Assen MotoGP

[Lance]

Second practice over.......as below

Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time
1 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'36.087
2 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.732
3 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 0.844
4 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 0.925
5 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1.039
6 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1.050
7 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 1.100
8 J. HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team + 1.164
9 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 1.193
10 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.195
11 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 1.239
12 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 1.270
13 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.751
14 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 1.873
15 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 2.326
16 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 2.569
17 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 2.580
18 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 3.127

[Jon TDI]

Almost a repeat of last week!!

[KenONeill]

Has Stoner started whining about how nobody likes a whiner yet?

It's something I've only noticed about him recently, but it does mean I've gone from neutral to dislike.

[Lance]

I'm not really sure about Stoner as these days I tend to just watch the races and then turn the TV over.......did notice though that when things weren't going to plan that he had a face like a smacked ar$e.

[GAFF]

Originally Posted by Lance

that he had a face like a smacked ar$e.

How true, now if we said that it would be excuses

[Lance]

Gaff

Are you sure that make sense.....surely what I said just further confirms that I'm prepared to be unbiased??

Cheers
Lance

[GAFF]

Originally Posted by Lance

Gaff

Are you sure that make sense.....surely what I said just further confirms that I'm prepared to be unbiased??

Cheers
Lance

Yea....comon see the , only kidding with ya

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Lance

surely what I said just further confirms that I'm prepared to be unbiased??

Cheers
Lance

But on my terms

[Lance]

Originally Posted by GAFF

Yea....comon see the , only kidding with ya

[Lance]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

But on my terms

Without boring me/us too much, how'd it go at Donnington?

Lance

[Lance]

Raining at Assen at the moment and Rossi & Stoner are currently 8+ seconds off the pace (I think they are both on foot)

Guintoli top dog at the moment.

JT 6 seconds adrift

[Lance]

All a bit manic in the last few minutes of final Free Practice, finishing

1st Pedrosa - 1.39.0
4th JT
5th Stoner
7th Rossi - 1.41.5

Edwards not in top 15

Full results in about 15 minutes following the link

Results & Statistics | The Official MotoGP Website

Qualifying at 13.55 Dutch time

[GAFF]

Originally Posted by Lance

Rossi & Stoner are currently 8+ seconds off the pace

I'm sure they are trying Race set-ups.

[KenONeill]

About the only thing you can tell from final free practice is that some of them have been playing with settings for something!

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Lance

Without boring me/us too much, how'd it go at Donnington?

Lance

Donington. Hmmm
1hr 40 mins traffic jam (semi-expected). 1hr 30 mins to get to 'Grandstand' due to wondeful directions by stewards (and we were far from only ones sent every which wrong way).
'Grandstand' was open so a good job it didn't rain - but we got sand blasted instead.
We were at the beginning of the Start-Finish straight so saw riders for around 5 seconds as they came round hairpin bend. Then we got glimpses of them in three distant places for a few seconds each time. Oh, and they finally (sometime at the beginning of the MotoGP) managed to get the TV screen raised so we could see more than just the top half of the riders circulating in space.
So, what we saw and heard was very good - shame there was so little.
Then (even though we stayed right to the end, had a coffee, then dawdled back, went to car and sat for 30 mins having butties and using 4 face wipes to get rid of sand) - it still took a further hour to get off field (thanks to so many people jumping the 'queues').
Guess where I won't be going again

[Jon TDI]

If they can get the parking & traffic arrangements sorted, the MotoGP at Donington would be much, much better.

I've been a few times now, 2 of which I drove.
The first time, we parked just outside the Exhibition Centre & spent nearly 7 hours trying to get out (after the first 4 hours we stopped, had a walk for an hour & went back to the car, but saw cars ahead of us gaining only about 100 yards!).
The next time I drove we parked in the field at the back of the circuit near the airport. They said they had improved the parking but we still spent nearly 4 hours trying the get out!!.

[Fluffmeister]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

Donington. Hmmm
1hr 40 mins traffic jam (semi-expected). 1hr 30 mins to get to 'Grandstand' due to wondeful directions by stewards (and we were far from only ones sent every which wrong way).
'Grandstand' was open so a good job it didn't rain - but we got sand blasted instead.
We were at the beginning of the Start-Finish straight so saw riders for around 5 seconds as they came round hairpin bend. Then we got glimpses of them in three distant places for a few seconds each time. Oh, and they finally (sometime at the beginning of the MotoGP) managed to get the TV screen raised so we could see more than just the top half of the riders circulating in space.
So, what we saw and heard was very good - shame there was so little.
Then (even though we stayed right to the end, had a coffee, then dawdled back, went to car and sat for 30 mins having butties and using 4 face wipes to get rid of sand) - it still took a further hour to get off field (thanks to so many people jumping the 'queues').
Guess where I won't be going again

It's as good as usual then Donnington don't seem to be able to organise a pee up in a brewery when it comes to GP's. I remember a couple of years ago on the bikes the stewards directed us down the right lane of the dual carriageway leading back up to the A50, but the police were unaware of it, as were several car drivers going about their daily business finding a slow moving columne of traffic heading up the road the wrong way I much prefer brands as a spectator venue and they seem better organised

[Lance]

Originally Posted by anonymouse

Donington. Hmmm
1hr 40 mins traffic jam (semi-expected). 1hr 30 mins to get to 'Grandstand' due to wondeful directions by stewards (and we were far from only ones sent every which wrong way).
'Grandstand' was open so a good job it didn't rain - but we got sand blasted instead.
We were at the beginning of the Start-Finish straight so saw riders for around 5 seconds as they came round hairpin bend. Then we got glimpses of them in three distant places for a few seconds each time. Oh, and they finally (sometime at the beginning of the MotoGP) managed to get the TV screen raised so we could see more than just the top half of the riders circulating in space.
So, what we saw and heard was very good - shame there was so little.
Then (even though we stayed right to the end, had a coffee, then dawdled back, went to car and sat for 30 mins having butties and using 4 face wipes to get rid of sand) - it still took a further hour to get off field (thanks to so many people jumping the 'queues').
Guess where I won't be going again

Mouse

Sorry to hear that it didn't live up to expectations, however as a few others have said or suggested......MotoGP at Donnington seems to be very badly organised every year. Unfortunately until the public stop going to it, the organisers need to little to rectify the situation.

Personally I think the organisation, the food & toilet facilities and the costs involved all need to be reviewed and amended/upgraded. They really do treat us like mugs at this event.

It'll take a mass boycott before they listen

Just my opinion of course
Lance

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Lance

Mouse

Sorry to hear that it didn't live up to expectations, however as a few others have said or suggested......MotoGP at Donnington seems to be very badly organised every year. Unfortunately until the public stop going to it, the organisers need to little to rectify the situation.

Personally I think the organisation, the food & toilet facilities and the costs involved all need to be reviewed and amended/upgraded. They really do treat us like mugs at this event.

It'll take a mass boycott before they listen

Just my opinion of course
Lance

Agree with everything you say.
Sent them a suitably snotty email - for what good it will do.
And, Fluff's comments hit the nail on the head - *iss up in brewery etc.

[Lance]

Qualifying all over,

1st Stoner 1.35.5
2nd Pedrosa
3rd Rossi
4th Hayden 1.35.9

JT 13th

It should be good one..........as much as I hate to say it, Assen was made for a rider like Rossi and he usually goes well here....I reckon he'll be the one to beat.

[Jon TDI]

Didn't Stoner win last year, with Rossi very close behind?

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Jon TDI

Didn't Stoner win last year, with Rossi very close behind?

No, other way round with Rossi coming from way back on the grid if I recall correctly.

Just checked - - - Rossi was 11th on the grid.

Results & Statistics | The Official MotoGP Website

Lance

[Jon TDI]

Originally Posted by Lance

No, other way round with Rossi coming from way back on the grid if I recall correctly.

Just checked - - - Rossi was 11th on the grid.

Results & Statistics | The Official MotoGP Website

Lance

Yeah, that sounds familiar!

[Lance]

Originally Posted by Jon TDI

Yeah, that sounds familiar!

Yep, I bet he loves to go after men from behind.

[anonymouse]

Originally Posted by Lance

Yep, I bet he loves to go after men from behind.

Hmmm, seems to be a recurrent theme here, Lance.

Are you sure everything is OK with your marriage ?