Morning Practice from Valencia

Heavy-Dee · 10-31-2003, 9:48 AM

1 Norick Abe Yamaha Racing Team Yamaha 1:51.996
2 Garry McCoy Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:54.311
3 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Honda 1:54.370
4 Valentino Rossi Repsol Honda Honda 1:55.667
5 Carlos Checa Fortuna Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:55.668
6 Troy Bayliss Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1:55.871
7 Jeremy McWilliams Proton Team KR Proton KR 1:55.935
8 Max Biaggi Camel Pramac Pons Honda 1:57.009
9 Alex Barros Gauloises Yamaha Team Yamaha 1:57.570
10 Andrew Pitt Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1:57.874
11 Noriyuki Haga Alice Aprilia Racing Aprilia 1:57.984
12 David de Gea WCM 1:58.162
13 Sete Gibernau Telefonica Movistar Honda Honda 1:59.862
14 Kenny Roberts Junior Suzuki Grand Prix Team Suzuki 2:00.020
15 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 2:00.576

Crash · 10-31-2003, 10:13 AM

Dayum Abe is riding the crap out of the that thing and McCoy, *I love practice sessions.

Here's the offical results from yesterday.

http://images.motograndprix.com/mult...255/255722.jpg

CBRVFR · 11-01-2003, 1:14 PM

From the MotoGP Board - I can't seem to get that image that you guys post... Nicky was 1st in free practice and I was getting my hopes up.

01/11/03

Rossi takes 9th pole of the year, 15th front row start and new BMW to boot

Valentino Rossi is the fastest rider in MotoGP qualification once again, taking his ninth pole position and 15th front row start from 16 Grand Prix. The fastest lap ever by a motorcycle at the Valencia circuit under breezy but sunny conditions set by the Italian also clinched the BMW award for the 24 year old who must now be looking around for what else he could possibly win in one season.

As per usual the one hour session was all about the final ten minutes. Rossi held the top spot for most of the period sharing the front row with team-mate Nicky Hayden, Sete Gibernau and Aprilia’s Colin Edwards who slotted in some sticky qualification tyres half way through the chrono. The American, in his last ride with the Italians before apparently switching to Honda for 2004, was eventually knocked down the order to a nevertheless impressive 7th position and second row start.

Gibernau, riding at his third home GP of the season and at the venue where he clinched his debut victory back in 2001, seemed to be heading toward his second ever pole with only four minutes remaining.

The Honda rider was then bumped to second with Rossi’s very last lap and only second rapid circulation using a qualifying tyre.

The ‘Doctor’, who is widely tipped to announce his departure from Honda to Yamaha tomorrow and is at the centre of a busy paddock negotiating new deals for ’04, was decked out in a new psychedelic paint scheme for the weekend.

Loris Capirossi, Carlos Checa and Max Biaggi raised their game in the fading moments to each barge onto the front row at different stages as the order frantically switched around and Nicky Hayden, whose ascendancy of speed, confidence and results in the latter half of the season has been nothing short of excellent, seemed to be peaking with a lap that pushed him up to fourth and his first ever front line start in MotoGP. Capirossi grabbed third as Checa ended up fifth and leading the second row ahead of Biaggi, Edwards and Alex Barros.

sweetonion · 11-01-2003, 2:40 PM

I thought this was Booth's job?

http://gotowoods.homeip.net/images/qp2.jpg

CBRVFR · 11-01-2003, 10:09 PM

Sweetonion=

Booth's sulking because Baketech visited Chain but not him.

Rossi's on fire - almost a second quicker than Hayden, who's starting 4th on the front row. He better enjoy his last MGP win for a long time...

deez · 11-01-2003, 10:13 PM

Quote:

CBRVFR : He better enjoy his last MGP win for a long time...

I think not, you'll be eating those words next season buddy

ccwilli3 · 11-01-2003, 10:27 PM

Quote:

booth23 : Quote (CBRVFR @ Nov. 01 2003, 10:09pm)He better enjoy his last MGP win for a long time...

*I think not, you'll be eating those words next season buddy
Yep, I think Rossi will win on whatever he rides...

Much like those that said nicky wouldn't podium for years, to think that Rossi won't win is betting against ALL odds...

Repsol_69 · 11-02-2003, 12:03 AM

deez · 11-02-2003, 2:30 AM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : Yep, I think Rossi will win on whatever he rides...

Much like those that said nicky wouldn't podium for years, to think that Rossi won't win is betting against ALL odds...

My friend, Greyhound has said this a few times.

'Rossi is so good, he'll beat you on his bike, then he'll ride your bike and beat you on it.'

I agree. Damnit, I hate winter, not because of the cold, although I don't much like that either, because there isn't any phucking racing. BBall will have to hold me over, damn!

asiliat · 11-02-2003, 11:34 AM

Let's prove that Rossi is bike god incarnate, while Colin would be demi god on a great bike. Swap bike for the last race then.

Rossi can't win on EVERY bike.... I just don't think the Aprilia is up to that.

CBRVFR · 11-02-2003, 12:08 PM

Quote:

ccwilli3 : Quote (booth23 @ Nov. 01 2003, 10:13pm)Quote (CBRVFR @ Nov. 01 2003, 10:09pm)He better enjoy his last MGP win for a long time...

*I think not, you'll be eating those words next season buddy
Yep, I think Rossi will win on whatever he rides...

Much like those that said nicky wouldn't podium for years, to think that Rossi won't win is betting against ALL odds...
You see this all the time in other motorsports, notably WRC. The Champion gets lured away to another marque, and sinks like a stone. Rossi to Yamaha is like Schumacher going to Jaguar.

From Roadracingworld, Nov 2003, page 37

... Marco Melandri lashed out at the factory for its poor performing YZR-M1..'It's hard to maintain your interest in racing on this bike The bike isn't good and Yamaha doesn't seem to have a development program..'

Rossi has the ultimate luxury of having the best bike, the most attention by Michelin, and the best crew.

How will he fare on a team with much less ability to get a problem solved quickly? How will he like getting stuffed by the likes of Max? Think that'll affect his unfettered joy?

If he goes to Yamaha, he won't win for a while. But it will be fun to watch.