Kawasaki began the process of adapting its ZX-RR to run the same specification Bridgestone front tyre as world championship leaders Valentino Rossi and Casey Stoner, during Monday's post-race test at Misano.
Casey Stoner needed just two qualifying tyres to put the seal on his pre-race dominance at Misano on Saturday, when the Ducati Marlboro star overcame a wrist injury to set his seventh consecutive pole position, a record in the (four-stroke) MotoGP era.
1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 33.378 secs 2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 33.888 secs 3. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team (M) 1min 33.964 secs
Despite dominating both Friday practice sessions with a flawless opening day performance at Misano, Casey Stoner's San Marino Grand Prix hopes have been thrown into doubt by a freak wrist injury.
Casey Stoner's hopes of salvaging something from his Czech Republic Grand Prix weekend was ruined by a 'perfectly shaped' gravel stone that got caught in his Ducati's carboration.
Having lost out to MotoGP World Championship leader Valentino Rossi during a thrilling Laguna Seca duel just before the summer break, the last thing Casey Stoner needed - for the championship or his confidence - was another defeat, let alone his first non-finish as a Ducati rider.
Having had four weeks to digest his Laguna Seca defeat, Casey Stoner has conceded that criticism of Valentino Rossi's racing tactics immediately after their epic US GP battle may have been an over reaction.
It was the race MotoGP fans have been waiting for, but certainly hadn't expected, at Laguna Seca on Sunday - when Valentino Rossi overcame a practice deficit to battle furiously with reigning world champion Casey Stoner at the US Grand Prix.
Valentino Rossi wins a stunning battle with Casey Stoner, that ended prematurely when Stoner dropped his Ducati at the final turn with eight of the 32 laps to go...
Valentino Rossi has scored one of his greatest MotoGP victories after a stunning bar-to-bar battle with Casey Stoner during Sunday's US Grand Prix, which ended in favour of the Italian when Stoner dropped his Ducati with eight laps to go.
Injured title contender Dani Pedrosa, who rode through the pain of fractures to his left hand to sit 15th fastest on Friday, did not ride this morning. The Spaniard currently still intends to take part in this afternoon's qualifying session...
The session was red flagged with 21 minutes to go after a fast accident for Kawasaki's Anthony West. West walked away but a section of airfence needed to be repaired, forcing the stoppage. Valentino Rossi and Jamie Hacking were the only riders to lap slower in the afternoon...
By Lynne Huntting Ducati Marlboro's reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner dominated first free practice for the US Grand Prix at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca.
Casey Stoner has closed to within 20 points of new MotoGP World Championship leader Valentino Rossi after taking his third victory in a row, and fourth of the season, during Sunday's wet German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
Casey Stoner has closed to within 20 points of new MotoGP World Championship leader Valentino Rossi after taking his third victory in a row, and fourth of the season, during Sunday's wet German Grand Prix at Sachsenring.
The second half of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship will start with Dani Pedrosa back on top of the standings, ahead of Valentino Rossi, and reigning title holder Casey Stoner just 29 points from the lead.
The second half of the 2008 MotoGP World Championship will start with Dani Pedrosa back on top of the standings, ahead of Valentino Rossi, and reigning title holder Casey Stoner just 29 points from the lead.
Valentino Rossi fell on the first lap and rejoined in last. Nicky Hayden ran out of fuel on the exit of the final turn, handing third to Colin Edwards. Dani Pedrosa now leads the world championship standings by four points from Rossi, with Stoner 29 points behind Pedrosa...