The Mugello Thread: Spoiler alert

[Kropotkin]

Mugello kicks off this weekend, an utterly glorious track in a fantastic location, with some great racing. Can Rossi make it 7 in a row, or will Ducati finally get a win at their home track?

[#46]

The Doctor will make it 7 in a row...I hope so..

[Rusty Bucket USA]

Tady Okada.
At least, maybe until the penultimate lap, when he retires to the pits with a "technical difficulty".

Wouldn't THAT be something to talk about...?

[Albert]

Tady Okada.
At least, maybe until the penultimate lap, when he retires to the pits with a "technical difficulty".

Wouldn't THAT be something to talk about...?

Ahh the good old "technical difficulty"!

With Honda it's usually "electrical problems" -- which, as Julian Ryder once pointed out regarding Hayden's grenading engine a couple of years back means --
--the conrod has burst through the cases and gone right through the generator - hence - electrical failure!

[Kropotkin]

Resuls of FP1are up.

[AyrtonFangio]

with the current weather and the forecast for sunday, today is a lost day for the riders... except if they have Donington in mind

if it stays wet tomorrow, it's gonna be almost impossible to predict anything for the race result
i already blew my chances anyway in the MotoGP tipping comp' after i bet on a couple of wet races in Shanghai and Le Mans...

[Kropotkin]

Times for FP2 are up!

[CLX]

Great review.
What is it that makes the races so close? Lack of first gear hairpins?


What's the weather prediction for tomorow?

If it rains, I bet Stoner will win!

[Doohan OK]

I love the wet races personally its truly the great equalizer and you get to see who are the better riders.
Many power and grip advatages are lost on variable and or wet tracks and that shows who has the most bike handling skills and the biggest berrys. I wish there were more variable conditions and they played a much bigger factor in deciding the outcome of the championship

[jupiejupe]

I love the wet races personally its truly the great equalizer and you get to see who are the better riders.
Many power and grip advatages are lost on variable and or wet tracks and that shows who has the most bike handling skills and the biggest berrys. I wish there were more variable conditions and they played a much bigger factor in deciding the outcome of the championship

could not agree with you more for once. wet weather seems to be common denominator. but it also does not seem to translate to a dry track straight across.

[Malecky]

Ah...I do not agree again.

When its whet the tyres split the field in two so...

[Kropotkin]

Results from FP3 are in. Pedrosa's fastest ahead of Stoner, and Pedrosa's already under the lap record.

[Kropotkin]

Great review.
What is it that makes the races so close? Lack of first gear hairpins?

Actually, first gear hairpins can work in favor of good racing too. It just depends on where they're placed.

But the secret to Mugello is the number of corners with multiple lines through them. The tracks which produce the best racing have combinations of corners, where you can repass someone if they get past you in the first part of the turn. That's almost every corner at Mugello.

[ales17]

Finally Rossi on pole with Bridgestons!

[Kropotkin]

Results from qualifying are up on the site!

Amazing lap from Rossi, and Pedrosa was pretty impressive too...

[Greg]

And of course the non-Stoner Ducatis are back to the bottom (except Ant West, who I don't believe to be looking at a long MotoGP career).

It must be humiliating to lose to a test rider. He may be on good equipment but if he hasn't been racing at this level all season long then comes and beats you his first time out...

[ales17]

Interesting to see that Bridgestone riders are a bit higher than usually at qualifying practice!

[Greg]

Capirex is third? Can't wait to hear how he pulled that one off.

[Kropotkin]

Capirex is third? Can't wait to hear how he pulled that one off.

By following Rossi round on Rossi's pole-setting lap. Smart move!

[Kropotkin]

Qualifying practice report is up.

[tilbury007]

great write up as always

[Cheyenne]

Capirex is third? Can't wait to hear how he pulled that one off.

By following Rossi round on Rossi's pole-setting lap. Smart move!

I think maybe they kind of "arranged" it .... after Rossi did his qualifying lap with Capirex following him, he turned around and put out his hand and rubbed his fingers together, which could mean pay up and when Loris got to the parc ferme he told the Italian interviewer that he would buy Valentino a pizza.

[Kropotkin]

I think maybe they kind of "arranged" it .... after Rossi did his qualifying lap with Capirex following him, he turned around and put out his hand and rubbed his fingers together, which could mean pay up and when Loris got to the parc ferme he told the Italian interviewer that he would buy Valentino a pizza.

Funny. I'd heard of this sort of thing in cycling, but not in MotoGP!

[Kropotkin]

Morning Warmup times are up on the site. De Angelis is really quick, one of the fastest laps of the weekend, with Pedrosa, Stoner and Rossi all in contention. De Angelis' team mate Nakano is quick too, in 6th, and Capirossi looks like he is in contention. Looking good.

[Kropotkin]

Race results are up on the site, as are the championship standings.

Interesting race, not the thriller we hoped for. But how do you stop Rossi when he's in that kind of form?