MotoGP season opener in Qatar (POSSIBLE SPOILER)

I'm looking forward to the season getting underway this weekend.

Any predictions?

How do you think Nicky Hayden will get along with the Ducati?

I'm hoping for a strong Ducati season, though Rossi is amazing.

I really think Stoner will run away with things this season, he seems in complete control of the bike, and able to go faster & faster whenever he has to ! Rossi is amazing, but I think Ducati has developed much more than the others with it's carbon frame, Nicky Hayden will be a consistant top ten man but it will take time to get used to the machine & tyres.
I hope I am wrong and we have a really close season, I have my tickets already for Donnington, Can't wait.

stoner is fastest on the free practice, Hayden 13th, but there are quite a few surprises in the top 10 at the moment:
MOTO GP
1. Stoner (Aus-Ducati) in 1'57"053, alla media di 165,463 km/h
2. ROSSI (Ita-Yamaha) a 0"386;
3. Edwards (Usa-Yamaha) a 0"782
4. Lorenzo (Spa-Yamaha) a 1"219
5. De Angelis (Rsm-Honda) a 1"399
6. CAPIROSSI (Ita-Suzuki) a 1"415
7. Kallio (Fin-Ducati) a 1"446
8. DOVIZIOSO (Ita-Honda) a 1"453
9. MELANDRI (Ita-Kawasaki) a 1"704
10. De Puniet (Fra-Honda) a 1"718
11. Toseland (Gbr-Yamaha) a 1"797
12. Elias (Spa-Honda) a 2"041
13. Hayden (Usa-Ducati) a 2"105
14. Vermeulen (Aus-Suzuki) a 2"295
15. Takahashi (Jap-Honda) a 2"384
16. Gibernau (Spa-Ducati) a 3"542
17. CANEPA (Ita-Ducati) a 3"544
18. Pedrosa (Spa-Honda) a 4"382
CLASSE 250
1. Talmacsi (Ung-Aprilia) 2'01"902 alla media di 158,881 km/h
2. Bautista (Spa-Aprilia) a 0"041
3. PASINI (Ita-Aprilia) a 0"294
16. SIMONCELLI (Aprilia) a 2"974
CLASSE 125
1. Simon (Spa-Aprilia) in 2'07"791, alla media di 151,599 km/h
2. Smith (Gbr-Aprilia) a 1"032
3. Terol (Spa-Aprilia) a 1"374
7. IANNONE (Ita-Aprilia) a 1"878
I think Stoner have a big chance to start in winning form, and apart him and Rossi there will be very few other GP winners this season, but no other title contenders as such.

If Soner's wrist holds up he'll win, Hayden is going to struggle, Toseland had a good first practise and I'm really impressed with Kallio.

I hope Toseland has a good season it was obvious he was trying to hard last year, I watch the MOTO GP probably because of Rossi the mans a genius but to be honest i prefer the WSB or BSB which produced some cracking races last year.

[Pedro]

My two penneth....

Rossie for the title
Stoner hasn't proved his wrist will do race distance, he may be quick in practice etc but....
Dovi will outshine Pedrosa after a few races, much more the real deal than Pedrosa, not afraid to mix it with the big boys
Hayden will run mid pack along with the likes of JT, Elias and Melandri
I think Lorenzo will be a threat this year if he can keep it rubber side down and the Suzuki's will be worth watching

[Yorkie]

Rossi for my choice! He's cool!

Yorkie.

My head says Rossi, my heart says Edwards.

However, I would love to see Melandri get a few podiums but I know that is a dream.

Stoner because of his wrist has not completed as many laps in testing as Rossi. So how his tyres will last with is race set up may be unknown territory. Rossi although slower than Stoner in testing over 5 laps i think will be quicker over race distance. really would like to see JT get a podium this year but i cant see it and i thnk he may be back to WSB after this season maybe swapping with Spies. Dovizioso will be the big suprise this year but only Stoner and Rossi will challenge for title in my opinion and if we are looking for a battle including Gibernau with Rossi like in years gone by forget it.

For what it's worth in my opinion.

Opening Race

1 Rossi
2 Stoner
3 Dovizioso
4 Edwards

Yes I'm looking forward to tomorrows race but where the hell can I watch the qualifiying?
Eurosport says its only showing 125 and 250 sessions and BBC says its on iplayer-erm not on mine its not. Help I am very angry at the moment-very angry. Why did the beeb buy the right's with our money and not show it?

Originally Posted by dlloyduk

Why did the beeb buy the right's with our money and not show it?

It's a control thing and frankly they are b*stards.

Actually the Eurosport thing may be a mistake, don't they only qualify in 30 minutes?

Originally Posted by dlloyduk

Yes I'm looking forward to tomorrows race but where the hell can I watch the qualifiying?
Eurosport says its only showing 125 and 250 sessions and BBC says its on iplayer-erm not on mine its not. Help I am very angry at the moment-very angry. Why did the beeb buy the right's with our money and not show it?

BBC is showing qualifying on the BBC Sport website and wit the red button thinghy on the telly, If the quality of the MotoGP coverage is going to be the same as they're doing with F1 I'll be quite impressed

Now I am confused, how can you be impressed with Charlie Cox and Steve (I'll be forever in the shadow of Barry Sheene) Parish?

their F1 coverage is very good(almost as good as ITV used to be)so I'm hopeful. Parish is OK, and I watch the races to watch racing, not to listen to the commentators TBH.
Eurosport was a big loss to the fans, and the fact that they'll be showing the MototGP again mainly due to pressure from the afficionados speaks for itself, but I've used the iPlayer for most of last season(I normally work weekends) and found it a decent alternative.

Originally Posted by Pomp1

BBC is showing qualifying on the BBC Sport website and wit the red button thinghy on the telly, If the quality of the MotoGP coverage is going to be the same as they're doing with F1 I'll be quite impressed

When I press the red button and go to the BBCiPlayer and then select sport it tells me there is a choice of watching SuperAgents ot the Adnventure Show and I do not need to watch those. So ware the hell do I find it?