The opening day of free practice for the US Grand Prix took place at Laguna Seca today with Ducati MotoGP Team riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden back on track just six days after contesting the Dutch TT at the Assen circuit in Holland.
A 10,000 kilometre trip and eight-hour time difference have not made life easier for any of the riders but for Stoner in particular this promises to be a particularly taxing weekend, with the Australian having suffered from physical exhaustion at the past two rounds.
Stoner has seen doctors this week and is on new medication but he was already feeling nauseous after just an hour on track today. Despite his problems, the 2007 race winner lapped third fastest, just 0.189 seconds off the pace off the day's quickest rider.
"I had plenty of time to recover between the Barcelona and Assen races but still encountered the same problems, so it's no surprise to come here after just six days and be struggling. The feeling of tiredness and sickness has started earlier than it did in those two race weekends so it's not looking good but again we have found a good set-up with the bike, we know we have something competitive and I just wish I was able to use it more”, he commented. “Since Barcelona we've found a geometry set-up that gives me great feeling but I'm not getting the most out of it - I know it can go faster round here. We'll just have to see how the weekend pans out. It is hard for the doctors because I don't have any symptoms until I am physically tired, at which point I go rapidly down the other side of the hill, so it's not like they can give me antibiotics because they don't know what it is. Anyway, they have given me something new to try here and we'll see ifwe can bring it back for race day. If it works I'll be very grateful."
His team-mate Hayden, the 2005 and 2006 race winner here, struggled to find a set-up for the Desmosedici on his first appearance at his home circuit as a Ducati rider.
“We're near the back again so that's not cool and not what I was hoping for”, he confessed. “In some places the bike feels quite good but in other places, coming out of the corners, it feels pretty flat and I don't have enough acceleration. Usually this is a strong point of the Ducati so it's a little strange so we'll have a look at the mapping and see if we can figure out the problem tonight. Normally around here you have a lot of wheelies and I don't have any so it's obviously something we need to put right. I've got a new helmet design here for the 4th July. It is tradition to let off fireworks here so that is the basis of the design, although on the track we haven't let anything go yet! Hopefully we can get a better direction with the engine tomorrow and find some spark!”
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they were saying that Lorenzo had a partially dislocated shoulder - I hope not as theres no way he can win with that. I hope for the sake of the racing Lorenzo is able to ride the bike at least 90%
It should be an awesome race. Hopefully Lorenzo will be alright -- seems to be his ankle, the way he came done on it in the high side in QP.
Let's hope we get a good race 2mrw. Lorenzo had a massive hi-side last year on the 1st lap so let's hope he gets a bit further this time. If the race is half as good as last years it'll be worth watchin
Kailo is doing well, but always just a place ahead (or someimtes behind) of Nicky in every outing, including FP and QP. So, I acknowledge that he's riding as well or slightly better than Hayden, they're still usually in or around 12th on average. So Ducati have a bike that takes a top 5 rider and makes them a top 12 rider. I remember hearing from last season that Rossi had developed a very "rider friendly" bike, and now that Yamaha is got the str8 line speed sorted, when the fights on, the Yamas probably have the advantage. Its probably the bike that's making Stoner ill.
I agree Billy. Ducati need to find out why quality riders like Marco and Nicky can't ride this bike - there must be a fundemental flaw with it. Loris and Bayliss could ride the wheels off the 990 version - a joy to watch, but this 800cc seems a real dog. That said Kallio is doin unbelievably well on the sattelite one.
you could see from the catalunya GP that the Ducati has lost it's str8 line speed advantage. During the race the yamahas were consistently quicker down the main str8. Unless something drastic changes I think it's goin to be a long season for Nicky and Stoner.
What's up with the bike that Nicky's riding? Why is it that the best finish of any Ducati rider than Stoner is only 8th (Hayden), and usually 11th or 12th? Ducati has a problem there. If they don't sort it, the problem will be there next year even if Hayden loses his factory ride for Ducati.
Here Casey Moaner goes again, now on volume 6 of the "WHAT TO SAY NOW MY BIKE ISNT THE FASTEST" Book of excuses.....!!!!!!
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