A three week break on his parents farm back home in Australia has made Casey Stoner even more determined to win the 2007 MotoGP World title as he secured his third consecutive pole position in the one-hour qualifying session for the Cardion AB Grand Prix of the Czech Republic. Despite rear brake problems early in the session the Marlboro Ducati rider once again showed scant regard for his rivals round the magnificent 3.357 miles Brno circuit in perfect conditions to grab his fourth pole position of the season.
“I had some problems with the rear brake early in the session but once sorted I was confident we could do it because the practice sessions had gone so well,” explained Stoner, who leads the Championship by an impressive 44 points. “I really like the Brno circuit with those fast chicanes and we are looking good for the race tomorrow.”
Stoner is joined on the front row for the 22-lap race by the Repsol Honda pair of World Champion Nicky Hayden and Spaniard Dani Pedrosa, who lies third in the World Championship.
Valentino Rossi won his very first grand prix at Brno in 1996 but the Italian is having a tougher time 11 years later. He’s spent the weekend dodging the Italian media who are chasing allegations about his tax problems but he did appear in public to qualify in sixth place riding the Fiat Yamaha but over seven tenths of a second behind Stoner.
Rossi is joined on the second row by American John Hopkins who looked likely for a front row start when he crashed the Rizla Suzuki on his last qualifying lap, and the Kawasaki of Frenchman Randy De Puniet.
Marco Melandri did not practice and will miss the race tomorrow. He has a trapped nerve in his neck and is in considerable pain.
Stoner appears to have no problems on or off the track at the moment as he seeks to increase that 44 point championship lead.
Results: 1. Casey Stoner (AUS) Ducati 1'56.884,
2. Nicky Hayden (USA) Honda 1'57.164,
3. Dani Pedrosa (SPA) Honda 1'57.179,
4. John Hopkins (USA) Suzuki 1'57.567,
5. Randy De Puniet (FRA) Kawasaki 1'57.599,
6.Valentino Rossi (ITA) Yamaha 1'57.640,
7. Loris Capirossi (ITA) Ducati 1'57.665,
8. Chris Vermeulen (AUS) Suzuki 1'57.699,
9. Colin Edwards (USA) Yamaha 1'57.702,
10. Sylvain Guintoli (FRA) Yamaha 1'57.732.
Bradley’s Battling Against Brno ProblemsBradley Smith faces a tough 11th round of the 125cc World Championship tomorrow after qualifying in 13th place riding the Repsol Honda. The 16 year-old Oxfordshire rider did improve his lap times from yesterday by almost one second but still encountered problems with his machine.
“I only found a fast lap in my last four laps because I could not get the bike to turn,” he explained after the session led by Championship leader Gabor Talmacsi. “We tried everything but the damp track this morning did not help but I’m riding hard and that improvement in the last four laps has given us hope for tomorrow.”
Danny Webb had a tough afternoon crashing the De Graaf Grand Prix Honda early in the session but he still qualified 32nd.
Dan Linfoot crashed in the second 250cc qualifying session but still qualified 26th one place in front of Ulsterman Eugene Laverty, riding the LCR Honda.
Related News
