China MGP

The action starts tomorrow, due to the long straights the Ducs are
expected to do well here and the way Stoner is riding at the moment he
may well pull off win #3. It's a great chance for him to pull a few
more points and extend his lead before Europe (although I do believe
Stoner and the Duc's will do fine there too).

I'm hoping Stoner does win and I'd love to see Capirossi and Hopkins
on the podium too but in reality I doubt the Suz will have enough on
this track.

Hopkins is looking to be a great contender, judging from QP, maybe
even a favorite. His comment "The *other tyre manufacturer* had their
qualifier working really well." indicated that you should not read too
much into the unbelievably fast laps that Rossi did. Rossi commented
that his bike was working really well when it has lots and lots of
grip.
And this grip is what he may not have during the race. This leaves
slipstreaming behind Ducatti's his only option.

My post QP prediction:
1 Hopkins
2 Stoner

I don't see it. Colin's comment right after the session was the same as
Rossi's, the Yamaha is the best bike out there with sticky tires, but
the trick is to find a race tire that makes it work. what Rossi got down
to on race tires was 2:00.67, which is only a hair quicker than what
Hopkins did during his 14-lap stint that took up all his race tire time
in the session, a best of 00.74. Stoner got down to a 00.31 on race
tires, and immediately followed that with a 00.50. Edwards was more than
a second off these guys on race tires, so you'd expect him to be a
second off Rossi on Qs. So it was a very impressive Q lap for Rossi
(two, actually; he backed it up with a 58.53), but I don't think it
indicates he's found anything for the race.

Pedrosa was able to get down to 00.75, Melandri 00.92, de Puniet 00.93,
but no one else was able to get into the 00s on race tires, and Hayden
was one of very few who was even able to do very low 01s (and that an
isolated 01.18). So it looks to me like there are only three really
serious challengers for the win, Stoner, Hopkins and Rossi, and then
likely the Hondas of Pedrosa, Melandri and Hayden chasing, along with
Edwards, who was quicker in P3. Elias, the Istanbul sensation, will be
nowhere to be seen.

Since Hopkins has shown the most consistent speed overall and had the
confidence to do a race simulation in the Q session, I'll go out on a
limb a bit and take him for the win, and Stoner over Rossi for 2nd...

I'm happy with that as a result of a prediction. I had Hopkins and
Pedrosa round the wrong way but that's much better than I usually do.

Haven't seen the race yet but happy for another Ducati victory, would
have been happier if it had been the wee man Capirex but hey ho. My
mate and I were wondering if Capirex is struggling with the bike or his

Its a fairly good race with the expected result.The Ducati monstered
everything.The question is if Stoner can step it up once they head to
Europe, thats goind to be the challenge for him.

Best effort for mine was "Hopper", great ride and glad he got on the
podium, good for Suzuki too.

Yup. more impressive than Rossi, that's for sure

As for Loris, well who knows, had a bad qualifying and could never
make it up, we will see when he starts up front what he can do, or if
he has had enough?

For mine i would/nt mind Lorenzo on the Ducati, he is very agressive
and can get the best out of it.Perhaps he is the best Spanish riding
at the moment.?

recent fatherhood has taken an edge off him.

3 Rossi

So my pre practice predictions are....

1 Stoner
2 Capirossi
3 Rossi

but I may revise them after the 3rd practice on Saturday.