Free practice times (combined) - Qatar.

Nice job by Lorenzo. It's still early days but the guy keeps on impressing. I like that. Also a good job by Dovi and Toseland. I think we are into a thrilling season with a lot of great talents! Is this the beginning of a new era?

Come in number 46...your time is up!

4th fastest Yamaha out of how many? Oh right, four!
Let the excuses begin

Toseland 3rd?

Did he use qualifiers, it seems rather unlikely Tech-3 could out perform HRC/Rossi?

Just read why. Rossi got hit by Pedrosa in FP2!

Toselands fastest lap came in the middle of a run of 5 or 6 laps, all in the 1.55-1.56's. quite impressive if you ask me

people already forgetting that rossi is the only yam on bridgestone's therefore has no other rider data to compare to, the track temp is 31C's lower than it was on raceday last year and yeah..rossi got hit by pedro on FP2....

its still early, we got 2 more sessions and a warm up before the race, but let me guess, if rossi does peform now...all the rossi haters will say, yeah its the tyres or yeah its cos he's got JB behind him...

It's a vicious circle it seems..

No he wasn't on qualifiers, all his laps were fast. Mostly a second ahead of Rossis and super consistent. Not only that from comparing with Lorenzos split times the pneumatic valve engine is worth 0.2 per lap compared with Toselands spring valve engine.

Toseland didn't use qualifiers... Toseland, Lorenzo and Edwards were faster than Stoner in the 1st 2 quarters, but lost out mainly on the finishing straight due to lower power... Am about to post the last 10 mins on YouTube... give it 30 mins and search MotoGP Qatar Practice...

I was wondering how long for the rossi fans to start making excuses. If you actually watched the practice, you would know that Rossi didn't even realise that pedrosa had hit him. A mere glance over his shoulder and he just carried straight on. You would also know that HRC are now running with last years bike as they aren't happy with the 2008 model.
So why can't JT be up there with the likes of Rossi? As its his first season, I think he's doing a hell of a job. Can't wait for Sunday. I'll log on here after the race and read the excuses that rossi fans are making again. As I'll do all season long probably.

Grumpy - I don't think Pedrosa crashing into Rossi who was cruising on the racing line affectted his times - he hardly seemed to notice - nonchalantly looked round to see Pedrosa gesticulating with both arms as usual then he went back out with new tyres. On Eurosport they said Bridgestone were using the tyres out of the container whereas Michelin were flying in new tyres - that probably has more to do with it.

Oh what a mistake from Rossi to switch to Bridgestone. Look at all the other Yamahas, it is clear that the bike works best on Michelins. Rossi should retire from motogp...

Dont worry on race day it will between Rossi and Stoner with Jorge adn tossi to give the two a run for their money . The bridgestones during full race are very good . They may not be up to the michelins in qualifying but race tyres are excellent .. And Rossi always preforms .. dont worry for that .. ;)

ermmm Ratty... Nobody has made excuses for Rossi until your obsession dreamed it up! We're all chuffed about Toseland, so take your paranoia elsewhere

"flying in new tyres"? I thought the rules for a preset amount for tyres brought to a meeting persists although with greater quantities. Have I missed some news?

Come on John - one swallow doesn't make a summer - Rossi may have been concentrating on setup. I'm sure he'll be up the sharp end during the race whereas the new boys are more likely to fade. However looks likely that Casey has this one in the bag.

Elias and Guintoli to drop down to World Superbikes next year anyone?

Michelin is allowed to fly in tires again? I thought the rule changes still required all the tires to be chosen ahead of time..

Jack I agree with you, but that is what I heard on the commentary, but as I was eating a chicken madras and poppadoms at the time maybe I misheard - hopefully someone else who watched the broadcast will confirm whether they were talking about the last test.

Go Bradley. Go Laverty. Go Neil Hodgson and Chaz Davies who qualified first and second for tomorrows Daytona 200 - come on crash.net you should be showing the details.

Holy ****, there are some venomous Rossi haters out today. Yes he took a risk going to B-stones, yes he's having problems using the 'stones on the Yamaha in these cool conditions. It's not a flat out sign that his career is over and he's completely lost his ability to ride like few others in the world can. Take your ignorant negativity elsewhere if you can't add anything to these comment boards besides, "Oh what a mistake from Rossi to switch to Bridgestone...Rossi should retire from motogp...". How stupid are you???

So it seems Ducati still have the advantage in the straights - hence JT's times drop off - but are equal to Stoners on the twisty bits.

Hmm. So if JT had Lorenzon's engine, Stoner would have 2 people on his bottom.
(Not literally).

AFX, maybe you are reading a different thread to me. Maybe you are a bit tired. However, if you read the 3rd and 4th entry above I think you will find I have not dreamed any of it up. Wake up and smell the coffee young man/woman etc.

Dreamed it up. OK.