Qatar....anybody watching? no spoiler content

[flatbutt]

Just wondering what you guys think of the new Qualifying rules. And other stuff maybe.

Will all the riders participate in Q2? Or just the first 12 seeds?

[twodear]

- The 10 riders with the fastest times from FP 1, 2 and 3 are seeded directly into QP2.
- The fastest 2 riders from QP1 are added to the grid for QP2.
- the rest of the riders from QP1 will have their grid positions determined from results of QP1 e.g. position 13 back.

This should go some way to reduce the speed differential created by having prototypes mixed with CRT, as well as a reduced number of bikes on the track to fight for the top 12 positions during QP2.

Not sure there are any other advantages? Tyre use and engine life during the wind up to races probably won't change.

Edit: we will get to see QP1 / 2 and the race live but the times are all very early in the morning for us - QP1/2 early Sunday morning and the race in the early hours of Monday.

[1%er]

I watched all the QP1 and QP2 today it is a derivative of SBK Super Pole IMHO. I does get the clutter off the track but limits the time that they can tweak the machines. At least there are more bikes in the line-up this year. I'm really interested to see what develops from Yami leasing M1 engines next year. They say that it will end the CRT effort.

[RIQUE]

Well, everybody by now should have heard the qualifying results. I am dissapointed that Rossi got cought up in traffic and is stuck with 7th place. I hope he can regain positions and challenge Lorenzo.

[twodear]

Crutchlow deserves the most respect - 2nd position on a customer bike and ahead of all the rest of the factory bikes says heaps.

Poor Colin - way down second last - I'd like to be a fly on the wall in his pit.

[1%er]

Rique, proper etiquette would be to start a thread that says Spoiler Alert. Some folks donn't watch until they have time to relax with a beer and invite some friends over.

[flatbutt]

I see some LEDs blinking on the left sleeve of some riders. Anybody know what that is?

[JGard]

That was a great start to the season. I can't believe it, but I found myself rooting for Rossi that race. I hope the rest of the year can be this exciting.

Also, Spies actually finished a race! Woohoo.

[vtrandall]

Originally Posted by flatbutt

I see some LEDs blinking on the left sleeve of some riders. Anybody know what that is?

LED warning/activation lights for the airbags in the suits

Dainese - D-air

[twodear]

Originally Posted by 1%er

Rique, proper etiquette would be to start a thread that says Spoiler Alert. Some folks donn't watch until they have time to relax with a beer and invite some friends over.

For my part I didn't think that information about qualifying counted as spoiling. The closed circuit tv system here in this camp didn't have channel 10 so I haven't seen the race and probably won't - superbikeplanet will be my info source.

[RIQUE]

Sorry if I messed it up for somebody but I posted way after qualies.

[lkchris]

Cool that Rossi could come back to finish second.

Again, I hate night racing, as it takes away all the color and pagentry. It pretty much does in person, too.

[1%er]

I've been to Qatar. Night ain't hiding anything but brown.

[twodear]

I miss the end-of-race champagne party in Qatar. I find it hard to beleve that Schweps or other carbonated water concern hasn't seen this as a way to get publicity and MotoGP in Qatar gets some sort of celebration.