wishes may yet come true.MotoGP Qatar 2008 Race ResultsChampionship standings after the 2008 MotoGP Qatar roundRead more of David Emmett's article over on MotoGPMatters.com

get under 1'23. To add to the pundits' feeling of smugness, the weather changed from day to day, with Friday starting cool and a little damp, Saturday dawning much warmer and drier, and temperatures on Sunday at blistering levels, more reminiscent

, we should also make weight cheap, and raise the minimum weight limits by at least 10kg. That would leave the bikes below the World Superbike limits of 165kg, but be heavy enough to obviate the need for lots of expensive materials.These two changes

revs mean engine internals such as crankshaft, generator and camshafts are all generating relatively large amounts of gyroscopic force, making getting the bike to change direction is very difficult. And keeping the bike close to the peak torque

be up to speed, in every sense, after a full year of learning the four-stroke ropes. Then there was the meaty issue of the new 800s: what would they be like, and how would riding styles have to change to make them really fast? And finally, to top it all

team's lack of competitiveness over the past 2 years as evidence for their case that this is a fundamentally bad move. But there are some interesting changes going on at Tech 3. The first sign of change was Hervé Poncharal's announcement in early June

over the crown, then sit the bike down again to take the turn.As the circuit was shortened, the character of Assen changed. And each change seemed to diminish the track, to excise another part of the track's majesty, leaving it less than it was before

were starting to change, and the fair wind which has carried Stoner to a virtually flawless season so far was beginning to turn.As the lights faded, the revs rose and the clutches were dropped, the wind still seemed to be at Stoner's back, the Ducati

not change from one race to the next, the impact one race can have be worth double or even triple the points on offer. For example, though the difference between 1st and 2nd at the season opener is only 5 points, the race can sometimes set the tone

tires, his times on race tires have been significantly less impressive. With the advent of the new tire regulations, qualifiers will be less of a factor in 2007. Don't be fooled by Pedrosa's times.The New Tire Regulations Will Change EverythingAs I