Grand Prix Of Qatar - SPOILER (results posted)

[R-46]

I must say this was a great race. Never expected Rossi to fall back to fifth. And an amazing job by Lorenzo, Doviciozo, and Toseland. Casey returning and repeating last years result. Is this another year of Stoner domination?? I hope not. And did Rossi make a mistake by changing from Michelin to Bridgestone?? I really hope he didn't and hope to see him battle for wins.

Congrats to Casey and Lorenzo (for an awesome beginning in his MotoGP career).

1) (25) 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro 42'36.587 166.665
2) (20) 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha 42'41.910 166.319 5.323
3) (16) 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda 42'47.187 165.977 10.600
4) (13) 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR HONDA 42'49.875 165.804 13.288
5) (11) 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha 42'49.892 165.803 13.305
6) (10) 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 42'50.627 165.755 14.040
7) (9) 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha 42'51.737 165.684 15.150
8) (8) 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki 43'09.092 164.573 32.505
9) (7) 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda 43'09.590 164.541 33.003
10) (6) 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda 43'14.941 164.202 38.354
11) (5) 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati 43'20.871 163.828 44.284
12) (4) 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki 43'26.444 163.477 49.857
13) (3) 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo 43'26.458 163.477 49.871
14) (2) 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team 43'35.119 162.935 58.532
15) (1) 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice 43'35.517 162.910 58.930
16) 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki 43'42.230 162.493 1'05.643
17) 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki 43'11.483 156.947 1 lap
Not Classified
15) Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini HONDA 31'26.773 164.242 6 laps
Dry
Air: 18°
Ground: 19°
Humidity: 58%
Pole Position:
Fastest Lap (New record):
Jorge LORENZO 1'53.927 170.003 Km/h
Lap 14 Casey STONER 1'55.153 168.193 Km/h
Circuit Record Lap:
Circuit Best Lap:
Casey STONER 1'56.528 166.208 Km/h
2008 Jorge LORENZO 1'53.927 170.003 Km/h

[CalFB]

It was a good opener. The first 1/2 was nail biting stuff. Great stuff from the new comers, Lorenzo, Dovi, Toseland. Stoner, well, he looked calm during the first part when everyone was banging around trying to win it in the first few laps, then he just cleared off after Lorenzo hung with him for a while.

Looks like Michelin were the tyre of the day, filling 7 of the top 10 places, with a string of 'Stones down the back.

[goodknight]

Great, great ride by the rookies. I'm very anxious for toseland to get the better engine.

[Inten_Z]

Originally Posted by goodknight

Great, great ride by the rookies. I'm very anxious for toseland to get the better engine.

+1, been a Toseland fan for some time now.

[Executor]

Rossi got schooled by rookie, Dovi at the last lap. Wonder what would be the outcome if the tech 3 men got the same engine as fiat boys. hmmmmmmm. Shoud have stayed with the frenchy there mr rossi...

[UNV-IT!!!]

dude the begining of the race was insane. I mean pedrosa from 8th to 1st fuck me he was like a rocket. It seemed like it was going to be a great race till the finish but stoner did what he does best pull away and win. Lorenzo clearly showed he is here to win a championship. If yami can match the ducati on pace he will be there for the win every race. Pedrosa well still looks solid no doubt about that but great to see him get school by lorenzo. Dovi no doubt the kid has skills i think that was clear last year when he was up there every race on a bike that was wayyyyy under developed compaired to everyone else, rossi fuck dude it just sucked. He was looking great for a while but then he just faded. whats his reason this time? it was tires last year, is it tires again he just cant get a pass on this. Toseland fuck the dude is sick in the head. he was clearly way down on power but sucked everyone back up through the infeild. reminded me of the rossi ride last year against stoner. Edwards well normal edwards falls back during the race. everyone else shit i forgot their was anyone else in the race... lol

[svgamer]

Observations....

Equipment

1. Honda/Mich or Brid - Still can't get it right. Love him or hate him, Pedrosa has the talent to make something out of an also-ran package. Same nod goes to Dovi on the stones.

2. Yamaha/Brid or Mich - Possibly the best total package on the Grid. 4 out of the top seven at the finish line.

3. Duc/Brid - Only Nixon could go to China, and only Stoner can make the package work.

4. Suz/Kaw - Welcome to 2008. Evolve or perish. They have top 5 talent. They need top 5 equipment.

Overall I would say the tires were pretty even. The Mich's seemed to fade slightly at half-race distance compared to the Stones/Stoner which were clicking off fastest laps.

[Big Deezul]

Rossi was having set up issues since they started testing there. He had piss poor drive off the corners and it showed. He did good with that in mind. I would bet they get the m1 set up for the next race a little better and he goes to work.

as for the others...just amazing! looks like it is going to be an insane season

[TZRaceR6]

You guys can expect more from Lorenzo, but I think with the races in Spain and Portugal coming up next, most of the rookies will not be up where they were this race. Qatar was a fluke in my opinion.

Go Lorenzo

[barlowrs]

Now I am a die hard Rossi fan, and I think my heart broke a little last night, but DAMN, he got schooled! Now i understand that there was some issues with the M1, but i really hope that is all it was and he will be back soon. I mean from the begining Lorenzo was on his ass until finally I think he got tired of going slow with him and said "screw this, I'm passing". And I dont mean anything bad against Lorenzo, esp after last night, he TORE IT UP! the man has skills, but Come on Rossi, you should school him with one hand, not get passed by him!

ok sorry, just a little upset after seeing rossi get owned...however, it was a great race..and i have MAD respect for Lorenzo now, i think he is going to take my #2 fav rider spot now..haha GO TEAM YAMAHA!