Assen, NLD Race | MotoGP 2008 *Spoilers*

[Lucky_Devil]

NOTE: This is a Saturday Race.

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/75/Assen_Circuit_2006.jpg

Circuit Website: http://assen.tt-festival.nl/ (http://assen.tt-festival.nl/)
Google Maps Satellite View: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=e...84028&t=k&om=1 (http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Assen,+Netherlands&layer=&ie=UTF8&z=14&ll=52.95929,6.525707&spn=0.023577,0.084028&t=k&om=1)
Circuit Weather: http://uk.weather.yahoo.com/NLXX/NLXX0003/index_c.html (http://uk.weather.yahoo.com/NLXX/NLXX0003/index_c.html)

2007 MotoGP Race Results:

1 #46 - Valentino Rossi Fiat Yamaha 25
2 #27 - Casey Stoner Ducati Malboro 20
3 #1 - Nicky Hayden Repsol Honda 16
4 #26 - Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda 13
5 #21 - John Hopkins Rizla Suzuki 11
6 #5 - Colin Edwards Fiat Yamaha 10
7 #4 - Alex Barros Pramac d'Antin 9
8 #66 - Alex Hoffman Pramac d'Antin 8
9 #13 - Anthony West Kawasaki Racing Team 7
10 #33 - Marco Melandri Honda Gresini 6
11 #7 - Carlos Checa Honda LCR 5
12 #56 - Shinya Nakano Konica Minolta Honda 4
13 #6 - Makoto Tamada Dunlop Yamaha 3
14 #50 - Sylvain Guintoli Dunlop Yamaha 2
15 #80 - Kurtis Roberts Team Roberts 1
16 #71 - Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki 0
17 #65 - Loris Capirossi Ducati Malboro DNF
18 #14 - Randy de Puniet Kawasaki Racing Team DNF

[Lucky_Devil]

FP1

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'36.569 294.277
2 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'37.186 292.049 0.617
3 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'37.398 293.637 0.829
4 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'37.437 290.791 0.868
5 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'37.470 281.763 0.901
6 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'37.480 288.615 0.911
7 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda 1'37.507 285.412 0.938
8 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'37.652 289.234 1.083
9 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'37.821 285.336 1.252
10 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'37.951 283.315 1.382
11 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'37.987 288.615 1.418
12 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'38.082 285.412 1.513
13 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'38.198 285.035 1.629
14 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'38.341 284.435 1.772
15 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ducati 1'38.435 293.239 1.866
16 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'38.768 287.005 2.199
17 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'39.020 291.576 2.451
18 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ducati 1'39.805 290.400 3.236

FP2

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'36.087 293.478
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'36.819 289.544 0.732
3 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'36.931 290.244 0.844
4 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'37.012 292.921 0.925
5 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'37.126 280.592 1.039
6 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'37.137 286.016 1.050
7 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'37.187 282.574 1.100
8 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'37.251 287.769 1.164
9 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'37.280 294.197 1.193
10 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'37.282 284.061 1.195
11 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda 1'37.326 283.613 1.239
12 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ducati 1'37.357 293.239 1.270
13 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'37.838 284.210 1.751
14 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'37.960 288.153 1.873
15 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'38.413 286.472 2.326
16 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ducati 1'38.656 287.693 2.569
17 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'38.667 283.762 2.580
18 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'39.214 290.322 3.127

[Lucky_Devil]

:coffee:
Vermeulen in top 10 as Capirossi crashes out

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP had a day of mixed fortunes at Assen in the Netherlands today as Chris Vermeulen showed promising signs for the weekend ahead, whilst Loris Capirossi crashed at high-speed, resulting in a visit to the medical centre for an operation to his right forearm.

Vermeulen (P10, 1’37.282, 54 laps) lost a bit of time in the morning as his mechanics worked hard on getting the best engine set-up for the 4,555m long Assen circuit. Their dedication paid dividends as he improved on every run throughout the day eventually clocking a fastest time at the end of the second session – on worn race tyres - that was only 0.463 seconds away from second place.

Capirossi (P15, 1’38.082, 33 laps) was making his comeback at Assen following a collision at Catalunya earlier this month, and vindicated his decision to participate this weekend by setting the 12th quickest time in this morning’s practice. Unfortunately, in this afternoon’s session he crashed in a fast left-hand corner and high-sided his Suzuki GSV-R. As the bike and Capirossi tumbled towards the gravel at high-speed, his right inner forearm got stuck underneath the bike resulting in a substantial and deep hole. Capirossi was immediately taken to the medical centre and operated on to repair the wound. He will now rest the injury and will not take any further part at this weekend’s event. AMA Champion Ben Spies – who is present at Assen – will not replace Capirossi.

Today’s practice was held in warm and sunny conditions with track temperatures reaching 32ºC. Fastest time of the day went to World Champion Casey Stoner on his factory Ducati.

Rizla Suzuki MotoGP has one more practice session on Friday morning, followed by the qualifying in the afternoon. Saturday’s race is round nine of the MotoGP World Championship and the 26-lap event gets underway at 14.00hrs local time (12.00hrs GMT).

Chris Vermeulen:

“It’s been not too bad on the whole today. We had a bit of a problem this morning with some engine settings on the bike and it made it quite difficult to ride. The technicians worked hard to correct it and they even got some information from the factory in Japan to help us and together we were able to overcome the problem. The bike worked a lot better this afternoon, but because I missed a lot of this morning’s session with trying to get the set-up right it left us with a lot of work to do this afternoon. We managed to get inside the top-10 and I am sure there is even more to come tomorrow.

Loris Capirossi:

“After this morning’s practice I was quite happy, because my hand was working well and there was no pain. I felt that I was riding quite well and settling back into things. In the afternoon I came in and put on a new tyre and the first lap out it felt quite good, but when I changed down from sixth to fourth gear and leaned on the left side I lost control and the bike jumped me out of the seat. The problem was that when I crashed the bike came on top of me and I get this hole in my arm. It was not easy when that happened, but I know I have great support all around me from many people. I will now work to get myself 100% right and jump back on the bike as soon as possible!”

Paul Denning – Team Manager:

“When things are difficult it often seems to be the case that it gets more difficult before it becomes easier again! Loris knew it wouldn’t be easy to come back after 17 days since he broke his hand, but he immediately justified his decision to be here by being able to ride at a decent speed, to supply good feedback and know where we were heading over the weekend. I think it is necessary to make it clear that the crash was nothing to do with his recent hand injury and it was just one of those things that happens in racing. He was lucky that he didn’t break anything or cause more damage to the original injury, because it is a really fast place to crash. Unfortunately the bike got on top of him and ripped a sizeable piece of flesh from his right forearm. Dr Costa and his team performed an operation to close and stabilise the wound and Loris will now start his recuperation to get himself fit again – for sure it will be Sachsenring in two weeks time!

“On a brighter note, despite some problems this morning, Chris has been able to complete the day’s evaluation work, and on tyres that were past their best he was able put in his fastest time at the end of session two. That put him only a few tenths off of a top three position. Apart from Casey Stoner all the riders are really close at the moment and we feel confident that Chris and the GSV-R have got quite a lot to give over the rest of the weekend!”

[MtnRider]

I too read that about Spies not replacing Capirossi and I was stunned.....what is he thinking?

[Lucky_Devil]

FP3

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'39.050 290.713
2 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'39.858 277.065 0.808
3 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'40.094 283.464 1.044
4 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'40.331 281.396 1.281
5 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'41.088 289.466 2.038
6 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'41.203 272.108 2.153
7 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'41.512 280.010 2.462
8 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ducati 1'41.852 289.855 2.802
9 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'42.415 279.865 3.365
10 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'42.471 284.960 3.421
11 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'42.535 282.057 3.485
12 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ducati 1'42.718 286.700 3.668
13 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'43.043 282.131 3.993
14 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'43.249 273.625 4.199
15 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'43.635 272.865 4.585
16 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda 1'44.094 273.417 5.044
17 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'46.533 267.525 7.483

QP

Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Motorcycle Lap time Km/h Gap
1 1 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'35.520 297.193
2 2 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'35.552 293.318 0.032
3 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'35.659 290.869 0.139
4 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team Honda 1'35.975 293.000 0.455
5 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 1'35.985 281.616 0.465
6 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'36.278 290.010 0.758
7 48 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 1'36.532 290.010 1.012
8 7 Chris VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 1'36.768 284.061 1.248
9 56 Shinya NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'36.804 285.186 1.284
10 50 Sylvain GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team Ducati 1'36.823 294.679 1.303
11 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP Honda 1'36.899 284.435 1.379
12 15 Alex DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 1'36.948 282.279 1.428
13 52 James TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha Yamaha 1'36.978 285.638 1.458
14 24 Toni ELIAS SPA Alice Team Ducati 1'37.287 294.037 1.767
15 21 John HOPKINS USA Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'37.643 287.157 2.123
16 13 Anthony WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team Kawasaki 1'37.793 290.244 2.273
17 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 1'38.726 293.000 3.206

[Lucky_Devil]

Hopkins had a nasty crash and is out for the next few races :(:

"He has a break in the ankle and two fractures in the tibia, one old fracture that has opened again and one new," Bartholemy said.

"At the moment they have put on a cast and said he should not move his foot for 20 to 25 days. There may also be some damage to his knee so there will be another scan shortly."

Bartholemy added that there was a possibility that Hopkins could also be ruled out of his home race at Laguna Seca, which takes place a week after the Sachsenring event.

"Sachsenring will not be possible for him, so I hope that we will be back for Laguna Seca, but anyway we want to wait until he is 100 per cent fit because he is still carrying the Barcelona injury and I would prefer that he comes back at 100 per cent," said Bartholemy.

[Inky]

Man, the attricion of the riders is a bit scary.

Ben Spies..........:slaphead:

[Maleficent]

Hopkins had a nasty crash and is out for the next few races :(:

He has had incredible bad luck every since he left Rizla. Do you think they put the bad juju voodoo curse on him or what!

I feel really bad for him. He's a great rider and usually has very consistent top ten results.

[Luna Tique]

He has had incredible bad luck every since he left Rizla. Do you think they put the bad juju voodoo curse on him or what!

I feel really bad for him. He's a great rider and usually has very consistent top ten results.
It is always a sad day when a talented rider gets hurt.

[Lucky_Devil]

Well this weekend was crash-filled...

Capirossi out after a crash that ripped a hunk of flesh from his forearm (punctured by a footpeg).

Hopkins out with broken ankle/leg

Rossi crashed in the first lap but STILL managed to get back on the bike and finish 11th ...all with a bent clip-on and no toe peg on his mangled shifter :eek: it even appeared that he managed to hold the clutch lever in and slide with the bike so it wouldn't stall and he could get back in the race :worthy: ...and was turning out lap times equal to Stoner's.

2 other racers crashed as well :(:

[GreenEyedGirl]

Talk about a tough weekend filled with attrition and off-track excursions!

I felt happy for Edwards getting on the podium. This guy has come so close to getting a victory a few times - I hope he finally notches one in at least one of the two US rounds.

Stoner's Ducati seemed to be on a whole other level than everyone else. The stigma of his victory coming because of the bike is not going to go away with rides like that where he wins by 10+ seconds and makes everyone else look like amateurs...

[Lucky_Devil]

Happy for Edwards, but not the best way to end up on the podium.... just because the guy in front of him ran out of gas :slaphead:

If it wasn't for bad luck, poor Nicky wouldn't have any luck at all. Did you hear the post race interview with Hayden? His voice was all shaky like he was about to cry :(: poor bastard can't catch a break.

[ridingAK]

It's easy to forget how young these guys are. Nicky Haydon has been around a few years, and he's still only 25. Pedrosa is about 23, and Stoner is only about 22.

[Inky]

Seems like there were still a few Karma fairies sitting in the last turn for Hayden. Colin's post race interview was the best! I've never laughed so freaking hard........:rofl:

[Maleficent]

Happy for Edwards, but not the best way to end up on the podium.... just because the guy in front of him ran out of gas :slaphead:

If it wasn't for bad luck, poor Nicky wouldn't have any luck at all. Did you hear the post race interview with Hayden? His voice was all shaky like he was about to cry :(: poor bastard can't catch a break.

I thought the same about Nicky's voice. I was just sick for him. Couple weeks ago during the AMA Supersport Race Blake Young ran out of gas right before the finish line after leading most of the race. Painful to watch.

And then Rossi crashes out De Puniet?!@# And Frodo is now in the lead? Even though Stoner has won the last two, this year has been anything but the Stoner Show so far.

Great racing action IMO.:wootrock:

[GreenEyedGirl]

Well it does suck for Hayden to lose a podium due to running out of gas - however, I also remember how Colin was basically one corner away from his first victory a few years ago at Laguna and crashed, giving Nicky the win.

I guess as they say....that's racing - and luck is always going to play a part.

Nicky's fortunes will improve I think, when he signs with Ducati next year. While I hope Colin doesn't join Kawi as has been rumored - that bike is just not competitive right now.

[Inky]

Well it does suck for Hayden to lose a podium due to running out of gas - however, I also remember how Colin was basically one corner away from his first victory a few years ago at Laguna and crashed, giving Nicky the win.

I guess as they say....that's racing - and luck is always going to play a part.

Nicky's fortunes will improve I think, when he signs with Ducati next year. While I hope Colin doesn't join Kawi as has been rumored - that bike is just not competitive right now.
Nicky pushed Colin wide in the same corner at Assen two years ago and made Colin crash................that's why the karma fairies were still there. :roflmao:

[Maleficent]

I hope Colin doesn't join Kawi as has been rumored - that bike is just not competitive right now.

We could probably have a better idea of how competitive it was if Hopkins would stop crashing. :slaphead: I do feel for the guy, though.