MotoGP – Losail Test Day 2 – Stoner ahead of Rossi, injury for Pedrosa

The second day of MotoGP night testing in Losail took place in very different weather conditions from those experienced yesterday and the riders were able to make the most of the potential of their bikes, even if the times of the 2008 GP remained distant. Even with a temperature that was not exactly optimal, we were able to shoot with good continuity. Let's start by saying that Dani Pedrosa was the victim of a bad high-side which forced him to stop testing due to a bad blow to his left wrist. The Spanish rider from Team Honda Repsol also suffered knee injuries and will go directly to Spain for the best possible treatment.

Returning to the track we must say that it is back to Rossi against Stoner, in fact the Yamaha and Ducati riders have exchanged the top of the ranking several times making it clear that they will always be the protagonists of the 2009 season. In fact, the one who recorded the best time was was the Australian driver who stopped the clock at a time of 1:57.139. Stoner preceded Rossi who lapped in 1:57.747 and the Yamaha of Texan Colin Edwards who is also demonstrating the potential of his bike in Qatar. Behind Texas Tornado we find an excellent Andrea Dovizioso with the Repsol Team Honda. The driver from Forlì stopped the clock with a time of 1'57.879, covering 60 laps of the track.

Behind Dovizioso were the Suzukis of Chris Vermeulen and Loris Capirossi, the Yamaha of Jorge Lorenzo and the Honda of San Marino Alex De Angelis. The Team Gresini rider preceded the Ducati of Nicky Hayden and the aforementioned Dani Pedrosa. Followed by the other Hondas of Randy De Puniet, Toni Elias and Yuki Takahashi. Marco Melandri with the Team Hayate Racing Kawasaki is 14th, two seconds behind the leader Stoner. It certainly could have gone better but we'll wait until tomorrow to see if the gap is really that high. Niccolo Canepa, Mika Kallio and James Toseland round out the lineup.

MotoGP Qatar Official Night Test – Day 2 – The times

01. Casey Stoner, Ducati Marlboro Team – 1'57.139 (37)
02. Valentino Rossi, Fiat Yamaha Team – 1'57.747 (51)
03. Colin Edwards, Tech3 Yamaha – 1'57.817 (41)
04. Andrea Dovizioso, Repsol Honda – 1'57.879 (60)
05. Chris Vermeulen, Suzuki MotoGP – 1'58.018 (24)
06. Loris Capirossi, Suzuki MotoGP – 1'58.264 (42)
07. Jorge Lorenzo, Fiat Yamaha Team – 1'58.400 (63)
08. Alex De Angelis, San Carlo Honda Gresini – 1'58.441 (53)
09. Nicky Hayden, Ducati Marlboro Team – 1'58.577 (54)
10. Dani Pedrosa, Repsol Honda – 1'58.619 (28)
11. Randy De Puniet, LCR Honda MotoGP – 1'58.936 (55)
12. Toni Elias, San Carlo Honda Gresini – 1'59.036 (56)
13. Yuki Takahashi, Scot Racing Team – 1'59.153 (65)
14. Marco Melandri, Hayate Racing Team – 1'59.195 (63)
15. Niccolo Canepa, Pramac Racing – 1'59.266 (36)
16. Mika Kallio, Pramac Racing – 1'59.764 (48)
17. James Toseland, Tech3 Yamaha – 2'00.234 (51)