Saturday, 10 April 2010
For the second consecutive year Casey Stoner will start the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar in pole position, as he attempts to win the race for the fourth season running.
Casey Stoner’s strength at the Losail International Circuit was evident once again in qualifying practice on Saturday evening, as the Ducati Marlboro rider posted a best lap of 1’55.007 to place himself in pole position for the start of Sunday’s season-opening race.
Having won the floodlit race from pole position last season the Australian will begin his 2010 title challenge with great confidence, as he beat his qualifying time from 2009 by over two-tenths of a second.
Reigning World Champion Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) was second fastest in the hour-long qualifying with a time of 1’55.362, as he ensured his title defence will begin from the front row of the grid in Losail.
Rossi’s Fiat Yamaha team-mate Jorge Lorenzo looks to be in good shape despite some lingering concerns over his fitness due to the hand injury he sustained in pre-season. Any such questions were answered with a strong display that had been hinted at in practice, as the Spaniard timed in at just over half a second off Stoner’s pace to complete the front row.
Heading up the second row for the inaugural race of 2010 will be Randy de Puniet. The LCR Honda rider’s progression throughout the weekend continued with a best time of 1’55.831, putting him in fourth position and making him not only the fastest Honda on the starting grid but also the highest placed private rider.
Loris Capirossi (Rizla Suzuki) will start his record-breaking 300th Grand Prix from fifth place after his late surge also produced a leap in places. The veteran, with a time of 1’55.899 on his GSV-R, was ahead of fellow Italian Andrea Dovizioso (Repsol Honda). His team-mate Dani Pedrosa – who had struggled to find his pace during free practice – managed to step his level up as he posted a time of 1’55.990 to take seventh spot.
Colin Edwards (Monster Yamaha Tech3) and Nicky Hayden (Ducati Marlboro) took eighth and ninth fastest respectively to join Pedrosa on the third row, with 250cc World Champion Hiroshi Aoyama (Interwetten Honda MotoGP) finding a last-minute time to complete the top ten and find himself as the highest placed rookie.
Ben Spies (Monster Yamaha Tech3) finished 11th, and there were crashes for Mika Kallio (Pramac Racing) – 12th – and Marco Simoncelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Team) – 15th – inside the opening 10 minutes of the session. Álvaro Bautista (Rizla Suzuki) also had a fall, after he had set his best time which will see him start his first MotoGP race from 13th position.
COMMERCIALBANK GRAND PRIX OF QATAR
MotoGP Qualifying Practice Classification
Doha, Saturday, April 10, 2010
Pos. Num. Rider Nation Team Bike Km/h Time Gap 1st/Prev.
1 27 Casey STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 329.1 1'55.007
2 46 Valentino ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 319.4 1'55.362 0.355 / 0.355
3 99 Jorge LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team Yamaha 320.5 1'55.520 0.513 / 0.158
4 14 Randy DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP Honda 319.2 1'55.831 0.824 / 0.311
5 65 Loris CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 321.6 1'55.899 0.892 / 0.068
6 4 Andrea DOVIZIOSO ITA Repsol Honda Team Honda 325.8 1'55.963 0.956 / 0.064
7 26 Dani PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team Honda 323.0 1'55.990 0.983 / 0.027
8 5 Colin EDWARDS USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 318.7 1'56.005 0.998 / 0.015
9 69 Nicky HAYDEN USA Ducati Marlboro Team Ducati 322.2 1'56.163 1.156 / 0.158
10 7 Hiroshi AOYAMA JPN Interwetten Honda MotoGP Honda 323.7 1'56.227 1.220 / 0.064
11 11 Ben SPIES USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Yamaha 318.0 1'56.271 1.264 / 0.044
12 36 Mika KALLIO FIN Pramac Racing Team Ducati 328.5 1'56.283 1.276 / 0.012
13 19 Alvaro BAUTISTA SPA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP Suzuki 319.5 1'56.450 1.443 / 0.167
14 41 Aleix ESPARGARO SPA Pramac Racing Team Ducati 321.5 1'56.652 1.645 / 0.202
15 58 Marco SIMONCELLI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 320.7 1'56.957 1.950 / 0.305
16 40 Hector BARBERA SPA Paginas Amarillas Aspar Ducati 326.6 1'57.130 2.123 / 0.173
17 33 Marco MELANDRI ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini Honda 321.8 1'57.325 2.318 / 0.195
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