Warm-up times - Estoril.

Looks like Casey's only hope is rain!

1. Traction Control
2. Alex de Angelis
3. Valentino Rossi

It looks like Caseys only hope now is for a wet race seeing there's been no opportunity to fine tune to his dry setup. Valentino has been the most consistent all weekend wet or dry

Stoner has been the fastest and most consistent in the wet, sorry alex but look at his lap times.

I'm sure Melandri,Elias and Guintoli all have their TC on as well, it just shows how good Stoner really is on the evil handling Duke.

Cheers.

I think Alex meant Rossi has been most consistent between conditions i.e he has been there in wet practice, dry practice, dry qualifying and damp warm up... which casey certainly hasn't! he has been fast in the wet/damp though. Then again how much wet riding has Rossi done on those bridgestones?! if its wet it will be Casey, Rossi, Vermulen. If its dry i think Rossi Lorenzo Pedrosa.

It is just amazing how much hate is it against Stoner just because he dared winning a MotoGP title and god forbid not letting Rossi win. Just amazing every time he is doing well some jump and claim it is due to TC, engine etc. yes, sure only Stoner have a good working TC...while Dani manage amazing starts NOT due to good TC, and the farts like sounds coming out of the engines of the Honda and Yamaha are not due to TC. It is quite disappointing to see how little technical is this forum, most comments here are something one can expect from sheep and goats, so predictable and shallow. I for sure gone shallow as well as it is difficult not to be affected or frustrated by the comments here!

I dunno, But I have a feeling there will be quite a few riders not seeing the chequered flag today, The track conditions have changed big time so its a clean slate....Banzai time

Has anyone noticed that CS always does a few reconnaissance laps at snails pace in the damp conditions then his first flying lap usually takes him to the top of the field.

I am sure on those first few laps he is memorising every puddle and mentally taking himself through his first flying lap.

His first flying lap saw him lop 3.5 seconds off VR who was the fastest at the time.

It takes absolute confidence in yourself and your package to do that.

As you can hear at eurosport, Hayden want TC OFF!, while Edwards and Rossi want it on. Edwards say it just strait out, "I don't like to fall of the bike". As the tech engineer of JT said, lap time is better without TC, but on the hole race distance it is easier and more comfortable with TC.
I will love to see MotoGP without TC, no matter what will be the result of it regarding Casey, as I'm a big fun of him, but I think he will manage fine without it.

Guy, I agree wholeheartedly !

The same hate is directed at Hayden for daring to win the championship in 06, maybe not as much because he did have a lot of luck on his side and Stoner won in 07 with skill and race wins .

Witness his performance in the wet using the same BS tires as Rossi, the boy is brilliant and would shine on any factory bike in my opinion.

Cheers.

Rossi just said it was easier, didn't hear him say he wanted it on?! Edwards is funny, great guy to have in the paddock i think!

The warm up session should have picked up casey's confidence a bit, if he doesn't win the title this year he will have learned a lot more than last season as currently he loses his head very quickly, and its easy to see, think this season will toughen him up a bit! Rossi may have lost his head a little last year but it was never as clear to see as Stoner makes it...

Thanks Rob.
Yes the same is for Hayden who rode really well at 2006, and it is the main reason he became a champion, he rode really well and was constantly challenging for the top spots.

I for one am sick of being called a Stoner hater just because Rossi didn't win blah blah etc.,..Stoner never crossed my mind until last year he was always an also ran. What sticks in my throat all the Stoner fans bull, Stoners total disrespect for some great riders. It is also obvious that he got lucky with the bike and is nowhere near Rossi and a few others if on same kit . The constant slagging of the guy who is the main reason the majority of the people watch just gets alot of fans very angry. Yet again you are showing the mentality that has many fans frustrated....You should take a leaf out of the Hayden fan book and have a little humility and respect.

Guy 1098R 21

I agree with everything you said, I also wish TC was banned.
If only to shut up people giving credit to TC and not riders.

Everyone knows the Japanese are the best at electronics, not Italians. (Ive had Italian Cars and Bikes).

The anti-Stoners are the most biased on this forum, I won't say Rossi fans cause I am a Rossi fan.

Yes Paul, as you say, Rossi said it is easier, but he smiled in a quite "guilty" way (just my feeling) and Rossi is consistently very focused about safety, so I'll think he is generally for TC to stay ON in MotoGP.

You can not be serious..

jimjam,

You are wrong, some people support Stoner and Rossi.

I have followed Rossi from the start in 125cc, and Stoners start in 250cc

same here

jimjam, I'll not say Stoner is perfect on or of the bike, and so for Stoner fans (of the bike :-) ) but I think Stoner is amazing on the bike! To take a Ducati and winning a world title against the best from Japan (with Rossi, Dani, Hayden on these bikes!!) is just unbelievable!! Of the track I don't know Stoner well, and I don't care! He seems just like a regular quite 22 years old guy! Remember he is only 22!! Also charming guys like Edwards have been less "polished" when they were young. I just remember how Edwards was sour about Foggy! "I hate loosing to that old bastrado" was his words!! :-)

jimjam .

I have never slagged Rossi and have followed him since 125s,and I think he has been great for MotoGP but please give Stoner credit where it's due,I have seen All the top riders "lose it" at times, witness Hayden in qualifying yesterday,he's the nicest bloke out there and he lost his cool with Toseland.

If everyone was honest about Rossi he had the best of everything compared to Stoner, being European helped,his father being an ex racer helped,having works Aprilla's helped, having the best race engineer in the business helped, having the best bike in 500 class helped,being on the "A" michelins his whole career helped, and having great sponsers helped as well..

Cheers