2012 Grand Prix motorcycle racing

[Travis]

Hayden is a class rider, I don't care what anyone else says. When a rider can achieve pole positions two years running at Phillip Island, a 'riders circuit' as Mick Doohan describes it, he is a class act. I've never heard Nicky complain either - he just keeps on going.

I thought the battle last round was fantastic - a real cat and mouse affair until the last 2 laps. Of course it helps when Stoner is out in front of this although as I stated above, I really like all of the riders, just a couple a wee bit more than the rest.

 

[Randy Wagner]

Nickey Roger and the other brother as kids would go to the local Wal-Mart in Kentucky as kids and dad would set up cones and they would road race long in to the night for the neighbors would gather and watch Now understand we are talking KIDS his pits like the Edwards family was a high light of any event for Momma Hayden makes some of the best Cocoanut Cream Pie in the WORLD . Nickey is a class act but is known to keep his mouth shut and for those that have thought what we have been saying regarding The Wounded Ducks issues take a look at todays press release:

Ducati is hoping that a renewed focus on development of the troubled Desmosedici GP12 project will be a catalyst for them to make a bid to retain Valentino Rossi's services in 2013.

A series of high-powered meetings during the Portuguese GP at Estoril gave Ducati CEO Claudio Domenicali positive signals following recent criticism by Rossi on Italian TV.

Domenicali is hoping that a "common direction" on technical matters will now help salvage the Rossi-Ducati nightmare and return the 9-time world champion to the front of the pack.

Rossi recently hit out at Ducati Corse technical director Filippo Preziosi, claiming he was not focusing enough attention on rider input to fix chronic issues -- understeer and aggressive power delivery -- on the outclassed GP12.



Nickey was taught a valuable GP lesson when he won his World Championship the old adage what have you done for me lately for the bike he received the following year was designed for Pedrosa and was unrideable by him so basically pay me and I'll do my best and keep my mouth shut.


EVERY SINGLE top rider in the past few years has ended up on his head do to an electronics glitch ALL OF THEM. When you use a computer to design a bike thats fine BUT when you program it to perform by computer and not a man is where to me you gotta draw the line.

Until the other manufacturers come up with a sequential gearbox like Honda's they will NEVER win a World Championship unless of course Stoner get's hurt. You might be able to beat them in a race but in an entire season with them getting the advantage they do it's an impossible task that someone gonna get hurt trying to do imho.

I wanted to add that what we read at times is laughable for this is Ducati's take on the situation:

"For sure this challenge is being done because we want to build a bike for Valentino, because we believe that a bike that Valentino likes, is a good bike for all the riders," Preziosi told journalists at the abandoned Estoril test.
"We are following the direction of what Valentino suggests. Of course we are trying to do that at the best of our capability, which is not enough right now to be faster than Honda. But for sure we will try in the direction that Valentino shows us."
Preziosi also said Ducati was still taking Burgess' lead on set-up.
"We give Jeremy 100 per cent freedom to define, with Valentino, what the best set-up is," he said. "So as Ducati, our duty is just to supply material, and we believe that the crew chief is imperative in the box. LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL ROFL

The story's are night and day just like Rossi's results.

You Make The Call

 

[Rhys Gardiner]

http://twitter.com/#!/MotoGP/statuses/203140351786094592

From the official Moto GP Twitter account.

 

[Bradley Vanian]

What next ? Vettel retiring from F1 ?

 

[stbreaker]

Wife just had a baby in February.. I'm thinking that event and last season's Simoncelli tragedy figured heavily into this decision.

 

[Hampus Andersson]

I think it´s a smart move. People die in MotoGP and why risk it?

He´s taken the titles and has won championships with different brands.
the only thing he would have left is the amount of championships to match Rossi i guess.

But still, he might die doing so, perhaps it´s not worth the risk compared to before.

 

[Scott Webber]

Smart move, he set out doing what he loved, he accomplished it to the highest level, so what if he doesn't have the same amount of championship's as rossi, this guy is smart, he has a family to think of now.

 

[Kol Bailey]

He should do WSB.

 

[Travis]

Stoner is far too young for WSB

Stoner's manager has been on TV here in Australia stating he wasn't happy with the CRT rules and other things that are 'dumbing down' MotoGP.

Personally, I think this is a right decision. Stoner is young and will retire with his health intact; most ex-riders cannot say this. Stoner has been racing for 22 years, his dream was to emulate the man in my avatar and join HRC which he did.

Congrats Stoner on an excellent career.

 

[Jay Adgie]

Stoner on top after FP2

By Liam Marsden - MCN
MotoGP

Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner has ended the first day at Le Mans at the top of the timesheets.
The Aussie - who yesterday announced he is to retire at the end of the season - posted a best time of 1.33'740 to beat his team-mate Dani Pedrosa. Spaniard Jorge Lorenzo set the third fastest time.
Brit Cal Crutchlow was seventh behind team-mate Andrea Dovizioso in sixth.
Chris Vermeulen, replacing the injured Colin Edwards, finished the day in 21st and last as he adapted to the Suter-BMW machine. James Ellison posted the 20th fastest time

1 1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 307.6 1'33.740
2 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 308.5 1'34.005 0.265 / 0.265
3 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 304.1 1'34.136 0.396 / 0.131
4 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 305.3 1'34.437 0.697 / 0.301
5 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 300.3 1'34.467 0.727 / 0.030
6 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 304.3 1'34.585 0.845 / 0.118
7 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 304.3 1'34.610 0.870 / 0.025
8 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 309.2 1'35.079 1.339 / 0.469
9 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 302.2 1'35.112 1.372 / 0.033
10 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 301.8 1'35.132 1.392 / 0.020
11 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 303.6 1'35.201 1.461 / 0.069
12 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati 305.8 1'35.787 2.047 / 0.586
13 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Power Electronics Aspar ART 287.8 1'36.438 2.698 / 0.651
14 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Avintia Blusens BQR 287.5 1'36.928 3.188 / 0.490
15 54 Mattia PASINI ITA Speed Master ART 286.1 1'37.093 3.353 / 0.165
16 51 Michele PIRRO ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini FTR 286.9 1'37.310 3.570 / 0.217
17 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Power Electronics Aspar ART 287.6 1'37.585 3.845 / 0.275
18 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Came IodaRacing Project Ioda 273.3 1'38.255 4.515 / 0.670
19 22 Ivan SILVA SPA Avintia Blusens BQR 286.9 1'38.260 4.520 / 0.005
20 77 James ELLISON GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART 284.2 1'38.395 4.655 / 0.135
21 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter 286.8 1'39.383 5.643 / 0.988

 

[Jay Adgie]

Pedrosa steals pole

By Liam Marsden - MCN
MotoGP

Repsol Honda rider Dani Pedrosa will start tomorrow's MotoGP race at Le Mans from pole position.
Pedrosa stole pole position with only a few minutes remaining of the session. The session started in wet conditions, though it wasn't raining, and the track slowly dried towards the end of the session. Team-mate Casey Stoner will start from second on the grid.
Tech 3 Yamaha rider Andrea Dovizioso completes the front row in third - his best qualifying position so far in 2012. Dovizioso beat team-mate Cal Crutchlow, who starts fifth.
Aprilia rider Randy de Puniet finished top CRT at his home race in 12th, beating prototype rider Stefan Bradl who fell at the half way point after gambling with slick tyres. Bradl was the first to move to slick tyres and was sitting on pole position before he crashed.
Ducati rider Valentino Rossi will start from seventh on the grid.

1 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 303.7 1'33.638
2 1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 306.0 1'33.941 0.303 / 0.303
3 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 304.0 1'33.976 0.338 / 0.035
4 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 300.8 1'34.104 0.466 / 0.128
5 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 302.4 1'34.178 0.540 / 0.074
6 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 299.0 1'34.669 1.031 / 0.491
7 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 298.5 1'34.907 1.269 / 0.238
8 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 300.4 1'34.922 1.284 / 0.015
9 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 305.1 1'34.950 1.312 / 0.028
10 17 Karel ABRAHAM CZE Cardion AB Motoracing Ducati 301.8 1'35.250 1.612 / 0.300
11 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 298.5 1'35.291 1.653 / 0.041
12 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA Power Electronics Aspar ART 286.5 1'35.694 2.056 / 0.403
13 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 300.7 1'35.862 2.224 / 0.168
14 51 Michele PIRRO ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini FTR 283.7 1'36.646 3.008 / 0.784
15 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Avintia Blusens BQR 283.6 1'37.202 3.564 / 0.556
16 77 James ELLISON GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART 279.2 1'37.666 4.028 / 0.464
17 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Power Electronics Aspar ART 281.3 1'37.760 4.122 / 0.094
18 9 Danilo PETRUCCI ITA Came IodaRacing Project Ioda 269.5 1'37.767 4.129 / 0.007
19 22 Ivan SILVA SPA Avintia Blusens BQR 282.0 1'38.198 4.560 / 0.431
20 54 Mattia PASINI ITA Speed Master ART 279.3 1'38.511 4.873 / 0.313
21 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter 281.8 1'38.658 5.020 / 0.147

 

[Rupe Wilson]

Wow moto3 was a classic....

 

[Thilo Falkenberg]

Rossi's back. Anyone agrees?

 

[Taranta]

Rossi has never gone! Ducati is simply a wagon .... and will be for a while time.

 

[Ross Balfour]

Woww! What a weekend of racing!
Moto 3, simply outstanding. Rossi kept his nerve in front of the home crowd and showed more skill that the likes of Faubel, Cortese etc who have been in the game for years. Really impressive. Also impressed with Rins again, 26th to 3rd.

Moto 2 was amazing as usual. Cannot believe it's only Luthi's second win, as he has been near the front in almost every race.

MotoGP was dull compared to previous years, but good for this years standards. Rossi and Stoner's last lap fight was great

 

[Jay Adgie]

Lorenzo takes victory and championship lead

By Liam Marsden - MCN

2010 MotoGP champion Jorge Lorenzo has won the wet race at Le Mans by 9.9 seconds and taken the lead in the championship by eight points.
Lorenzo got an excellent start to lead from flag to flag, consistently lapping faster than any of the riders behind him.
Repsol Honda rider Casey Stoner took second place off the line, though he was unable to get close to Lorenzo.
The battle for the final podium spot was between Valentino Rossi, Andrea Dovizioso and Cal Crutchlow.
Crutchlow took third spot from Rossi with 16 laps to go, with team-mate Dovizioso then relegating Rossi to fifth. Dovizioso then moved through to third, with Rossi following in to fourth.
With 10 laps remaining Crutchlow was pushing hard to make up ground on Rossi when he crashed on the brakes going in to the second corner. Crutchlow was able to remount to finish eighth.
Rossi then took third from Dovizioso and got his head down to catch Stoner in second. Rossi passed Stoner with three laps to go, but Stoner retook second place immediately.
Stoner though was unable to hold off Rossi, who took second spot on the final lap and held on to the line to record his best ever result on the Ducati.
It was to be a bad day for Tech 3 Yamaha as Dovizioso crashed out with three laps to go. He was able to remount and finished seventh.
James Ellison rode a brilliant race to finish top CRT in 11th.
Randy de Puniet had a disappointing home race. He crashed at the start when his Aprilia CRT bike spun up and threw him off. He went out on his spare bike but crashed out of the race with six laps to go.

1 25 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 141.6 49'39.743
2 20 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Ducati Team Ducati 141.1 +9.905
3 16 1 Casey STONER AUS Repsol Honda Team Honda 141.0 +11.298
4 13 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 140.2 +29.361
5 11 6 Stefan BRADL GER LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 140.0 +32.477
6 10 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Team Ducati 140.0 +32.842
7 9 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 138.8 +59.759
8 8 35 Cal CRUTCHLOW GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 138.5 +1'05.152
9 7 8 Hector BARBERA SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 138.4 +1'07.846
10 6 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 138.2 +1'13.193
11 5 77 James ELLISON GBR Paul Bird Motorsport ART 137.6 +1'26.663
12 4 54 Mattia PASINI ITA Speed Master ART 137.5 +1'27.633
13 3 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Power Electronics Aspar ART 135.8 1 Lap
14 2 51 Michele PIRRO ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini FTR 135.4 1 Lap
15 1 68 Yonny HERNANDEZ COL Avintia Blusens BQR 135.0 1 Lap
16 11 Ben SPIES USA Yamaha Factory Racing Yamaha 133.1 1 Lap
17 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS NGM Mobile Forward Racing Suter 131.3 2 Laps
18 22 Ivan SILVA SPA Avintia Blusens BQR 126.8 2 Laps

 

[Travis]

Sensational ride by Lorenzo showing why the season isn't going to be a one-way street for Stoner. Rossi rode extremely well for second, best result for Ducati since Rossi joined them and Stoner was solid in third as both HRC men found the conditions tough.

I was gutted when Crutchlow fell as well as Dovi as it was the home race for the Tech 3 team. Spies looks lost again...not good when your team mate wins in a canter and you finish in 16th

 

[Randy Wagner]

The rain allowed the Ducks to be slid and we all know Rossi needs flex to get it to go fast hence the new frames just to bad it took them so long to listen.

Stoner walking away is kind of surprising but with his new little girl I'm sure he's got better things to do.

I think it was nice to see what happens when you take Honda's gearbox advantage away as Lorenzo rode one of his best rides ever, he was simply perfect and Spies oh poor Ben hope you still got a job next year.

 

[Jordi Casademunt]

Fun races, I'll highlight something though.

Grande Simon! Pushing his bike to the finish line after suffering an electrical fault in the last bend. It was probably the best scene this weekend, with the crowd standing up and cheering on him.

 

[Randy Wagner]

Stoner has been racing and riding his whole life and Honda does have a way of zapping time out of careers besides he's an Aussie and Aussie's but family first and is why he's one of the best EVER and by far one of the most adaptable riders ever he will be missed.