This afternoon's Q session was a bit slower than the morning, which is
probably causing all the teams to scratch their heads a bit. Pedrosa
was fastest, by a reasonable margin, but a look at the analysis of
fast laps doesn't make me think he'll be able to run away. Lorenzo
strung together whole sequences of 1:40s this afternoon (and 1:39s
this morning, which makes him my favourite).
Stoner is difficult to judge, because he does so few laps - an out
lap, a fast lap, an in lap. But it looks like he'll be able to run
the same pace.
Rossi is the fourth of the aliens this weekend, nursing his shoulder
injury, and while he may be a tenth or two off the outright pace, he
can string together enough fast laps to make me think he'll be there
at the end too.
Nicky Hayden has shone all weekend too, but I'm not convinced he can
string together lap after lap at race pace (based on his practice
sessions). But I won't be surprised to be proved wrong.
2nd fastest Honda is de Puniet, looking good again, and there's a
chance he might run with the aliens. Only a chance tho.
Edwards and Spies are in 7th and 8th, but I expect Ben to have the
stronger race - a whole string of 1:40s should let him challenge for
best non-alien.
The rest - Dovi is struggling, Melandri looking better than Qatar.
Capirossi probably expected better than 11th, while Aoyama is probably
pleased with 12th. The rest of the rookies are marooned at the back
of the grid.
--
Champ
neal at champ dot org dot uk
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