What a difference six days can make – Last Sunday Valentino Rossi beat Casey Stoner to regain his MotoGP World title in Japan, this afternoon Stoner took a superb pole position while Rossi crashed spectacularly in a superb qualifying session for the Australian Grand Prix at Phillip Island.
Rossi damaged his neck when he was thrown from the Fiat Yamaha in the gravel trap at the fast turn four after taking to the grass coming out of the Southern Loop but he should be fit to ride in the 27 lap tomorrow while his great rival Stoner set the fastest ever motorcycle lap round the 2.764 miles circuit.
After a big crash in the morning practice, home hero Stoner lapped the fastest circuit on the MotoGP calendar in one minute 28.665 seconds on the Marlboro Ducati to pip Jorge Lorenzo for pole. It was nearly half a second quicker than the previous pole record set by Nicky Hayden riding the 990 cc Honda two years ago.
The on-form Hayden will start from the front row two years later after qualifying third fastest less than one tenth of a second behind Stoner who won the race at Phillip Island last year.
Frenchman Randy De Puniet once again showed great qualifying form in fourth place and is joined on the second row by World Superbike Champion James Toseland and Dani Pedrosa riding the Repsol Honda.
Rossi will receive extensive treatment on his neck and will be ready for what promises to be one of the real battles of the season around the riders’ favourite grand prix venue. The only thing that could spoil it would be the weather.
Toselands Island of Dreams Yorkshireman James Toseland celebrates his 28th birthday tomorrow and will be seeking to at least repeat his excellent qualifying performance in the MotoGP race. Riding the Tech 3 Yamaha, Toseland qualified fifth fastest and will start from the second row of the grid with Randy De Puniet and Dani Pedrosa.
Toseland has already have five podium finishes in World Superbike races at Phillip Island and it showed in the sun-kissed qualifying session
“I’m pleased to be on the second row but a little disappointed not to be in the one 28’s and the front row,” explained Toseland.” I had a couple slides on my last qualifier and so it’s a good position. It certainly helped not having to learn the circuit and be able to go out to work on the set-up right from the start on Friday.”
STOP PRESS……….. Bridgestone look certain to be the sole tyre supplier to the 2009 MotoGP World Championship after submitting a proposal to the Grand Prix Commission. An official announcement will be made the Malaysia Grand Prix in Sepang on October 18th.
The Ups and Downs of Bradley Smith What a weekend so far from Bradley Smith who finally qualified second fastest for the 125 cc race but he certainly did it the hard way. The 17 year old rider from Oxford crashed in yesterday’s wet qualifying session. In the dry second session this afternoon he crashed again at the Honda hairpin but was still able to get onto the front row in second place riding the Polaris World Aprilia. In pole position for the second consecutive race is Championship leader Mike Di Meglio.
Fifteen year old Scott Redding starts from the third row after qualifying 11th while Danny Webb who was brilliant in the rain yesterday qualified 15th and will start from row four.
