[whippersnapper]

Championship series leader Valentino Rossi set the early pace in the first practice session of the Australian MotoGP round at Phillip Island. Marlboro Ducati’s Casey Stoner narrowly failed to overhaul the Italian finishing the session just 1/10th slower on the very last lap. Details here

 

[davy.j]

Ducati on Pole at Phillip Island

Welcome back Cassey!

Stoner & Rossi were in a class of their own today, pity I couldn't make it to the Island this year, (carpal tunnel problem)
Just need Nicky to fire up now.

 

[748girl]

Casey is the man! Fantastic effort and very exciting to watch. The tent errupted as Casey went fastest and then faster again. Casey's mum was sitting just behind us, she just had a smile on her face. Its been cold and its been wet, those pesky elements! But its been great fun and there is still tomorrow - Go Casey!

 

[tye1138]

GO CASEY!

Its interesting to note, post qualifying Casey said he had issues with maintaining grip, thats why they weren't near last years record breaking laptimes. He attributes it to the carbon fiber swing arm and how stiff the bike is saying it works better at some tracks, but obviously not at PI.

Pedrosa and Lorenzo arn't going to spoil Rossi and Stoners party. The race should be brilliant!

Great qualifying session, worth watching, lots of action!

 

[redzedx7r]

Casey you're bloody legend....all you out there with hate on Stoner, go smoke my bloke

 

[Warp Racer]

Welcome back Cassey!

Stoner & Rossi were in a class of their own today, pity I couldn't make it to the Island this year, (carpal tunnel problem)
Just need Nicky to fire up now.

Hey an Ingham lad. davy-j I'm an ex-Townsville lad. I miss the Tableland roads

 

[32698]

Stoners back!! sucks for Lorenzo though. Rossi benefits once again from riders crashing out and missing races this season.

 

[whippersnapper]

Casey Stoner took the win for the 3rd time in succession at Australia’s, Phillip Island circuit during the 15th round of the MotoGP Championship. Stoner led almost flag to flag after overtaking fast starter Dani Pedrosa on the first lap. Valentino Rossi took 2nd after championship rival and team-mate Jorge Lorenzo crashed out on the first corner of the race dashing his championship hopes. Pedrosa took a distant third place. Details here.

Australian MotoGP Results
1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati Marlboro Team 40′56.651
2. Valentino Rossi (ITA) Fiat Yamaha Team + 1.935
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Repsol Honda + 22.618
4. Alex De Angelis (RSM) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 32.702
5. Colin Edwards (USA) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 35.885
6. Andrea Dovizioso (ITA) Repsol Honda + 38.482
7. Marco Melandri (ITA) Hayate Racing Team + 44.461
8. Randy De Puniet (FRA) LCR Honda MotoGP + 44.941
9. Mika Kallio (FIN) Ducati Marlboro Team + 54.345
10. Toni Elias (SPA) San Carlo Honda Gresini + 1′01.205
11. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1′05.417
12. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1′05.95013. Gabor Talmacsi (HUN) Scot Racing Team MotoGP + 1′17.951
14. James Toseland (GBR) Monster Yamaha Tech 3 + 1′17.985
15. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati Marlboro Team 1 Lap

DNF Jorge Lorenzo (SPA) Fiat Yamaha Team 27 Lap

 

[ducracer081]

Casey does it again, too bad for Lorenzo i was hoping he'd make it interesting

 

[Chuckracer]

He did...ask Nicky.

 

[dirkwrong]

He did...ask Nicky.

How many races is it now that Nicky has been knocked out early? I lost count.

 

[carbonf4]

Great result for Casey & Ducati! Not bad for a guy who hasn't trained properly for five months or more - imagine what he could do when fully fit? Hard luck for Hayden & Canepa - turn one at the Island is one of the last places you want to come off.

VIVA DUCATI!!

 

[Fred00]

Stoners back!! sucks for Lorenzo though. Rossi benefits once again from riders crashing out and missing races this season.

It's his own fault. He makes too many mistakes and that doesn't make a champion. He needs to up his game if he wants to beat Rossi.

Though, to be fair, Rossi has made mistakes too this season. At indy he scored 0 while Lorenzo scored 25, so it's not like Lorenzo hasn't benfitted from a couple of Rossis mistakes.

 

[davy.j]

Hey an Ingham lad. davy-j I'm an ex-Townsville lad. I miss the Tableland roads

Hey Mate.
I was going to ride the Gillies to the Tablelands this weekend, but decided to do Paluma early
& then watch the GP instead.
Got to Paluma & the whole mountain was on fire.
So... off to Black River to do the Harveys Range Road.. just crested the top...
Bloody freshly resurfaced blacktop with tar & loose gravel everywhere.
Most of the roads around Ingham have recently been resurfaced so no quality riding to be had for a few weeks now.

Stoner... What can I say? Deserved the win.
How come no one else can ride that bike?

I attached a couple of shots of the bike (hope no one minds) & a cam shot from the Harveys ride to make you homesick
Check out all the loose stuff on the road surface.
It rained heavy last night for the first time in 4 months so that should clean it up a bit.

 

[NYSport]

What amazing control by Stoner. The rear was sliding so much on the last few laps I thought he was going to lose control and let Rossi by. Wow can he ride that Ducati.

 

[748girl]

What amazing control by Stoner. The rear was sliding so much on the last few laps I thought he was going to lose control and let Rossi by. Wow can he ride that Ducati.

At times I nearly couldn't look, but did anyway It was wonderful.

Grip was apparently a big problem all weekend, we had so much rain down there and it was quite chilly too, the riders did complain a bit but everyone was in the same boat.

In fact the Motogp guys were not the only ones to suffer Randy Mamola had a bit of an Ooops moment at Honda putting down the two seater Ducati with a pillion on the back. The Suzuki Tent two down from us suddenly made a lot of noise, so I stopped reading my program, looked up and sure enough there it was on the ground The Marshalls and Randy got it up and started again and the celebrity pillion ran (not up the escape road as I would have, but to the bike and hopped on and off they went). We didn't see that bike again.

 

[DucmanST3]

Casey you're bloody legend....all you out there with hate on Stoner, go smoke my bloke

hahaha love it ..........welcome back Stoner!

 

[RockDuc]

Loved the white on Stoner's bike. WTB a replica with that color scheme.


Rossi and Stoner absolutely made the rest of the competition look horrible. Whoever said why can't anyone else ride that bike +1. I always ask myself if Stoner would be absolutely dominant on an R1 or not?

 

[DucmanST3]

How the other guys are doing.............


14 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team
15 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing
16 Niccolo Canepa Pramac Racing

 

[mduc]

How the other guys are doing.............


14 Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team
15 Mika Kallio Pramac Racing
16 Niccolo Canepa Pramac Racing

+1 as I said before Stoner is THE only ONE who can ride that Ducati and consistently podium or win with it. All the others can only pray for this. The guy took 3 races off and now he's back in full health and kicking arse. Not to mention he's 3rd in points and missed 3 races, amazing. GO CASEY!!!!

Ohh Yeh all those Stoner haters who thought Ducati would not want him back can now go and suck a rotten egg .