Losail - Moto GP Test...

[gomick]

1st test session under lights at Losail was interrupted by rain...

Times...

1. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 2'00.717 (29 laps)
2. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 2'00.867 (31)
3. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 2'01.020 (27)
4. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 2'01.074 (15)
5. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 2'01.328 (21)
6. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 2'01.843 (5)
7. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 2'03.221 (18)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 2'03.233 (15)
9. James Toseland, Tech3 Yamaha - 2'03.417 (6)
10. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 2'03.580 (14)
11. Colin Edwards, Tech3 Yamaha - 2'03.652 (5)
12. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 2'08.637 (3)
13. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 2'24.832 (1)
14. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team N/A (0)
15. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda N/A (0)
16. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team N/A (0)
17. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP N/A (0)

[bestfit]

Nicky's time is about 5 seconds off Casey's 2008 pole time. They were unable to record competative times due to both the track failing to dry after a rain shower because it is a night test, and also a lot of sand on the circuit.
Rossi, Stoner, Pedrosa and Caparossi didn't bother leaving the pits.
Hopefully tonight's test will go better.

[Peter Mallett]

The sun is shining here today, but I can tell you its not that warm. Still don't understand why this has to be at night because when it comes to the race the only similarity will be darkness.

April should be a lot warmer than March so the track temps are expected to be vastly different.

[jhansen]

Yes, it does seem like an odd test. It was fairly cold for the night race last year though. Hopefully it's warmer this year.

[bestfit]

MotoGP Official Night Test at Qatar - Day Two times

1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.139 (37)
2. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'57.747 (51)
3. Colin Edwards, Tech3 Yamaha - 1'57.817 (41)
4. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.879 (60)
5. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'58.018 (24)
6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'58.264 (42)
7. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'58.400 (63)
8. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'58.441 (53)
9. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'58.577 (54)
10. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda - 1'58.619 (28)
11. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'58.936 (55)
12. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'59.036 (56)
13. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'59.153 (65)
14. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'59.195 (63)
15. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'59.266 (36)
16. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'59.764 (48)
17. James Toseland, Tech3 Yamaha - 2'00.234 (51)

Stoner fastest by 0.6 secs but still only doing short bursts of 5-6 laps.
Pedrosa had a big off and reinjured his knee and left wrist. He really doesn't like testing does he?
Toseland???? Can't blame it on concussion this time.

[gomick]

How will Dani cope if Dovi is quicker than him this year - which i expect....

Maybe Casey can hammer for 5 or 6 laps, open up a lead, then relax for a cuppla laps, then hammer again & get podiums in 2009

[bestfit]

Qatar Night Test, day three – best times as of 9pm local time

1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'56.301 (20)
2. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (36)
3. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (36)
4. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (26)
5. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'57.414 (41)
6. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46)
7. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.741 (39)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.816 (32)
9. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (36)
10. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (32)
11. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'58.243 (32)
12. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'58.302 (34)
13. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.455 (34)
14. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'58.565 (32)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'59.177 (30)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'59.575 (34)

[jhansen]

Hayden has to step it up, but the reduced testing can't be helping him. And the two Suzuki riders don't seem as competitive here. But wow, Toseland made a big mistake dumping Guy Coulon. Here's Colin Edwards' take from a superbikeplanet interview:

Originally Posted by Colin Edwards

Guy and James obviously didn't gel, which is unbelievable, because now that I'm working with Guy, he's the easiest guy in the world to work for. You don't have to stroke his ego. You don't have to frickin' pat him on the back. You don't have to butter him up or anything. He just goes and wants to work. That's probably the easiest crew chief I've ever had as far as to get along with. That tells me, James' side, there's some issues with him, anyways, if he can't get along with Guy. So that's it, really, and it's for the better. Our side of the team is just, we're loving life at the moment, having a good time, and most of the good time we have is at their expense. Being two and a half seconds off the pace, we're just thinking, Gary and James, that's supposed to be the magic combination now, they think.

I call James the Wonder Boy. That's just kind of a nickname I gave him, because obviously, I don't know why, but I think it's Wonder Boy as in "I wonder what the hell I'm doing over here?" [Laughing]

http://www.superbikeplanet.com/2009/...inedwards3.htm

[bestfit]

Dani Pedrosa is to have surgery today on both his wrist and knee to repair the damage sustained in his fall on Monday at the Qatar test. Story here

Looks like he will start the season injured yet again, assuming he can recover in time to make the grid.

[bestfit]

Qatar Night Test, Day 3

1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'55.744 (31)
2. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.733 (82)
3. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team - 1'56.972 (75)
4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.224 (70)
5. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team - 1'57.225 (53)
6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP - 1'57.253 (42)
7. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP - 1'57.401 (77)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda - 1'57.449 (74)
9. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'57.515 (46)
10. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.591 (61)
11. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini - 1'57.804 (66)
12. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing - 1'57.938 (54)
13. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing - 1'57.946 (50)
14. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team - 1'58.412 (61)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 - 1'58.786 (51)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team - 1'58.851 (73)

[gomick]

is casey still only doing short stints - will have to do a race simulation soon...

[jhansen]

Yeah, he's still doing short stints. Ducati also confirmed they are using a carbon fiber swingarm. Rossi said his bike got worse as the conditions cooled off. Hayden claimed to be happier and is looking forward to Jerez. Poor Melandri, the Kawi isn't looking too brilliant.

[Gerben24]

Who looks worse, Toseland or Melandri? I'm also not impressed with what Honda is doing.

[chunder]

I was hoping Toseland was bad in Sepang coz of the injury, but it seems he is struggling

I cant imagien Spies will be in WSBK for too long!!

As for Marco, well I bet its more fun winning race in Speedcar, despite the fact no one is watching and the cars look awful!!

[jhansen]

The way Edwards described it, the guy Toseland is working with now can get on silly tangents in trying to extract speed from the bike. And Edwards is much happier working with Coulon. So Toseland may have a tough year. Still, it's early days.

[bestfit]

A bit off topic but Chris Vermeulen's new web site is worth a look. He has been doing regular videos after each test etc giving his view of proceedings. I hope he keeps this up during the season. They are more interesting and informative than the plain old vanilla press releases.