Stoner Stays on Top at Losail Night Testing, Nicky 5th Fastest
Marlborough Ducati’s Casey Stoner took to the track for the third and final day of the 2009 MotoGP official night testing at Losail, Qatar. Stoner had elected to sit out the first day which was marred by rain and then posted the fastest time during the 2nd day ahead of Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha). Stoner was once again fastest at the circuit at which he won the last 2 MotoGP’s but was still around 1 second off record pace.
Stoner’s best effort of 1’55.744 was recorded shortly after 9pm on the 22nd of his 31 turns under the floodlights, the Australian completing far fewer laps than any of his rivals…He was unable to undertake a race simulation and kept to short bursts on track as he rebuilds the strength in his left wrist, which was operated on over the winter.
Just as in Sepang, Stoner completed fewer laps than his fellow competitors and only in short bursts leaving the door open for continuing speculation about his race fitness despite his outright pace. Nicky Hayden, Stoner’s new teammate showed he is coming to grips with the Ducati by posting the 5th fastest time.
The final MotoGP Test will be held at Jerez on March 28-29th before the 2009 season kicks off in Qatar on April 10-12.
Qatar Night Test, Day 3
1. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team – 1’55.744 (31)
2. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team – 1’56.733 (82)
3. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team – 1’56.972 (75)
4. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP – 1’57.224 (70)
5. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team – 1’57.225 (53)
6. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP – 1’57.253 (42)
7. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP – 1’57.401 (77)
8. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda – 1’57.449 (74)
9. Colin Edwards, Monster Yamaha Tech3 – 1’57.515 (46)
10. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini – 1’57.591 (61)
11. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini – 1’57.804 (66)
12. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing – 1’57.938 (54)
13. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing – 1’57.946 (50)
14. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team – 1’58.412 (61)
15. James Toseland, Monster Yamaha Tech3 – 1’58.786 (51)
16. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team – 1’58.851 (73)
link: The Official MotoGP Website
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