QP=Vale, Stoner, Edwards... and Elias in front of Pedrosa and Hayden
This race will be awesome since it is nobody's 'home' circuit...yet.
I hope Stoner can grow up and stay on board rather than prevail with this antiquated 'win it or bin it' strategy of raceers in the years gone by. He is quite capable of challenging Vale and the field. Hayden proved that consistency can 'win' a championship despite Capirossi and Melandri BOTH having 3 wins each against Hayden's 2 wins and Vale's 5 wins in 2006...

[quote="GRCmoto_Australia"]
I hope Stoner can grow up and stay on board rather than prevail with this antiquated 'win it or bin it' strategy of raceers in the years gone by. He is quite capable of challenging Vale and the field. quote]
Couldn't have said it better myself mate.

1. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 55.002 secs

2. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 55.007 secs

3. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 55.233 secs
4. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 55.358 secs
5. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 55.361 secs
6. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 55.833 secs
7. Loris Capirossi ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 55.851 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 55.933 secs
9. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 56.041 secs
10. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 1min 56.222 secs
11. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 1min 56.306 secs
12. Carlos Checa SPA Honda LCR (M) 1min 56.609 secs
13. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 56.639 secs
14. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 56.754 secs
15. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 56.814 secs
16. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 57.257 secs
17. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 1min 57.274 secs
18. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 1min 57.495 secs
19. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 1min 58.024 secs
20. Jeremy McWilliams GBR Ilmor GP (M) 1min 59.606 secs
21. Andrew Pitt AUS Ilmor GP (M) 1min 59.725 secs


Fastest free practice time:
Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha (M) 1min 56.057secs (FP3)

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 43min 2.788 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 43min 5.626 secs
3. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 43min 11.318 secs
4. John Hopkins USA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 43min 11.859 secs
5. Marco Melandri ITA Gresini Honda (B) 43min 20.221 secs
6. Colin Edwards USA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 43min 21.435 secs
7. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 43min 25.704 secs
8. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 43min 25.845 secs
9. Alex Barros BRA Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 43min 28.749 secs
10. Shinya Nakano JPN Konica Minolta Honda (M) 43min 31.244 secs
11. Alex Hofmann GER Pramac d'Antin MotoGP (B) 43min 37.817 secs
12. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 43min 45.736 secs
13. Kenny Roberts USA Team Roberts (M) 43min 45.765 secs
14. Toni Elias SPA Gresini Honda (B) 43min 45.777 secs
15. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 43min 54.427 secs
16. Makoto Tamada JPN Dunlop Tech 3 Yamaha (D) 44min 0.641 secs

Great Race, Casey rode well all race & the ducati got some balls.

Huge balls

Great ride from Stoner. He could not be faulted and did not capitulate under pressure form Rossi. I guess he was more comfortable knowing that he had the top speed advantage and relaxed a lot more. Rossi tried everything but could not upset the little fella!
It will be interesting when they move on to the circuits where thay have not yet tested, since they will need to use their setup information gathered from pre-season testing and roll the dice. Jerez will not be the place where the Ducati can make such a big advantage with it's superior top speed. Rossi was clearly able to match Stoner in the tighter sections but would get blown away once they hit the long Losail main straight (over 1km long!). The Honda (of Pedrosa) also showed good top speed, but Rossi could outbrake Pedrosa going ito Turn 1. It was a far better finish for the former World Champ than last year, where he was punted off and remounted and managed to secure 2 points, where he now has 20 points from this round.
Expect a fantastic season...