I think there's possibly two of us on this forum actually watch it so there's no chance of a yellow dazzla style, all singing, all dancing, fact filled thread.

The first race was Qatar.

Rossi won. Stoner crashed out. Lorenzo came Second, Dovisoso Third. The Honda is looking like the fastest bike out there at the minute, which should make for an interesting set of straights in future races.

Overall, it was an alright race, with a great battle for 2nd/3rd leaving Rossi to ride easily for the win. Here's a pretty picture:

Yeah, was a pretty good race. Pretty sure it's going to be a season dominated by Stoner, he's looking very strong just cocked up yesterday. Probably going to see some Hamilton/Alonso-esque bitching in the Yammy garage between Jorge and Rossi, more so than last year, which could affect both riders.

Honda's have always been quick in the straights and Pedrosa is the king off the starting grid, but not the greatest rider.

Shame there's no British talent in there now James has gone back to Superbikes - and doing shit! Bradley did crap in the 125's but will probably be up the again this year, and Scott Redding has no chance in Moto2.

Didn't Toseland take a podium in the WSBs recently? I think we've got a couple of hopes in the lower classes but i rarely watch the actual races so can never tell how well we're doing.

Last year it was Ducati who dominated the straight line speed from what i remember, so good to see someone else competing/upping the straight line speed to match.

Only cos I take a passive interest sort of in MotoGP although I admit I was suprised to see Rossi win especially seeing what Stoner had done in practice.

Yeah, he got a P3, but still not doing very well as he was clear favourite at the start of the season.

...and just seen the Japan GP has been cancelled because of the volanic ash as riders, staff, bikes, etc can't get there...

Just read that myself.

Shame.

Spain- Jerez
Lorenzo wins on a final lap overtake, four corners from the end after asking questions of Pedrosa in second the whole last 5 laps. Rossi rides in third, Stoner fifth.

Bish, bash bosh - great race.

I thought it was quite boring really untill the last few laps when Jorge started to catch up. I was flicking between that and the football so wasn't following it that well. Great celebrations from Lorenzo though Dani Pedrosa must be really pissed off too, to lead all the race with a set-up he wasn't happy with and then lose it on the last lap.

You're probably right, actually, but the last few laps were really good so i think that swayed me a bit

Just watched it on the iPlayer, have to agree, the last few laps were great to watch. Personally i found the Moto2 race on before it more exciting as a whole, throughout it was tough to pick a winner from the top 9.

Still prefer 4 wheel racing though

I think the Moto2 is a bit farcical. There is something like 45 riders which is ridiculous. 1 fall at the first corner and you could lose 20/30 riders as it's too compacted.

Yeah, i mean why let final lap overtaking manoeuvers get in the way of a processions of pretty coloured cars wasting petrol.

I like to see big grids but you're right, it bordered on Nascar levels of numbers which is a bit too much.

F1 is capped at 26 for a reason, for this, if it were capped at something like 30 or 35 then that would be acceptable.

Thats not just exclusive to bikes y'naa

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx_KQJBvdms

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zXkWUCBoe4k&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCij9mYIokA&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=esuNExxpza8&feature=related

Cant beat a bit of Touring Car racing

Front row of Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, and Stoner for tomorrow at Le Mans. Hayden also looked quick so should be a good race. I'm going for Lorenzo.

Good choice

Stoner continuing to struggle with his Ducati - he won't be there next season.

Good race. Could be all over for Stoner now. Wouldn't be suprised if he and Rossi swap next year, especially if Jorge wins it. Another good celebration too from Jorge

Alan Smith there too supporting Ben Spies And the BBC managed to get their caption wrong with it saying "England & Man Utd" - wrong on both accounts.

Shame to see Bradley Smith mess it up in the last lap, going from 3rd to 5th.

I enjoyed it. A great battle for first whilst Rossi lead (a bit of a non-event after Jorge took the lead) and some great battling go on towards the back. Stoner looked utterly dejected as well and basically admitted his season might be over when he said "i don't think it's possible".

We need the likes of stoner to be in with a shout for the overall good of the championship.

Have to say I quite enjoyed it too, one thing you cant deny about MotoGP is that sure there were only 16 bikes racing but it was 16 of the very best on 2 wheels out there.

Quality over Quantity

It needs more though, as a lot tend to go to WSB and not come back. Suzuki and Ducati have only two riders a piece (as oppose to Honda and Yamaha) and that's a damn shame in itself for two of the biggest manufacturers.

In other news, heads up to you two for the Isle of Man TT starting from 5th June and running as follows:

Saturday June 5th
1200hrs - Superbike TT Race 6 laps
1500hrs - Sidecar TT Race 1 3 laps

Monday June 7th
1045hrs - Supersport TT Race 1 4 laps
1415hrs - Superstock TT Race 4 laps

Wednesday June 9th
1045hrs - Supersport TT Race 2 4 laps
1315hrs - Sidecar TT Race 2 3 laps
1630hrs - TT Zero Race 1 lap

Friday June 11th
1230hrs - Senior TT Race 6 laps

The best road racing event in the world (probably) and nice to see that the zero carbon TT is running again for it's second season

Bought my tickets for Silverstone yesterday. Best be good...

I'm sure it will be - get some photos and we can make this thread seem at least vaguely professional

Isle of Man TT 2010 - June 5th

The greatest road racing event and highlight of the motorsport calendar for me and many others. Now that i ride, i have a new found appreciation for the conditions these guys must have to endure flying across the mountain part of the famous Mountain Circuit. The wind alone must be hellish, let alone the length of the course, the road surfaces, the loneliness (it's a time trial) and the concentration required.

37 miles per lap
Average Speed 130mph
Course Record 131.578mph (John McGuiness)
Highlights ITV4 every night

Exciting TT Update!

first practice rained off.

End of Update

You're not the only one who can do informative threads, mate

I know mate, i know

Qualifying highlights tonight for the TT tonight at 9, itv4.

MotoGP-wise, i think Stoner binned it again in practice so i can't see his confidence allowing him to challenge for this weekend's race

Also, as a nice crossover, Capriossi will on be the island doing a parade lap to celebrate 50 years of suzuki racing and Lorenzo is riding a lap as well at some point, i think.

You can scratch that, Rossi broke his leg in final practice this morning and wont race and early indications are he could miss as many as FOUR races.

Could be Lorenzo's to lose now

I want my money back

Yeah, Lorenzo will win it easily now. Stoner has to win this weekend to have a chance, but can't see it happening.

Bollocks. I'm rooting for Stoner inthis one, then - just for the good of the championship.

edit: you can listen to manx radio here to listen to the TT, if that's your thing.

The cameras managed to miss the incedent, apart from a few dodgey security cameras


There's a very, very slim chance that they could get James Toseland to fill in in Rossi's absence. Probably won't happen, but he is contracted to Yamaha and would be great for Silverstone.

it would be great for Silverstone. How's he doing at the minute - would he be willing to drop what he has for a half-season with no chance of winning anything?

He's not doing great - 6th with no wins yet. Considering he was one of favourites to win, he's doing pretty poorly, so probably wouldn't mind not being able to win the Superbikes, in exchange for getting back on the a MotoGP bike.

More likely that one of the Tech 3 riders will go over to the Fiat garage and they'll find someone to fill in, although that wouldn't be Toseland as neither Spies or Edwards like him.

true. whatever happens, it's still going to make for a shit rest of season unless Stoner ups his game. HAving said, though, he's a long way off the mark at the minute and the two Hondas have the best chance of giving us some good racing i suppose.

TT delayed till 3pm 'cause of mist

I think its more likely they'll call up someone from Moto2 rather than Tech 3 TBH.

Here's the grid though, Pedrosa nicking pole off Lorenzo, the top 2 are nearly 3 quarters of a second faster than everyone else

ROW 1: 1. Dani Pedrosa (hONDA), 2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha), 3. Casey Stoner (Ducati)
ROW 2: 4. Nicky Hayden (Ducati), 5. Colin Edwards (Tech 3 Yamaha), 6. Randy de Puniet (Cecchinello Honda)
ROW 3: 7. Ben Spies (Tech 3 Yamaha), 8. Andrea Doviziozo (Honda), 9. Alex Espargaro (Pramac Ducati)
ROW 4: 10. Hiroshi Aoyama (Interwetten Honda), 11. Marco Simoncelli (Gresini Honda), 12. Loris Capirossi (Suzuki)
ROW 5: 13. Hector Barbera (Aspar Ducati), 14. Marco Melandri (Gresini Honda), 15. Mika Kallio (Pramac Ducati)
ROW 6: 16. Alvaro Bautista (Suzuki)*

DID NOT QUALIFY: Valentino Rossi (Yamaha)


* Outisde 107% but allowed to race

You're now allowed a rookie to join half way through a season in MotoGP, and don't know many Moto 2 riders who have GP experience apart from Toni Elias. But he's top of the championships so not sure if he would want to give that up, but who knows...

Great race in the 125's. Front 4 together for most of the race. Shame Bradley couldn't get a podium finish, but he has the slowest bike out of those 4 and did well to keep in touch.

missed the 125s, just managed to get home and catch the start of the main event. Hayden having the same problems on Ducati that stoner has had.

Fairly dull race up top, but what a battle for 4th and what a final lap from Stoner.

just watched highlighs from the TT as well. Fairly eventful race, but a big disappointment for local lad Connor Cummins - he built up a twenty second lead and then had a gearbox failure on lap 5

Yeah, wasn't a great race. Stoner was always going to get past Randy and Melandri as he has so much more speed, but he didn't have the pace to catch the top 3 so just took his time really.

I dunno, thought Melandri and Randy both had a great race and would keep him at bay. Good to see Jorge pipped though, stops him walking away with it just yet.

R.I.P. Paul Dobbs, The TT's latest tragic casualty

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/europe/is...an/10288910.stm

Sadly, it's the nature of the beast. All of the riders know the risks and know that that is the ultimate price to pay to ride the mountain course.

Although in better news, Ian Hutchinson takes his 4th win in a row to equal the current record. It's doubtful he'll take a fifth tomorrow in the Senior TT as the bikes are bigger, tuned and exceptionally fucking fast. This race is when the 130mph+ average speeds are set and the likes of McGuiness and Donald (providing the TAS Suzuki is up to it - it hasn't been all week) are usually the men to beat.

Well, i was wrong

After a storming first two laps which showed the top four separated by only a few seconds (over 70 miles!) there was a crash from one of them which resulted in a red flagged race. Restarting a few hours later it was again close, but after another crash and two retirements the eventual winner, Hutchinson, was able to coast home with a thirty second lead taking his total up to 5 record breaking wins, the first time there's ever been a clean sweep at the TT.

Brilliant stuff, and now back to the MotoGP and the World Cup.

What, you mean someone won all 5 classes in the same year? thats astonishing

Back to the world cup and the Canadian GP for me

Yep - He took the lot. He was off the boil a bit in the Senior TT on Friday but then there was the crash and a restart and he was back on it, so that was fortunate for him in a way but he rode very well all week and the Honda machine was superb.

Guy Martin, who crashed, has only minor injuries, inlcuding two bruised lungs and a damaged spine... only minor?!

I've been told that Colin Edwards will be riding Rossi's bike and Cal Cruthlow has declined to replace Colin. Not confirmed yet, and don't think it will be until after Silverstone.