In case anyone does care, I think I have to vote fanatical: just finished watching the series of 1980s Grand Prix reviews, which have finally reached DVD release. Awesome footage, thoroughly recommended. As has been the opening couple of WSB rounds: probably too early in the Ducati 1098's evolution for it to turn into a complete whitewash (should that be redwash?) yet. MotoGP kicks off this weekend and BSB first week in April.

So...?

>> ex silens nox noctis <<

Very impressed with 'stickman' Reuben Xaus.

MotoGp I wouldn't bet against Stoner and Melandri on the Dukes, but is it possible Honda will let them get away with it for another season? Rossi's going to be determined to prove a point this year I reckon and Toseland as always will try hard but be mid table in his maiden season.

I really want Hopper to do well on the Kawasaki. Vermuelen might grab a few points again this year.

Sideways through time

I can see Rossi retiring soon, or switching teams, simply because Yamaha aren't pulling their weight. They were dissapointing last season, but you could argue it was a tyre issue. With Bridgestone rubber this year, it'll be up to Rossi to get it back on the pace.

Stoner and Melandri should dominate. If last season is anything to go by, the odds are on Stoner doing a double.

I'm supporting Toseland (natch!) and it'll be great seeing him mess it up with the big front runners, but I'm sceptical on how well he'll do. Like everything British, it either goes really really well, and we lose out at the last second... or we're cr4p!

I want to see Suzuki and Kwak do well this season. Towards the end of last year, Kwak were doing really well, both bikes running in the top 10. With Hoppo piloting for them this year, I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

Just to throw a bit of controversy out there.... Edwards. Now, IMO, he's not great at this. Let's face it, last year he was running down at the end of the pack or not running at all, year before, same thing really. Rarely do you see him, 5 laps into a race, playing tag with the front runners. He's partnered Toseland this year and I hope he gets his act together. In WSB, he would reign, but in MotoGP, he's not doing what I thought he would... also Elias, nobody is more inconsistant as him! One week, he'll finish 9th, the next he's fighting Rossi for first, next he's 10th etc etc. C'mon Elias, get it together. He played a crucial role in helping Haydon acheive victory, lets see him throwing more spanners!!

Anyway... role on SUN!!

Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer ... in gold! 

Ride safe, and look out for the Rainbow of Death!

^{There're only 3 kinds of people in the world, those who can count, and those that can't.}

^{Roses are red, Violets are Blue, I'm a schizophrenic ..... and so am I!}

^{Take pity on the man who invented the drawing board, when he screwed up, he had nothing to fall back on.}

^{Stuff everything, I've always got my bike.}

I have to say, looking at the various grids and machines that WSB probably has the best package this year. MotoGP's rather let down by small grids, having priced itself out of the market for most private teams. And the BSB entry list isn't looking quite as strong as it has the past few years.

I would love to see Haga lift the WSB crown, having spent years cheering him and Frankie Chili on, but I've a depressing feeling it's not going to happen. With the Ducati as good as it was out of the box and the riders going well already, I think it may come down to Bayliss and Biaggi by the end of the season. The Suzukis and Yamahas look good, so I'd expect to see them notching up wins. And I'd probably have a punt on Checa pulling off a surprise win somewhere along the line. But unless the rest of the podium finishers settle down to some consistency, I can see Bayliss just pulling gently away in the points.

World Supersport's completely open and not that many riders're in the form books: wild guess - Foret and Jones duelling for the title.

MotoGP's pretty tough to call. It is hard to bet against Stoner. There again, the Rossi/Lorenzo axis is a strong one: if they don't kill each other, they might just egg each other on enough. It remains to be seen whether Honda have got their focus back, but they were getting strong at the tail end of last year and should be competitive. Don't think the Kwaks are quite in the same class, although I'd particularly like to see Ant West get some results. I have a sneaking suspicion Capirossi on the Suzuki might be a good outside bet for a win. Quite agree about Edwards and Elias: they really haven't delivered yet. Probably too late for Edwards, but at least Elias has the excuse of always being injured - and really entertaining to watch when he's on form. Surprise of the year, I reckon, will be Dovizioso: given the things he achieved with an absolute shed in 250s last year, he ought to be hell on wheels with a decent bike.

In 250s and 125s I'm betting on Bautista and Talmacsi.

For BSB honours, well: as in WSB, 200cc is a big advantage and I'd be surprised if Ducati can't turn it into consistent race wins, just as they did in the 750/1000 days. I reckon Shakey for the title, with Haslam and Camier duelling for runner-up and Sykes and Crutchlow just behind. Don't think they've published the Supersport grid yet, so no idea at all!

>> ex silens nox noctis <<

1. Stoner

2. Lorenzo

3. Pedrosa

4. Dovizioso

5. Rossi

6. Toseland

7. Edwards

8. Capirossi

9. de Puniet

10. Hayden

11. Melandri

12. Hopkins

13. Nakano

14. Elias

15. Guintoli

DNF. Vermulan, de Angilis

It was a great race for Tech3. After last year, to have both bikes in the the top 10 is an incredable achievment and I'm betting Toseland is grinning from ear to ear! They lacked the pace down the main straight to tag on the end of the pack, but as the front runners started fighting, Toseland caught up, but was just to far out to make a move.

Divizioso had an incredable race. He wasn't star struck at all and on the penultimate lap, threw down the inside of Rossi to steal 4th. Look out for this guy in the coming races.

Stoner with the win (unsurprisingly) but he had to work to get up the front. Pedrosa had an amazing start from 8th and shot through to the front, leaving everyone fighting it out intot the first corner.

It was a great start and finish, but got a little boring in the middle. Hopefully there will be more fighting on the twisty tracks and Toseland can come up trumps.

Yamaha FZS 600 Fazer ... in gold! 

Ride safe, and look out for the Rainbow of Death!

^{There're only 3 kinds of people in the world, those who can count, and those that can't.}

^{Roses are red, Violets are Blue, I'm a schizophrenic ..... and so am I!}

^{Take pity on the man who invented the drawing board, when he screwed up, he had nothing to fall back on.}

^{Stuff everything, I've always got my bike.}

Pleased to see Dovi making a fist of it - he is my tip for surprise of the year, after all!

Racing by floodlight does give some incredibly sharp footage - I quite liked the concept. Don't know how representative of the form for the rest of the year it is, though. Very cold, damp track - should be good practice for the UK round, anyway - did seem to cause a lot of tyre troubles. I'd expect the rest of the field to be closer behind in the next couple of races and for the Kwaks and Suzukis to put in a bit of an appearance.

All in all, a pretty good opening round.

Shame neither of my 125 or 250 riders did anything at all. Anyhow, I've changed my mind on the 250s - since Poggiali's racing again, I shall have to cheer for him!

>> ex silens nox noctis <<