Stoner's wrist strong ahead of Qatar

Eurosport - Thu, 09 Apr 12:38:00 2009

Casey Stoner's wrist will be under the spotlight in Qatar this weekend when the Australian kicks off his campaign to win back the MotoGP title from Valentino Rossi.

MOTORCYCLING 2008-2009 Casey Stoner Valentino Rossi - 0

Ducati's 2007 world champion starts as favourite to win Sunday night's season-opener and seal a hat-trick of victories at the fast and flowing Losail circuit on the outskirts of Doha.

Stoner was overall runner-up to Yamaha's Rossi last year with the highest points tally ever amassed without taking the title and the renewal of their duel is eagerly awaited.

However the Australian has not completed any race distances since undergoing scaphoid surgery in November, although he is confident that will not be a problem.

"The wrist is becoming better all the time and the arm is getting stronger so there are no complaints," the 23-year-old Queenslander told Motorcycle News. "It doesn't affect me when I'm riding."

Stoner, who now has Honda's 2006 champion Nicky Hayden as a team-mate, was easily the quickest in pre-season testing at the desert track where he took his first pole in 2006 and first win in 2007. He also won in Qatar last year.

Italian Rossi, now 30 and just three wins away from his 100th grand prix victory after taking his sixth title in the top category, has won twice before in Qatar but never at night.

Last year's race was one of only two without Rossi on the podium that season.

"I'm feeling confident, we're in good shape even if we're going to what was our worst track during testing, but I am happy about the performance of my M1 (bike) in general," said Rossi in a team preview.

"With the new single-tyre rule the tactics will become clearer race by race. I think a lot of new factors will come into play and strategy is going to be quite important to determine where you start the race."

MotoGP has moved to a single tyre supplier, with all 18 riders on Bridgestone, while cutting costs by reducing the amount of practice time before a race to save engine mileage.

Kawasaki have quit as a works team due to the credit crunch but will still be represented by Italian Marco Melandri riding one of their bikes for Hayate Racing.

That team was set up after commercial rights holders Dorna threatened to sue Kawasaki because they had a contract through 2011.

Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, third overall last year, will be in Qatar despite having surgery on the left knee and wrist injured in a crash in testing at the circuit last month.

Pedrosa has not ridden his Honda since March 2 but is determined to make up for lost time: "I know my team hasn't been standing still while I've been away and I'm really looking forward to getting back on the bike and riding for the maximum result possible," he said.

Compatriot Sete Gibernau, Rossi's one-time rival who retired in 2006, makes a comeback with a privately-entered Ducati at the age of 36.

Reuters

Comment 1 - 17 of 17

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  1. Theres a long way to go, 16 races is it. Going on­ recent history it may well be Rossi or stoner but there­ are alot of changes going on this year in MotoGp to­ contend with, inc reduced testing & practice time­ which will effect everybody. Keep a close eye on De­ Angelis & Dovy, I think they will both be fighting­ it out at the sharp end. It looks like Edwards has a­ point to prove as well.
    It seems Rob the Aussie seems a­ little bitter towards the brits I think.

    From neilbennett88, on Fri 10 Apr 9:56PM

  2. stoner is the best rider and is gunna win!

    From robertgarfoot, on Fri 10 Apr 4:13PM

  3. i bet that casey hate,s valentino ­ rossi

    From osabuohien, on Fri 10 Apr 9:36AM

  4. lol

    From motopoint_online, on Fri 10 Apr 9:36AM

  5. The peoples that invented whinging (the POMS) are­ complaining about someone whinging! P155 off,­ there's no decent british competitors in this­ sport! Go claim something else as your own! The only­ one that was (Barry Sheens) denounced Britain and died­ an Aussie citizen!!!! You're all in-bred. Thats the­ problem with such a huge population on such a small­ rock. Thats why the Italians (romans) give it up to the­ peasants. You have the largest population, and most­ money of any euro nation and still think your­ underdogs. WRONG! You're UNDER ACHIEVERS!!!!

    From Medic!, on Fri 10 Apr 7:41AM

  6. All this comment on Stoner all the time.Did you see the­ way he buried Melandri last year on the same­ bike?Melandri had the same bike ,the same tyres but he­ wasn't a match for Stoner.If it wasn't for­ Stoner Moto GP would be very boring due to a lack of­ competition for Rossi,because Lorenzo and Pedrosa find­ it very difficult not to fall off their bikes.

    From scallescally, on Fri 10 Apr 12:41AM

  7. Rossi is the man!!!

    From zehtrindade, on Thu 9 Apr 11:47PM

  8. Does this mean he won't be using his poorly wrist­ as an excuse for getting his arse kicked any more?

    From GEORGE, on Thu 9 Apr 11:12PM
  9. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    stoner might have the faster bike, but he cant take the­ constant pressure of rossi on his back wheel, so rossi­ will be champ again.

    From johnherbert80, on Thu 9 Apr 9:35PM

  10. Stoner is not fit to lace Rossi's boots. Rossi is­ the all time great, better than doohan better than­ scwantz, better than anyone. Back to back championships­ on different machinery. Edwards for World Champ

    From simonblanchard, on Thu 9 Apr 7:18PM

  11. Stoner will beat rossi this weekend plus he will win­ the title this year he has enough experience to­ overcome that italian dude

    From sabas, on Thu 9 Apr 6:39PM

  12. Stoner is a very talented rider and needs no excuses.­ Rossi is a master craftsman and he often beats his­ rivals in the press room before the race begins. Rossi­ admires Stoner and knows how powerful a threat he is.­ Rossi-Stoner who will be champion, too close to call,­ but one thing is guaranteed, another outstanding season­ ahead. My money is on Rossi.

    From Graeme, on Thu 9 Apr 4:41PM

  13. Really fed up with all the media attention given to­ Stoner's wrist. It will be interesting to see if­ Marco Simoncelli complains about his wrist to the same­ extent after the 250cc race. Somehow I don't think­ so......

    From Martie_46, on Thu 9 Apr 4:36PM

  14. If stoner does badly he'll moan about his wrist but­ if he does well he won't mention it.

    From Captain Kirk, on Thu 9 Apr 2:55PM

  15. Stoner has been swimming in pee with a beetroot and an­ otter

    From Leonard Nimoy, on Thu 9 Apr 2:43PM

  16. rossi is going to win and he will be a 7 ­ time 800cc word champion.

    From osabuohien, on Thu 9 Apr 2:25PM

  17. no complaints from Stoner? Now there's a first ;-)

    From D R, on Thu 9 Apr 1:57PM
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