MotoGP news

Stoner clinches pole

Casey Stoner took pole position in the dying moments of qualifying for tomorrow's race at Laguna Seca. Dani Pedrosa and Chris Vermeulen will start alongside the championship leader on the front row with home favourite Nicky Hayden, Valentino Rossi and Loris Capirossi occupying the second row respectively.

Other home boys John Hopkins, Colin Edwards will start from seventh and eight with Shinya Nakano and Marco Melandri, who recovered well from an early crash during the session, making up the top ten. Chaz Davies did well to claim 20th on the grid - the 20-year-old Brit standing in for the injured Alex Hofmann at short notice for Pramac d'Antin. With less than one second covering the top 15 places, competition is fierce, which should bode well for a tight race tomorrow. 

Casey Stoner commanded the first ten minutes bringing the pace down to 1:23.165s. Marco Melandri was just about able to keep in touch in second until he crashed badly bringing out the red flag. The Italian's shoulder clipped Chaz Davies as he was making his way past - putting him off balance - before he abandoned his Gresini Honda, tumbling awkwardly. The doctors tended to Melandri before stretchering him away as Melandri waved to the crowd to say he was ok. He immediately went for a check-up as the team prepared the second bike. The session resumed 20 minutes later.

At midway point through qualifying, Stoner had wittled the mark down to 1:22.964s, with Pedrosa taking over the chase in second, before Vermeulen topped them both to go fastest with a time of 1:22.906s. With 15 minutes left, Nicky Hayden went second fastest ahead of Stoner much to the delight of his home fans. Pedrosa went fastest with five minutes left on the clock before Stoner took it back in the dying moments.

more news

• 28 Nov.
  • Photos: Thursday in Jerez
• 27 Nov.
  • Hayden wraps up Ducati test
  • Rossi sets second day pace
• 26 Nov.
  • Photos: Wednesday in Jerez
  • Stoner watches on as Hayden gets used to Ducati
  • Rossi happy with first day
  • Pedrosa sets pace on first day at Jerez
• 21 Nov.
  • "Valentino would have been an excellent F1 driver"
• 20 Nov.
  • Rossi doing well at Mugello in F2008
• 04 Nov.
  • FIAT extends Yamaha sponsorship
• 28 Oct.
  • Hayden debuts at Ducati
  • Dovizioso enjoys first day at Repsol Honda
• 27 Oct.
  • Photos: Monday in Valencia
  • Stoner fastest on first day of testing
• 26 Oct.
  • Photos: Sunday in Valencia
  • Stoner storms to Spanish win
• 25 Oct.
  • Photos: Saturday in Valencia
  • Stoner steals Valencia pole
  • Hayden stays top in final practice
• 24 Oct.
  • Hayden happy with perfect start
  • Rossi looks for improvement
  • Photos: Friday in Valencia
  • Hayden finished Friday on top
  • Hayden fastest in first practice
  • Gibernau confirmed for 2009
• 23 Oct.
  • West hopes to return to MotoGP one day
• 19 Oct.
  • Stoner steals runner-up spot
  • Rossi celebrates ninth win
  • Photos: Sunday at Sepang
  • Rossi storms to victory
• 18 Oct.
  • Photos: Saturday at Sepang
  • Pedrosa steals last gasp pole
  • West fastest in final practice
• 17 Oct.
  • Photos: Friday at Sepang
  • Rossi looking strong at Sepang
  • Stoner looking for more from tyres
  • Edwards fastest in second practice
  • Yamaha leads first practice in Malaysia
• 13 Oct.
  • Guintoli joins British Superbikes
• 05 Oct.
  • Photos: Sunday at Phillip Island

Homepage