**SPOILER** Turkey MotoGP result

[feejer222]

125 and 250 races both excellent. I don't usually watch the 125's but we have a 15 yr old Brit there Bradley Smith. He started 13 climbed through to 6th and got pushed back to 8th on the last corner. Great ride kid.

250 race: incredible right to last corner.

Big race: Major upset, big 4 bike crash first lap took Edwards out. Rossi ran wide just before the crash and went back about 6 places from second. Kept happening through race and losing him 3 or 4 places at a time. Either lost his momentum or the set up was wrong. Melandri barging a lot of riders including Rossi.

He was passed by Alex Barros who won a European championship before Rossi was born.

Stoner led the race from second lap. Melandri barged Rossi out after Rossi battling back to 2nd. Hayden ran 7th most of the race. Hopper on fire up at the front.

Vermulan knocked off in the big crash and clawed back to 11th. setting the fastest lap.

Result:

1 Stoner by 7 seconds

2Elias

3Capirossi

4Barros

5Melandri

6Hopkins

7Hayden

8?

9Hoffman

10Rossi

WON ME MY MONEY YEAY £137 thanyou!

 

[Rogue]

I just saw the 250 + MotoGP. WOW, great races. Rossi's rear tire was toast.

 

[boardsNbikes]

Great race for the last podium position. Too bad we didn't get to see much of Stoner's race because he was so far (+5s) ahead of the field. He must have riding that Ducati. :dribble:

 

[FJR Steve]

Great race for the last podium position. Too bad we didn't get to see much of Stoner's race because he was so far (+5s) ahead of the field. He must have riding that Ducati. :dribble:

...and he's Australian! :yahoo: :clapping:

About time someone came along...Mick Doohan's heroics are fading in everyone's minds over here. Need a new hero.

 

[feejer222]

We have to look back to Sheene for a real hero!!! Hopefully James Toseland will set things right this year and then move up to Moto GP.There is always Foggy but no-one likes him!

A Mate of mine dirt races and goes to a place locally to practice. It's like a track where you pay and they have all the facilities and safety stuff but purely for practice. Foggy arrived in a tired looking van on his own. (4 times World Superbike Champion remember). He wheeled out a 250 and rode round on his own for an hour and wasn't particularly good, getting passed by good schoolboys, including my mates son. Packed the bike away and went home...on his own. Not a word spoken to anyone and not one autograph was asked for, everyone ignored him. He has had far too much to say, (mainly about himself), and has ruined his immage.

Chris Vermulen went well and would have been on the podium had he not been taken out earlier. He did well to finish 11th. after re-mounting and set the fastest lap. One of my wifes hero's. She has many, I think I am in there somewhere! <_<

 

[boardsNbikes]

...and he's Australian! :yahoo: :clapping:

Really? Never mind then

 

[painman]

Great race for the last podium position. Too bad we didn't get to see much of Stoner's race because he was so far (+5s) ahead of the field. He must have riding that Ducati. :dribble:

...and he's Australian! :yahoo: :clapping:

About time someone came along...Mick Doohan's heroics are fading in everyone's minds over here. Need a new hero.

Mat Mladin's not too shabby with six AMA Superbike championships to his credit. And he's on a comeback from last years second place finish and I'll be watching the race come May 18 at Infineon lord willing and believe he's the man to beat this year. And that's exactly what Mr. Spies said at the pre-race earlier this month there. Have a g'day mate. PM. <><

 

[feejer222]

I think they should both be at world level. I think Ben Spies has made a major mistake not moving up after such a great year. If he gets beat this year it won't be as easy attracting world level race teams. Assuming he wants to be world champion!

Mladin is obviously just making a living these days and is not interested in moving up, maybe he should have done it years ago.

 

[FJR Steve]

I think they should both be at world level. I think Ben Spies has made a major mistake not moving up after such a great year. If he gets beat this year it won't be as easy attracting world level race teams. Assuming he wants to be world champion!
Mladin is obviously just making a living these days and is not interested in moving up, maybe he should have done it years ago.

1. Ben who? (serious)

2. I could never understand why Mladin never went to Europe for WSBK or MotoGP. I would have thought that he would have 'earned' his sponsorship ticket in the USA with his exploits there. Motorsport does not attract sponsorship for the rider/driver here in Australia, when their aspirations are aimed at the world stage. Stoner has acheived his success through sheer dedication and single bloody mindedness of his parents, who sold everything to move themselves and young Casey to Europe. He showed promise...and was a top rider in Australia...but what a gamble.

Just wish I could have given my Rear Seat Counter Weight the same opportunity. He has Rossi's looks...so he's halfway there :blink: ...and he has NO fear when being pillioned. No matter who is piloting. Anyway...he'll always be my champion. :clapping:

 

[TellurideFJR]

IMHO most of the AMA superbike veterans are that because they know that they don't have what it takes to compete on the world stage. How long did Oliver hold onto the 250 title... Other reasons can be that some just don't want to deal with being away from home for the season (a big chunk of the year) and having to deal with the whole language thing in europe (I am also a stupid american who speaks in only one language). Don't get me wrong, I have been to AMA races since the early 80s and have seen dozens of races at Laguna Seca along with a few at the now closed Pikes Peak raceway. It is just looks a little cheesey compared to WSBK or MotoGP. I have not seen much of the AMA series this year but I must agree the Spies could be a contender internationaly.

As to the Doohan thing, he would not have been the champion he was in the mid 90s if Rainey had kept riding. If Wayne had not suffered his injuries I believe that Rossi would still be gunning at records instead of setting them. To Micks' credit he did work through incredible pain and disfigurement after the Assen get off and botched Dutch surgeries to come back and kick *** using a thumb operated rear brake. Some of his oponents called foul but the FIM told them they could use one too if they liked.

This year I will be attending AMA and MotoGP races at Laguna Seca along with F1 at Indy and possibly a trip to Utah their AMA race (looks like a cool track). If any of you have the oportunity I highly recomend a trip to Laguna Seca. Besides great racing, Monterey offers the best race experience that I have ever seen and the the MotoGP circus makes it even better!

Blah blah blah blah... I havent even seen the Turkey race yet

 

[Windjammer]

IMHO most of the AMA superbike veterans are that because they know that they don't have what it takes to compete on the world stage.

In some cases this may be true, but I think there are also some who just prefer to live and work in the USA. Not because European/World racing sucks, but just because they like racing and living here.

 

[feejer222]

IMHO most of the AMA superbike veterans are that because they know that they don't have what it takes to compete on the world stage.

In some cases this may be true, but I think there are also some who just prefer to live and work in the USA. Not because European/World racing sucks, but just because they like racing and living here.

In the UK a great deal of international racing is reached via a short ferry ride and a day or so in the truck. For any American the prospect of coming over to Europe must be a lot more daunting. I would think that most have never been to Europe at all and feel comfy with what they have there. When we speak of hollidays in the UK, mainland Europe has a choice of countries only 1-3 hours away by plane. If we talk of America it's 'the big one' with the 'long flight'. It must be the same for you guys coming here.

As far as the language problem is concerned most European countries speak understandable English now. When we go into Europe for hollidays we don't have to worry about the language barrier because we can always be understood.

There will always be American riders who should be at world level. Ben Spies is one and he should have made that move this year, big mistake as far as I can see.

I used to watch Nicky Hayden in the AMA and it was pretty obvious that he would cut it, just the same as Spies.

 

[painman]

2. I could never understand why Mladin never went to Europe for WSBK or MotoGP. I would have thought that he would have 'earned' his sponsorship ticket in the USA with his exploits there. Motorsport does not attract sponsorship for the rider/driver here in Australia, when their aspirations are aimed at the world stage.

When I was at the tune-up day for the May 18-20 race at Infineon raceway a reporter asked Mladin the same question about why he was not persuing the MotoGp road. His answer was that he "was too big in size to be succesful in MotoGp. He said the modern day stature for a MotoGp racer is that of Dani Pedrosa." Also, I think Mat is at or near the end of his career but he did also say that "there is no scale large enough to measure his determination to regain his championship this year". Ben Spies did also say, " Mat is the man to beat this season". PM. <><

 

[feejer222]

He was BS'ing a bit there. James Toseland who is 5'10 was supposed to go out for the afternoon on Nicky's bike after the last race last year for a 1 off ride to see how he went on. The bike wasn't available for some reason so he had 15 minutes on Danni's and got within a second of Haydens best race time. That was on a bike set up for a midget. (No offence to any midgets looking in....watch that stool doesn't tip!).

I think that is BS from Spies about Matt being the boy this year. I reckon he will romp it again.

 

[painman]

I think that is BS from Spies about Matt being the boy this year. I reckon he will romp it again.

I would agree here. But you have to admit, Mladin is on a mission as the results so far have shown this. I think Spies was being humble with the statement about Mat being the one to beat this year, but he is the only one who is a thorn in his side. Really Ben is the one to beat but Mat does seem very determined IMO. Looking forward to the race here May 18-20. On the MotoGp note my concern is will Nicky get his new 800 dialed in? He's got to be chomping at the bit with his recent turn of events. Take care, PM. <><

 

[feejer222]

Don't know what will happen with Nicky this year. I think he has lost the title, and has to do some serious damage limitation if he is to be taken seriously next year.

We are spolied over the weekend with British Superbikes and World Superbikes on TV. We have a guy that we help (did I say that?) in the BSB. We will be following his practice (and others) on the live timing from Friday lunch.

great weekend coming up!!

I can post the link for the live timing when it starts if you like, once the meeting is up and running.

As an asside. If Rossi leaves bikes at the end of this season, I tip Edwards for the title or a very close second in 2008!!