Below were the news I obtained from The Star News. I arranged it base on the news timeline.
Rossi in pole position
DOHA: Valentino Rossi put Yamaha on pole position for MotoGP's Qatar season-opener with a blistering last lap in qualifying yesterday.
The Italian pipped Australian Casey Stoner, on pole for Honda last year and now riding a Ducati, by just 0.005 seconds in near-perfect conditions.
Rossi's Texan teammate Colin Edwards completed the front row for today's race.
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Speed king: Italian Valentino Rossi of Yamaha (right) races with Shinya Nakano of Japan during free practice at the Losail International Circuit on the outskirts of Doha on Thursday. – AFP |
Rossi, determined to regain the world title he held for five years before being dethroned by American Nicky Hayden last season, is chasing a hat-trick of wins in Qatar and the pole was the 46th of his grand prix career – matching his racing number.
“It's extra special for me,” he said. “I hope this is a good omen for tomorrow. It was a great qualifying session,” added the 28-year-old. “The last 50 metres was a great show. I was not sure if I had finished on top as all the riders – Casey, Colin and me were very fast.
“We expect a good performance during the race as the bikes have a good grip on the track with the tyres,” he added.
MotoGP has reduced the engine capacity this year from 990cc to 800.
The Yamaha riders were fastest in the third free practice yesterday morning with Edwards lapping in 1:56.057 and Rossi trailing behind by 0.215. Stoner was half a second behind the Texan.
The Australian got his own back in the final qualifying session, but was unable to displace Rossi from the top.
“This is a great start and we are obviously going to get better as the season progresses,” said the Australian. “All the riders are very good and are clocking good times. I am sure this is going to be great season.”
Hayden, who had a poor practice session on Thursday, turned in a better performance yesterday but starts on the third row after qualifying ninth fastest.
The Kentucky rider's Spanish teammate Dani Pedrosa, expected to be Rossi's main rival this season, will start fifth in 1:55.361.
Honda's Toni Elias was fourth while Suzuki's John Hopkins ended up sixth ahead of Ducati's Loris Capirossi.
Elias, Capirossi and Honda's Marco Melandri all went off track into the gravel while Japan's Shinya Nakano (Honda) and Jeremy McWilliams (Ilmor) has minor crashes. – Reuters
First win for Stoner
DOHA: Australian Casey Stoner upstaged former world champion Valentino Rossi to take the first win of his MotoGP career in the Qatar season-opener yesterday.
The 21-year-old Ducati rider, starting alongside pole-setter Rossi, seized the lead at the end of the first lap and smashed the race lap record on his way to becoming the first winner on an 800cc machine.
Despite the Italian twice going past, Stoner used the Ducati's impressive power advantage at the Losail circuit to take the chequered flag with a 2.8 second advantage.
“The team's been working great,” said Stoner, who made his MotoGp debut only last year.
“We struggled in a few parts of the track during the race where Valentino was a bit quicker but I just used what we had to our advantage.
“I think I did my fastest lap on the last lap so we were there, we had it.”
Rossi, winner in Qatar for the past two years and starting on pole position on a much-improved Yamaha, said he had done the best he could.
“Compared to first race of the last season, this is a good result. I am happy. There is not much difference between the two bikes (Ducati and Yamaha) but Casey rode a perfect race and I had no chance,” said the Italian.
Honda's Spanish title contender Dani Pedrosa won a close battle for third place with Suzuki's American John Hopkins, who injured his hand in pre-season testing and ended the race grimacing with pain after a brave ride. – Reuters
These are the results I obtained from MotoGP website. Click the pictures below for better view.
4 comments:
Congrats tu Casey. He managed to snatch it from Rossi. Nicky had it in 8th place. Good race, perhaps. So, after this, where will be next?
I really hope that Rossi will win it, but, Casey snatch it at the last moment. We still have more than 15 circuits to go.
Ducati really strong at those straight. From the figure, they were really fast.
Ilmor still doesn't performed it well. Maybe next time.
Missed it. No sand storm yeah? Since the race in the middle of the desert. Hope there'll be replay in Starsport.
apa la, RTM x buat siaran ulangan, hampeh.
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