....the big question is how motivated these guys really are to win the bragging rights here, because that's all it means. I have a feeling it does not really matter much to them, and that it is more of a media event to get things started. One thing is for sure: a BMW 1-series is not much of a coveted price for these guys. Gibernau will probably give it to the guy that mops the team's garage as a bonus. So Gibernau scores the best time in his home circuit. Not exactly a stunning surprise -perhaps the margin is?-, and probably not much of an indication of much more than the fact that things are going to be competitive. Biaggi's best time of the weekend still would have had him second or so, I think, thus his result today is not an indication of much except of the fact that he probably was focused on trying other things and could not be bothered to take the QP too seriously. Rossi's "miraculous" recovery could be read as him trying to play poker all weekend and psyching out the Honda camp by snatching things off them last minute, leaving them wondering what hit them - and in that case it would be telling that things did not work out that way for him. It might be an indication that indeed Honda's might in resources will count this year, and that they're making sure their guys have a significant equipment advantage - which we all agree they are going to need to put an end to the Rossi title-certificate printing-shop. Good to see young guys slowly but surely replacing the old guard in MotoGP. Hayden looks ready to displace someone out of the established Rossi-Gibernau-Biaggi top 3, in my opinion. The fact Tamada, Melandri and Hopkins (and Hayden in third, of course) placed ahead of the 30-plus crowd may speel good things for the process of renewal in MotoGP. Rossi needs a new set of challengers that are hungrier and haven't internalized placing behind Rossi as doing as well as they'll ever do. Talking about things people do, Checa continued his venerable tradition of kissing the soil of his home country upon arrival. Roberts low-sided on a fast turn, and was seriously toddes around in the sand-trap. There was some serious sliding action going on - Hayden had a great controlled one, and either Gibernau or Melandri (not sure which one) looked a whisker away from high-siding it in one sequence... All in all, no surprises. I am not sure this meant all that much, anyhow. It's what happens in April these guys are serious about. The good news is that they all look very ready... ....pablo
