The Ducati Marlboro Team had a mixed weekend at Assen, with some positive results balanced out by a few difficulties.
The steps forward in the bike's performance were a definite positive, and that allowed Casey Stoner to take yet another podium finish despite suffering physically once more during the race.
Nicky Hayden also had a great day after a brilliant start, and after battling hard for sixth throughout the race, only finished in eighth due to a technical glitch.
"When you start from 13th you are always going to have a lot of work to do but that was the best bike I've had underneath me all season so I want to say a huge 'thank you' to the team for that, they have worked so hard. I got a great start and was able to lead the second group for a while until a couple of guys came past and I lost my rhythm a bit. I made a little mistake under braking on the back straight, ran wide and lost a lot of time but I fought back and got in with the group again”, he said. “I was having great fun but unfortunately the left handlebar came kind of loose about halfway through the race and cost me a lot of time - that's when a lot of the guys got past me. I know I'm coming out with a lot of excuses this year but a loose handlebar at that speed is pretty scary! The guys are looking at how it happened. Anyway, man it was a hard battle. I know we were only fighting for fifth or sixth but it felt like there was a title on the line out there! Big respect to everybody in the group though. Elias made a big mistake but everybody left it all out on the track today and we all shook hands afterwards. It was good to be a part of the battle."
Casey Stoner suffered throughout the weekend at Assen, with the physical condition which had already affected him in Catalunya worsening as the days went on. As difficult as a GP weekend is already, his physical condition just added to the obstacles to overcome as he was forced to race unwell. Despite that, he still managed to take home a podium finish, which was clearly a very positive result.
"I've been feeling fine all week but started to feel run down again on Friday and I've just got worse as the weekend has gone on. I've taken every kind of supplement and vitamin tablet you can think of but nothing seems to have worked, so it is obviously something we need to have looked at closer because I can't keep going like this and it is costing us points”, he explained. “Thankfully I had a fantastic bike underneath me again today and I owe the team for that. A big thank also to Dott. Macchiagodena and our physiotherapist Freddie (Dente), who took good care of me both in Catalunya and here. Unfortunately we don't have much time to get fit for Laguna but we'll see what we can do."
“I'm sorry for Casey, it was clearly a difficult weekend for him because of his physical condition. Obviously everything we've done for him up to now hasn't worked so we need to help him as much as possible”, said Livio Suppo. “Besides that I'm really pleased with Nicky Hayden's performance who was a little unfortunate but has shown some really good progress, just like Mika Kallio who although he crashed had a great race nonetheless. Of course we need to give credit to Filippo (Preziosi) , Vitto (Guareschi) and all the guys at the factory for their hard work. Now we need to continue improving the bike and help Casey to overcome his physical problems, because that's his biggest issue at the moment."
Comment 1 - 10 of 10
agree on the nerves comment rob, i think thats why he doesnt do too well coming from anywhere back in the race.
But i have to say randy dp's bike looks like shizzle warmed up to me......too......much......white.....
Personally I think Stoner is a great rider but is simply suffereing from nerves.
You can see it at the last few races, he's folding under the pressure. We all know Mental Attitude accounts for success and thats something I think Stoner is struggling with at these big occasions. Rather like the English Football Team at Penalty Shoot-Outs...theres always one who loses his nerve and kicks it into the Stratosphere.
A few wins will see to all that, and make this seasons championship all the more exciting.
BTW, is it me? Or has RdPuniet got the best looking bike (and sponsors)
Tbh i am not trying to big up rossi here(even though he doesnt need bigging), but with stoner there always seems to be a reason why he doesnt perform other than "well i just didnt have the best of days".
These guys are supposed to be really fit, yet a common bug that he used as an excuse over a fortnight ago was used yet again at assen........jesus the flu doesnt last that long.
wrist wrist wrist wrist exhaustion some kind of virus wtf next?
He'd better come up with a win at leguna, or at least outpace one of the m3's or what will he say next time? ball ache?
Just becoming a bit obvious lately, even to the point where he paused in the after race interview at the weekend and tried to make it look like he was going to vomit...........yeah you can do a full race feeling physically sick....with g-forces and all.
:X
Of course the Yamaha was a brilliant machine before Rossi came along, winning everything......erm, not. The bike is as much to do with the rider and his Chief Mechanic i.e. Rossi & Brugess. It,s no coincidence that HRC has gone down the pan after Rossi and co. left. As such, Stoner and his crew are as responsible for getting that Ducati working as much as the factory guys; on that point, it shuld be noted that not only did Rossi benefit from the listening ear and commitment of Yamaha, but so did the other guys - it is aledged after Sunday prctice Jorge's crew changed his bike settings to the same as VR's because he was losing so much time in the final sector and James T actually had the boss of Yamaha working with him and his crew through the weekend to get the bike right - the TEAM is more than one rider - maybe Stoner needs a better team?
#5 are you sure about that? Did everybody try to ride it and fail. Don't think so. You're comment is so predominant and funny and stupid it always makes me laugh. Say that after eveybody has given it a try.
at the moment he is the only guy out there who can ride it
Yes Stoner is a brilliant rider, fast and consistant, but.....he is not the 'racer' that Rossi is, we have seen it sooo many times before, when things are not going his way i.e. got the fastest bike, out front and just banging out the fast laps, he can't seem to handle it. Last season when he was out front on two or three occassions when Rossi started closing down a significant lead, he binned it. This season, especially the last couple of races, Barcelona and Assen, it is apparent the Yamaha team (including Tech 3, well Colin Edwards anyway!) have found some more speed and the Ducati can no longer just breeze past on the long straights or pull away from the front - I beleive this is frstrating Stoner. Don't get me wrong, I am not Stoner bashing, he is obviously much better on the Ducati than Nicky H!!
I have been watching Stoner since his 125 c.c. times, and no matter if you like him or not, EVERYTHING he has stated so far is true. I cannot believe that he could not follow Rossi or Lorenzo, especially since he has an improved bike.
And telling all the time how perfect is the bike... is by no means "whimping"!
Maybe he is just sick of seeing a yamaha in front of him and not being able to keep up with the champ
What 's wrong with Casey Stoner 's fitness level?We heard his feelings from the 2 races .Come on Casey, you are as good Rossi - and a world champion!
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account