Stoner: We're back in control.

If Casey rides this laptimes with a bike wich isn't near perfect yet, what will he do with a bike that's perfect??

Let's see if they've got all of 'Dorna's' cameras taped up properly this time.
Although I think the camera on the seat of the bike, looking at his butt, is
malfunctioning, because I haven't seen the sun shine out of it yet!!!!!

DAM!!!!! Casey is almost always faster in the race than practice, somehow he gets Q times out of race tyres.
The two pretenders wont do anything here, Rain hail or shine Casey is the man here.

VR can only hold him up to keep in touch near the end, I only hope its a duel to the end.

May Rossi or Stoner win.

now he can start thinking about points again, 329kph against fiat's 321kph during FP1, and still it's not perfect, nuff said......

Stoner has to win this one he clearly has a huge advantage(do the math) and needs to make it count anything but a win would be a major blow.

..they're going to do major changes tomorrow. wonder what are they changing - since the red beast was so perfect in the 2007? what's not so good in the 2008..?
anyway - two major changes don't sound too good. too late to experiment i would say

people people, there's another practice session and qualifying to go yet.

yes stoner and rossi are going fast, but i dont see any clear advantage between either rider.

its gonna be a good close race and hopefully a little more equal than last season with the yam being faster in a straight line.

either way, roll on sunday morning!

so if were picking a winner from the first day...the winner is rossi i take it..

as he set the fastest time of everyone combined?

well...so it says on the website?

Melandri's comments seem telling. Why is it that his engine has problems and Stoner's doesn't? Why is it that his bike has electronic problems and Stoner's doesn't? So much for equal bikes. It appears that Ducati is playing favorite by providing Stoner with the best bike and parts. I guess one could argue that as last year's champ he deserves it. But it's fustrating to see that someone with Melandri's talent isn't getting the good equipment.

Why would Ducati give Marco an inferior bike? They want to win the manufactures title also. A second fast rider would help develop the bike also. Marco simpy isn't riding the bike fast enough. I don't know why but the fact remains that Stoner is the only one yet who can ride that bike.

Take a look at the difference in lean angle from Stoner to Marco. Melandri looks like he is on an out lap. I like Marco and thought he would take the fight to Stoner this year but it ain't gonner happen. If anything he is getting slower. Marco is fast but fragile mentally (IMO)and this bike and Stoners speed is not helping at all.

no way stoner s 2 secs faster than melandri. there must be some differences to the bikes

Chu. What would be the point of giving Melandri a slow bike?

I don't think Ducati would be that stupid. Anyway Stoner was also faster than his teammate last year.

But chu chu, Casey is 2 sec faster. As jh say, there is no logic of giving Marco a slow bike. If Marco's bike is slow i due to changes Marco choose, and his riding. Ducati will be plain dumb to do anything else
Gina,spare us your comments, it is just enough that you write your name with no text/comments on what so ever issue. You never say anything positive about Casey,or never anything negative about Rossi,so we know what is it in your "mind" without you putting it out.

well Guy..its as stupid for you to look at my comments - so do something about it - don't play the "victim-role" for the rest of your life - it will feel easier for you. when you see my name - just skip to the next one

i think casey will win the ducati is still 7 kph faster, i hate to think but what if rossi pedro or lorenzo had that ducati top end speed no one would even come close stoner included they are so fast in the corners.

if casey didnt have the speed advantage at this track he would be 5th or 6th so dont kid urselves.

i still think he will win,straight line speed slower in the corners is gonna be less harsh on the rubber where as faster cornering is gonna be more harsh on the tyres and thatswhy i think they last longer on the duke so by race end tommorow casey will have more grip at the end providing he pics the rite tyre.

i hope rossi can consume the tyres so we can see a fierce battle

Not many comments. What is wrong people. All i am reading now is the same excuses from last year. Casey's bike is to fast bah,bah,bah. Also Marc comments on Casey getting the best parts and equipment is a poor excuse and a stupid thing to say. Doesn't make sense. So when they tested at the start of the year, Marco must of tested the 1098 and not the 800. lol

What a difference a bit of track temperature makes.

We should also recall that after running 329kmh all through the practices,Stoner blitzed the warm-up with the fastest lap and a trap speed of 337.1kmh.The Ducati has NOT yet been unleashed down that back straight and those who think they have 'caught up' are in for a rude awakening as the Forza fine tune the behaviour of the front end under heavy braking to allow Stoner to outbox and outfox Rossi et al down that back straight again.Once the bike is dialed in to allow him to ride his race,the battle royale begins and we should be in for some true fun and games with Pedrosa and Dovizioso also hoping to join in.Hopper is always a mother at this track too !

Something that needs to be noted here as well.To say that Stoner would be nowhere close to the others without the power advantage of the Ducati is really immature.Stoner proved that he could blast away down long straights,grab big handfuls of front brake,slide like he was on a non-traction controlled 990cc GP bike and corner like Doohan on a 2 stroke.Replay 2007 in your heads - Stoner flexed all his muscles and showed all the skills necessary to dominate the championship.Not just his right wrist.

To win in Qatar,Donington Park,Laguna Seca,Brno and Phillip Island as well as Shanghai requires a versatilie bike and an immensely talented rider who can face down the 'best of the rest'.