Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/128385
Rossi's the best, G1bemau's next, Ifld Edwards likes the track. Pole Time: I :21.5 They use Qs, right? It'll be qUick. What am I going to do? I'm going to do 23s. I WMt high-24 last year on going to do a 23 in qua/ifplc. going to do - around that place on those things - they're going to be two-secondsa-lap quicker than us. I reckon they're going to be 21 on the pole. Qualifying tires, too - we don't even have qualifying tires. They're going to be in the 21 s, as long as it's a decent day. I'd say 21.5, and it'll be Rossi. The bikes weigh 145 kilos [319 pounds], and they still stop better than us, and their tires are going to be at least a second better in qualifying. This year with a qualifying tire on this new bike, we'd be in the 23s easily. They should be two seconds quicker around there than us. I'd say 21.5. that... . NEIL HODGSON Former World Superbike Champion I. Rossi 2. Gibernau 3. Edwards I'm going to put my money on Rossi to win because I'm not a gambling man. I'm going to say Rossi, Gibernau. Edwards. Quite boring. I think Hopkins will do really well. Edwards has been there recently, and he's riding okay. Everything's going okay for him. Pole Time: I:22.0 Pole time with qualifiers? What's every- Pole Time: 1:20.9-1:21.1 Our pole time is around 25.0 - Ben's [Bostrom]. They'll do 24s on a 5uperbike, but obviously there will be no qualifiers. I would think pole time should be in the high-20s, low-21 s - that's qualifying. Racing in the 22s. body said? About 2 Is? Where are you actually going to gain? I'd say 22 flat. Not necessarily Rossi - Hopper. I'll say Hopper because Bridgestone qualifiers are good. Do I win anything? KURTIS ROBERTS Erion Honda I. Roberts Jr. 2. Edwards 3. Hayden I'll just say little Kenny will win. I don't think Hopper goes that good there. It's hard to say because they've never tested or nothing. DAMON BUCKMASTER Team Yamaha I. Rossi 2. Edwards/Hayden I think Rossi, and I also think Edwards will do good there. Even Nicky. I just think it's an American, and those guys that have umpteen miles around there. I think it's like when you send the Euros out here to do something, they haven't always succeeded. Pole Time: 1:22.5 I can't see them going much faster than the 5uperbike around there. Not seconds. I reckon if the fastest-ever lap is a 24.8, I reckon 22.5. That is seconds, then isn't it. I reckon a mid-22 - a 22.5. PETER DOYLE Yoshimura Suzuki crew chief for Mat Mladln I. Rossi 2. Gibernau 3. Edwards Why? Because Rossi and Gibernau are the best two riders. Pretty simple. I think Edwards has been riding better of late. And he has one advantage of knowing the track, which should help him over the weekend. GARY MEDLEY Ducati Austin crew chief for Eric Bostrom I. Edwards/Hayden/Bayliss I think Rossi and Gibernau will be there. I think the guys who know the place are going to be the guys who shine there. I would say, in no specific order, Edwards. Hayden and Bayliss. Pole Time: 1:23 It could be a 23. Idon't think it'll be lower. I think the bikes are going to overpower the racetrack. We did some low 26s there when we had a very short test. I'm kind of saying maybe not. I think the way the bikes are going today, they're going to start overpowering some racetracks, because you start looking at times from 5uperstock and 5uperbike, they're getting close. 50 I think the big power for 1000s, they're overpowering some of the American racetracks. JASON PRIDMORE Jordan Motorsports Suzuki I. Rossi 2. Gibernau 3. Edwards/Hayden Pole Time: I:21.0 I don't know. I don't even know what superbikes are around there. How different are times around Valencia? like two seconds? Probably 22s, maybe mid-tohigh 21 s. The MotoGP bikes are lighter, and they get to everywhere faster. And it's not a stop-and-go track, and if they can carry the momentum. they'll be all right. Probably two seconds, because Mladin will probably do 24s. 50 I'd say 22, 21. CYCLE NEWS • JULY 6, 2005 39