SPOILER-Moto GP ASSEN-SPOLIER.

Pedrosa is on the 2008 model but does not as yet have the pneumatic,(newest) engine. Even when Nicky was running the same motor as Dani, the spaniard was using different exhausts,he simply did not like the sound of some and apparently they were able to tweak some more engine revs by using the one's he is more at ease with.

well done to Stoner!! man of the day had to be Edwards though!! dead last through to 3rd.- even if he had a bit of luck with Hayden. Bradley Smith had a mixed day, did well though.

Just watched the race and Stoner was mighty, 110% commitment on every corner of every lap. Hayden was SOOO unlucky and sounded devestated when being interviewed by Randy Mamola shortly after the race had finished; he had a couple of seconds over Colin Edwards at the start of the last lap so surely he could have backed off a few rpm to save a few drops of fuel? Might have made all the difference, but what do I know

Rossi did well to scrape 5 points, especially as he was nursing a bike with half a gear selector and a bent handlebar. This is only my second season watching MotoGP and I've noticed he's generally quite rubbish off the start line - is this a recent thing or has he always been this bad?

Toseland should feel satisfied with 9th, albeit only just and after another dire performance Melandri's days at Ducati are clearly numbered!

Hayden had an engine electrical problem which seemed to conk out metres from the line. Nothing fuel related. But he seemed to be improving and going in the right direction so even the 4th will be ample.

Colin Edwards did very well considering he was caught up in the Rossi crash. Lucky to get a third but...

Stoner was superb and I am amazed that Ducati can improve things big in such big steps. Astounding.

Marco Melandri is washed up. Being passed by Rossi was a career ender in my view. His Ducati seemed fast on the straight but couldn' t go round corners. End of him and Elias. Probably West too.

[fizzwheel]

Originally Posted by glsuk1970

Rossi did well to scrape 5 points, especially as he was nursing a bike with half a gear selector and a bent handlebar. This is only my second season watching MotoGP and I've noticed he's generally quite rubbish off the start line - is this a recent thing or has he always been this bad?

He's never been a great starter

Originally Posted by fizzwheel

He's never been a great starter

Seems a long, long time ago now when Rossi could fall off at the first corner and come from last and way back to nearly win races. Moto GP has certainly changed.

There was a definite.."Oh F+ck" moment as Nicky was deprived his well earned 3rd spot yesterday.

With 10 laps to go Nicky's crew chief gave a track side interview to TVE. The consumption question was raised. But the HRC chap was confidant it would not be an issue has having got home at Donington,(which apparently is seen as the most demanding of fuel than any other track) Assen would be no problem. The rest as they say is history!

Weird that Edwards should benefit coming off the same corner that saw Nicky beat him in 2006. That's karma for you. Edwards was brilliant yesterday.that easy,efoortless style of his was a delight to watch.Nicky is going to be pushing for podiums at many tracks as the season progresses, he obviously really gets on with the new motor.

Very scarey that Casey said in the unsaddling enclosure that all was well within limits yesterday,all very comfortable. There was he said,"A lot more there if I had needed it!"

Ducati and Bridgestone had never won previously at Assen. Valentino's determination to grab any points he could, again underlines his hunger and acceptance that come the end of the season those few points yesterday could decide the title.

Sete testing for the first 3 days of July in Mugello. Likely to ride at Brno.

The 125 race had a 5 lap re run which was absolutely brilliant with 8 guys battling for the win. Bradders so unlucky as the original race was all his. Lovely to see Randy Mamola sat giving him some advice during the wait for the restart.

Originally Posted by MR UKI (1)

Seems a long, long time ago now when Rossi could fall off at the first corner and come from last and way back to nearly win races. Moto GP has certainly changed.

Nah that seems to have transferred now to Shakey Byrne in BSB.

Melandri & Elias are definitely leaving MotoGP unless some IL4 team fancies taking a gamble on MM. De Puniet will have to resist crashing a little more before he convinces me he's worth another go

[Stu]

Forgive the newbie intrusion again, but from dipping in an out of here I believe Supervox is a big follower of Ducati and I wonder if he could explain how Ducati manage to get so much extra HP for stoner without running out of petrol

Supervox is indeed a baseball cap and T shirt wearing Ducati fan when it comes to Moto GP. He has on the odd occasion though voiced misconstrued comments regarding how he thought that the superb Italian marque was receiving unfair advantage in the WSBK category.

I am led to believe that he has now mended his ways hugely.