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As Rhino said this past weekend was the beginning of the 2007 motorcycle road racing season around the world. While others were interested in WSBK or the upcoming Daytona 200 (ho hum), my attention was focused on the first Official MotoGP test in Jerez, Spain.

2007 is the inaugural season for the 800cc MotoGP bikes. Although it has been known for several years that the MotoGP class would be limited to 800cc from 990cc, I could not find any reasoning behind FIM’s change of displacement. First thought would be to slow the bikes down since Loris Capirossi set the fastest top speed on a MotoGP bike of just over 214 mph / 344.390 kph on his Ducati in 2004.

So the question is……Are the 800’s slower than the 990’s?

Well in a straight line, flat out race for top speed I would say yes, they have more horsepower and torque, but what about on the track. The 990 hardly ever hit their max top speed in any races and were a handful getting into the corners. The 800 seem to be more manageable, carry more speed into the corners, much later breaking and drive more controllably out of the corners.

Jerez was the first Official Test session for 2007 and everyone was there. Rossi holds the Jerez Circuit Lap Record from 2005 with a time of 1′40.596 and an average speed of 158.284 kph. In 2006 Loris Capirossi won the race and had the fastest lap of 1′41.248 with an average lap speed of 155.894 kph.

So what happened this weekend in Jerez?

Rossi 1′38.394 - Yamaha - Top Speed - 270.202 kph
Pedrosa 1′38.527 - Honda - Top Speed - 271.228 kph
Edward 1′39.300 - Yamaha - Top Speed - 268.332 kph
Hayden 1′39.556 - Honda - Top Speed - 268.256 kph
De Puniet 1′39.832 - Kawasaki - Top Speed - 266.535 kph
Stoner 1′39.873 - Ducati - Top Speed - 277.349 kph / 172.342 mph
Capirossi 1′39.887 - Ducati - Top Speed - 272.520 kph
Vermeulen 1′40.043 - Suzuki - Top Speed - 267.990 kph
Roberts 1′40.073 - Roberts KR212V - Top Speed - 264.705 kph
Checa 1′40.100 - Honda - Top Speed - 264.770 kph
Elisas 1′40.202 - Honda - Top Speed - 270.880 kph
Nakano 1′40.242 - Honda - Top Speed - 267.990 kph
Tamada 1′40.307 - Yamaha - Top Speed - 267.857 kph
Melandri 1′40.396 - Honda - Top Speed - 266.469 kph
Jacque 1′40.551 - Kawasaki - Top Speed - 266.075 kph
So the above 15 riders all are faster than Rossi’s Track record 1′40.596
Hoffman 1′40.681 - Ducati - Top Speed - 272.171 kph
Barros 1′41.038 - Ducati - Top Speed - 273.903 kph

The above 17 riders were all faster than Capirossi’s fastest lap in 2006 race. I’m sure that Hopkins would have been in the top 5 if he had not been injured. Damn those Ducati’s have got some top end speed they were the five fastest bikes if you add Ito who ranked 22 out of 23 riders with a 1′43.073 but a top speed of 272.727 kph.

Topping the charts in the QP session gave Rossi the BMW M Victory and another BMW for the garage. So the season is heating up to be a good one for MotoGP.

Nicky’s going to have his hands full trying to defend his title. I’m as hot as ever on the little man Dani Pedrosa on a 990 everyone said he was too small. On the 800 everyone wishes they were Dani, who weights in at 51 kg/112 lbs. In comparison to Nicky at 69/152, Capirossi 59/130, Rossi 67/147.

Only 9 days to the opening GP in Qatar, I expect Rossi and Edwards to do well there as Yamaha choose to skip testing in Australia and have a 2nd test in Qatar.

Stoner experienced his 2nd crash on the Ducati walking away from a nasty highside in the final testing session. He was taken to the hospital as a precaution as he took a hard hit to the back of his head.

As for race coverage, I’ve given up on Speed or anyone else, I’ll continue my MotoGP subscription (up drastically from last year) and I may even lay down the $135.00 for their High Resolution coverage. I’m also considering another 35.00 investment with WSBK.TV for 12 months of live coverage. As for AMA I will accept what ever Speed has to offer, but in my opinion AMA has a hard time competing with MotoGP and WSBK.