Lorenzo edges thrilling battle for Qatar pole

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Jorge Lorenzo came out on top in a gripping head to head with Casey Stoner for pole position at the first round of the 2012 MotoGP™ World Championship, the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, whilst Cal Crutchlow made it two Yamahas on the front row with his best-ever qualifying display.

1 Jorge LORENZO Yamaha Factory Racing 1'54.634
2 Casey STONER Repsol Honda Team 1'54.855 0.221 / 0.221
3 Cal CRUTCHLOW Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'55.022 0.388 / 0.167
4 Ben SPIES Yamaha Factory Racing 1'55.512 0.878 / 0.490
5 Nicky HAYDEN Ducati Team 1'55.637 1.003 / 0.125
6 Andrea DOVIZIOSO Monster Yamaha Tech 3 1'55.858 1.224 / 0.221
7 Dani PEDROSA Repsol Honda Team 1'55.905 1.271 / 0.047
8 Hector BARBERA Pramac Racing Team 1'55.983 1.349 / 0.078
9 Stefan BRADL LCR Honda MotoGP 1'56.063 1.429 / 0.080
10 Karel ABRAHAM Cardion AB Motoracing 1'56.198 1.564 / 0.135
11 Alvaro BAUTISTA San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'56.521 1.887 / 0.323
12 Valentino ROSSI Ducati Team 1'56.813 2.179 / 0.292
13 Colin EDWARDS NGM Mobile Forward Racing 1'57.644 3.010 / 0.831
14 Randy DE PUNIET Power Electronics Aspar 1'58.266 3.632 / 0.622
15 Aleix ESPARGARO Power Electronics Aspar 1'58.520 3.886 / 0.254
16 Yonny HERNANDEZ Avintia Blusens 1'58.795 4.161 / 0.275
17 Michele PIRRO San Carlo Honda Gresini 1'59.085 4.451 / 0.290
18 Mattia PASINI Speed Master 1'59.195 4.561 / 0.110
19 Danilo PETRUCCI Came IodaRacing Project 1'59.664 5.030 / 0.469
20 Ivan SILVA Avintia Blusens 2'00.493 5.859 / 0.829
21 James ELLISON Paul Bird Motorsport 2'00.757 6.123 / 0.264

source: MotoGP Official

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Luthi seals top spot in qualifying

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After leading all three practice sessions Thomas Lüthi booked pole position on the Moto2™ grid for Sunday's Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, just ahead of Marc Márquez and Andrea Iannone.

1 Thomas LUTHI Interwetten-Paddock 2'00.187

2 Marc MARQUEZ Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol 2'00.259 0.072 / 0.072

3 Andrea IANNONE Speed Master 2'00.296 0.109 / 0.037

4 Pol ESPARGARO Pons 40 HP Tuenti 2'00.597 0.410 / 0.301

5 Mike DI MEGLIO S/Master Speed Up 2'00.625 0.438 / 0.028

6 Max NEUKIRCHNER Kiefer Racing 2'00.658 0.471 / 0.033

7 Esteve RABAT Pons 40 HP Tuenti 2'00.793 0.606 / 0.135

8 Claudio CORTI Italtrans Racing Team 2'00.874 0.687 / 0.081

9 Takaaki NAKAGAMI Italtrans Racing Team 2'00.898 0.711 / 0.024

10 Simone CORSI Came IodaRacing Project 2'00.986 0.799 / 0.088

11 Julian SIMON Blusens Avintia 2'00.992 0.805 / 0.006

12 Bradley SMITH Tech 3 Racing 2'01.015 0.828 / 0.023

13 Scott REDDING Marc VDS Racing Team 2'01.031 0.844 / 0.016

14 Mika KALLIO Marc VDS Racing Team 2'01.111 0.924 / 0.080

15 Alex DE ANGELIS NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'01.181 0.994 / 0.070

16 Dominique AEGERTER Technomag-CIP 2'01.374 1.187 / 0.193

17 Toni ELIAS Mapfre Aspar Team 2'01.618 1.431 / 0.244

18 Xavier SIMEON Tech 3 Racing 2'01.718 1.531 / 0.100

19 Johann ZARCO JIR Moto2 2'01.910 1.723 / 0.192

20 Roberto ROLFO Technomag-CIP 2'02.018 1.831 / 0.108

21 Randy KRUMMENACHER GP Team Switzerland 2'02.097 1.910 / 0.079

22 Angel RODRIGUEZ Desguaces La Torre SAG 2'02.142 1.955 / 0.045

23 Ricard CARDUS Arguiñano Racing Team 2'02.500 2.313 / 0.358

24 Axel PONS Pons 40 HP Tuenti 2'02.535 2.348 / 0.035

25 Yuki TAKAHASHI NGM Mobile Forward Racing 2'02.637 2.450 / 0.102

26 Nicolas TEROL Mapfre Aspar Team 2'02.811 2.624 / 0.174

27 Gino REA Federal Oil Gresini Moto2 2'02.934 2.747 / 0.123

28 Ratthapark WILAIROT Thai Honda Gresini Moto2 2'03.031 2.844 / 0.097

29 Anthony WEST QMMF Racing Team 2'03.621 3.434 / 0.590

30 Alexander LUNDH Cresto Guide MZ Racing 2'04.130 3.943 / 0.509

31 Marco COLANDREA SAG Team 2'04.424 4.237 / 0.294

32 Elena ROSELL QMMF Racing Team 2'05.183 4.996 / 0.759

33 Nasser Hasan AL MALKI QMMF Racing Team 2'05.591 5.404 / 0.408

source: MotoGP Official

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Cortese nips first Moto3 pole of season

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Sandro Cortese (Red Bull KTM Ajo) took the first ever Moto3™ pole position for Sunday's Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar after posting the fastest lap at the very end of Saturday's qualifying session. The German rider's final effort of 2'08.188 was enough to seal prime position on the grid by a margin of just 0.016s ahead of Maverick Viñales (Blusens Avintia).


Spanish rider Viñales – whose top time from FP2 was faster than Cortese's pole – looked set to take first position on the timesheet with his time of 2'08.204 until Cortese's late salvo, with Louis Rossi (Racing Team Germany) completing the front row following a strong session.

Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) led the session towards the end but eventually had to settle for fourth position, and the Spaniard will be joined on the second row by Niklas Ajo (TT Motion Events Racing) and rookie Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI).

Starting the season-opening race from the third row will be Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Airasia-SIC-Ajo), Miguel Oliveira (Estrella Galicia 0'0) and another debutant Arthur Sissis (Red Bull KTM Ajo).

British rider Danny Kent (Red Bull KTM Ajo) ended the session 12th fastest and will therefore begin from row four, whilst compatriot Danny Webb was 25th quickest on the Mahindra Racing machine. Italian Simone Grotzkyj (Ambrogio Next Racing) had a crash with 10 minutes of the session left, and qualified in 29th.

The Moto3 riders will be back on track at 9.20pm local time on Saturday evening for their 20-minute warm up session prior to Sunday's race.

1 Sandro CORTESE Red Bull KTM Ajo 2'08.188 

2 Maverick VIÑALES Blusens Avintia 2'08.204 0.016 / 0.016

3 Louis ROSSI Racing Team Germany 2'08.303 0.115 / 0.099

4 Luis SALOM RW Racing GP Kalex 2'08.566 0.378 / 0.263

5 Niklas AJO TT Motion Events Racing 2'08.734 0.546 / 0.168

6 Romano FENATI Team Italia FMI 2'08.799 0.611 / 0.065

7 Zulfahmi KHAIRUDDIN AirAsia-Sic-Ajo 2'08.847 0.659 / 0.048

8 Miguel OLIVEIRA Estrella Galicia 0,0 2'08.926 0.738 / 0.079

9 Arthur SISSIS Red Bull KTM Ajo 2'09.001 0.813 / 0.075

10 Alexis MASBOU Caretta Technology 2'09.107 0.919 / 0.106

11 Alessandro TONUCCI Team Italia FMI 216.0 2'09.119 0.931 / 0.012

12 Danny KENT Red Bull KTM Ajo 2'09.126 0.938 / 0.007

13 Alex RINS Estrella Galicia 0,0 2'09.139 0.951 / 0.013

14 Alberto MONCAYO Bankia Aspar Team 218.3 2'09.370 1.182 / 0.231

15 Brad BINDER RW Racing GP 216.5 2'09.560 1.372 / 0.190

16 Hector FAUBEL Bankia Aspar Team 2'09.869 1.681 / 0.309

17 Jasper IWEMA Moto FGR 2'09.876 1.688 / 0.007

18 Alan TECHER Technomag-CIP-TSR 2'09.991 1.803 / 0.115

19 Jakub KORNFEIL Redox-Ongetta-Centro Seta 215.7 2'10.142 1.954 / 0.151

20 Niccolo ANTONELLI San Carlo Gresini Moto3 2'10.150 1.962 / 0.008

21 Efren VAZQUEZ JHK T-Shirt Laglisse 2'10.577 2.389 / 0.427

22 Ivan MORENO Andalucia JHK Laglisse 215.1 2'10.760 2.572 / 0.183

23 Marcel SCHROTTER Mahindra Racing 2'11.055 2.867 / 0.295

24 Adrian MARTIN JHK T-Shirt Laglisse 2'11.264 3.076 / 0.209

25 Danny WEBB Mahindra Racing 2'11.317 3.129 / 0.053

26 Jack MILLER Caretta Technology 2'11.461 3.273 / 0.144

27 Isaac VIÑALES Ongetta-Centro Seta 2'11.651 3.463 / 0.190

28 Kenta FUJII Technomag-CIP-TSR 2'12.845 4.657 / 1.194

29 Simone GROTZKYJ Ambrogio Next Racing 2'12.960 4.772 / 0.115

30 Luigi MORCIANO Ioda Team Italia 2'13.024 4.836 / 0.064

31 Toni FINSTERBUSCH Cresto Guide MZ Racing 2'13.254 5.066 / 0.230

32 Jonas FOLGER IodaRacing Project 2'13.695 5.507 / 0.441

source: MotoGP Official

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Valentino Rossi seeks smoother Ducati power

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Understeer is not the only issue that Valentino Rossi believes is preventing him from moving the Ducati GP12 closer to challenging Casey Stoner and Jorge Lorenzo’s recent domination of the MotoGP world championship.

After he ended practice with the eighth fastest time in Qatar tonight, the 33-year-old said taming Ducati’s aggressive power delivery would help him reduce the gap to the front in the new 1000cc premier class.

The Italian finished with a best lap time of 1.56.535 but he was still 1.233s behind Lorenzo, who topped the timesheets.

Since he first rode the radical new GP12 in Sepang at the end of January, Rossi has spoken frequently of the understeer issue remaining that hampered him so much in a disastrous debut season with Ducati in 2011.

But at the Losail International Circuit in Doha tonight, Rossi told MCN: “The front of the bike gives more feedback and feels more like a normal bike. I understand in a better way what’s happening on the front so I can push more on the front, and this is so important.

"But the understeer remains and with this bike you have always the feeling to ride with the rear tyre and it is a strange feeling. The second target is to try and have a better drivability of the engine.

"It needs to be softer and smoother because we have a lion in the cowling and we always fight quite a lot and this creates some problem for us to put the horsepower on the ground and don’t wheelie and slide.

"But now we have a place where it works because at the end of the straight we are very fast. The Ducatis are first, second, third and fourth on top speed, so maybe we can take out some power from the top and put on the bottom.”

source: MCN

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Lorenzo: "Being first was not the goal, we will not know until Sunday where each one"

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Jorge Lorenzo set the fastest lap in free practice for the third Grand Prix of Qatar, a track that seems unbeatable Casey Stoner, a theory that is preserved Spanish is working well to try to change it. Yes, the Yamaha has set his best lap on soft tires, while Casey, who used them in the other two sessions, was shot in the third off with hard rubber.

"I'm happy, yes, I see in his face. We are almost always first or second, with a very strong pace and see the standings, with second and Stoner Crutchlov is near, still going very fast at the beginning of the session went very quickly, but in comparison to last year we much better and everything seems to look good. "

Jorge scored on Thursday, as key to have options to win, be close to or even overtake Stoner in any practice session. The script is being met. "It was a major goal now finish first, but had to try the soft tire tomorrow (used in qualifying) to see if the bike improved a lot or not, what we have and we have improved and we first seven tenths. But as I said it was not the goal. Tomorrow I will be remembered in 54/2. I think the race tire will be hard as the soft can give five or six times faster, but then you lose. "

About the fact that Stoner has not mounted soft in the third train, said that "can not mount at all sessions soft, you have to save yourself the tires. I rode in the first two workouts, which I made with hard, and tonight I have assembled for testing. "

The truth is that seeing three Yamaha in the top four further strengthens confidence in the bike. "Absolutely. We saw a couple of years with Ducati's Casey, who was the only one with that bike I was able to go ahead, an out of class, going very fast and above all other Ducati were far behind. But to have three or four Yamaha front means that the bike is going well. "

"So far we are very close, both Casey and I are the ones we have better rhythm, but I say that I have five or six laps in a row, I have given more, and the race are twenty-something, so until we do the race will not know where everyone is, "said the Spaniard.

Jorge was asked about Valentino Rossi and also by the fact that Hector Barbera has been much faster than the Italian, both with Ducati. "Well ... Barbera is hooked to my wheel, specializes in this type of maneuver, which is doing very well and has made a very quick lap early in the round, then his time has not improved but has earned to be there in front of Valentino. But Rossi is a racing driver and the race will certainly be ahead, but in workouts Hector is doing well. "

On the CRT, which are much slower ... "has bothered me in the first round a pulling, which was faster than the fast I have done, I think it was 55.1, but I found Ellison and I had to abort ".

Still, George is keeping his feet on the ground. On Thursday he signed the second for this race, "the second, and third or the fourth, if the circumstances are not favorable we must finish the race as the post and we can."

About the chattering affecting other drivers ... "we too are suffering, as we are going faster we are chattering at the rear wheel, and also the first slow wave in the front wheel when the brakes much effort. We're having enough trouble with the rear wheel. "

source: motocuatro

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Valentino Rossi: "Getting the second row of the grid would be a great result"

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Valentino Rossi was not jump for joy after the third free practice Qatar Grand Prix yesterday , but the Italian seemed happier than on Thursday after the first session. Rossi is working hard on the bike, looking for a good set up more than a good lap to make up the time table and warns that "this is not over, the result is given on Sunday night," referring it is not the first Ducati ...

"I've done quite well in the sense that we have improved the pace, we were more consistent, we have not made a big step, but I can ride the bike better. Then we tested with a soft rubber and I turned quickly, I hope tomorrow ... would be nice to leave on Sunday from the second row of the grid, I do not see an impossible goal, I think we could qualify in the second row, "said the Italian star.

"We've been better than in previous workouts. In my opinion we have improved, we made some changes for this final session. We are still a bit far but now I can fly a little better and that makes me more optimistic, "he maintains Vale.

On what still do not like about this bike says that "we are noticing much understeer, but what this bike is very positive about the past year is that we can push much more than before, because the front of the bike now tells us more, there is a better feedback and this is an important thing. Now we have to seek to improve because we have always had to drive with the rear wheel. "

Despite improvement has not been the best Ducati. "Yes, I've gone a little better but Barbera and Hayden are in front, but hey, this is not over yet, wait and see on Sunday night. But the truth is that Barbera and Hayden are going very strong, but we are close and hopefully tomorrow we can improve a bit more. "

The difference with Barbera, however, was four-tenths ... "yes, four tenths because Barbera has taken the wheel of someone (Lorenzo) and has the time, but if you got it right. Nicky is working well too and that means that we too can improve. "

You are experiencing a lot, a role that formerly were not comfortable doing in the Grands Prix. "We are working on the bike, this bike can fly a little better, the front now gives us feeling better but still the problem of understeer that we are trying to solve."

"We have to stay focused at work and keep improving. I think tomorrow we can do better and we need two or three tenths to have a good rhythm and can fight with those who want to do and also to drive more consistently, that's a good goal. "

On race tires, Valentino commented, "I think it will be hard, Bridgestone has done a good job with the soft rubber on the security issue, but in my opinion will not be adequate."

source: motocuatro

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Cal Crutchlow plays down podium hopes

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Cal Crutchlow has played down hopes that he could kick off the new 1000cc MotoGP era with a podium on Sunday night in Qatar after he ended practice in second position and just 0.154s behind Jorge Lorenzo.

The British rider dazzled under the spectacular Losail International Circuit floodlights to lead in the final stages of the third and final 45-minute free practice session.

But his best lap of 1.55.456 was eclipsed by factory Yamaha rider Lorenzo, who posted a fastest time of 1.55.302 to deny the inspired Crutchlow in the final moments.

Crutchlow’s superb display raised hopes that he could challenge for a career first front row start in tomorrow night’s qualifying session and then a maiden podium in Sunday’s 22-lap race.

But the former World Supersport champion, speaking exclusively to MCN, said: “Maybe it does make me think about the front row tomorrow night but it doesn’t change a thing as far as I am concerned. I need to get this first race under my belt with a good result.

"I’d like to be in the top six and closer to the leaders than I was last year and I’ll be happy with that. But I’m not going to be suddenly battling to win the race or be on the podium. What it does show is that I have got the potential to run with the best in the world.”

Crutchlow believes he could have gone even quicker on his best lap had he not been slightly baulked as he exited the final corner onto the fast home straight.

He added: “I actually got held up on my best lap as well. Coming onto the start/finish straight one of the BQR bikes went really wide and he came right back into my path.

"I changed to third and fourth gear eight metres later than what I normally do, so that cost me a bit of momentum. I might have been a bit quicker but I’m not worried and I’m not going to get ahead of myself just because I am second fastest.

"I could have done a run in the 55s but there is no point pushing too hard. I had quite an old front tyre on as well with the new soft rear at the end and it was pushing a bit and there was no point doing anything stupid with qualifying and a race to go.

"The set-up is not perfect. I can’t finish the corner off. I enter fine but the bike won’t turn very well and I can’t finish it off to get the bike stood up. So I am carrying a bit too much lean angle on the exit but I know that. I also need to work on my riding style round here.

"I’m braking a bit too late to be honest if you look at my data compared to Lorenzo’s. I’ll work on that tomorrow to see if that helps me get out of the corner. The easier you go round the corner the sooner you can pick up the throttle. But I am going round the corner and picking up the throttle a little bit too late.”

source: MCN

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Pedrosa: "The chattering continues, comes and goes"

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Dani Pedrosa has fallen today in the third free of Qatar. "I pulled very hard and both the glove and the monkey are over the limit. His hand and thigh very hot and I stopped to see, "he commented.

"The chattering is the same forever. Sometimes there is a little less and in the next batch comes back again. Today I had problems with the electronics out of corners to give gas, but there was no way to fix it. Let's see if we can improve the times tomorrow. It is as if a little messy, sometimes a lot of control and sometimes little control, "said the Honda Pilot.

"There is a track that I like very much. But today I feel better than the previous days, "concluded the Catalan.

source: motocuatro

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Pirro Make Progress, Bautista Disappointed

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Michele Pirro continues to surprise on board the Honda CBR 1000R powered FTR CRT machine despite it having on a few hundred kilometres on the clock. The Italian rookie shaved a second and a half off his best time from yesterday in tonight's second and third free practice sessions and could have gone even faster but for a small technical setback with the bike. Alvaro Bautista struggled for front feel on the RC213V tonight and has work to do ahead of tomorrow night's qualifying session.

Alvaro Bautista (10th 1’ 56” 771) “Today wasn't a good day for us – we tried to improve the feeling with the bike from yesterday but didn't manage it. My feeling with the front just doesn't allow me to push although when we changed to the soft tyre it improved so maybe we should have done that from the start and we'd be in better shape right now. Anyway, it's important to try these things because we need to make our tyre choice for the race. After 11 laps we had more grip than we'd had with the hard so I think the soft has good potential for the race. Now we need to look at the data and try to improve the front.”

Michele Pirro (15th 1’ 58” 800) “We have taken another big step and improved by a second and a half from yesterday, closing the gap to the top CRT bike, so that gives us reason to be satisfied. Obviously we have a lot still to do but we are staying positive. Our priority is to work on the electronics because they play such a big part. We are trying to work without making mistakes, I have a great team around me so I think we just need to keep working in the same direction and we will get our rewards.”

Fausto Gresini “It wasn't an easy night for Alvaro. He struggled more than yesterday and we need to know why. There is one particular section of track that he's having difficulty with so we need to have a close look at the data and try to get more out of the bike. I should say that apart from the top guys everybody else is very close so it looks like it could be a tight race from fourth place back. Like yesterday Michele and the CRT bike were a pleasant surprise. Even though the bike is so young it is improving every time and that's great for me and all the guys in the team because this first part of the season was never going to be easy.”

Honda Gresini Press Release

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Significant Improvement from Aspar Rider

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Both Randy De Puniet and Aleix Espargaró scratch more than a second and a half time of the opening session, and we look with optimism on the day of qualifying

Today was the opening shift MotoGP action at the Losail circuit, and have also been the premier class riders who have enjoyed two training sessions in preparation for the Grand Prix race Tasting. Although a batch to the other almost all the drivers have improved markedly their records, the truth is to be released today by the wind, or lack of grip on the asphalt, times yet to come to the roofs of Losail (return of the pole , Stoner 1.54.137 - best lap, Lorenzo 1.53.927). So far the new 1000cc prototype will have to continue rolling to match records obsolete 800cc. Although the end of the second shift Crutchlow has dared at times to sneak in the top of the table, so far the round Cathari is a duel between Lorenzo and Stoner for the best time. Stoner was quickest yesterday, and Lorenzo tonight.

Everything and the conditions were not the best because the Losail continued slippery asphalt, and the wind has been more of a tight spot, POWER ELECTRONICS Aspar riders have continued to improve today. In the first session this afternoon and have lowered their records regarding the opening day of this event Catari, and at the last meeting have returned to lower the clock. Randy De Puniet remains committed to being the best pilot CRT, and squints and motorcycle officers, meanwhile, Aleix Espargaró, has spent all day looking for improvements to the problems of rebounds that appeared yesterday. De Puniet has slipped in turn seven, near the end of the second round and has gone down, a situation that has prevented completion of the thirteenth fastest time, three seconds back, or keep you from work tomorrow for the final formal meeting. Aleix Espargaró has solved many of its drawbacks, and on the penultimate lap of the last trial sealed his best-1.59.169-day to leave the path catarí with the 17th best result.

Randy De Puniet 13 º 1.58.261 (31 laps): "Today we continue to improve in the two working sessions, progress has been made, but still I have the feeling I want. I feel that the track does not have much grip, so today it took me quite evolve. We worked mainly with the hardness of the suspension. With a soft ring configuration secure but slow, hard setting that makes me better times, but I have to drive carefully because she lacks confidence in cornering. At the end of the last turn I lost the bike in front at turn seven, and I have gone down, luckily it was nothing. Tomorrow will be further investigated to achieve a configuration that allows me to quickly turn minimizing risk. Despite the fall I am pleased that we are shooting well, and I know we can still get better results. "

17 º Aleix Espargaró 1.59.169 (27 laps): "We have improved a bit the feeling from the first day, but the result is still far from our purpose. We have worked very hard in both sessions of the second day, and fortunately have been able to correct the bounce we had yesterday. We are in the right way because we are improving, there is now the focus for developments that are greater every day. We need to look more grip in fast areas, today we have taken a step forward, but we can not stop here. Thought to be in more advanced positions, in any case it is a distance race, we must continue working and I'm sure we will improve gradually. If tomorrow we take a step as positive as today, may I be ready to face the race. "

Aspar Press Release

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Bradl Content with his Improvement on Day Two

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The premier class riders undertook their second day of practices beneath the floodlights of Losail circuit with two night session continuing to familiarize themselves with the new prototypes ahead tomorrow’s first qualifying session at 19:55 local time. 

Rookie Stefan Bradl's integration to the premier class continued to gather impressive pace as the LCR Honda rider timed in ninth fastest producing a lap time of 1’56.571. After yesterday’s first run the German rider concentrated on adjusting front-end feeling slightly improving his pace throughout today’s two sessions.

Stefan: “Today I rode the bike: yesterday the bike was riding me! We made a big improvement compared to yesterday. Already after few laps I was capable to improve my pace and I immediately had a good balance. We improved the bike handling and the front feeling using new tyres and being more precise in every corner but I am still missing some confidence in the fast corners. Today we are also closer to the front and this is the place where we like to be”.

LCR Honda Press Release

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Good Start from Hector Barbera

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Definitely positive the second day of practice at the Losail circuit in Qatar for the Pramac. Hector Barbera has concluded the last session dedicated to MotoGP with the sixth time in 1.56.163, which makes it the first of the Ducati riders. The positive performance of the Iberian rider is the result of teamwork that has been done in these two days . The Team Pramac is continuing his work on the path taken during winter testing. No sudden upheaval, but modular changes agreed with the pilot, which can in this way have a quick response time of those activities from the box. 

Hector Barbera

"I am very pleased, not only for the time. In fact I still have a good feeling with the bike and work with a strategy that is giving us the right results. Today we have immediately started very strong, trying to make time and we did, because after five laps the rear tire loses some 'grip. Tomorrow, in qualifying, we will do the same: once aggressive search for the fastest lap, then we will try to improve the set-up for the race. Needless to say I am very happy to still be the first Ducati rider ". 

Guidotti Francisco

"Our strategy proved correct and we pushed the tires hard that we will use in the race. We also tried a softer cover, but you can only do two laps before the "soft", and then went back to the original all'assetto proved to be the best. We must continue to be focused tomorrow. "

Pramac Press Release

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Improvements felt by Hayden and Rossi

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The opening round of the 2012 MotoGP season continued this evening (Friday), with the second and third free practice sessions taking place at Qatar’s Losail International Circuit. Although the area was buffeted by fairly strong winds for much of the day, the surface grip improved compared to Thursday night’s dusty conditions, forcing the riders and their teams to adapt their set-ups accordingly.

Both Nicky Hayden, seventh at the end, and Valentino Rossi improved their performances, with the Italian in particular working with the hard tyre, consistently lowering his times with the race set-up. Only in the final exit did he mount a softer tyre, with which he posted the eighth-best time of the day.

Nicky Hayden:

"As the track is cleaning up, we’re getting more grip, but in a way that’s hurting us since I’m also getting more chatter. When that happens, I can’t keep my lean angle, and I run wide, especially in the flat corners. We tried some different springs but haven’t found the right solution yet. Chatter is so strange and inconsistent sometimes, but we’ll have a look at the data and do our best to sort it out. My pace isn’t great, but although I’m not thrilled with how the day went, the bike is certainly doing well on top speed, which is going to be important in the race."

Valentino Rossi:

"Today went pretty well, and I’d say that the last session was the best. The position is nothing fantastic, but on the positive side, I’m very consistent with the hard tyre. The front of the bike is giving more feedback, so I can push more, which is very important, and the bike is very fast at the end of the straight. The understeer is still there, but now I think we have a place from which to work. We hope to improve two or three small things with the setting for tomorrow, and we’ll try to qualify on the second row."

Ducati Team press release

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Crutchlow and Dovizioso thrilled with displays

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The Monster Yamaha Tech 3 riders both put in head-turning performances in the final practice sessions at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar on Friday evening.

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team riders Cal Crutchlow and Andrea Dovizioso produced dazzling performances under the spectacular Losail International Circuit floodlights in Qatar tonight (Friday) to finish practice in second and fourth respectively.

British rider Crutchlow was in sparkling form on the new Yamaha YZR-M1 1000cc machine and a best lap of 1'55.456 came tantalisingly close to claiming top spot in this evening's third and final free practice session. The former World Supersport champion was only 0.154s behind 2010 World Champion Jorge Lorenzo on a fantastic night for Yamaha, with three YZR-M1 machines occupying the top four places.

Italian Dovizioso also demonstrated the rapid progress he is making in getting the best out of the impressive YZR-M1 machine after he finished third quickest in the earlier second session, which took place in blustery conditions. A lap of 1'56.648 put him in the top three behind Casey Stoner and Lorenzo and he was able to improve his pace by 0.7s as grip levels improved after the strong winds decreased ahead of the third and final session.

Dovizioso ended with a best lap of 1'55.905 to finish fourth quickest and he too will start tomorrow's all-important qualifying session optimistic that he can battle for a place on the front row of the grid for Sunday night's season opening 22-lap race.

Cal Crutchlow:

“I'm really happy to be second quickest but I'm not going to get carried away and say I will be on the front row tomorrow night. I think we can certainly be challenging for it but my expectations for the race on Sunday are to be battling for the top six and being closer to the leaders than last year. The start of the session wasn't that great because we went the wrong way with the chassis setting and once we went back to the previous set-up, I was much more comfortable. At the end I used the soft tyre but I had an old hard compound front on. I was pushing the front but I am really happy with the lap time. I got held up a little bit too on my fastest lap coming out of the last corner by one of the CRT bikes. It just meant I changed from third to fourth gear a bit later than normal and I lost a bit of drive. I'm not going to say that would have put me quickest, but it would have been very close. But to be second and just over one-tenth behind Jorge is great for my confidence. My Monster Yamaha Tech 3 crew have done an awesome job, so hopefully we can battling for a similar position tomorrow night in qualifying.”

Andrea Dovizioso:

“I am really satisfied again with our performance tonight. Each session I go out on the bike my feeling with the Yamaha improves and I am gaining a lot of confidence. Even during a race weekend like this when you don't have so many laps, we have made some very big improvements and this is very positive. We didn't make any special changes to the bike but the improvement comes from me having a better understanding of how to use the Yamaha's potential and now I am really confident for qualifying. Maybe the front row will be difficult but I will be trying my best. I am convinced our times will be faster because the track condition will be better and I know in myself where I can be faster on the track. Tonight was very positive for the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 Team and I've no doubt that we will be as fast and competitive in qualifying.”

Monster Yamaha Tech 3 press release

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Mixed results for Stoner and Pedrosa

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The Repsol Honda Team finished the second day of practice at Losail circuit with Casey Stoner in third position and Dani Pedrosa fifth.

The Australian World Champion set the fastest time in FP2 and was leading in FP3 until others put on a new soft rear to take the fastest time of the day. Casey improved his lap time by 0.3s in the evening even though he remained on hard tyres until the end.

Dani Pedrosa crashed in FP2, without sustaining any injury, and was only able to use one bike in the second session of the evening, whilst his mechanics worked hard to build up the damaged machine. Nevertheless, Dani also improved his lap time by half a second from one session to the other.

The Repsol Honda riders return on track tomorrow night for the first qualifying session of the season, which will decide the starting grid for the Grand Prix of Qatar.

Casey Stoner:

“Today has been pretty good for us in general, we has some issues in the first two sessions but we've fixed them slightly in last one which is definitely positive. We've been able to turn down the electronics a lot more and now I have more feeling and connection with the rear tyre which gave me a lot more confidence. This allowed me to do some good lap times with some pretty old tyres. A few people got in our way throughout the session so we were unable to show what we were really capable of, but we know how we feel and we're confident for qualifying tomorrow.”

Dani Pedrosa:

“The day wasn't as good for us as we would have liked. I had some problems with the electronics and I couldn't ride at 100%, especially in the exits of the corners where we have more issues. Let's hope the mechanics can find a solution and we can have a good qualifying session tomorrow. The crash in the first session was totally unexpected; it was on my first lap of the second exit and I was not pushing at all. But I escaped unhurt and it's ok.”

Repsol Honda press release

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Lorenzo delighted with pace but Spies rues 'rough' session

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The final free practice this evening (Friday) ahead of Sunday’s Grand Prix of Qatar saw Yamaha Factory Racing rider Jorge Lorenzo set the MotoGP pace. The Mallorcan finished in second place in the penultimate practice session earlier in the evening, 0.214 seconds behind leader Casey Stoner as he continued to develop his set-up. A strong final session on hard tyres was then delivered before a softer rear option at the end provided the extra speed to take the top spot, 0.154 seconds ahead of fellow Yamaha rider Cal Crutchlow in second.

Ben Spies experienced a less fortunate final practice session this evening. The Texan had embarked on a race simulation but lost the front end early on, possibly due to a cold front tyre. Spies was unhurt and returned to the garage to continue the session. Unfortunately his second bike then experienced a technical problem, preventing him from continuing.

Jorge Lorenzo:

“I am very happy with today because we improved a lot on yesterday’s lap time. I’m also happy for Cal in second, the bike seems much better than last year for us. I think we have even more potential for improvement tomorrow. We still have a few issues to solve, especially corner entry, but we managed to keep a good pace. I’m going to try my hardest for qualifying tomorrow and see what we can do.”

Ben Spies:

“It was a rough session tonight, we’ve had a good weekend up to now, unfortunately tonight was the most important session for us. I went out to do a race simulation and I think I didn’t let the front tyre heat up properly. I need to check the data to confirm it but I put the blame firmly on myself for it. Unfortunately the second bike just didn’t run right so a wasted session for us.”

Yamaha Factory Racing press release

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Cortese heads up final Moto3 practice

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Sandro Cortese was the quickest rider in the third and final practice at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar, with Romano Fenati and Luis Salom completing the top three. The German was unable to better Maverick Viñales' FP2 time however which remains the fastest so far, as the Spaniard placed fourth in the last session.

Sandro Cortese (Red Bull KTM Ajo) was the fastest rider in the third and final practice in Qatar on Friday, as the Moto3™ class ran its final preparations before Saturday's qualifying session. The German rider posted a best time of 2'08.342 to top the timesheet in the 40-minute run, and then pulled off a great save at the end to avoid tarnishing his session with a late crash.

Despite being the best of the session Cortese's time was still not the fastest of the three practices combined. That lap remains Maverick Viñales' (Blusens Avintia) effort from FP2 (2'08.160) which the young Spaniard set on Friday.

Second to Cortese in FP3 was Italian rookie Romano Fenati (Team Italia FMI), who continued to generate excitement about his World Championship debut with a lap of 2'08.376, just 0.034s off top spot. Luis Salom (RW Racing GP) completed the top three at a tenth-of-a-second off Cortese, with Viñales fourth in the final session and just 0.135s off P1.

Miguel Oliveira (Estrella Galicia 0'0), Danny Kent (Red Bull KTM Ajo) and Alex Rins (Estrella Galicia 0'0) were the final three riders within a second of the top time in the practice, and Héctor Faubel (Bankia Aspar Team), Alexis Masbou (Caretta Technology) and another newcomer Niccolò Antonelli (San Carlo Honda Gresini Moto3) completed the top 10.

Louis Rossi (Racing Team Germany) and Zulfahmi Khairuddin (Airasia-SIC-Ajo) occupied 11th and 12th positions respectively, and both ended the session with crashes. Jonas Folger's (Iodaracing Project) problematic weekend continued as he encountered further technical issues during the session.

The Moto3 riders will be back on track on Saturday at 6pm local time for qualifying.

source: MotoGP Official

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Luthi makes it a clean sweep in practice

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Thomas Lüthi, fastest in both of Thursday's Moto2 sessions, was quickest in the third and final practice on Friday ahead of Pol Espargaró, Esteve Rabat and Scott Redding.

Thomas Lüthi's (Interwetten Paddock) strong form at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar rolled on in FP3 on Friday, as the Swiss rider topped the final session before Saturday's qualifying with the fastest lap of the weekend so far. Lüthi's time of 2'00.479 meant he completed a clean sweep in all three Moto2 practice sessions, after topping the first and second runs the previous day.

Pons 40 HP Tuenti team-mates Pol Espargaró and Esteve Rabat were also in the mood for setting fast times, as the former clocked in at just 0.040s off Lüthi. Espargaró was the only other rider under 2'01” in the session, with Rabat in third posting a best effort of 2'01.118.

Scott Redding (Marc VDS Racing Team) was fourth in the order in 2'01.230, with Italians Claudio Corti (Italtrans), Simone Corsi (Came IodaRacing Project) and Andrea Iannone (Speed Master) closely grouped from fifth to seventh.

Bradley Smith (Tech 3 Racing) took a step forward and was the last rider within one second of Lüthi's scorching lap, and Marc Márquez (Team CatalunyaCaixa Repsol) and Alex de Angelis (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) completed the top 10.

Ratthapark Wilairot (Thai Honda Gresini Moto2) escaped unharmed from a crash early in the session and went on to time in at 14th fastest, just behind Julián Simón (Blusens Avintia).

The Moto2 riders will be back on track at 6.55pm local time on Saturday for qualifying.

source: MotoGP Official

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Lorenzo responds with top FP3 time

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Jorge Lorenzo signed off the final practice at the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar with the fastest lap of the weekend so far, with Cal Crutchlow and Casey Stoner – who had been quickest in the two prevhous sessions – in the top three.

After Casey Stoner had led both of the previous practices Jorge Lorenzo took control of the final session on Friday, setting the best lap in FP3 and raising expectations for an exciting qualifying run on Saturday. The Yamaha Factory Racing rider put in a lap of 1'55.302 to top the timesheet, as he responded to the reigning World Champion's earlier efforts.

Completing a superb FP3 display in second position was Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3), who was just 0.154s off Lorenzo with a time of 1'55.456. Repsol Honda rider Stoner ended the last practice third fastest in a time of 1'55.674, although he did meet some on-track traffic when trying to put in one last flying lap before the 45 minutes were up.

Andrea Dovizioso complemented his Monster Yamaha Tech 3 team-mate Crutchlow's impressive display with the fourth best time, and the Italian was the last rider to run under 1'56”. Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), who had a fall in the earlier FP2 session, showed little after effects as he lapped fifth fastest at 0.812s off Lorenzo.

Héctor Barberá (Pramac Racing) was the highest placing Ducati in sixth with factory team riders Nicky Hayden and Valentino Rossi in seventh and eighth respectively. Rookie Stefan Bradl (LCR Honda) and Álvaro Bautista of the San Carlo Honda Gresini team completed the top 10.

Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing) only rode eight laps in the session, after crashing just 10 minutes in, and the American ended 11th on the timesheet as the only rider unable to improve on his time from the earlier practice. Randy de Puniet (Power Electronics Aspar) was again the quickest CRT rider in 13th, although the Frenchman had a fall at the very end of the session which left him limping away from his Aprilia machine.

NGM Mobile Forward Racing's Colin Edwards, on a BMW-powered Suter, kept the competition with De Puniet close at just 0.049s off his rival.

The MotoGP riders will return to action at 7.55pm local time on Saturday, for the 60-minute qualifying session.

source: MotoGP Official

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Stoner reproduces leading time in MotoGP FP2

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The practice sessions for the Commercialbank Grand Prix of Qatar continued on Friday and by the end of the second MotoGP™ run Casey Stoner was the fastest rider, having topped the previous day's first outing, with Jorge Lorenzo a close second and Andrea Dovizioso completing the top three.

Friday's action at Losail began with the MotoGP bikes returning to the track, as the premier class undertook its second practice beneath the floodlights. Winds throughout the day continued to be felt as the 45-minute practice got underway, but by the end of the session the conditions had not prevented Casey Stoner from getting under 1'56” to set a fastest lap of 1'55.960.

The Repsol Honda rider, who topped Thursday's first practice too, was followed on the timesheet by Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha Factory Racing), whose effort of 1'56.174 was by far the closest to the Australian. Andrea Dovizioso, on the Monster Yamaha Tech 3 machine, placed himself third with a time of 1'56.648, although he was 0.688s off Stoner.

Less than 0.2s separated positions four to eight, with Ben Spies (Yamaha Factory Racing), Héctor Barberá (Pramac Racing), Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda), Nicky Hayden (Ducati Team) and Cal Crutchlow (Monster Yamaha Tech 3) closely bunched in a tight group. Pedrosa returned to the track to set his best time after a crash at Turn 9 which occurred 15 minutes into the session.

Rookie Stefan Bradl's integration to the premier class continued to gather impressive pace as the LCR Honda rider timed in ninth fastest, with Valentino Rossi (Ducati Team) again in 10th spot as the Italian continues to seek an improvement with the hard tyre.

Colin Edwards (NGM Mobile Forward Racing) took the top CRT spot in the order with a best time of 1'58.801, just 0.144s ahead of Thursday's quickest CRT man Randy de Puniet on the Power Electronics Aspar Aprilia machine.

The MotoGP bikes will be back on track at 8.55pm local time for the third and final practice, prior to Saturday's qualifying session.

source: MotoGP Official

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