MotoGP news

Stoner acknowledges important weekend

Casey Stoner is fully aware that any unnecessary losses of points this weekend could prove extremely crucial in the battle for the championship this season. With the top three riders currently separated by just nine points, the Australian is looking to close, if not overcome, the deficit to the leading Yamaha riders.

Beaten by Valentino Rossi by (a perhaps unlucky) thirteen seconds last year, Casey would prefer to repeat his 2007 Laguna Seca victory this weekend. "We have had some setbacks over the past couple of races that have prevented us from showing our full potential," said the Ducati rider, whose last win came at Mugello just over a month ago.

Stoner's Ducati (left) stormed to victory in the USA two years ago

After finishing a dehydrated third in Catalonia and an even more unwell third in Holland, Stoner is confident that he has the knowledge of what caused the performance breaks. "We have done a lot of work on the bike and found a great setup for the race on both occasions but I have not been in good shape when it was the moment to take advantage of that work," he admitted.

"We have come straight to America from Assen and there hasn't been much time to recover, although I do feel better already; what we learned from last weekend is not to underestimate the symptoms. I have always liked Laguna, with its natural elevation changes - I love racing in America and the Ducati has always gone well here. We have the potential to challenge for a good result again but we'll wait until we get out on track and see how things shape up."

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• 05 Nov.
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• 04 Nov.
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• 03 Nov.
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• 25 Oct.
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• 24 Oct.
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• 23 Oct.
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• 22 Oct.
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• 21 Oct.
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• 18 Oct.
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