Casey Stoner has the chance to end a memorable MotoGP campaign by matching Valentino Rossi and Giacomo Agostini with 11 wins in a single season, at this weekend's Valencian Grand Prix.
Last year at Valencia, it was another Australian leading the way for Ducati. Stepping in for the injured Sete Gibernau, Troy Bayliss took victory from second on the grid, ahead of team-mate Loris Capirossi. Stoner retired from the race on lap seven, but has previously sampled the top step of the Valencia podium in the 2003 125GP - his first ever world championship win.
Former seven times world champion Rossi has bad memories of the tight and demanding track, having thrown away an eight point lead when he fell during the 2006 title showdown - handing Nicky Haydenthe crown. But the Fiat Yamaha star won at Valencia during 2003 and 2004 - and just a single point in the 30-lap race on Sunday would at least ensure second place in the championship over Spaniard Dani Pedrosa.
The battle for fourth place is much closer with just 19 points separating Marco Melandri, John Hopkins, Chris Vermeulen and Capirossi. For three of those riders it will be their last ride for their current team. Melandri leaves HondaGresini to join Stoner at Ducati, while Hopkins leaves Rizla Suzuki to join Kawasaki and is replaced by Capirossi who leaves Ducati.
2007 MotoGP of Valencia
2007 MotoGP of Valencia
Last edited by <T-K> on Thu Nov 22, 2007 6:14 am, edited 1 time in total.
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mlittle
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Hayden
Hopkins
Edwards
Hopkins
Edwards
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mlittle
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Combined Practice Times.......................
1st} Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro.............................1:32.968 sec
2nd} Sylvain Guintoli, Tech 3 Yamaha..........................1:33.084 sec
3rd} Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda................................1:33.150 sec
4th} Marco Melandri, Gresini Honda.............................1:33.319 sec
5th} Chris Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki..............................1:33.501 sec
6th} Randy de Puniet, Kawasaki Racing........................1:33.519 sec
7th} Alex Barros, Pramac D'Antin.................................1:33.541 sec
8th} Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha................................1:33.620 sec
9th} Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda................................1:33.650 sec
10th} John Hopkins, Rizla Suzuki.................................1:33.680 sec
11th} Carlos Checa, Honda LCR..................................1:33.831 sec
12th} Makoto Tamada, Tech 3 Yamaha.........................1:33.899 sec
13th} Colin Edwards, Fiat Yamaha................................1:33.972 sec
14th} Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro..........................1:34.000 sec
15th} Toni Elias, Gresini Honda....................................1:34.218 sec
16th} Shinya Nakano, Konica Minolta Honda..................1:34.352 sec
17th} Anthony West, Kawasaki Racing..........................1:34.413 sec
18th} Chaz Davies, Pramac D'Antin..............................1:35.029 sec**
19th} Kurtis Roberts, Team Roberts..............................1:35.335 sec
**--set during the first practice session Friday; all other times set in the second session
1st} Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro.............................1:32.968 sec
2nd} Sylvain Guintoli, Tech 3 Yamaha..........................1:33.084 sec
3rd} Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda................................1:33.150 sec
4th} Marco Melandri, Gresini Honda.............................1:33.319 sec
5th} Chris Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki..............................1:33.501 sec
6th} Randy de Puniet, Kawasaki Racing........................1:33.519 sec
7th} Alex Barros, Pramac D'Antin.................................1:33.541 sec
8th} Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha................................1:33.620 sec
9th} Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda................................1:33.650 sec
10th} John Hopkins, Rizla Suzuki.................................1:33.680 sec
11th} Carlos Checa, Honda LCR..................................1:33.831 sec
12th} Makoto Tamada, Tech 3 Yamaha.........................1:33.899 sec
13th} Colin Edwards, Fiat Yamaha................................1:33.972 sec
14th} Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro..........................1:34.000 sec
15th} Toni Elias, Gresini Honda....................................1:34.218 sec
16th} Shinya Nakano, Konica Minolta Honda..................1:34.352 sec
17th} Anthony West, Kawasaki Racing..........................1:34.413 sec
18th} Chaz Davies, Pramac D'Antin..............................1:35.029 sec**
19th} Kurtis Roberts, Team Roberts..............................1:35.335 sec
**--set during the first practice session Friday; all other times set in the second session
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MotoGP Grand Prix of Valencia Starting Grid.....................
1st} Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda..............................1:31.517 sec
2nd} Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro..........................1:31.603 sec
3rd} Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda..............................1:31.903 sec
4th} Randy de Puniet, Kawasaki Racing......................1:31.963 sec
5th} Sylvain Guintoli, Tech 3 Yamaha.........................1:32.074 sec
6th} Makoto Tamada, Tech 3 Yamaha.........................1:32.151 sec
7th} John Hopkins, Rixla Suzuki..................................1:32.165 sec
8th} Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro...........................1:32.261 sec
9th} Carlos Checa, Honda LCR...................................1:32.273 sec
10th} Marco Melandri, Gresini Honda...........................1:32.367 sec
11th} Chris Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki...........................1:32.617 sec
12th} Alex Barros, Pramac D'Antin..............................1:32.714 sec
13th} Shinya Nakano, Konica Minolta Honda.................1:32.730 sec
14th} Toni Elias, Gresini Honda....................................1:32.790 sec
15th} Colin Edwards, Fiat Yamaha................................1:33.021 sec
16th} Anthony West, Kawasaki Racing..........................1:33.231 sec
17th} Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha..............................1:33.290 sec
18th} Kurtis Roberts, Team Roberts..............................1:33.431 sec
19th} Chaz Davies, Pramac D'Antin..............................1:34.461 sec
1st} Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda..............................1:31.517 sec
2nd} Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro..........................1:31.603 sec
3rd} Nicky Hayden, Repsol Honda..............................1:31.903 sec
4th} Randy de Puniet, Kawasaki Racing......................1:31.963 sec
5th} Sylvain Guintoli, Tech 3 Yamaha.........................1:32.074 sec
6th} Makoto Tamada, Tech 3 Yamaha.........................1:32.151 sec
7th} John Hopkins, Rixla Suzuki..................................1:32.165 sec
8th} Loris Capirossi, Ducati Marlboro...........................1:32.261 sec
9th} Carlos Checa, Honda LCR...................................1:32.273 sec
10th} Marco Melandri, Gresini Honda...........................1:32.367 sec
11th} Chris Vermeulen, Rizla Suzuki...........................1:32.617 sec
12th} Alex Barros, Pramac D'Antin..............................1:32.714 sec
13th} Shinya Nakano, Konica Minolta Honda.................1:32.730 sec
14th} Toni Elias, Gresini Honda....................................1:32.790 sec
15th} Colin Edwards, Fiat Yamaha................................1:33.021 sec
16th} Anthony West, Kawasaki Racing..........................1:33.231 sec
17th} Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha..............................1:33.290 sec
18th} Kurtis Roberts, Team Roberts..............................1:33.431 sec
19th} Chaz Davies, Pramac D'Antin..............................1:34.461 sec
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Pedrosa was on fire. Conspiracy theorists may like to consider that Stoner and Perdrosa were team-mates for a number of years, are quite good friends,and still carry number 26, and number 27. Stoner was able to break the lap record on lap 2 , then ran slower as the fuel load lessened 
Nicky never gives up.
Melandri is good.
Hopkins will be a big loss to Suzuki
Rossi has guts.
A good season.
, then ran slower as the fuel load lessened Nicky never gives up.
Melandri is good.
Hopkins will be a big loss to Suzuki
Rossi has guts.
A good season.
The Mountain is a savage Mistress.