MotoGP predictions - 2005.

Most of the predictions that have been posted here seem somewhat logical. I'll be rooting for Rossi, have since he raced 250 Aprilias. Everyone is coming in this season with more confidence, it seems. Biaggi has the ride he wanted, but I don't think it's gonna do him much good. I feel Sete is a much better rider than Max and will finish higher in points at the end. Edwards can't seem to stay in one place for very long. He wanted a Honda ride when he came to MotoGp but was denied, ending up with Aprilia which sucked big time. Then the move to Honda, and he couldn't produce with them except for one podium finish. Now he's with Yamaha and I don't really expect too much from him. He is talented, but I don't think he's as good as Sete, Rossi, Max, etc.

Nicky has got to start giving some results. He's talented for sure, but if he can't be consistently at or near the top Honda might get a little pissed. I hope he does better this season but he'll be no real competition for the top guys. I look for Kawasaki to to better this season. They've been doing pretty much all their development at the track. Nakano is tough so don't count him out. I don't really think Suzuki will have much to offer this season, just like the previous. They will do better, because how could they do worse. Hopkins a contender for the championship? Nope, not gonna happen.

What I do know is this, anything can and will happen. There's gonna be some surprises along the way this season. But in the end, Rossi=Champion. It's gonna be exciting.

 

id love to see Rossi go with ducati and help them inch their way back to the top.

to bad GP isnt huge in canada, its so entertaining.

 

The majority will not wise up. No two ways about it. However, MotoGP is gaining lots devoted fans here. Do your part and convert the heathens. I have converted a few myself and it is very rewarding to see your friend sit on your couch with his mouth just hanging open, hardly able to believe his eyes.

 

I think today is the 1st day of practice. You can get the results at www.motogp.com. I'm on my way to LA today for the Pasa Robles drive this weekend, but I'll be able to check in and see how they're doing. In addition to Laguna, I'll probably go to Brno this year too.

Art

 

Art, Did you know that there are thousands of other racers out there with lots of credentials, all with different opinions on who will win the championship. Are they less of a talent scout than you, no. If you ask anybody who knows, has done any work for, or discovered lets say Marco Melandri, they will say the same thing about him, that he's the next champ. I have never raced before but I do watch it. I think Hopkins is a great rider and he may even win a championship but chances are he will never achieve what Rossi has and I don't think Rossi is even done yet.

No credentials here, just an opinion.

Ron.

 

Can someone explain me the main differences between MotoGP and World Superbike Championship?

 

World Superbike could be seen as equivalent to DTM, or JGTCC. Highly modified machines, but based on a production machine. MotoGP is more equivalent to F1 and the machines are all prototypes and are not even allowed to be production based.

 

An interesting side-note to the whole lap time debate is that 250 machines are not very far down on their four-stroke brethren, but they are obviously slower. While WSBK's may not seem to be that much slower time-wise, the difference is noticable. This is not meant to detract from anything you said (I think it agrees with what you said), it is simply an interesting point.

 

thanx guys

makes sense, cuz i was wondering why ducati dominates so much in WS and they can barely be competitive in MotoGp

 

I think Hayden will finish higher than Hopkins.
And it's Erv.

Larry

 

Agreed, the V4 will become the premium road model, replacing the R, a year after the Desmosedici road bike special is released, at which point it will then be eligible to race in WSBK.

 

The race was awesome. The Hondas rock!! When it was dry, a Honda race, with only Rossi's talent giving him any chance. Too bad Sete fell in the rain, as did Hopkins (up to 6th at one point). If Yamaha can't find any more power, they'll have to win at all the slower tracks, because the Hondas are going to be unstopable.

Hayden didn't do **** as usual.

Art

 

1 Alex Barros Camel Honda Honda RC211V 47:14.053
2 Valentino Rossi Gauloises Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR- M1 47:16.824
3 Max Biaggi Repsol Honda Team Honda RC211V 47:20.124
4 Marco Melandri Team Movistar Honda Honda RC211V 47:43.599
5 Carlos Checa Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati Desmosedici GP-5 47:43.827
6 Colin Edwards Gauloises Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 47:58.269
7 Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda Team Honda RC211V 48:11.174
8 Shinya Nakano Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki Ninja ZX-RR 48:13.900
9 Loris Capirossi Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati Desmosedici GP-5 48:21.771
10 Ruben Xaus Fortuna Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 48:36.484
11 Troy Bayliss Camel Honda Honda RC211V 48:47.582
12 Kenny Roberts Jnr. Team Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki GSV-R 48:48.184
13 Roberto Rolfo D'antin Ducati Ducati Desmosedici GP-4 48:50.009
14 Toni Elias Fortuna Yamaha Team Yamaha YZR-M1 48:50.545
15 James Ellison Blata WCM Blata 2 Laps
16 Shane Byrne Team Roberts Proton/KTM 4 Laps


Gibernau falls from the lead after downpour.

Edwards, Bayliss down but rejoin to finish.

Nick Hayden in seventh, Roberts 12th, Hopper out after fall, rider unhurt.

Alex Barros takes the race win in style.

 

Take a look at the top speeds, notice how Rossi's bike is one of the quickest? Looks like Burgess got the job done. Question is, when is Honda going to respond, and just how hard was Sete riding to pull away like he did? He's awesome. Hooper's speed shows that they're still down about 20 HP.

1. Marco Melandri, Honda RC211V, 202.9 mph
2. Valentino Rossi, Yamaha YZR-M1, 201.8 mph
3. Loris Capirossi, Ducati, 201.8 mph
4. Max Biaggi, Honda RC211V, 201.6 mph
5. Nicky Hayden, Honda RC211V, 201.5 mph
6. Sete Gibernau, Honda RC211V, 200.1 mph
7. Troy Bayliss, Honda RC211V, 199.5 mph
8. Alex Barros, Honda RC211V, 199.4 mph
9. Carlos Checa, Ducati, 198.8 mph
10. Toni Elias, Yamaha YZR-M1, 198.2 mph
11. Roberto Rolfo, Ducati, 197.9 mph
12. John Hopkins, Suzuki GSV-R, 197.1 mph
13. Colin Edwards, Yamaha YZR-M1, 196.7 mph
14. Shinya Nakano, Kawasaki ZX-RR, 194.7 mph
15. Ruben Xaus, Yamaha YZR-M1, 191.8 mph
16. Shane Byrne, Proton KR, 191.6 mph
17. Kenny Lee Roberts, Suzuki GSV-R, 188.8 mph
18. Franco Battaini, Blata, 185.1 mph
19. James Ellison, Blata, 183.5 mph

Note that Roberts was about 10 mphs slower than Hopkins. John must have been unreal in his entry onto the straight, no?


Art

 

Art
Still waiting for those Suzuki's to fire up....

 

China's coming up with weekend. Tomorrow we should get some of the qualifying times. Should be interesting. I'm off to Fontana for the National tomorrow, but will post pm.

Art

 

Roberts fastest in the rain. Suzukis in 8th & 9th in the dry. Tomorrow (actually this pm) should be interesting.

Art

 

My prediction, neither Suzuki in the top 10 come race day.
Care for a wager?

 

John qualified 4th. Unless he breaks, or has trouble, look for him in the top 3. He thinks he can win this one, and maybe he can.

Art

 

I don't enjoy being a naysayer (well maybe a little bit ) but this isn't exactly the first time they've qualified respectably and come no where.
All the best to the Suzuki boys, having them competative just makes the series that much better.

 

Both John and Kenny lead the race. John lead the first lap, Kenny lead on the 5th, and then the bike broke. John lost the lead when he went off the track coming back from lasst place to finish 7th, and Kenny broke. Looks like they are going to be contenders this year.

Art