Apart from that big crash on Friday afternoon this was another faultless display by the Casey Stoner/Marlboro Ducati combination as they dominated the one hour qualifying session for the Alice Grand Prix of Germany at the Sachsenring this afternoon. The 22 year old Australian World Champion grabbed his fourth successive pole position and decimated the old pole record set by Dani Pedrosa two years ago.
Stoner has fought his way right back into Championship contention after winning the last two races and he looks well on course to make it three to close the 29 points advantage of Championship leader Pedrosa. The Spanish Repsol Honda rider who won the race last year, qualified on the front row of the grid in second place, three tenths of a second behind Stoner, with the inform American Colin Edwards completing the front row, riding the Tech 3 Yamaha.
It’s been a tough weekend for four times Sachsenring winner Valentino Rossi who lies second in the Championship just four points behind Pedrosa. The Italian Fiat Yamaha rider will start from the third row after qualifying in seventh place
Toseland Fights BackIt was a better day for Yorkshireman James Toseland. The 27 year old Tech 3 Yamaha rider survived a tough day yesterday to fight back to qualify 11 the fastest for the 30 lap MotoGP race tomorrow. He was ninth until the final couple of minutes and will continue his MotoGP education at his first race round the 2.281 miles Sachsenring tomorrow afternoon.
“It’s encouraging I’m not too far off the pace but unfortunately it’s the nature of the circuit that means just one second separates the top ten,” explained the World Superbike Champion.” I’m aware of how much I still have to do to be successful at this level.”
Smith Retains Front Row Start
Seventeen year old Bradley Smith retained his front row start in the 125cc race after qualifying second behind World Champion Gabor Talmasci. The 17 year old Polaris World Aprilia rider was under a tenth of a second behind the Hungarian despite a crash in the morning practice session.
“I’m pleased with the session because I managed to put in some consistent fast laps and I could have gone faster but it was so busy out there especially at the end of the session, “said Smith, who also qualified on the front row last year.” The crash in the morning was my fault when I was inches off line where the track was slippery.”
Kent-based Danny Webb made a welcome return to the track after breaking his collarbone three weeks ago in Donington. Riding the DeGraff Grand Prix Aprilia he qualified in 11th place after improving his Friday times by over half a second. British Grand Prix winner Scott Redding could not improve his Friday times and finally qualified 16th
Ulsterman Eugene Laverty also failed to improve his Friday time in the 250 cc class and qualified 19th riding the Blusens Aprilia.
