I bet he thought "[url=http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2008_Qatar_motorcycle_Grand_PrixI can do that[/url"

I just remember Toseland's dummy-spit interview when he questioned what Yamaha would do if Spies couldn't beat Edwards either, would they ditch him too? Looks like that might not be an issue, James.

Press statement will come out tomorrow that the Japanese GP next week will be postponed until October because of the travel problems in Europe.

Honda's equipment is still in Spain and most of the riders are obviously based in Europe. There's also the cost implications of potentially having teams / riders stuck in Japan and unable to travel to the Spanish GP in Jerez the following week - the biggest earner of the season.

Ben Spies is a damn good rider.

If you think you might miss the MotoGP this weekend, you might enjoy [url=http://www.twitter.com/TwitGPTwitGP[/url

Not a great race this weekend I though, didn't come to life until late on. Good win for Lorenzo, Rossi also did about as well as he could with his injury situation. Nice to see Hayden looking like he's getting back to his best.

Did fear that it would become something of a procession yesterday. Rossi behind in second for much of the race, holding up the rest of the field with that injury, probably didn't help matters and allowed Pedrosa to build up a decent lead.

Superb ride in the latter stages from Lorenzo though. The way he ate into the gap between him and Pedrosa in the last 4-5 laps was unreal at times.

Pedrosa didn't seem too cheesed off after leading all the race except for the last half a lap or so. It's fantastic to see Nicky Hayden back at the sharp end and I hope it continues.

I think he was more surprised that he was able to lead for so long although again, I think that was partly due to Lorenzo getting held up by Hayden and Rossi early on.

Pedrosa still doesn't seem happy with the bike. There's no question than on any given lap, it's quick ([url=http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/pedrosa-tops-jerez-testing-times.htmhe was fastest in the post-race test yesterday[/url), the problem is keeping a consistent pace throughout the race. The way that Lorenzo was able to take more than half a second per lap from Pedrosa's lead in the final stages is worrying from Honda's point of view. Whether that is a problem with suspension and tyre wear (Honda changed to Ohlins forks this season) or a (less likely) engine/fuel management issue, it needs sorting quickly for their sake.

I know it's not Moto Gp but, the Beeb are screening the Northwest 200 on Saturday. The early races are being streamed live over the internet and from about 3:00 onwards, it's on the red button. [url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/northernireland/nw200/coverage/Details here[/url

That will be good.

First Rossi, [url=http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-news/bautista-has-op-for-broken-collarbone.htmnow Bautista[/url.

How long before we see a ban on motocross training?

Horrible injury for Valentino Rossi - broken shin in yesterday's practice. www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/b ... -crash.htm

Horrible injury for Valentino Rossi - broken shin in yesterday's practice. www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/b ... -crash.htm

Interest in this season just took a massive hit. Lorenzo to win the title comfortably now.

Unless Pedrosa can do something.

There is still a bit of intrigue there I think. Both Lorenzo and Pedrosa are crash-prone and a couple of DNFs here and there could make things interesting - it is very much Lorenzo's to lose though. That said, I'd expect Pedrosa to win at Silverstone - a very flat, fast circuit should suit him down to the ground.

Meanwhile, James Toseland could be set for a return to MotoGP sooner that you might think - he's allegedly in the frame for Rossi's vacant seat.

Toseland ? I thought Colin Edwards was up for the factory ride ?

That's what I'm expecting too. Would be interesting to see Toseland and Spies on the same bike for a direct comparison.

That would be good to see.

Yeah, worded that wrong.

Nothing confirmed yet but the expectation is for Edwards to take Rossi's bike. As for the spare Tech 3 bike, both Toseland and Cal Crutchlow (his WSB teammate) have both been mentioned. Toseland is apparently the preferred choice because of his experience (although personally, I'd like to see Crutchlow given a go as I think he'd suit the lighter bikes more).

As long as we get a British rider that will do me but I'd go for Toseland personally.

[url=http://www.carolenash.com/insidebikes/bike-sport/yoshikawa-named-as-rossi-replacement.htmYamaha have named test rider Wataru Yoshikawa as Valentino Rossi's replacement for the Catalan, German and US Grand Prixs.[/url

That will be interesting but at least they have a Japanese rider on a Japanese bike.

Alex Briggs (Rossi's crew chief) has described it as a "seat warming" exercise. Yoshikawa has tested Rossi's bike before and uses a very similar configuration, which saves Yamaha plenty of work.

Apparently Edwards ruled himself out of moving to the factory team last week. The rookies rule meant that, in theory, they couldn't promote Spies although I'm presuming that there's a loophole or "special circumstances" clause that has allowed them to bring in Yoshikawa.

According to Wikipedia, he has made 1 MotoGP appearance back in 2002, on an M1. Wonder if that's how he's allowed?