Jerez spoiler

Zeeman · 05-02-2004, 12:32 PM

Well, it's been run and won - and now we are starting to see a close season, sure, it's early, but with Gibernau (sp) on 41, Biaggi on 40 and Rossi on 38, things are going to get interesting. Especially since the straights are only getting longer for the next 5 rounds.

I'm kinda dissapointed at the rain, but I thought the race was OK. Shame about the Max/Sete race up front, like the Rossi/Biaggi race at Welkom, but at least we have a close leader board.

I only saw the last 10 laps, so I hope to catch a replay tomorrow.

BTW - anyone see the 125 race? the dude riding number 21 pulled off what has to be the best save I have seen in aLONG time!!! What should have been a standard high side int he rain, got caught, rode over the wet grass and dirt, missed the barrier and pulled back onto the track. awesome.

Z...

Zeeman · 05-02-2004, 12:51 PM

Having just seen the 125 race, I'm amazed at the number of riders who went sliding at the same corner. Amazed that the race wasn't stopped. I think I have seen 4 people hi side within 2 laps...

Z...

Rios929 · 05-03-2004, 12:40 AM

How about that near highside rossi saved?

Crash · 05-03-2004, 12:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rios929

How about that near highside rossi saved?

That was pretty cool!

How about Hayden almost crashing, falling back to 12th and finishing 5th. Now that's cool

fl-929 · 05-03-2004, 12:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rios929

How about that near highside rossi saved?

I have a gif image of that, but it's too large

ratter · 05-03-2004, 8:29 AM

what happened to the rain getting rid of any horsepower advantages the hondas should have had

what happened to rossi, with the rain to eliminate the horsepower disavantage, i would have expected him to be fighting for the lead, if not leading the whole race.
I don't think the yamaha handles as well as the honda

Baketech · 05-03-2004, 8:31 AM

Quote:

Sete Gibernau, Team Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP, 1st:
"Winning here is just the best. It was one of the toughest races of my life because it was here at Jerez and I crashed last year. I wanted to give something back to the fans who have always shown their support for me.I know that they suffered a lot because of the weather so this win is for them because my heart was stronger than my rivals today and the fans have carried me to victory. I have always wanted to take on the responsibility people have handed to me and I think I am meeting the objectives we set at the end of last season. I knew I had improved but I surprised myself again today with my level of riding. The set-up of the bike is still not where it needs to be - we are struggling to understand all the data but I am confident that this will improve. I have to keep calm and find the solution to these problems, which will hopefully emerge in the tests we have planned here for Monday and Tuesday."

Max Biaggi, Camel Honda (Michelin tyres) - 2nd:
"We're at the second race of the year, and since 1998 I've never been as well placed in the standings. It's a statistic which just shows the determination with which we've begun this season. This morning in the warm up we had some slight issues and so we changed the set-up to find a solution. Hats off to the team, they worked exraordinarily and it's enabled me to be competitive in the race. During the race the gap kept increasing and decreasing and I was always close to Sete. Only two laps from the end, after a dangerous skid, I decided to content myself with second. I had lost ground and tried to make it up. Congratulations to Sete, a great race."

Alex Barros, Repsol Honda Team: 3rd:
"I'm very happy. It seems a long time since I have been on the podium. The winter was difficult with the shoulder surgery and I am pleased as my doctor has given me a 'green card' of health now. The race was very hard and the circumstances changed throughout it but it was the same for everyone. I knew that I couldn't ride at the pace of Sete and Max so I keep my own. I had a battle with Valentino and Carlos and then I take fourth place. When I see Marco crash I try to ride safe and take the podium. I am very happy for my team - we all work very hard and this is good news for the Repsol Honda Team. The championship is very long and I look forward to being more competitive as my strength builds. A good result today for a start."

Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda Team, 5th:
"This morning I really couldn't get the feeling I wanted in the warm up session. It seemed like a long wait to the race! We made a couple of big changes and I thank my guys for some good ideas. My mechanics and the Michelin and Showa people. The bike felt good straight away in the sighting lap. I got a good start and was right there, but at the end of the first straightaway I locked up the front wheel in braking and ran wide in the turn. I saw a load of guys just streaming up the inside! Next time I went past I saw P12 so I just got my head down and decided there was no point in just riding round. I found a good spot on the track and passed a lot of guys there. Edwards, Checa and Hodgson. I caught Valentino and right at the end got right up there showing him my front wheel but I couldn't make a pass stick. Anyhow; a good end to a hard weekend. Only my second wet GP and last time I finished 11th! We learned a lot and we move on from here."

Colin Edwards, Team Telefonica Movistar Honda MotoGP, 7th:
"I had a hard time in the race today. I had no feeling in my hands on the last lap and I couldn't open the gas or brake properly - it was so hard. I need a lot more laps on this bike because I am still not riding on the limit and need more confidence to be able to do that. Hopefully we will get a few answers from the test here."

Baketech · 05-03-2004, 8:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ratter

what happened to the rain getting rid of any horsepower advantages the hondas should have had

what happened to rossi, with the rain to eliminate the horsepower disavantage, i would have expected him to be fighting for the lead, if not leading the whole race.
I don't think the yamaha handles as well as the honda

You have that backwards...the Yam has more HP than the Honda....the Honda has better traction....

This explains how a no talent ass clown like Hayden can run up to 5th in his second wet GP....

CyBeR929 · 05-03-2004, 8:36 AM

I was wondering the same thing about the Yammies not handling as well. But then again within the first dozen laps or so, there were 3 Yammies up front and Rossi was the last of them

I did kinda figure that Mlendrie couldnt' keep that pace up without crashing. Really, the biggest disappointment for me was Colin. Don't get me wrong, I think there's still tons of work to do on the bike to help him out, but he is known as a wet specialist and he knows Jerez. I thought those would add up to a podium. I did read that he didn't wear his rain gear and almost got hypothermia or something. Seems odd though...why wouldn't he wear his rain gear? It was pouring by the bucket!

SuperDave · 05-03-2004, 8:45 AM

I think Rossi was waiting for other riders to start taking themselves out, then after that AMAZING save of a highside, I think he just wanted to bring it home in one piece. That rain sucked, but it was awesome to see those expierenced rain riders haul through it. Rossi almost lost it quite a few times. I still can't believe that save, WOW!

ratter · 05-03-2004, 9:02 AM

I thought the yamaha was lacking power

well if you could call it lacking power, I thought it was down on power compared to the hondas

BillAce · 05-03-2004, 10:37 AM

While watching I was thinking the Honda must have a much better chassis/suspension setup. Rossi was on the verge of losing it many times, Checa faded, Melandri crashed and when you saw Sete and Max, a slide was almost correcting itself. It seemed like as soon as the bike started to go they could bring it right back. I too thought the M1 was down on power, Max had no trouble pulling Rossi in on the short straights @ Welkom and Barros caught and put the pressure on Rossi pretty easily.

tigerblade · 05-03-2004, 12:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rios929

How about that near highside rossi saved?

Awesome.

CBRGuy · 05-03-2004, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Baketech

This explains how a no talent ass clown like Hayden can run up to 5th in his second wet GP....

Another lap or 2 and he would have gotten past Rossi.

Nick the Quick · 05-03-2004, 9:09 PM

I think Hayden would have landed on the podium if he didn't lock the front up and slide back to 10th or 11th. Great ride for the Kentucky Kid, to top 5s.

Edwards should have used the 2004 spec last race, just for the experience. Even if Honda gave it to him late, pays to get use to it as soon as possible. The move was enviable.

fl-929 · 05-04-2004, 2:59 PM

Rossi highside

SuperDave · 05-04-2004, 3:17 PM

You the man fl-929. Too cool!

Baketech · 05-04-2004, 7:55 PM

Awesome clip FL....

The clown behind him got a great view eh....

bwhip · 05-04-2004, 8:35 PM

Holy crap! How the heck did he save that!!???! Did the wet track allow for a little more slide while in recovery mode so it wasn't such a dramatic grip during mid-highside or what? WOW! The Doctor is amazing.

luvtolean · 05-04-2004, 8:41 PM

Thanks FL!

ratter · 05-06-2004, 7:26 AM

he looks like he has frogs legs

risc32 · 05-06-2004, 10:37 PM

yeah, that recent mag had radar acceleration graphs of the gp bikes and the M1 was faster than the honda. BUT, that was last years bike. And if you've been watching the news Yamaha has made major revisions to the engine to make it suit Rossi. Looks like they traded hp for a smoother powerband or something. But no doubt the search is on for more muscle.

tigerblade · 06-15-2004, 2:45 PM

Just read this in RRW:

Quote:

...Edwards, who was in serious trouble as the race wore on--somehow he managed to start the race without a wet suit and was close to hypothermia in the closing stages, according to medics who measured his body temperature after the race. His team had a quick cure, though--wrap him in tire warmers!

Pete · 06-15-2004, 2:57 PM

Yeah, he (CE) spoke of that in his article in Road Racer X.