Bridgestone-shod GP riders had their first taste of the newly resurfaced Brno race track in today’s opening free practice sessions in preparation for Sunday’s 22-lap Czech Republic Grand Prix. Ducati’s Casey Stoner leads the proceedings at the end of the first day, having set a best lap time almost one second quicker than the existing record lap, set by Loris Capirossi aboard a Bridgestone-shod 990cc Ducati back in 2006.
Bridgestone-shod riders Casey Stoner (Ducati Corse), Valentino Rossi (Fiat Yamaha) and Chris Vermeulen (Rizla Suzuki) have locked out the three front row positions for tomorrow’s British Grand Prix after a highly competitive wet qualifying session at Donington Park this afternoon. Stoner has been on the pace all weekend in dry and wet conditions, and dominated the qualifying hour today, taking pole position by an impressive margin of almost seven-tenths-of-a-second. It is his second consecutive pole position of the season and the third consecutive pole position for a rider on Bridgestone tyres, after Rossi took the top spot in Mugello, and Stoner’s Catalan pole from two weeks ago.