Sepang, Malaysia Test One | MotoGP 2010

I predict Ben Spies will take pole position in his first race.





And win.

 

So at the end of testing

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 0.925 sec (32 laps)
2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 1.320 sec (36 laps)
3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.680 sec (60 laps)
4. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team 2min 1.822 sec (50 laps)
5. Ben Spies USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.266 sec (31 laps)
6. Andrea Dovizioso ITA Repsol Honda Team 2min 2.272 sec (56 laps)
7. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 2.479 sec (42 laps)
8. Nicky Hayden USA Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.493 sec (55 laps)
9. Aleix Espargaro SPA Pramac Racing 2min 2.647 sec (33 laps)
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 2.763 sec (48 laps)
11. Marco Melandri ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 2.810 sec (55 laps)
12. Hector Barbera SPA Aspar Ducati 2min 3.032 sec (51 laps)
13. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP 2min 3.043 sec (48 laps)
14. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP 2min 3.195 sec (56 laps)
15. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 2min 3.245 sec (49 laps)
16. Alvaro Bautista SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min 3.274 sec (37 laps)
17. Mika Kallio FIN Pramac Racing 2min 3.359 sec (53 laps)

 

Hot damn, nice! Forgive me while I still bow to Rossi. Dang...just dang.

I want to say this year I'm not even worried about Spies hitting the podium. But, then I think back to last year. Straight from the very first practice he was lighting up the screens. I think the world was quickly in awe. I won't doubt him winning a few this year. I think it will be hard to topple Rossi and Stoner, but if anyone can do it, it's Ben.

 

In a interview with Spies on monday he said they are not concerned with lap times he just wanted to get used to the 2010 bike and start making some adjustments and to get more comfortable with the Bridgestones. He stated that in 3 weeks they are back at the same track for more testing, He said thats when he plans on getting down to business.. If u wont to read more its on Motogp website( as Mondays Latest news) Hope this isnt a repost,, If thats still the plan then cant wait until 3 weeks.

 

You know what? I'm actually glad put in a fast time on day 2... this way plenty of people could come out of the woodwork and demonstrate exactly what I am talking about.

Yesterday it was just a test, and yes, no points awarded for testing. Today? Still and test and no point, but plenty of "front row" and "podium" predictions. Whatever. Good for Ben. He put in a fast for sure.

Question for his dad, or anyone else 'in the know': How come he only put in 31 laps, the least of anyone? They said it was raining on and off, but still. Just curious.

Also, for everyone else, do you all generally consider HJC to be on the crappy end of the helmet scale?

As for the Honda situation, some interesting info on GPone.com. First, they are reporting that the private Honda teams (or Gresini anyway) are already using the 6 engines they have for the year. They have a quote from Melandri's crew chief Jimenez, about not running much in the rian, "We only have six engines available for the entire year, as of yesterday. Running in these conditions doesn't do us any good."

So yeah, if that is the case, one would have to think the Gresini bikes are dialed down a bit for the test. Seems ridiculous, but whatever.

Aslo, some interesting background from Kazuhiko Yamano, HRC Team Director and Shinichi Kokubu, head of development for HRC:

"It is true that all the bikes are equal, but the factory bikes have different electronics. If they work well then latter on they will be passed down to the satellite teams." - Yamano

"The two official riders (Pedrosa & Dovi) work as two separate teams, and this works fine. Yamaha is actually a bit late to adopt this policy, we have been doing it since 2008. Naturally we are able to access everyone's data and put it together to help with development, but the data is not shared amongst the two riders." - Yamano

Q: Is it true that the new suspension linkage is more of a Yamaha style set up? "Yes." - Kokubu

 

Ben did not ride today until after lunch. It was not wet enough to really work on a wet setup and not dry enough to get any useful data, so Ben and the team worked on other things. He rode well this afternoon and never looked at his standings until we were ready to go back to the hotel. Ben has a lot to work on without worrying where he is positioned against his competition. There will be plenty of time for that when it matters. I thought it was a good day and he and his team exceeded their goals.

We start the journey back to Texas tomorrow.

 

Dont forget the helmet.

 

Helmet? What helmet?

 

I imagine Audry can hook you up with a good one when y'all get home...

 

Keep in mind that several riders did not improve their Thursday times, so that list is only for today. I didn't expect Rossi to improve!

RR, the excuses for Melandri and Simoncelli started early! Imagine what you would say if Spies was down there with Sic (regardless of whether or not he had the same electronics as Rossi)... And there is no sense in circulating on a damp track (as opposed to a wet one), that's just asking for injury.

Anyone that thinks Spies is going to be on pole or win race one hasn't been listening to what Ben himself has to say - because, barring a freak occurrence, no.

 

I was just going to post that I think Ben has a great chance of winning one this year.

Mongo, when did he start racing with you guys?

 

When you were a toddler? I didn't think Ben was that old.

 

So he never did then?

 

I first remember wondering who that #11 kid was around 2000? 2001? Back when it was still 750 SS and he was riding the Valvoline bike.

Good luck this year Ben.

 

GO BEN !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!