Official MotoGP Thread

Previously Japanese MotoGP were held at Suzuka, but last season there was a terrible accident that killed Daijiro Kato. Since then Japanese MotoGP is moved to Motegi while Suzuka is being renovated.
Obviously Suzuka is more suitable for F-1, not MotoGP or SuperBike.

Motegi is a circuit with many straight lines and broken (slow) corners which is a good benefit for bikes with big power such as Honda. Meanwhile Yamaha will use a new exhaust design, it's the "slash-cut". the silincer will be removed, it will cut the engine power but the power transfer will be smoother.


Here's the starting grid for the twelfth round of the 2004 world championship.

1. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda
2. John Hopkins / USA / Team Suzuki
3. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha

4. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda
5. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda
6. Marco Melandri / ITA / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha

7. Loris Capirossi / ITA / Ducati Marlboro
8. Kenny Roberts / USA / Team Suzuki
9. Nicky Hayden / USA / Repsol Honda

10. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda
11. Carlos Checa / ESP / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
12. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Fuchs Kawasaki

13. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda
14. Tohru Ukawa / JPN / HRC Honda
15. Norick Abe / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha

16. Troy Bayliss / AUS / Ducati Marlboro
17. Neil Hodgson / GBR / d'Antin Ducati
18. Ruben Xaus / ESP / d'Antin Ducati

19. Alex Hofmann / GER / Fuchs Kawasaki
20. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / MS Aprilia
21. Olivier Jacque / FRA / Moriwaki WCM

22. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton Team KR
23. Shane Byrne / GBR / MS Aprilia

Originally Posted by argo

Previously Japanese MotoGP were held at Suzuka, but last season there was a terrible accident that killed Daijiro Kato. Since then Japanese MotoGP is moved to Motegi while Suzuka is being renovated.
Obviously Suzuka is more suitable for F-1, not MotoGP or SuperBike.

Motegi is a circuit with many straight lines and broken (slow) corners which is a good benefit for bikes with big power such as Honda. Meanwhile Yamaha will use a new exhaust design, it's the "slash-cut". the silincer will be removed, it will cut the engine power but the power transfer will be smoother.


Here's the starting grid for the twelfth round of the 2004 world championship.

1. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda
2. John Hopkins / USA / Team Suzuki
3. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha

4. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda
5. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda
6. Marco Melandri / ITA / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha

7. Loris Capirossi / ITA / Ducati Marlboro
8. Kenny Roberts / USA / Team Suzuki
9. Nicky Hayden / USA / Repsol Honda

10. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda
11. Carlos Checa / ESP / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
12. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Fuchs Kawasaki

13. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda
14. Tohru Ukawa / JPN / HRC Honda
15. Norick Abe / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3 Yamaha

16. Troy Bayliss / AUS / Ducati Marlboro
17. Neil Hodgson / GBR / d'Antin Ducati
18. Ruben Xaus / ESP / d'Antin Ducati

19. Alex Hofmann / GER / Fuchs Kawasaki
20. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / MS Aprilia
21. Olivier Jacque / FRA / Moriwaki WCM

22. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton Team KR
23. Shane Byrne / GBR / MS Aprilia

the logic doesn't get me. How do you suppose to win if you cut the engine power? Especially in a track where engine power is all that matter?

You're right, Idan.. seemed like Rossi still use silincers on his M1 exhausts. Probably he was quite confident to handle the power. but It wasn't enough because Tamada's RCV was very much powerful.
Rossi held him for 7 laps, but after that Tamada led the race comfortably. too bad there were 6 riders crashed out already in the 1st lap including Biaggi, Capirossi , Hayden and Edwards.
IMO Rossi could chase down Tamada but he played safe because his rivals were already left behind. If he push himself and his bike too hard then he might couldn't finish after all.

Here's the Final Result of Japanese MotoGP - Twin Ring, Motegi.

1. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Honda
2. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Yamaha
3. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Kawasaki
4. Alex Barros / BRA / Honda
5. Marco Melandri / ITA / Yamaha
6. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Honda
7. Carlos Checa / ESP / Yamaha
8. Neil Hodgson / GBR / Ducati
9. Ruben Xaus / ESP / Ducati
10. Alex Hofmann / GER / Kawasaki
11. Olivier Jacque / FRA / Honda
12. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / Aprilia
13. Shane Byrne / GBR / Aprilia
14. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton
15. Youichi Ui / JPN / WCM

This is the first MotoGP race ever in the Middle-East.
Losail Circuit features a 12-metre wide flowing layout lasting 5.4 kilometres. The main straight stretches to 1100 metres (just like Catalonia), while the whole circuit is surrounded by artificial grass designed to prevent sand from the neighbouring desert blowing onto the race track.

Here's the 'quite surprising' starting grid:
1. Carlos Checa (ESP) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
2. Alex Barros (BRA) Repsol Honda
3. Sete Gibernau (ESP) Telefonica Movistar Honda

4. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda
5. Shinya Nakano (JPN) Fuchs Kawasaki
6. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro

7. Ruben Xaus (ESP) d'Antin Ducati
8. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
9. Troy Bayliss (AUS) Ducati Marlboro

10. Colin Edwards (USA) Telefonica Movistar Honda
11. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki
12. Max Biaggi (ITA) Camel Honda

13. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Camel Honda
14. Jeremy McWilliams (GBR) MS Aprilia
15. Neil Hodgson (GBR) d'Antin Ducati

16. Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
17. Norick Abe (JPN) Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
18. Alex Hofmann (GER) Fuchs Kawasaki

19. Yukio Kagayama (JPN) Team Suzuki
20. Nobuatsu Aoki (JPN) Proton Team KR
21. James Haydon (GBR) Proton Team KR

22. James Ellison (GBR) Harris WCM


Top 3 riders standing:
1. Rossi 229 pts
2. Gibernau 190 pts
3. Biaggi 158 pts

Before the race got started, Rossi and Biaggi were penalised due to illegal grid preparation. Both started the race from 23rd and 24th grid respectively.
Any such grid preparation is illegal and, after a protest by rivals teams, Rossi and Biaggi have been given a six-second qualifying time penalty that has dropped him to the back row.

Rossi started the race brilliantly as he was up to 8th place by the end of lap 1. Checa led the race by a tight margin from Gibernau, and eventually Gibernau took the lead on the next few laps.

on lap 6 Rossi thrown away from his M1 as he ran wide and out of the race. while Gibernau kept his lead to the finish. Checa was unlucky because his M1 got a failure with just 3 laps remaining.

This race absolutely belongs to the Spaniards. Gibernau wins and Xaus secured the 3rd place.

Biagggi? he was so lucky because there were many retirements in front of him, but Barros and Hayden overtook him and sent him to 6th place.

Here's the result:
1. Sete Gibernau (ESP) Telefonica Movistar Honda
2. Colin Edwards (USA) Telefonica Movistar Honda
3. Ruben Xaus (ESP) d'Antin Ducati
4. Alex Barros (BRA) Repsol Honda
5. Nicky Hayden (USA) Repsol Honda
6. Max Biaggi (ITA) Camel Honda
7. Norick Abe (JPN) Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
8. John Hopkins (USA) Team Suzuki
9. Alex Hofmann (GER) Fuchs Kawasaki
10. Makoto Tamada (JPN) Camel Honda
11. Yukio Kagayama (JPN) Team Suzuki
12. James Haydon (GBR) Proton Team KR
13. James Ellison (GBR) Harris WCM

DNF:
Carlos Checa (ESP) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
Marco Melandri (ITA) Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati Marlboro
Jeremy McWilliams (GBR) MS Aprilia
Neil Hodgson (GBR) d'Antin Ducati
Nobuatsu Aoki (JPN) Proton Team KR
Valentino Rossi (ITA) Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
Troy Bayliss (AUS) Ducati Marlboro
Shinya Nakano (JPN) Fuchs Kawasaki

With this result Gibernau keeps his chance to rival Rossi for the world championship title. He is now 14 pts adrift.

MotoGP World Championship is now getting more interesting than ever. The gap between Rossi and Gibernau is just 14 points.
With 25 pts system that gap is pretty close. Let's wait who will win in this crucial race.


Here's the starting grid:
1. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
2. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda
3. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Fuchs Kawasaki

4. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda
5. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda
6. Nicky Hayden / USA / Repsol Honda

7. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda
8. John Hopkins / USA / Team Suzuki
9. Carlos Checa / ESP / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha

10. Marco Melandri / ITA / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
11. Loris Capirossi / ITA / Ducati Marlboro
12. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda

13. Alex Hofmann / GER / Fuchs Kawasaki
14. Troy Bayliss / AUS / Ducati Marlboro
15. Ruben Xaus / ESP / d'Antin Ducati

16. Norick Abe / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
17. Neil Hodgson / GBR / d'Antin Ducati
18. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / MS Aprilia

19. Garry McCoy / AUS / MS Aprilia
20. Yukio Kagayama / JPN / Team Suzuki
21. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton Team KR

22. James Haydon / GBR / Proton Team KR
23. James Ellison / GBR / Harris WCM
24. Youichi Ui / JPN / Harris WCM

simply a magnificent performance by The Doctor.
Starting the race from pole he was overtaken by Barros before the 1st corner. but then in the next laps he got the lead and maintain it to the finish. Rossi comfortably won the Malaysian MotoGP at Sepang, followed by his country-mate Max Biaggi in the 2nd place and the Brazilian Alex Barros in 3rd.
Gibernau was strunggling very hard in the whole race and lately overtaken by Capirossi in the last fiew laps. He eventually finished 7th.

Here's the race result:
1. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
2. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda
3. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda
4. Nicky Hayden / USA / Repsol Honda
5. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda
6. Loris Capirossi / ITA / Ducati Marlboro
7. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda
8. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Fuchs Kawasaki
9. Carlos Checa / ESP / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
10. Troy Bayliss / AUS / Ducati Marlboro
11. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda
12. Norick Abe / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
13. Ruben Xaus / ESP / d'Antin Ducati
14. Yukio Kagayama / JPN / Team Suzuki
15. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / MS Aprilia
16. Garry McCoy / AUS / MS Aprilia
17. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton Team KR
18. James Ellison / GBR / Harris WCM
19. Youichi Ui / JPN / Harris WCM

DNF:
John Hopkins / USA / Team Suzuki
Neil Hodgson / GBR / d'Antin Ducati
Alex Hofmann / GER / Fuchs Kawasaki
James Haydon / GBR / Proton Team KR
Marco Melandri / ITA / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3


Riders standings:
1. Rossi - 254 pts
2. Gibernau - 224 pts
3. Biaggi - 188 pts
4. Barros - 144 pts
5. Edwards - 136 pts


With this victory Rossi had seized the gap up to 30 pts and getting closer to the world champion title for 2004 season.
in the 2 races remaining Gibernau must work very hard to grab many points as possible and hoping Rossi will get the least.

Next week MotoGP will be held at Phillip Island, Australia and the last race will be at Valencia, Gibernau's home race.

Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island, round 15 of the 16. Rossi leads Gibernau with 30 pts, with only 2 races remaining Rossi only need to finish in front of Gibernau or not to adrift more than 5 pts to grab his World Champion title.
Gibernau will start the race from pole, ahead of Rossi. but this track is included in Rossi's fav list. This is gonna be a tight fight between those 2 riders.

Here's the starting grid:
1. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda
2. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
3. Loris Capirossi / ITA / Ducati Marlboro
4. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda
5. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda
6. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda
7. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda
8. Alex Hofmann / GER / Fuchs Kawasaki
9. Troy Bayliss / AUS / Ducati Marlboro
10. Marco Melandri / ITA / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
11. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Fuchs Kawasaki
12. Ruben Xaus / ESP / d'Antin Ducati
13. Carlos Checa / ESP / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
14. Nicky Hayden / USA / Repsol Honda
15. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / MS Aprilia
16. Gregorio Lavilla / ITA / Team Suzuki
17. John Hopkins / USA / Team Suzuki
18. Norick Abe / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
19. Neil Hodgson / GBR / d'Antin Ducati
20. Garry McCoy / AUS / MS Aprilia
21. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton Team KR
22. James Haydon / GBR / Proton Team KR
23. James Ellison / GBR / Harris WCM
24. Youichi Ui / JPN / Harris WCM

just few words...FORZA ROSSI!!!!
In case he wins...am looking forward to his `fooling around`after the race as he usually does....

Valentino Rossi has won his sixth world championship and Yamaha's first premier-class title since 1992 with a heart-stopping last lap victory over title rival Sete Gibernau in today's Australian MotoGP.
Actually he already won the title if he finished 2nd behind Gibernau but he wanted to win it with style. and he did it!! simply MAGNIFICENT!!!

Congratulations to Valentino Rossi... You're really "THE DOCTOR"
Congratulations to Yamaha... Great job!!!


Race Result (15/16):
1. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
2. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda
3. Loris Capirossi / ITA / Ducati Marlboro
4. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda
5. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda
6. Nicky Hayden / USA / Repsol Honda
7. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda
8. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda
9. Troy Bayliss / AUS / Ducati Marlboro
10. Carlos Checa / ESP / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha
11. Ruben Xaus / ESP / d'Antin Ducati
12. Shinya Nakano / JPN / Fuchs Kawasaki
13. Alex Hofmann / GER / Fuchs Kawasaki
14. Jeremy McWilliams / GBR / MS Aprilia
15. John Hopkins / USA / Team Suzuki
16. Gregorio Lavilla / ESP / Team Suzuki
17. Norick Abe / JPN / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
18. Neil Hodgson / GBR / d'Antin Ducati
19. Nobuatsu Aoki / JPN / Proton Team KR
20. James Haydon / GBR / Proton Team KR
21. Youichi Ui / JPN / Harris WCM
22. James Ellison / GBR / Harris WCM

DNF:
Marco Melandri / ITA / Fortuna Gauloises Tech 3
Garry McCoy / AUS / MS Aprilia


Riders Standing (til 15/16):
1. Valentino Rossi / ITA / Gauloises Fortuna Yamaha : 279 pts*
2. Sete Gibernau / ESP / Telefonica Movistar Honda : 244 pts
3. Max Biaggi / ITA / Camel Honda : 198 pts
4. Alex Barros / BRA / Repsol Honda : 155 pts
5. Colin Edwards / USA / Telefonica Movistar Honda : 149 pts
6. Makoto Tamada / JPN / Camel Honda : 139 pts

*= World Champion.

Two words: A LEGEND

Originally Posted by Giovanni

Two words: A LEGEND

yup. Rossi is already a legend in that age.
He won the title in 2 different bikes respectively. Last rider did that was Eddie Lawson many years ago.
Maybe in the future Rossi will win the title with another different bike. Hopefully it would be DUCATI.

Originally Posted by argo

yup. Rossi is already a legend in that age.
He won the title in 2 different bikes respectively. Last rider did that was Eddie Lawson many years ago.
Maybe in the future Rossi will win the title with another different bike. Hopefully it would be DUCATI.

sorry for the late post but please allow me to congratulate on Rossi and Yamaha victory this season. The battle for this season had been great. Rossi really lift the Yamah team to it's dream after they failed to do so in so many years. Although I agree that Rossi should do the same to other motor team such as Ducati or Aprillia, but I still hope that he stays in Yamaha for a little bit longer until Yamaha can built a good bike like Honda's RCV. After Yamaha did that, then Rossi can move to other to do the same thing he did in Yamaha.

Again, Congratulation to Rossi

btw, i just realize this, siapa cewek di avatar lu, go?

Originally Posted by ziedhane_razak

sorry for the late post but please allow me to congratulate on Rossi and Yamaha victory this season. The battle for this season had been great. Rossi really lift the Yamah team to it's dream after they failed to do so in so many years. Although I agree that Rossi should do the same to other motor team such as Ducati or Aprillia, but I still hope that he stays in Yamaha for a little bit longer until Yamaha can built a good bike like Honda's RCV. After Yamaha did that, then Rossi can move to other to do the same thing he did in Yamaha.

Again, Congratulation to Rossi

actually Ducati had done great things in motorsport history, especially in 4-stroke bike in World Superbike Championships. but in MotoGP they couldn't build a perfect bike, the engine is great but the chassis is poor.
maybe only Rossi could tame DUCATI's wildness.

Originally Posted by ziedhane_razak

btw, i just realize this, siapa cewek di avatar lu, go?

dia adalah Fatimah Shirin, penyanyi group DEBU. cantik kan?

Originally Posted by argo

actually Ducati had done great things in motorsport history, especially in 4-stroke bike in World Superbike Championships. but in MotoGP they couldn't build a perfect bike, the engine is great but the chassis is poor.
maybe only Rossi could tame DUCATI's wildness.

IMO, as an old player in Superbike Championship, Ducati should've been able to build a bike that can challenge for the tittle. Superbike is a championship for a bike over 1000cc, right? so given their experience in handling a much greater powered bike, it should be no problem to build a MotoGP bike. You'll have to excuse my english if it's not to good

with the advance technology these days, it shouldn't be a problem to build a powerfull chassis to tame the Desmosedici's power. Well, Ducati has another 4 months now to start experiment again so they can live up their name as one of the master of the Superbike Championship.

Originally Posted by argo

dia adalah Fatimah Shirin, penyanyi group DEBU. cantik kan?

DEBU? are they one of those Nasyid's group? u know that by admiring their look instead of their musical capability or their lyrics, they can take it as insult to their main goal of why they are forming the group. Bisa dimengerti kan englishnya ya, gue rada2 gak yakin tuh