LORIS TO MISS DONNY

from motogp:

Loris Capirossi´s manager Carlo Pernat and the Rizla Suzuki team have both confirmed to motogp.com on Wednesday that the veteran Italian rider will be unavailable to ride at Donington in the bwin.com British Grand Prix on the 20th-22nd June weekend, due to the hand injury he sustained at Catalunya on Sunday.


Capirossi is also doubtful for Assen the following week, but Suzuki intend to run two bikes there and in England, with an announcement to be made within the next 48 hours on who the substitute rider for Donington will be.


Two names firmly in the frame are those of Suzuki test rider Nobu Aoki and American AMA Superbike Champion Ben Spies – who is set to test and make wildcard appearances for Suzuki later this year, but could now get his hands on the GSV-R earlier than expected.


Pernat told motogp.com, `Loris will definitely miss Donington but he could be fit for Assen a week later so the intention is for him to try and return then. He has met with Dr Costa today in Italy and they are pleased with the way the injury looks already.´


Capirossi suffered an awkward finger break when he crashed out of the Gran Premi Cinzano de Catalunya MotoGP race on Sunday, after a coming together with Alex de Angelis.


Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Team Manager Paul Denning said, `We intend to run two bikes at Donington and Assen because it is important for the Championship. We will confirm who our replacement rider is on Friday, but from the way things look with the injury Loris might be back at Assen.´

Ben Spies will replace Capirex

Ben Spies to replace Loris Capirossi in Donington MotoGP - Motorcycle Sport

1) Vale
2) Toseland
3) Nicky.....Doont mind Toseland winning and Vale 2nd as long as Dani is out of the picture...

Wow..... James??? Really??? I mean.... yes, it`s his home race, but still don`t you think second is a little too much? Although it`ll be interesting to see that.
I agree about Dani 7points lead is not too much, 4th place will be good for him.
I would love to see Vale, Jorge and Dovi on podium in Donny, that`ll be extremely cool

Seriously, I think Jorge should not race. If he keeps going, he will have a deep trouble. Head's trauma is not like ignoring the pain in an appendage. His balance can be severely compromised, and there isn't any more important ingredient than that for riding a bike. Better safe than sorry. Get well soon Jorge !

Yup, I agree with you - better safe than sorry, but I thought two weeks will be enough to recover. I mean they let him race right on the next day in China, so I`m 99% sure he`ll be declared fit to race in Donny too. But he will really have to cut down on aggression and be more careful, otherwise he risks to spend the rest of the season in hospital.
So my basic idea was that if he makes a good qualifying and a clear race there`s some chance to see him on podium.
Besides the dreaming of a super cool Rossi - Lorenzo - Dovi battle in the last laps must not be necessarily connected with the reality


In connnection to the above said:

Yamaha to ease pressure on Jorge Lorenzo

By Matthew Birt
MotoGP
11 June 2008 14:15
Yamaha will drastically reduce Jorge Lorenzo’s off-track commitments for the foreseeable future to help the Spaniard get his rookie MotoGP campaign back on track.
Lorenzo is still recuperating from the Catalunya practice crash five days ago that forced him to miss his home race.
The double world 250 champion was only just getting back to full fitness after breaking both ankles in a practice crash in Shanghai last month when he suffered severe concussion in Barcelona.
In a bid to help him focus on returning to the form that saw him win the Estoril MotoGP earlier this season, Yamaha will cut down on Lorenzo’s PR and media obligations.
His Fiat Yamaha team boss Daniele Romagnoli told MCN: “He can handle this but to me he has been doing a bit too much. He likes to do this but he is busy.
“Jorge can handle it but I would like to reduce some of his commitments at least to restart more smoothly.”
Most of Lorenzo’s PR commitments have been cancelled ahead of the British MotoGP at Donington Park on June 22.

I think Toseland will either make the podium or bin the bike trying.....he won't be prepared to make do for a lower place than third at Donington IMO....
I think Valentino will also make the podium along with Stoner (but hope I'm wrong about Stoner!)

Rossi, Pedrosa & Stoner

Thats my prediction,

Have to confess to liking Stoner, He has been really great this year, he is having a difficult time and is just getting on with and not making excuses.

I also think he is proving any doubters wrong about his ability,
Melandri, Elias, Guintoli all on the same bike and all in the bottom 3 places.

Go Vale
Chappie46

Well of course i'm gonna pick Vale for first - but what will the weather do - this is England don't forget........

although with the rain about through the rounds just gone, it'll probably be 35 and sunny!!!!!!

Well, This could make for some very interesting races next week. Ben Spies is an excellent, smooth, and agressive rider. He's got a unique 'Elbows Out' style and when he's on, he's really ON. What's more, he's got a lot of time riding for Suzuki. If he brings his tuners and his 'A-Game' he might even end up scrappin' w. Vale.

Ben is also famous for a scary crash he had a few years ago. Testing new tires, he had a front blow out at speed a-la Shinya Nakano, only Ben got a pretty bad abbrasion injury that almost cost him his career.

I tell you, anyone who gets back on the horse after a crash like that is worthy of riding in the Big Show. I'll always be a Rossi Fan, but Spies could really spice things up if all goes well.

Certainly, it would have been better if he wasn't replacing my 2nd favorite rider in MotoGP: Loris Capirossi. Sure hope to see Loris back in it at Assen. What if Gibernau is there too? What a show: Rossi, Gibernau, Melandri, Capirossi, Edwards, & Spies?