MotoGP: Valentino Rossi remains at ease
Tyler Hopper
AllAboutBikes Staff-Writer
He may be recovering from an injury to his wrist, but Casey Stoner has put down the quickest lap times during MotoGP Official Night Test sessions two and three in Qatar. This night-time test ended with Stoner setting the pace for the track. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider also set the pace at testing in Malaysia in February.
Stoner is the 2007 World Champion and winner of the last two MotoGP races at the Losail track. The 22-year-old Stoner, who is one of three premier class World Champions competing in this years series, knows all about competition.
One of the strongest competitors Stoner will face this year is Valentino Rossi, the reigning MotoGP World Champion. Rossi isn’t overly strong at Qatar; testing 7th and finishing 5th in 2008; which was one of only two occasions that Rossi didn’t earn a podium position.
In a quote acquired by MotoGP Rossi said, “Our position is not so bad; we’re third, close to Lorenzo. Stoner is very fast but I am not too worried because we have a good idea about our path for the race and I think that in one month, when it is hopefully a few degrees warmer, we will be okay.”
Stoner and Rossi are two riders to keep an eye on as Official MotoGP Testing continues at the Jerez circuit in southern Spain on March 28 and 29.
