Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) will start the first race of the year from pole position. Casey Stoner (Honda) slotted into second, but it was Yamaha taking four of the top six spots and Honda only one. Both Stoner and teammate Dani Pedrosa complained of handling problems, notably chatter from the front end under braking.
The slowest of all the manufacturer bikes? That would be the Ducati under Valentino Rossi back in twelfth position. The quickest CRT machine was the BMW under Colin Edwards in 13th spot.
| Pos. | Num. | Rider | Nation | Team | Bike | Km/h | Time | Gap 1st/Prev. |
| 1 | 99 | Jorge LORENZO | SPA | Yamaha Factory Racing | Yamaha | 327.1 | 1’54.634 | |
| 2 | 1 | Casey STONER | AUS | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 331.9 | 1’54.855 | 0.221 / 0.221 |
| 3 | 35 | Cal CRUTCHLOW | GBR | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 328.0 | 1’55.022 | 0.388 / 0.167 |
| 4 | 11 | Ben SPIES | USA | Yamaha Factory Racing | Yamaha | 326.1 | 1’55.512 | 0.878 / 0.490 |
| 5 | 69 | Nicky HAYDEN | USA | Ducati Team | Ducati | 334.2 | 1’55.637 | 1.003 / 0.125 |
| 6 | 4 | Andrea DOVIZIOSO | ITA | Monster Yamaha Tech 3 | Yamaha | 328.9 | 1’55.858 | 1.224 / 0.221 |
| 7 | 26 | Dani PEDROSA | SPA | Repsol Honda Team | Honda | 330.8 | 1’55.905 | 1.271 / 0.047 |
| 8 | 8 | Hector BARBERA | SPA | Pramac Racing Team | Ducati | 337.1 | 1’55.983 | 1.349 / 0.078 |
| 9 | 6 | Stefan BRADL | GER | LCR Honda MotoGP | Honda | 334.0 | 1’56.063 | 1.429 / 0.080 |
| 10 | 17 | Karel ABRAHAM | CZE | Cardion AB Motoracing | Ducati | 333.5 | 1’56.198 | 1.564 / 0.135 |
Rossi was always overrated, Stoner and Lorenzo exposed him. Rossi wouldn’t even make a dent
in WSBK.
Truly a comment from someone who is ignorant of the sport. Yes Rossi is in the latter stages of his career, but he is widely regarded as the greatest MotoGP racer of all time. Maybe do some research before slandering a magnificent racer and see how many Championships Rossi has won.
Yeah right, I agree. People talk about the guy like he won 7 world championships or something! Sheesh, don’t know where that comes from. Such a loser that Rossi.
Like Max Biaggi (who couldn’t keep Rossi in sight on a Moto GP bike..) hasn’t made a dent in WSBK?
It took many years before Rossi managed to LOSE a World Championship.
Don’t look now — but, Mr. Biaggi (The Roman Emperor) is becoming an old man…
(and…, he’s still a ‘contenda’)
Give Max another MotoGP ride and see how much of a “contenda” he is. To me having ex MotoGP competitors who couldn’t win at MotoGP ruling WSBK shows just how weak WSBK is as a program. It may be competitive but it’s not the main program where the big boys play. Like watching college football.
Cal Crutchlow just came over to MOTO GP from WSBK (without a title) and posted a great result. He didn’t beat Max many times.
Aside from 2-3 wunderkinds (stoner, lorenzo, maybe dovi), WSBK has a deeper talent pool and more competitive racing than Moto GP. Heck, even Josh Hayes came from AMA and put in a solid ride on the 800 in his first try last year. I think Moto GP’s “superiority” is a product of marketing.
Josh Hayes hardly put in a solid ride for his 7th place finish at valencia other than not falling down. In his race bautista knocked down Hayden,Rossi and de pruniet. Elias and capirosi dropped out and Abraham crashed. Simoncelli had been killed in the race in Malysia, and Edwards was out with injuries. Hayes spent the race battling an unknown Japaneses development test rider. Chances are had the race been dry he might have beaten one or two riders.
Crutchlow ran really well Sunday. I hope he continues to do so.
Spies commented that finishing in the top 10 in motogp is the equivalent of winning a WSBK . He would know I would think.
“Spies commented that finishing in the top 10 in motogp is the equivalent of winning a WSBK . He would know I would think.”
I’ll go ahead and call Ben Spies full of bull (I bet he’d take back that statement unless he was told to say it). He’s a consistent top-5 finisher in Moto GP. He just struggled for a top-10 for one of the few times in his career. Articles are being written about it.
At any rate, There are 12 competitive bikes in Moto GP. Fans don’t want to watch it. If they don’t radically change the rules to bring the CRT bikes to the front immediately they will continue to lose viewership to WSBK. The only other that would save it would be Rossi miraculously winning again.
re: “WSBK has a deeper talent pool and more competitive racing than Moto GP.”
YES…!!! (fistpump) 🙂
i’d like to add they also have a whopping 25 years of product relevancy for the manufacturers, a double race format affording potentially 2x the TV time for sponsors, come august the series will be the first to race in “mother russia”, and the series is finally transmiting to the states in HD. now any 1 of these things would be something to crow about, but all 4 together make the WSBK brand nothing less than a JUGGERNAUT.
re: “If they don’t radically change the rules to bring the CRT bikes to the front immediately they will continue to lose viewership to WSBK.”
even WITH further rule modification, it’s not going to matter. evolution has already selected MotoGP for extinction. much like open-wheel racing in the states, the letter’s CRT =’s “CaRT”.
Rossi should retire now if he is to keep his legacy from further tarnish. He is already diminished from last year’s mediocre results and this year has an ominous start. The greats of any sport usually go out on top, that train has long ago left the station and Rossi missed it. I think his career now will be like a long, slow sunset as he attempts to save face from that disastrous decision to leave Yamaha.
I am so excited for the season I can hardly stand it!
Hayden looks better than he has in years, Spies is looking good, happy that Stoner isn’t on pole, looks like we’re lined up for a good battle. Wonder if the extra fuel is going to help the CRT teams later in the race, wonder when Rossi is going to man up and ride that red beast.
Let the games begin!
Yep, can’t wait…………
Who’d have thought that you see a list of top 10 qualifiers and Rossis name would not be on the list? and Pedrosa would be down in 7th…and Crutchlow would be on the first row?
1st race of the season is always a little weird. Chatter up front will impede anyone a few places so Pedrosa’s spot is explained. If they fix it in time for the race he’ll be up front.
I’m surprised Jorge is on the point. I really didn’t see anyone beating Stoner/Honda.
While I would welcome it, I would be surprised if Rossi gets to the front ever again.
Rossi beaten by Hayden,Barbera and Abraham…what a joke.
I doubt he will be behind them at the conclusion of the race tomorrow, but it seems highly unlikely he will be battling for a podium spot. If this. Keeps up it will be Rossi developing a mysterious stomach ailment.