2009 MotoGP

Casey Stoner will start the 2009 MotoGP World Championship from pole position in Qatar after a dominant performance in today's single qualifying session, which saw Nicky Hayden suffer a spectacular crash that has left him battered, bruised and doubtful for his Ducati race debut tomorrow night.

The American is suffering severe pain in his back and after undergoing some initial x-rays at the circuit medical centre, he has been taken to a local hospital for further checks. He also required three stitches in a cut on his chest and a decision on his participation in the race will be made tomorrow.

As he had done in each of the free practice sessions, Stoner set the pace throughout this evening's 45-minute grid shoot-out and rarely looked threatened at the top of the time sheets, leading nearest rival Valentino Rossi by over a second for the majority of the session before the Italian closed the gap to 0.432 seconds at the end.

However, the Australian's first question to his mechanics on his return to parc fermé was not about his own authoritarian performance but about the condition of Hayden, who he had seen left strewn in the gravel at turn eight following a sickening high-side. It was the latest episode in a luckless weekend for the American, who suffered an engine breakdown in today's final free practice.

"It rained a little bit at ‘lunchtime' between the two practice sessions today but it was gone as quickly as it arrived and we were relieved that we were able to ride at all. There is a little bit of dust and dirt that seems to come down with the rain here so we knew the track conditions would be slick and the lap times wouldn't come down much.
The reality was that there was so much dirt out there that the softer compound tyres worked virtually like a qualifier and only lasted for a couple of laps”, he said. “Even on a race tyre it is hard to predict whether your set-up is going to work because the conditions are different every time we go out so we're going to have to wait and see what tomorrow brings. It's impossible to guess what could happen in the race but generally I'm happy with our set-up and the main thing for us at this early stage is to pick up points, keep working on our weaknesses and make sure we don't make the same mistakes as last year by getting to the middle of the season with problems to fix. The whole team are keeping our fingers crossed for Nicky too. Hopefully he can ride tomorrow but the most important thing is that he's okay."

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Qualifying

Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time
1 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'55.286
2 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.473
3 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.497
4 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team + 0.691
5 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 0.863
6 C. EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 0.908
7 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 1.072
8 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.207
9 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1.504
10 M. KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing + 1.566
11 M. MELANDRI ITA Hayate Racing Team + 1.676
12 T. ELIAS SPA San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1.939
13 J. TOSELAND GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 2.224
14 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 2.443
15 S. GIBERNAU SPA Grupo Francisco Hernando + 2.613
16 N. HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team + 2.929
17 Y. TAKAHASHI JPN Scot Racing Team MotoGP + 3.498
18 N. CANEPA ITA Pramac Racing + 3.713

 

On at 9am (eastern states, check local guides) live tomorrow morning on 1 HD. Bummer they didn't show qualifying.

 

Can't wait! Been a good start to the Superbike season so hoping for the same from Moto GP!

As much as I love Rossi I'd like to see Stoner and Ducati back on top.

 

I think we all love Rossi Dingo, gees even my wife loves him and doesn't even follow motorsport. I often wonder if I went to bed with the little Rossi face and a number 46 if I'd be lucky.

Stoner earned his success. He's worked terribly hard and his whole family have made huge sacrifices to get him to where he is today. Reading some of his commentary so far this year he seems to be a bit stirred up. Should be a great season. Some of his races with Rossi were great in the past few years. Now that he is going to be agressive should make it great veiwing. Roll on tomorrow morning.

 

Why can't they leave the golf on 10 and start the GP on 1HD.

 

Bloody oath!

 

Rain check. Maybe monday night.

 

Due to adverse weather conditions, the MotoGP race at the Commercial bank Grand Prix of Qatar has been postponed.

Following discussions between FIM, IRTA, Dorna and the QMMF, a proposal was put to the MotoGP teams to run the race tomorrow evening. Thanks to a huge effort from all parties concerned, and out of respect to fans of motorsport around the world, it has been decided that the race will take place on Monday 13th April, 2009.

The warm-up will run at 6.30pm local time (GMT+3), with the race scheduled to start at 9pm.

 

Coverage on OneHD from 3.45am tomorrow (Tuesday...)

 

Thats the end of any chance of other MotoGP rounds going under lights.

Too expensive and non-green anyway, imho, but there was a possibility of using lights to synch up TV viewing audience times on other third world rounds.
Thats got to be dead in the water now.



While we're waiting anyone want to watch the incar from a clubbies first go at Bathurst on the weekend?
Only first practice was dry. All the rest it poured.
Many tackled a wet Bathurst on slicks for their introduction to the place. Driving standards were excellant and despite conditions everyone had a good time with no tears.
http://www.vimeo.com/4125495

 

Not too sure I like the opposite lock piece on Conrod..!! Or the front wheelarches flapping in the breeze....

The driver certainly did well enough, top 5 in every session & race.... when you watch the incar, you cant help but wonder what a different set of gear ratios (and maybe an extra one?) might do for it... the climb up the hill on Mountain Straight and thru the Cutting seem to use the torque of the engine, not the revs...

 

Thanks for the reminder GTR.

Taped it (ok for PP's peace of mind recorded it on HD), just watched it. Great result for Ducati and Stoner.

 

It ended up a fairly boring race though, with Stoner and Rossi clearing out from the rest.

 

Did anyone else notice that Stoner's team looks like the Ferrari team (colours etc), they're both sponsored by Marlboro and Stoner's race number is 27!!

 

Yes. Stoner has always raced with 27 even on other brands of motorcyles. PIty Ferrari isn't as competitive ATM.

My racing number was 27 as well when I used to race Karts.

 

Photo or it never happened.

 

I'll have to try and track one down from NZ. Am trying to track down the photo in the paper for the street race in Rotorua. There was pic of me airbourne going over a crossing.

 

I say BS then!

 

Your call. There once was a fairy called nuff, fair enough.

I can say my licenec number was 727 and depending on how fast you got you entry in I had the options of selecting 727, 72, 27 or 7. Obviously i always tried to get 27.

You know that am estranged from some of my family in NZ, but I have sent an e-mail to my brother to try get hold of the photos and hope to proove you wrong for once.

 

Time will tell.

 

Rossi's not a bad rider.

 

Rossi is the BEST

 

Agostini + MV = best!

Decent race last night, woulda been nice to see Lorenzo able to hang with Rossi though to make for a more exciting finish.

Hopefully Stoner is back next round!

 

I missed the race. Did Stoner crash?