Casey Stoner takes Round 1 in Qatar, hopefully they'll have the new 1198 Ducatis back on top this year.

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[LIST] []POS []RIDER []NAT []TEAM []TIME [/LIST] [LIST] []1 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=852"][COLOR=#ba0000]Casey Stoner[/COLOR][/URL] []AUS []Ducati Marlboro Team []42'53.984 [/LIST] [LIST] []2 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=609"][COLOR=#ba0000]Valentino Rossi[/COLOR][/URL] []ITA []Fiat Yamaha Team []7.771 [/LIST] [LIST] []3 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=1975"][COLOR=#ba0000]Jorge Lorenzo[/COLOR][/URL] []SPA []Fiat Yamaha Team []16.244 [/LIST] [LIST] []4 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=614"][COLOR=#ba0000]Colin Edwards[/COLOR][/URL] []USA []Monster Yamaha Tech 3 []24.41 [/LIST] [LIST] []5 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=1976"][COLOR=#ba0000]Andrea Dovizioso[/COLOR][/URL] []ITA []Repsol Honda Team []27.263 [/LIST] [LIST] []6 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=1977"][COLOR=#ba0000]Alex de Angelis[/COLOR][/URL] []RSM []San Carlo Honda Gresini []29.883 [/LIST] [LIST] []7 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=637"][COLOR=#ba0000]Chris Vermeulen[/COLOR][/URL] []AUS []Rizla Suzuki MotoGP []33.627 [/LIST] [LIST] []8 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=4029"][COLOR=#ba0000]Mika Kallio[/COLOR][/URL] []FIN []Pramac Racing []34.755 [/LIST] [LIST] []9 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=616"][COLOR=#ba0000]Toni Elias[/COLOR][/URL] []SPA []San Carlo Honda Gresini []39.481 [/LIST] [LIST] []10 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=854"][COLOR=#ba0000]Randy de Puniet[/COLOR][/URL] []FRA []LCR Honda MotoGP []42.284 [/LIST] [LIST] []11 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=851"][COLOR=#ba0000]Dani Pedrosa[/COLOR][/URL] []SPA []Repsol Honda Team []48.526 [/LIST] [LIST] []12 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=608"][COLOR=#ba0000]Nicky Hayden[/COLOR][/URL] []USA []Ducati Marlboro Team []48.883 [/LIST] [LIST] []13 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=856"][COLOR=#ba0000]Sete Gibernau[/COLOR][/URL] []SPA []Grupo Francisco Hernando []52.215 [/LIST] [LIST] []14 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=607"][COLOR=#ba0000]Marco Melandri[/COLOR][/URL] []ITA []Hayate Racing Team []56.379 [/LIST] [LIST] []15 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=4030"][COLOR=#ba0000]Yuki Takahashi[/COLOR][/URL] []JPN []Scot Racing Team MotoGP []+ 1'00.286 [/LIST] [LIST] []16 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=639"][COLOR=#ba0000]James Toseland[/COLOR][/URL] []GBR []Monster Yamaha Tech 3 []+ 1'14.978 [/LIST] [LIST] []17 [][URL="http://moto-racing.speedtv.com/moto-gp/drivers/?dr_id=3006"][COLOR=#ba0000]Niccoló Canepa[/COLOR][/URL] []ITA []Pramac Racing []+ 1'15.028 [/LIST]

Re: MotoGP 2009

The race was OK but the night race, what a joke. A 4 lap 125 race and the Moto GP riders not being able to ride in the wet because the glare of the lights on the track surface. I really don't see the point, I don't think it adds much to the race. At least if they had it during the day they could of raced in the wet. The whole thing was shite for the spectators who got to watch a 4 lap race then 13 lap race and then had to come back the following day for the main event.

Re: MotoGP 2009

As much as i love Ducati, i still can't help follow Rossi.. What a hero, just don't give stoner as much respect.

Look forward to the season ahead.. Roll on Japan.

Re: MotoGP 2009

Yeah to be honest I used to hate Rossi all the way through his career in 125's 250's and in the top class, but when he switched to Yamaha I really gained respect for him. Anyone who's willing to leave the best team in the paddock and switch to something that hadn't been commutative for years has got my respect. I love Ducati but I still want Rossi to take the tittle again.

Re: MotoGP 2009

A classic race for Rossi. It kept me on the edge of my seat.

Re: MotoGP 2009

Nice to see Rossi win again. I think Stoner looks like he's cracking under pressure. I think it will come down to Lorenzo and Rossi this year. A great season either way. [U][COLOR=#ba0000][/COLOR][/U]

Re: MotoGP 2009

Yeah that racing between them was awesome the other week!

Re: MotoGP 2009

Stoner is not racing the next 3 races

Casey Stoner will not take part in the next three Grands Prix, and will next return to action at the beginning of October for the Grand Prix of Portugal.

The Australian has suffered physical problems since the Catalunya GP, which have caused him severe fatigue during the last five races. Stoner took this difficult decision after having consulted with sports doctors who have looked after him for many years back home in Australia. At this challenging time, he has the full support of the team and the whole of Ducati who together with Stoner have enjoyed racing at the top of the sport for the last three seasons. Mika Kallio will join Nicky Hayden in the Ducati Marlboro Team for the next three races, thanks to the great spirit of collaboration between Ducati and the satellite team owned by Paolo Campinoti. Kallio is in his debut season in MotoGP and has already proved to be very competitive on the GP9. For the Brno race, his place in the Pramac Team will be taken by Michel Fabrizio.

[B]CASEY STONER, Ducati Marlboro Team (3rd in the championship on 150 points)[/B] [I]“After five extremely difficult races due to my health, I returned to Australia to visit the sports doctors who have looked after me for many years. We have taken the difficult decision not to contest the next three rounds of the championship, to allow my body time to recover from the recent stress. The doctors believe that during the Barcelona race I was suffering from a virus, and, that I subsequently pushed my body too hard, leading to problems that have caused my fatigue since then. The doctors are continuing with many tests to try to understand these problems and make sure it does not happen again. I have spoken with Ducati and thank them for their understanding at this time. I feel very sorry for the factory, my team, my sponsors and the fans and I am also disappointed because the bike in the last races has been very competitive. I will be doing everything possible to come back at full strength for Portugal[/I]

Re: MotoGP 2009

Yeah that sucks for him but good for Rossi :o:

Chunky do you know where i can watch some of the highlights online if i miss the races? like I can't watch them on the BBC Iplayer cause you have to be in the UK and eurosport isn't much help either..

Re: MotoGP 2009

[B]Casey's back on form after his illness:[/B]

[B]Stoner Continues Home Race Domination[/B]

Casey Stoner’s dominance of his home circuit continued on Sunday as the Australian won at Phillip Island for the third year in a row, leading Valentino Rossi over the finish line by a margin of 1.935s.

In his second Grand Prix back after a three-race absence, the 24 year-old celebrated his birthday weekend with an impressive win from pole position, his third race victory of the season, which took him to third in the championship standings.

[URL="http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3195/caseystonerwhite1.jpg"][IMG]http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/3195/caseystonerwhite1.jpg[/IMG][/URL]

[B]2009 Australian MotoGP: Race results from Phillip Island[/B]

1. [B]Casey Stoner[/B] Ducati Marlboro Team 40min 56.651 sec
2. [B]Valentino Rossi[/B] Fiat Yamaha Team 40min 58.586 sec
3. [B]Dani Pedrosa[/B] Repsol Honda Team 41min 19.269 sec
4. Alex de Angelis San Carlo Honda Gresini 41min 29.353 sec
5. Colin Edwards Monster Yamaha Tech 3 41min 32.536 sec
6. Andrea Dovizioso Repsol Honda Team 41min 35.133 sec
7. Marco Melandri Hayate Racing Team 41min 41.112 sec
8. Randy de Puniet LCR Honda MotoGP 41min 41.592 sec
9. Mika Kallio Pramac Racing 41min 50.996 sec
10. Toni Elias San Carlo Honda Gresini 41min 57.856 sec
11. Chris Vermeulen Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 42min 2.068 sec
12. Loris Capirossi Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 42min 2.601 sec
13. Gabor Talmacsi Scot Racing Team MotoGP 42min 14.602 sec
14. James Toseland Monster Yamaha Tech 3 42min 14.636 sec
15. Nicky Hayden Ducati Marlboro Team 41min 27.127 sec

[B]DNF:[/B] Jorge Lorenzo Fiat Yamaha Team

Re: MotoGP 2009

Funny to see Carl Cox interviewed by the BBC on the starting grid

Re: MotoGP 2009

Nice to see Rossi wrap the Championship up today as he never does very well at Valencia. Its a shame the weather conditions where bad