Stoner pole after Assen battle.

it will be a good race tomorrow, an that was the best qualifying we watc watched for along time...old school will win at the end..sprit of riding, never software

Is it me or does it seem like Melandri has given up?

Hopper's crash sure looked nasty. Fortunately he is ok. As for the race tomorrow Stoner Will once again pull away early. He was the only rider consistently at 1.36's. Pedrosa and Rossi could be fighting for second.

I'm not Hopper's biggest fan...but I really do feel bad for the guy after what's been happening this season. Broken bikes and even more broken bones.

As for Melandri...would it be the worst idea in the world if Ducati sent him to take Troy Bayliss' place for next year...?

Perfect dani!!!
You nearly had the pole!!!

Rossi 3th in the last 3 sec! What I'm saying THETIME WAS ALREADY OVER!!!

It really is ashame what has happened to Melandri. He's a talented rider but the lack of results have obviously worn his confidence away. Based on Suppo's comments and the next test they're giving to Sete may mean they are giving Melandri an ultimatum after the next two rounds if he doesn't produce. Could it be possible that if he doesn't improve that they'll ask him to sit out the rest of the season?

I find it interesting how many people here give Melandri a pass.

i dont think people should write melandri off as a rider he was great on the hondas he just needs to change teams and fast as the ducati only seems to suit stoner

Wonder who will want to have a go on the duk next?? Having said that Guinters seems to be getting the hang of it..and there is no way his bike will be the same as Caseys so 1.2 off is not bad needs to translate to the race.
I'm betting that Ducati have to introduce a tryout clause so that both sides can see if it works first...an odd state of affairs to be sure...

Touche Turtle Guintoli is acheiving good results you're right, the fact that he is easily outperforming Melandri shows the customer bikes must be pretty close to the factory units, and that its definately up to the rider to squeeze performance out of it. Its about time to stop making excuses for Melandri, he's been ******* useless this year and you can bet your ass its not for want of effort by the factory.

dani and rossi retire and casey to win then it really will start to liven up!!!!

Hopkins, problems again, zzzzzzzz zzzzzzzzz, a few people have put on this web-site that they have a problem with the likes of hopkins and hayden being in this series and im beginning to go along with what they say.

it is funny how people how people think that yamaha and honda doesnt have TC... Yamaha runs in ride by wire technology, for God's sake... And the All of them needs software or else the 4-stroke characteristics will prevent close racing. whether it is TC, or engine braking system, or anything, it is the computer that runs the engine and the throttle. It is no longer purely the right wrist. Honda first used TC in their 990, when rossi jumped ship, he demanded a similar and enhanced system be put on the 2004 yamaha. then they put ride by wire to sort things out. without it, rossi would have not won the championship. the need for electronics is greater in the 800 than in the 990.

such brutal power delivery of the 800 when asked to deliver 210 bhp. in the 990 era, the yamaha would never match the honda without the electronics, even if it used the bigbang. the V5 configuration is a natural traction control without sacrificing power. Even the Ducati would be better with its desmodromic valves producing linear power. Does it mean Rossi cheated with the yamaha ride by wire? if all electronics will be removed at the 800, the ducati would still be better than the pneumatic yams and hondas. it would have the wider powerband than the spring and air powered units. And the air valves would not even work without electronics. Be thankful that electronics is allowed.

I miss the old posters here, the one with loads of information that makes sense..... Those engineers and those motorheads that knows about motors and engines and racing. They used to make this forum informative.And man.... they are passionate. They are the ones who perform race steward duties sunday and post on monday.. The ones who used to race, and the ones who followed the sport since eddie lawson and doohan and the great legends. They recognize the genius that is rossi, yet they also predicted that stoner will do well. Even HAyden gets respected then...

About traction control

I cuts off the engine power the moment the rear wheel begins to slide during acceleration. when the rear wheel rotates faster than the front, the bike is powersliding. traction control kicks in to prevent maintain control. drawback - no more powerslides ( hayden hates it). You can hear it though the sputtering of the engine under hard accelaration. TC cannot be turned on all the time because there are time when the riders have to slide the bike. thats why riders turn it down. drawback - unpredictability. bikes with TC are easier to ride, but harder to take to the limit. To take it to the limit, you turn TC down and rely more on your skill.

Lanski, I'd have to disagree with you a little when u claim "ride by wire" to make linear power delivery like the desmodromic valves ...

I think it's totally different thing. ride by wire is just a replacement of the throttle steel wire with electronic sensor.

Desmodromic is a design by the which the inlet and exhaust valve open and closes.

just my 2 cents.