Stoner’s performance in his first three
MotoGP races on the LCR Honda makes his first victory in the class a real possibility on Sunday. The 20-year-old Australian has been the sensation of the season; he so nearly secured his first MotoGP win in Turkey but had to settle for second and his first MotoGP podium.
Pedrosa, his great rival in the 250cc class last year, looked certain to finish on the podium in Turkey but crashed on the last lap. He could so easily finish on the Shanghai podium… but only if the rain stays away.
By contrast, last year's rain gave Kawasaki a superb second place finish from stand-in rider and former 250cc World Champion Olivier Jacque.
Shinya Nakano and Randy De Puniet would give anything to repeat that result for their team after a difficult start to the year.
23-year-old Australian
Chris Vermeulen brought some smiles to the beleaguered Rizla Suzuki team by taking pole in the Turkish rain in just his fifth MotoGP appearance. In the dry he finished an impressive seventh while his team-mate
John Hopkins struggled with tyre problems.
The title fight is just as close in the 250cc class after a sensational race in Turkey. Mr. Consistency in this mighty competitive class is former 125cc World Champion Andre Dovizioso. Riding the Humangest Racing Team Honda, the Italian’s third place after a dramatic last lap in Turkey gave him a two-point lead in the championship over Spaniard
Jorge Lorenzo. The Fortuna Aprilia rider dominated the opening two races but was brought down on the very first bend in Turkey, breaking his chain.
Shuhei Aoyama caused Lorenzo’s first bend downfall and while he tried, without success, to apologise his older brother Hiroshi was re-writing the history books. The Japanese rider gave the Austrian KTM factory their first ever 250cc victory after a dramatic last lap that included a terrifying 150mph collision between Hector Barbara and Alex De Angelis. Neither rider fell with Barbara, Lorenzo’s team-mate, finishing second.
