull season from Hiroshi - he so deserves this championship

**Dani Filth** · 8 Nov 2009, 13:01 (Ref:2578248)

now .. that's not something you often see ....

DavidStHubbins · 8 Nov 2009, 13:49 (Ref:2578258)

Did you see Stoner's dad's face??! Thunder.

What about Spies! He is indeed home.

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