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Saturday, 29th March 2008

MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner will start Sunday's Spanish Grand Prix from just seventh on the grid as the Jerez circuit continued to prove a tough obstacle for the Desmosedici GP8.

"We went straight back out with the other bike on qualifying tyres but the setting was a little different and I really struggled with it. It's a shame because my last run this morning went quite well but when we dialled the same settings in this afternoon the feeling wasn't the same.

"I don't know, maybe it's going to be hard to go any better at this track but I know this is not my level - something's not right and we have to find a solution. I'm not happy but this is what we have to deal with at the moment," he shrugged.

The two other Ducatis, of Alice riders Toni Elias and Sylvain Guintoli, will start just in front of Melandri in 16th and 17th.

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"I didn't expect to qualify like this in Jerez," said home hero Elias. "Tomorrow it will be a hard race. We can't change the world in one day."

Stoner and Ducati finished fifth at Jerez last year, the Australian's joint worst finish in the dry.

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