PHILLIP ISLAND, Casey Stoner completed his dominance at Phillip Island Circuit over the weekend by grabbing pole position. In the qualifying session on Saturday (10.15.2011), to determine the starting position the Australian Grand Prix on Sunday, Stoner recorded the best time of 1 minute 29.975 seconds.
These results further confirmed the dominance of Stoner at the track. Because, in the three practice sessions from Friday until Saturday morning, Repsol Honda rider is always in the forefront. And, it also became the fourth pole in a row at Phillip Island and which to-11 throughout 2011, or the fifth consecutive final in five series.
Stoner, who dominated the race since 2007 in public alone, beating its nearest competitor on a Yamaha, Jorge Lorenzo. The leader of the standings is 0.473 seconds ahead of defending champion Spaniard, who became a competitor for the MotoGP world title hunt 2011.
Behind these two drivers, who will become a major concern in the race tomorrow, there are Honda Gresini rider Marco Simoncelli. The spiky Italian would be a threat because he started from third place, with a record time of 0.624 seconds slower than Stoner. "Supersic" should also be taken into account because he appeared fairly consistent since free practice.
The fourth position is occupied Rizla Suzuki rider Alvaro Bautista. The Spaniard managed to make a surprise to penetrate the top four. In fact, during free practice three times, Bautista more are in the rear position.
Ducati rider Nicky Hayden, gave the signal would be competitive for a place on the podium. The 2006 world champion will start from sixth place, behind the three Repsol Honda rider Andrea Dovizioso. Note the time Hayden better than teammate Lorenzo, Ben Spies, who had to settle there in the seventh and teammate Stoner, Dani Pedrosa, who is in eighth place.
Two further positions to complete the composition of the top 10 qualifying session was occupied by the satellite Tech 3 Yamaha rider Colin Edwards, and Pramac Racing riders, Loris Capirossi. However, they left behind more than 1 second.
What about Valentino Rossi? Nine-time world champion grand prix showed no signs of going competitive because he consistently outside the top 10. If the free practice 1 and 3 Rossi is on the order of the 12th, in this qualifying session he slipped to 13th place, just as he achieved in free practice 2.
Thus, as stated by Rossi, Ducati is almost certainly can not maintain a winning record at Phillip Island since 2007. Because, when it was still saddled with Stoner, the team based in Bologna that was never conquered by its rivals.
In contrast, Stoner, who was determined to achieve victory in his debut with Honda at the same time extending a winning record at Phillip Island, the closer the dream. If so (win), Stoner, who has recorded eight victories over the years, can enhance the celebration of the 26 th anniversary in front of his supporters, and the paved road to the world championship ladder.
Stoner could ensure themselves a winner in 2011 if the finish on the podium number one, while Lorenzo was thrown from the top three. In the current standings, Lorenzo left behind 40 points from Stoner. That is, Lorenzo must not allow the series to finish the race Stoner-16 was by a margin of more than 10 points.
Australian Grand Prix qualifying results
1. Casey Stoner AUS Repsol Honda 1m 29.975s
2. Jorge Lorenzo ESP Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 30.448s
3. Marco Simoncelli ITA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 30.599s
4. Alvaro Bautista ESP Rizla Suzuki 1m 30.714s
5. Repsol Honda's Andrea Dovizioso ITA 1m 30.780s
6. Marlboro Ducati's Nicky Hayden USA 1m 30.792s
7. Ben Spies USA Yamaha Factory Racing 1m 30.835s
8. Dani Pedrosa Repsol Honda ESP 1m 30.871s
9. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 31.237s
10. Loris Capirossi ITA Pramac Racing 1m 31.583s
11. Randy de Puniet FRA Pramac Racing 1m 31.635s
12. Hiroshi Aoyama JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini 1m 31.889s
13. Valentino Rossi ITA Ducati Marlboro 1m 31.980s
14. Cal Crutchlow GBR Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1m 32.023s
15. Karel Abraham CZE Cardion AB Motoracing 1m 32.054s
16. LCR Honda's Toni Elias ESP 1m 32.503s
17. Damian Cudlin AUS Mapfre Aspar 1m 36.666s
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