Mark Webber has been overtaken as Australia’s highest-earning sportsman.
Business Review Weekly’s annual analysis of the country’s rich and powerful found that the Red Bull driver made $9 million this year.

But that was reportedly half a million short of Honda’s 2011 MotoGP champion Casey Stoner, the 26-year-old who – like 35-year-old Webber – is from New South Wales.

However, both Webber and Stoner have been left in the wheel tracks of Andrew Bogut, whose new Milwaukee Bucks contract saw him collect a cool $13.5 million by playing NBA basketball.

Motocross rider Chad Reed, meanwhile, reportedly made $8.5m, followed by Tour de France winner Cadel Evans, with $5m in 2011.

But for the country’s new F1 star Daniel Ricciardo, the road ahead to high earnings is long, as the online WA Today newspaper expects the 22-year-old to make less than $200,000 racing with Toro Rosso next season.

And until this week, he wasn’t sure he would even have that job.

“I can honestly say that I didn’t know it (the announcement) was coming and it had been playing on my mind a fair bit,” said Ricciardo.

“It was a fair bit of a relief actually,” he added.

He reached his teammate Casey Stoner in the computation of the poles in his career won the World Championship in three classes (37). A great result for Pedrosa , back in pole position, the second of the season after Brno, this time with the stated goal of winning a victory to mortgage the third position in the league. With these conditions evidence, by his own admission, will not be easy …

” It ‘was a very difficult session, it was very hot, I could hardly breathe inside my helmet , “says Dani Pedrosa. ” At first I slipped and I did not expect this. Luckily we were able to return to the track, solve problems and win the second pole position this season.

I think it was possible to improve again, but unfortunately on my last run I met the traffic. However, it’s nice to be back on pole and I hope that our race pace is just as competitive. We must continue the work of setting up the bike and choose the right tire to face a tough race, because here our rivals are very competitive.

Will no doubt be a tough race especially as weather conditions will test your fitness level, I hope to stay focused and to repeat today’s result although opponents will not fail . “

Fighting on the edge for winning the pole position at Brno Automotodrom Returning from the (short) summer break, the main players in the top class were found encased in comparison to a handful of milliseconds: 113 to be exact, enough to Dani Pedrosa to mock agitated in a final session, the reigning world champion Jorge Lorenzo. At the first pole position of the season (strange to say for a single lap specialist like him well in his career achieved 36 pole, just half in the top class), Pedrosa has stopped the clock sull’1’56 “591 without the stress’ unapproachable step-by-race shown yesterday.

The three-time world champion, already victorious in Brno 125cc (2003) and 250 (2005) with three podium finishes to the Masaryk Circuit in five editions of the Grand Prix of Republic of MotoGP, the reference is still in prospect for tomorrow’s race ( off as usual at 14:00) which will start in the front row alongside, as well as Jorge Lorenzo, Casey Stoner, also from the third to 0 “269 trying to fix those problems yesterday rediscounted riding his factory Honda RC212V.

With the trio used to monopolize the front row and podium finishes this season, there is little room for Ben Spies, fourth and not the best physical condition, but still ahead of Marco Simoncelli (5 °) and Valentino Rossi , who with a real “twist” at the end managed to get on the second row with the sixth fastest time by filing the gap to 7 tithing, best qualifying this season and his adventure with Ducati. There is no room for any kind of illusions, because the situation remains problematic to the red boxes: no way, but they show some small signs of recovery over a single lap at least as evidenced by the 9 th lap Nicky Hayden , over the weekend forced to navigate in the rear with the “old” GP11 (the “Step 1″ will try it until Monday in the post-race test day).

Among the disappointed of these tests include Andrea Dovizioso, 7 °, as Loris Capirossi that goes beyond the 16 th performance in front of Karel Abraham, who fell at the end of the session, in two separate occasions inadvertently emulated even by Randy De Puniet and Cal Crutchlow. Saturday to forget for Suzuki with Alvaro Bautista Friday 14 ° after a convincing KO following the flight this morning instead of John Hopkins : a broken finger on his right hand, farewell weekend action with a view to avoid compromising the title race in the British Superbike.

MotoGP World Championship 2011
Brno Qualifying Standings

01 – Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1’56 .591
02 – Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0113
03 – Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0269 +
04 – Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0587 +
05 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 0760 +
06 – Valentino Rossi – Team Ducati – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1 – + 0776
07 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0851 +
08 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1085
09 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1130 +
10 – Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – + 1193
11 – Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 1206
12 – Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 1654 +
13 – Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1682 +
14 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 1683 +
15 – Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 2298 +
16 – Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 2347 +
17 – Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 2355 +

Twenty minutes at the end of formal qualifications, the classical cloud peeps the Mugello International Circuit track wet enough not to offer pilots the opportunity to improve and give the assault on the pole. He was ahead of its time, its own way, Casey Stoner : 1’48 “034, a new lap record (the best joke 2008 pole from Valentino Rossi, 1’48″ 130) which is the fifth pole position in eight races, 27 ° MotoGP, MotoGP 31 ° in his career.

With this “Tempone” the leader of the world has not experienced opponents: the ranking sliding Ben Spies, a veteran of the first statement in MotoGP at Mugello, pay 4 / 10. Not least Marco Simoncelli , third to complete the front row with 451 thousandths of a disadvantage, enough to leave behind in order Andrea Dovizioso, Jorge Lorenzo and Colin Edwards unable to improve in the final minutes of Attibassi.

If Casey Stoner shows at ease in all conditions, the gap does not change from the top (1 “8) for Valentino Rossi once again grappling with a qualifying session to forget. Twelfth on the grid, fourth row at Jerez and Assen, more so than at Silverstone (13th), but still in a season where it has never gone beyond the 7th time in a row and the third test.

It promises to be a race issue, perhaps the most difficult for Ducati at Mugello in recent years, with only 9 ° between Nicky Hayden Dani Pedrosa (8 th to the back) and Hector Barbera with GP11 “Sat” Aspar team. With sixteen riders at the start without the complicity of Loris Capirossi, close the group Alvaro Bautista, Randy de Puniet and Toni Elias, hoping for rain tomorrow should not come. The expected 100,000 spectators and the people of ” do not sleep at Mugello “thank you ..

MotoGP World Championship 2011
Mugello Qualifying Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1’48 .034
02 – Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0445 +
03 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 0451 +
04 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0660 +
05 – Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0722 +
06 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0940 +
07 – Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – + 0987
08 – Dani Pedrosa – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1364 +
09 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – + 1475
10 – Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1629 +
11 – Karel Abraham – Motoracing Cardion AB – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1644 +
12 – Valentino Rossi – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11.1 – 1868 +
13 – Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 2122 +
14 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki – Suzuki GSV-R – 2426 +
15 – Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 2617 +
16 – Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 2708 +

Marco Simoncelli in Barcelona won the first pole position of his career in MotoGP in the “field” in the most hostile and most difficult moment of his militancy in the top class. Escorted to the pits, with the finger pointing by all for the crime of Le Mans, the 2008 world champion in the 250cc class has managed to beat, albeit for only 16 milliseconds, a Casey Stoner seemed unattainable.

Jumped to the lead 40 seconds before the checkered flag with a fast lap in 1’42 “413, he surprised everyone by starting their Australian driver, who was unable to respond in a timely manner to achieve this performance for the fourth pole position of the season. Now for “Sic” comes to realize in the race as they say, the time of maturity. On lap has no such problems, relegating to second and third places as two world champions Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo, at his side in the front row.

Ben Spies will open the second one, for only 7 thousandths ahead of Andrea Dovizioso (5 °), 4 / 10 better than Cal Crutchlow who continues to surprise with the only Tech 3 Yamaha race accomplice in the fractured right clavicle Colin Edwards (operated in the morning, aims to return to Silverstone). The former Supersport world champion has made ​​a fool for 21 thousandths of Valentino Rossi , seventh in the standings with the best Ducati fitted with the new engine (two punches, already 5 in total available in 6 second rule for a whole season).

The “Doctor” contains the gap to 8 / 10, the same disadvantage (only 0 “005 between the two) of his team-mate Nicky Hayden with Alvaro Bautista little off, better than Hector Barbera, Hiroshi Aoyama, Randy De Puniet and Loris Capirossi not gone beyond the 13th position. Complete the grid Toni Elias (with the frame 2011 for his Honda RC212V) and Karel Abraham, who died in early tests with a sore left wrist, not the best for the race scheduled for tomorrow from 14:00.

MotoGP World Championship 2011
Barcelona, ​​Qualifying Standings

01 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1’42 .413
2002 – Casey Stoner – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0016 +
03 – Jorge Lorenzo – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0315 +
04 – Ben Spies – Yamaha Factory Racing Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0329 +
05 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0336 +
06 – Cal Crutchlow – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0789 +
07 – Valentino Rossi – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 0810 +
08 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 0815 +
09 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 1034 +
10 – Hector Barbera – Mapfre Aspar Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1243 +
11 – Hiroshi Aoyama – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1321 +
12 – Randy De Puniet – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1351 +
13 – Loris Capirossi – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 1655 +
14 – Toni Elias – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 2097 +
15 – Karel Abraham – Cardion AB Motoracing – Ducati Desmosedici GP11 – 3248 +

A time for “pole position”. In Sepang Dani Pedrosa , who in front of everyone in a Grand Prix in Malaysia had started in 2007-2008, the protagonist returns to MotoGP standing out just 2’00 “770 in the second day of testing. The engine of evolution “has enabled him to make a difference, pulling 6 / 10 of his first follower, the new team-mate Casey Stoner, really doing in the selection list of the times.

For the rider in MotoGP since 2006 with Repsol Honda’s possible to still improve for tomorrow, even if the time is right to be satisfied and confident the new RC212V was born well and seems almost impregnable.

” This morning, after only 4 laps I was able to do this time , “says Dani Pedrosa. ” I was not trying time, but the weather, with some fresh, allowed me to push, do not think I’ve ever shot so strong on this track.

Traveling to the limit you can understand at what point is the bike and the goodness of the changes made, and this can be met. Today I tried the new engine, chassis and shock absorber settings: tomorrow will compare the two bikes available, the goal is to get a choice of chassis and engine in preparation for upcoming tests on the calendar . “

The MotoGP race at Phillip Island was closed, in fact, the first corner. Duty correction: it is never started. On the home circuit Casey Stoner wins by an absolute ruler, complete with the “poker” of success on the island of Victoria in the past four years with Ducati (2007-2010) scaring people and wildlife in the archipelago at the confluence of three ocean currents, impressed the pace set by 2007 World Champion. In a few laps his lead has increased dramatically: 1 “5 at the first crossing the finish line, raised in 2″, 2 “3, 2″ 7 3 “1, 3″ 5 out of Jorge Lorenzo, the only sections not deface lap in comparison with the red missile.

When in a “mixed” can give to everyone in 2 seconds Warm Up, there’s really no story. Stoner Thus was the third win of the season (and in 4 games), saluting the best possible experience “Australian” with the Ducati. To see him jump to the last bend is already showing a bit of nostalgia in 2011, when it will try to do the same with the Honda and the Desmosedici will be expertly guided by Valentino Rossi, always on the podium today (3 rd), confirmation of a new-found form physics that can postpone the surgery on the shoulder for the first half of November, Valencia test with Ducati permitting.

With the top two positions largely stabilized, as two distinguished absent Dani Pedrosa (coming in second place just behind Stoner in the championship) and Loris Capirossi, the fight was behind them. Valentino Rossi and Nicky Hayden gave a good show for the third place: 3 laps from the checkered flag to overtake the Ducatista the last lap the replica of the “Doctor”, without giving any chance to reply by winning the sprint for 38 thousandths of a meager benefit.

Good race Ben Spies, fifth and officially “Rookie of the Year” 2010 by beating his opponent the only hypothetical Marco Simoncelli, sixth in growth as well as the first Honda rider in the race. KO with Pedrosa, Marco Melandri and De Puniet 9 ° 10 ° off the track after the Repsol Honda box lowered their shutters after 3 laps for the withdrawal of Andrea Dovizioso caused by a technical failure to the RC212V. It should not be the best that historically suffers Suzuki at Phillip Island, 12 ° with Alvaro Bautista behind Mika Kallio at his last MotoGP race (at Estoril in two weeks with the # 71 will be Carlos Checa), honoring the commitment before leave behind a season to forget for a sporting point of view and human.

Chronicle of Race

Casey Stoner reaches its final position on the grid, but is the first to take the “Doohan” to Lorenzo comes in contact with Spies thus opening the door to Simoncelli, Dovizioso and Hayden, Melandri is 7 °, 9 ° Rossi . Already on the first lap Stoner earns a “503 on Lorenzo, Simoncelli follows passing Hayden for the third position while Rossi comes in contact with Melandri for the 8th position in the” Southern Loop “: # 27 is behind dell’imprendibile a nice brawl.

The demonstration comes on the third lap with Dovizioso who has a striking problem, starts 13th and staccatissimo from the leading group where Hayden is back in third position with Rossi already in contact with Spies. The Superbike World Championship is a furious charge in the fourth passage leads to the third place, leaving behind his compatriot with Hayden and Rossi Simoncelli wheel, fighting quartet compared to the last valid position for the podium.

Forced to surrender Andrea Dovizioso, stopped by an obvious technical problem with wing’s Honda RC212V after just five laps on the box that HRC can lower their shutters and prepare the material in view of Estoril. Aim for the podium Valentino Rossi and Hayden with a lap passes first contact at the hairpin after the “MG”, shortly after the sacrificial victim is even Ben Spies at the curve “Doohan” with the result of opening the doors to Simoncelli and Hayden that give the show with Edwards in great comeback.

Filed the first third of the race, the situation is well defined: Stoner not see anyone, following Lorenzo 4 “with Rossi and Hayden now tussle for the final podium spot to fifth place instead of Ben Spies and Marco Simoncelli . Meanwhile, Randy De Puniet, the focus of many rumors, is leading a “straight” to “Honda Corner by spreading last contact with Barbera and Aoyama in visible distress. We arrive at the final rush following the double-battle for 3rd and 5th place: behind Stoner and Lorenzo have the better of Rossi Hayden (great last lap overtaking) and Spies on Simoncelli. Followed by Edwards and Melandri Espargaro in ninth place, 14 riders at the finish line, all waiting Estoril points in two weeks.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Phillip Island Race Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 27 laps in 41’09 .128
02 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 8598 +
03 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 17,997 +
04 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 18,035 +
05 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 22,211 +
06 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 22,211 +
07 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 35,168 +
08 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 46,194 +
09 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 46,294 +
10 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 59,635 +
11 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 59,664 +
12 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 59,732 +
13 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 1’05 .029 +
14 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 1’05 .053

Casey Stoner with a way for a World Champion as Jorge Lorenzo was impossible to try to beat him today in qualifying at Phillip Island official. In the race for the pole the Yamaha rider could only settle for second best time in Australia’s six tenths off pole, trying to get it right, finding a good compromise in the best way to continue an extraordinary season by winning in 6 days the world title.

“I am happy with my race pace and here is something new for me because I never went well here in MotoGP, “says Jorge Lorenzo. “I think we did a good job, especially taking into account climatic conditions.

Obviously I wanted the pole position, but the rain and Stoner not allowed me to reach this goal: Casey in particular, it is fast. However, we have the second half and this is not bad, I have a lot of confidence after last weekend when I won the championship.

Hopefully the weather is the same as today or maybe even better, there is just the rain with these conditions, however, is very risky to run, there is very cold and windy and sometimes it was hard to stay in the saddle. In any case, expect to see what happens tomorrow, I am ready and I just want to have fun. “

For just 16 thousandths Marco Simoncelli was close today, the first row in the grid of the MotoGP at Phillip Island. A qualification encouraging for the Gresini team rider who has always gone well in Australia, winning the last two editions of the GP reserved for 250cc, showing fast even with the Honda RC212V MotoGP.

“I’m really happy because it has a few Grand Prix were following the second row and today I did for a while and even I could conquer the first! I am happy although I must admit that Spies in front of me, perhaps, is slightly faster. In any case, that’s fine so we did a good improvement from this morning and now we have to think about the race.

In conclusion Marco Simoncelli speaks of the wind and a tornado … or Casey Stoner, who has seen him turn a close today in official qualifying.

“Unfortunately the wind was quite annoying and I was in trouble especially when I was in my lap in front of Stoner and I honestly could not understand how she could go so hard. “

New motor system and the fourth area. Thus, and with some changes in the development of his Yamaha M1, he explains the great step forward Jorge Lorenzo in Sepang, where he commanded the final second free practice session on traveling 2’01 “949, reiterated in his last 22 laps coming in just 24 milliseconds from the personal best time. Good consistency of performance and step-by-race for the “almost” World Champion, who does not want to make do with a measly 9 th place to win the first title in the top class and present their ambitions of triumph in the Malaysian land.

The news that Lorenzo did not select the list of the times, indeed, the prospectus is to find the top three riders in a whisper: Casey Stoner is second to 22 milliseconds (also under 2’02 “), Valentino Rossi third remains at 2 / 10 of a second. For Ducatista net improvement compared to yesterday found a partial solution to the problems at the rear of his Desmosedici GP10, the future of Ducati in MotoGP so many laps (24) with the “run” on the 2’02 “not far from the step shown by team-mate, the one with the three steps below 2’02.

Waiting for formal qualifications in “second tier” We also have our own Andrea Dovizioso (small step back from yesterday) and Marco Simoncelli, up with the Honda Gresini team in a circuit that has not brought much luck this winter. Therefore, the present difficult Loris Capirossi, who fell to his very first lap of remedying a bruised right ankle: qualifications should not be at risk.

The Suzuki is confident, however, to obtain a good result thanks to Alvaro Bautista in form, sixth overall, leaving behind riders like De Puniet, Edwards, Barbera and Ben Spies in 10th place. As for Marco Melandri 14 th time, only ahead Mika Kallio in Sepang that even manages to bring in the Pramac Ducati positions to which he had used last year in the solo debut season in MotoGP.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Sepang, Rank Free Practice 2

01 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 2’01 .949
02 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0022 +
03 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0243 +
04 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 0362 +
05 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 0594 +
06 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 0668 +
07 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 0689 +
08 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0825 +
09 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0847 +
10 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0869 +
11 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0900 +
12 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0972 +
13 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 1120 +
14 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1507 +
15 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1762 +

Victory at Motorland Aragon, victory at Motegi. Double win for Casey Stoner, who returned to the levels of the “golden age” picking up the success in the Japanese Grand Prix after a change in the Warm Up ventured to improve the stability of his Ducati. Mission accomplished, good lead for the third position in the league and great satisfaction at having reached a height of 22 hits in the top class riders like Kenny Roberts Sr., John Surtees and Geoff Duke …

“This is an incredibly satisfying feeling for me, “says Casey Stoner. “When I started my first season in the world I never imagined 16 years to reach drivers of this caliber to 22 hits. All the victories came with Ducati, I am grateful to them for having confidence in me.

We gave it all this weekend, focusing in finding a good setup in search of stability and good acceleration. In Warm Up We tried some small changes that did not go well, so we ventured in the race and it worked.

When I left I knew it to be able to win, but Andrea Dovizioso has led to great and kept me under pressure. This is a major victory for me, because there was also the first successful here at Motegi, “said Stoner, who own the Twin Ring won his world title in the 2007 season.

After the pole position Andrea Dovizioso was expected to challenge for victory at Motegi. In fact, the pilot had to Forli compares with Casey Stoner in form, the fast race pace so as to close with a good lead at the finish line. For the pilot of the HRC is still a good race and a second place is important that the 250th podium of the Repsol Honda team in MotoGP.

“Today I gave 100% all race and my time and Stoner were very consistent and competitive. At first Casey was faster when the tires were not warm and right there I knew it would be difficult to fight with him. I do not know what has been invented, but today was really fast, incredibly, there were two or three points of the track where he had always something more than me.

At the end I almost fall, so I preferred not to risk taking the second position. It ‘was a bit disappointing because I wanted to win and I thought it was possible, but I am happy to be back on the podium in more along Stoner I figured out how to make changes to the electronics to be faster in the last phase of the race.

I still want to thank the team for this achievement is the fruit of their work and the HRC. Get this podium in the home of the Honda is definitely a reason to be happy. “

Even if only for a few minutes, the time to walk the last 3 laps at Twin Ring Motegi, MotoGP is back to living a good show, with so many aspects to make the race more interesting than usual although there has been little (or anything) to win. Casey Stoner, on the track where he won his first world title, rose again on the top step of the podium after Alcaniz, author of a perfect race just where he relegated to second place Andrea Dovizioso. The escape last part of the race allowed him to stay away from any “tussle” with the driver who will replace next year, HRC, the exact opposite of the duel that saw both players bishops Fiat Yamaha.

Between Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo an intense duel where you are left out of the walls inside a box, data telemetry, new engines and old, recent or past injuries. Found themselves against each other and were not spared, with the right competitive nastiness that has forced everyone to live in the Valley the last two laps at Motegi. Rossi, by his own admission without injured shoulder problems, it seemed “to a time” (quotation marks), responding tit for tat attack each sample of the now top of the 2010 class. For its part, Lorenzo, who could easily make do with the 13 points that allow between 7 days to win in Sepang ahead of the world, was not spared, risking the impossible to pass a condition in Valentino.

The result was a tremendous duel with 6 passes and controsorpassi and Valentino Rossi to have, cunning, the better, passing the entrance of Turn 8 on the last lap leaving no room for reply. Back on the podium as the champion of the world, Jorge Lorenzo will be content to earn 6 points out of Pedrosa in Sepang (if there is …) to become mathematically World Champion. Casey Stoner dutifully celebrated the 22nd career win, the 2nd row with the only Ducati in the top 10 (the others are in the last 4 positions …), beating Andrea Dovizioso who loses their points against Australia for the third league position. The Forli, author of the pole position, it can still be pleased with the weekend where he held high the colors of the HRC on his home circuit after the KO of Pedrosa.

Out of the fight for the podium concluded Colin Edwards, 5 the best result of the season ahead of Marco Simoncelli, “down” at the end, with Suzuki’s Ben Spies Alvaro Bautista seventh and eighth comeback after being found at the penultimate lap for a ‘excursion into the escape routes. Marco Melandri is instead 12 °, Loris Capirossi out of action for a problem to his right in the end when the Suzuki MotoGP has found at last the show. And maybe even Valentino Rossi.

Chronicle of Race

There Pedrosa, but it’s a Honda to have the best starting point, the # 4 Andrea Dovizioso but was immediately marched to the curve 2 by passing behind Stoner with Lorenzo Rossi for third place. So Stoner, Dovizioso, Lorenzo, Rossi, Edwards, Capirossi, Simoncelli and Spies in the first 8 positions at the end of lap one, not fall, all 16 drivers in the regular way in the race. On the second lap at the “tunnel” in the vicinity of the curve 5 Spies and Hayden come off the track share respectively in second and last place, trailing by 3 “and 7″ seconds from Mika Kallio 14 °.

Marco Simoncelli takes the fifth position by passing the “dean” of motorcycling Edwards and Capirossi, but Yamaha is already quite far of the official scrimmage of Lorenzo and Rossi under the watchful eye of Masao Furusawa, # 1 in the Three Diapason Motorsport pit . The attack comes and the fifth lap overtaking under braking for turn 9 where it can fit Lorenzo Rossi, already gaining valuable yards ahead of “almost” World Champion 2010: The demonstration comes from the fastest lap in 1’47 “395, are 2 “by 3 recovered from race leader Stoner.

Going Ben Spies is in eleventh place in comeback, passing four riders in the space of two turns with great regret off the track at the start. Randy De Puniet same misfortune in the 10th round in their attempt to cope with the Tech 3 Yamaha rider. If the first 4 positions appear to be stabilized by Stoner, Dovizioso, Lorenzo and Rossi, for fifth place great tussle between Simoncelli, Edwards and Capirossi Melandri 8 ° harassed by Bautista.

A seven laps from the checkered flag Lorenzo Rossi has again taken up, try switching to the curve 5, but come along in the slipstream of prejudice out a new attack in the final stages of the contest. It is not the only duel to follow: Edwards goes for 5th place Simoncelli, Bautista took Capirossi for the 7th (with Imola later forced to withdraw due to a technical problem), Spies is very fast and leaves behind him Melandri four laps from the checkered flag with rvennate off the track. If Stoner is on the run up Dovizioso centering the second consecutive victory, is open struggle with the Fiat Yamaha the final act began the penultimate lap: Lorenzo Rossi joins the two will spend six times giving a duel in its heyday. Valentino will win back on the podium with fourth place but Lorenzo is, in fact, World Champion.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Motegi Race Standings

01 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 27 laps in 43’12 .266
02 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 3868 +
03 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 5707 +
04 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 6221 +
05 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 27,092 +
06 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 30,021 +
07 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 31,826 +
08 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 35,572 +
09 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 47,564 +
10 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 49,598 +
11 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 49,999 +
12 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 50,703 +
13 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 51,422 +
14 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 52,843 +
15 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – + 1’14 .668

A tough day for Casey Stoner, with the team totally dedicated to arrange a Ducati Desmosedici not as competitive as two weeks ago to Motorland Aragon. Working with three different set-up was eventually found a good compromise that allowed the Australian to win the first row of the grid, but away from it can be completely satisfied and confident for the race …

“We started yesterday by a set-up similar to that of Aragon Motorland, but we had problems on and off the bike surge in output, “says Casey Stoner. “At this point we decided to change the weight distribution to find more stability, but at the same time there was no traction.

When the track conditions improved I was driving better, but unfortunately the time is not coming down. Together with the team we have returned to previous solutions by bringing more weight on the rear axle: the bike still lift when accelerating, but at least we have improved a bit.

The times were down and when we put the soft we hit the first row, then this must be met even if tomorrow we must try to change something on the bike, “said the 2007 World Champion.

If you had to choose a circuit, probably Andrea Dovizioso at this time would surely aimed at Motegi to win the first pole position of his career in MotoGP. This is too important in this sensitive, with the choices they want out of the Honda Repsol team official “contributed” to the Gresini Racing, with the need to take a good result on a weekend where the absence of Dani Pedrosa is felt. Working with his usual methodical former 125cc world champion has succeeded in one go to get the first pole of his career and season in MotoGP, a performance which lacked even from Estoril 2007 in the 250cc class.

The “Dovi” has completed a good lap in 1’47 “001, specifically 54 thousandths better than Valentino Rossi. That’s right: the fight for the pole at Motegi is, finally, all Italian. The nine-time world champion, with a sore shoulder less than usual (there are no loose binding, taking his words) and the new Yamaha engine for your M1, a result that was close to remember after a series of races say the least problems. What is missing? Only a few thousandths, nothing more, even if the speech for the race changed radically.

Dovizioso and Rossi will have to contend not with Casey Stoner, the third to complete a first row with three different bikes (Honda, Yamaha, Ducati), but with Jorge Lorenzo sent to the fourth position and, consequently, in the second row, but with a step race inaviccinabile shown over the three rounds of activity at Twin Ring Motegi. The only question for the “almost” World Champion 2010 is from the rain, the event specialists ready to help as Colin Edwards fifth on the grid alongside team-mate and future “factory rider Ben Spies.

The list suggests the usual Randy De Puniet on the 7th fastest lap despite five off the track, leaving behind Marco Simoncelli and Alvaro Bautista of Suzuki and Loris Capirossi, starring as Hector Barbera of a slip, while Marco Melandri is not went beyond the twelfth position. So the top Italian in Motegi, Lorenzo to beat on race pace, unknown weather. There is everything for the race, but without Dani Pedrosa has no more interest in perspective championship sin really so fast with this Honda can reopen, finally, the world.

MotoGP World Championship 2010
Motegi Qualifying Standings

01 – Andrea Dovizioso – Repsol Honda Team – Honda RC212V – 1’47 .001
02 – Valentino Rossi – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0054 +
03 – Casey Stoner – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 0104 +
04 – Jorge Lorenzo – Fiat Yamaha Team – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0205 +
05 – Colin Edwards – Tech 3 Yamaha Monster – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0463 +
06 – Ben Spies – Monster Yamaha Tech 3 – Yamaha YZR M1 – 0647 +
07 – Randy De Puniet – LCR Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 0751 +
08 – Marco Simoncelli – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 0913 +
09 – Alvaro Bautista – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 1001 +
10 – Loris Capirossi – Rizla Suzuki MotoGP – Suzuki GSV-R – 1067 +
11 – Nicky Hayden – Ducati Marlboro Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1181 +
12 – Marco Melandri – San Carlo Honda Gresini – Honda RC212V – 1237 +
13 – Aleix Espargaro – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1370 +
14 – Hiroshi Aoyama – Interwetten Honda MotoGP – Honda RC212V – 1395 +
15 – Hector Barbera – Paginas Amarillas Aspar – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 1534 +
16 – Mika Kallio – Pramac Racing Team – Ducati Desmosedici GP10 – 2479 +