Running harder options of Bridgestone tires, Ducati Marlboro rider Casey Stoner posted the fastest lap in the first free practice session at Losail International Circuit in Qatar Friday.
After 60 minutes, the Australian posted 1:55.500, just 0.2 of a second off his pole-position time last year. Stoner won the last three MotoGP races in
“Today felt really good – we had a similar rhythm to the test and I didn’t feel to be pushing too hard,” Stoner said. “I had a really good feeling from the start and actually when we changed the setting I went faster but didn’t feel as good, so we need to work on that. This is obviously a good circuit for me but we’re taking things steadily. The target for this weekend is to take away some solid points and make a good start to the season.”
Posting the second and third fastest times were Jorge Lorenzo and defending Champion Valentino Rossi, respectively. The Fiat Yamaha riders were separated by just 0.002 of a second.
Despite recovering from a hand injury the Spaniard sustained in a motocross accident, Lorenzo still managed a 1:56.026, just 0.5 of a second slower than Stoner. Lorenzo also went down at turn 14, crashing into a gravel trap, but was not harmed.
“I’m quite happy about tonight and about my hand,” Lorenzo said. “ I tried riding for the first time without the extra hand protection and I was okay. I felt good on the bike and my thumb didn’t really hurt, it was a lot better than at the test. We still have a few things on the bike that we need to work on but we have made a good start. It was a pity to crash, I was pushing hard at the time and I just made a small mistake, touching the white line; these things happen and luckily I didn’t hurt myself.”
His teammate, nine-time World Champion Rossi, complained of lacking grip on the dusty track in the desert, but still posted a 1:56.028.
“Honestly I expected to be faster today – the lap time is not bad but it could be better. The conditions are much better than during the test, it’s warmer and a lot less humid so I’m happy about that, but we don’t have enough grip and I was sliding quite a lot so we need to try to find a way to improve this. Stoner is always very fast here and I hope we can close the gap to him by making some small changes to our suspension. If we can stop the bike sliding then we will be a lot faster.”
Friday First Free Practice Times:
1. Casey Stoner 1m 55.500 AUS DUCATI Ducati Marlboro Team
2. Jorge Lorenzo 1m 56.026 SPA YAMAHA Fiat Yamaha Team
3. Valentino Rossi 1m 56.028 ITA YAMAHA Fiat Yamaha Team
4. Andrea Dovizioso 1m 56.698 ITA HONDA Repsol Honda Team
5. Nicky Hayden 1m 56.793
6. Ben Spies 1m 56.818
7. Alvaro Bautista 1m 56.998 SPA SUZUKI Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
8. Randy De Puniet 1m 57.031 FRA HONDA LCR Honda MotoGP
9. Mika Kallio 1m 57.059 FIN DUCATI Pramac Racing
10. Hector Barbera 1m 57.105 SPA DUCATI Paginas Amarillas Aspar
11. Dani Pedrosa 1m 57.133 SPA HONDA Repsol Honda Team
12. Colin Edwards 1m 57.167
13. Loris Capirossi 1m 57.363 ITA SUZUKI Rizla Suzuki MotoGP
14. Marco Simoncelli 1m 57.535 ITA HONDA San Carlo Honda Gresini
15. Aleix Espargaro 1m 57.605 SPA DUCATI Pramac Racing
16. Marco Melandri 1m 58.035 ITA HONDA San Carlo Honda Gresini
17. Hiroshi Aoyama 1m 58.082 JAP HONDA Interwetten Honda MotoGP
