Ninjette Newsbot
April 8th, 2012, 10:00 AM
MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue
http://image.sportrider.com/f/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/36114407+ppromo_large/146-12040-+motogp-2012-qatar-ducati-still-struggle+2.jpg
Nicky Hayden’s fifth spot in qualifying only bright spot for Ducati; Valentino Rossi languishing back in 12th (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html)LOSAIL, QATAR – The Ducati Desmosedici GP12 has established itself as the fastest of the new breed of 1000cc MotoGP machines. And if this were a drag race, the Ducatis would win. But the Losail International Circuit has a variety of corners, some flat, some banked, some linked, some tight, to go with its kilometer-long straight, and the Ducati isn’t taking well to the corners that they’ll have to negotiate in Sunday’s season-opening Qatar Grand Prix.
Nicky Hayden made the most of a not great motorcycle to clock the fifth fastest time and take first Ducati honors. He also had the fourth fastest top speed. The fastest GP12 wore the number 46, though not with any distinction, at least not today. In his first qualifying session of the 1000cc era at Qatar, Valentino Rossi qualified 12th fastest, 2.197 seconds from pole, and the last of the prototypes. The first of the MotoGP CRT machines, the NGM Mobile Forward Racing BMW-Suter of Colin Edwards, was only 0.831 seconds behind. It was a shocking and dispiriting performance for a rider of whom much was expected this year after a heavy off-season of development by Ducati.
First Hayden.
Photo Gallery: MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue - Sport Rider Magazine (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html)
MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html) | Digg It (http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html&title=MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue) | Add to del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/post?url=2&url=http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html&title=MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue)
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http://image.sportrider.com/f/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/36114407+ppromo_large/146-12040-+motogp-2012-qatar-ducati-still-struggle+2.jpg
Nicky Hayden’s fifth spot in qualifying only bright spot for Ducati; Valentino Rossi languishing back in 12th (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html)LOSAIL, QATAR – The Ducati Desmosedici GP12 has established itself as the fastest of the new breed of 1000cc MotoGP machines. And if this were a drag race, the Ducatis would win. But the Losail International Circuit has a variety of corners, some flat, some banked, some linked, some tight, to go with its kilometer-long straight, and the Ducati isn’t taking well to the corners that they’ll have to negotiate in Sunday’s season-opening Qatar Grand Prix.
Nicky Hayden made the most of a not great motorcycle to clock the fifth fastest time and take first Ducati honors. He also had the fourth fastest top speed. The fastest GP12 wore the number 46, though not with any distinction, at least not today. In his first qualifying session of the 1000cc era at Qatar, Valentino Rossi qualified 12th fastest, 2.197 seconds from pole, and the last of the prototypes. The first of the MotoGP CRT machines, the NGM Mobile Forward Racing BMW-Suter of Colin Edwards, was only 0.831 seconds behind. It was a shocking and dispiriting performance for a rider of whom much was expected this year after a heavy off-season of development by Ducati.
First Hayden.
Photo Gallery: MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue - Sport Rider Magazine (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html)
MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue (http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html) | Digg It (http://digg.com/submit?phase=2&url=http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html&title=MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue) | Add to del.icio.us (http://del.icio.us/post?url=2&url=http://www.sportrider.com/news/146_12040_motogp_qatar_2012_rossi/index.html&title=MotoGP Qatar 2012—Rossi, Ducati troubles continue)
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