Retiring Stoner Fastest in France

Casey Stoner showed no signs of slowing down as he topped the timesheets during practice for Sunday's French Grand Prix at Le Mans.

Stoner, 26, announced his shock plans to retire at the end of the season on Thursday but was again quickest.

He set the benchmark lap of one minute 33.74 seconds in the afternoon session, after also topping the morning times.

Repsol Honda team-mate Dani Pedrosa was second, with Jorge Lorenzo third and British rider Cal Crutchlow seventh.

Stoner said: "After yesterday's announcement, I definitely felt a weight off my shoulders when I got on the bike this morning.

"The last two races I've had a lot of thoughts running through my mind and this weekend I already feel better knowing it's off my chest and we can now focus on the rest of the season, and try to enjoy it".

Crutchlow said: "We have a couple of small problems but nothing I don't think we can fix ahead of the race.

"I can't get the bike to turn into the corner as I'd like and I'm losing a little bit of time in that area.

"To be honest, Le Mans is not the best circuit for me and it is quite difficult.

"I've only been here once before and I crashed in the race last year, so a big part of my job was just trying to gain some more experience with the layout.

"It was still a positive day and, with an improvement to the turning of the bike, I'm sure I can be even more competitive."

British rider Scott Redding was fastest in the second session of Moto2,while Maverick Vinales set the pace in Moto3 .

French Grand Prix second practice times:

1. Casey Stoner (Aus) Repsol Honda 1:33.740

2. Dani Pedrosa (Spa) Repsol Honda 1:34.005

3. Jorge Lorenzo (Spa) Yamaha 1:34.136

4. Alvaro Bautista (Spa) Gresini Honda 1:34.437

5. Ben Spies (USA) Yamaha 1:34.467

6. Andrea Dovizioso Tech 3 Yamaha 1:34.585

7. Cal Crutchlow (GB) Tech 3 Yamaha 1:34.610

8. Hector Barbera (Spa) Pramac Ducati 1:35.079

9. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Ducati 1:35.112

10. Nicky Hayden (USA) Ducati 1:35.132

Stoner Wins Jerez Gran Premio

Reigning World Champion Casey Stoner took his first ever premier-class victory at the Gran Premio bwin de España as he fought an epic battle with championship rival Jorge Lorenzo.

After the preceding Moto2™ race had been red-flagged due to rain, the weather improved just enough for it to be declared dry five minutes before the start.

The race was a thriller from the start as Repsol Honda Team´s Dani Pedrosa took the wholeshot in front of Yamaha Factory Racing´s pole-sitter Lorenzo. Monster Yamaha Tech3´s Cal Crutchlow soon went into third after bumping Nicky Hayden wide on turn 6. Such riding was the order of the day for the opening laps, as Lorenzo overtook Tech3´s Andrea Dovizioso with an aggressive move after he had been passed by the Italian shortly before.

Pedrosa´s team mate Casey Stoner then found his stride and moved to the front as he passed Lorenzo and then team mate Pedrosa. He was soon putting fast laps, yet could was unable to shake 2010 World Champion Lorenzo.

The battle behind was an enthralling affair, which saw Hayden, Pedrosa, Dovizioso and Crutchlow swap positions frequently, before being stretched slightly with 19 laps to go. Pedrosa got the better of the four and started to chase down the pair at the front.

Meanwhile, Pramac Racing´s Hector Barberá was defending ninth place in front of Ducati´s Valentino Rossi, Lorenzo´s team mate Ben Spies, Cardion AB Racing´s Karel Abraham and Power Electronics Aspar´s Randy de Puniet. Crutchlow, who had dropped off his team mate, caught up with Pedrosa and soon the pair diced for third.

Hayden looked to be struggling with 16 laps to go, as he dropped off the pace slightly and was passed by San Carlo Honda Gresini´s Álvaro Bautista into sixth, and then again by LCR Honda MotoGP´s Stefan Bradl, who took seventh. Meanwhile, Rossi passed Barberá and was looking to close down the eight-second gap to the American.

As the pack settled down somewhat by half race distance, it was Stoner keeping Lorenzo at bay by approximately 0.8s, whilst further down the track, Crutchlow was keeping Pedrosa on his toes for the final podium position. With nine laps to go Lorenzo put the hammer down and started closing on Stoner with the Australian firmly in his sight.

San Carlo Honda Gresini´s CRT rider Michelle Pirro retired to the pits with eight laps to go with an engine problem, whilst Cardion AB Racing´s Karel Abraham crashed at turn 13.

Further down the field, Barberá repeated his Qatar move five laps before the end, as he pushed his way past Rossi back into ninth, while Pedrosa and Crutchlow were giving the front pair something to think about as they closed the gap to only two seconds.

Lorenzo was keeping the home crowd on their feet as he was right on Stoners back wheel with two laps to go, however Stoner reminded people why he is World Champion by upping the pace in the final lap to take his first ever premier-class victory at the Andalucian track.

With Lorenzo taking the second podium spot, it was Pedrosa who managed to keep Crutchlow at bay to hold on for the final podium spot. Sixth place went to Crutchlow´s team mate Dovizioso, in front of Bautista and Stefan Bradl. Hayden was unable to keep his earlier pace as he finished seventh ahead of Rossi, Barberá and Ben Spies.

A very disappointed Randy de Puniet, who had looked on course to finish top CRT in 12th, pulled off in the last lap with mechanical issues, leaving the way for his team mate Aleix Espargaro to take top CRT honours.

Join OSM news service

Fatigue Costs Casey in Qatar

Casey Stoner will step up his training after arm fatigue cost him victory in the first race of his world MotoGP title defence in Qatar.

Honda rider Stoner led for most of the season-opening race and appeared set for a fifth career victory at Doha's Losail circuit.

But Spanish duo Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa reeled the Australian in as his decision not to test over a full race distance in the winter began to prove costly.

With just over three laps left, 2010 world champion Lorenzo snatched the lead on his Yamaha and kept his advantage to win by 0.832sec from Pedrosa, with Stoner finishing almost three seconds off the pace in third.

Stoner said his pace slowed after he began to suffer from "arm pump", a crippling condition caused by struggling to cope with braking pressure and which causes spasms in the forearm.

And he aimed to ensure there was no repeat of the problem before the next round at Jerez in Spain on April 29.

"We were by far the fastest out there but after four laps I was started to get real arm pump, my arms were shaking off the bars and I was holding on with two fingers," said Stoner who had been two seconds ahead at one stage.

"I couldn't grip and I couldn't use the brakes.

"Without that there was no problem to win, we're really happy with the speed of the bike. I've got two weeks to go away and train and we can come back again."

"I felt like a backmarker at the end, but I couldn't hold onto the bike, I couldn't do anything. But if we sort it out, we will be okay."

Lorenzo had started from pole position but lost the lead after three laps to Stoner.

"I put everything I had into attack and I won," said Lorenzo.

"This victory is because I never gave up, kept pushing and trying. Casey was very strong at the beginning and opened a gap.

"Fortunately for us he struggled at the end and dropped his pace where I could keep mine so I managed to pass him. I am very grateful to Yamaha because they have made a big step this winter."

Lorenzo Outpaces Stoner in Qatar

Spain's Jorge Lorenzo halted world champion Casey Stoner's Qatar surge when he clocked the fastest time in Friday's second and final practice ahead of Sunday's floodlit season-opener

The Yamaha rider, the world champion in 2010, had been second best to the Australian Honda star in Thursday's session and Friday's first stretch, but then clocked a lightning 1min 55.302sec lap, just outside Stoner's 2008 circuit record.

Britain's Cal Crutchlow, on another Yamaha, was second quickest, 0.154sec behind with Stoner relegated to third spot, 0.372sec off Lorenzo's pace.

Friday's final practice also saw America's Ben Spies, on a factory Yamaha, fall off his machine and unable to improve on his 11th place.

In tricky, blustery conditions, Spain's Dani Pedrosa, on another Honda, had also come to grief in the first session although he was able to record the fifth best time later in the evening behind Andrea Dovizioso on a Yamaha in fifth.

The best Ducati performance was a sixth place by Hector Barbera riding for the Pramac satellite team with the Spaniard putting factory riders Nicky Hayden and seven-time MotoGP champion Valentino Rossi in the shade.

They were seventh and eighth respectively.

In the first session Friday, Stoner had been 0.214sec faster than Lorenzo and 0.688sec quicker than Dovizioso.

Stoner, who has won four times in the elite class in six visits to the Losail circuit, was unruffled by the strong winds as he clocked 1min 55.960, the only rider under the 1min 56sec mark in the opening period.

Casey Stoner Fastest in Jerez

Getty Images

Defending champion Casey Stoner was fastest on the final day of MotoGP testing in Jerez.

Stoner could only manage three laps on Saturday's second day of testing before heavy rain intervened.

With favourable temperatures at the circuit in southern Spain on Sunday, the Australian clocked a fastest time of one minute, 38.780 seconds.

Jorge Lorenzo was second quickest as teams concluded their testing before the first race in Qatar on 8 April.

Stoner steadily improved his time throughout Sunday, claiming top spot within the last 15 minutes before improving on his time on his 61st and final lap - the best of the weekend.

The Australian said: "We were really pleased with the lap times we're running, but I think we can still improve the bike quite a bit before the race here.

"In general we're satisfied with how the whole test has gone for us. Now we can go racing which is what we really enjoy."

Lorenzo had occupied the lead for the majority of the day before Stoner bettered his time of one minute, 38.953 seconds.

The Yamaha Factory Racing rider said: "We need to improve our braking a little, if we can do that we could gain some more tenths of a second."

British rider Cal Crutchlow was fifth fastest, his quickest lap 0.805 seconds outside Stoner's.

Nicky Hayden clocked the fastest time on Saturday, but the 2006 champion could only manage eighth-quickest on Sunday and he was keen to look ahead to the opening race of the season in Qatar.

"I'm not thrilled with my lap time because I thought I could go a bit quicker but I struggled a little with the fast corners," claimed Hayden.

"We've clearly got some work to do, but now it's time to get ready for Qatar, and I look forward to starting the season. Now it's time to see what we've got when we put the cards on the table."

Lorenzo Closing on Casey Stoner

Yamaha rider Jorge Lorenzo believes he can mount a stronger MotoGP title challenge this season.

Lorenzo - who won the title in 2010 - was a distant second last season as Casey Stoner dominated on his Repsol Honda to win his second title.

But Lorenzo said: "I think we are closer to Casey than last year.

"In testing we have been fast but we must wait and see. There are five or six riders who can fight for the title this year."

Lorenzo, 24, feared he may struggle to adapt to the new, larger, 1,000cc bikes for this season after damaging his left hand in a crash at the end of last season.

But, despite voicing fears over the new bike's top speeds, the Spaniard is happy with how he has settled on the new machine.

"I spent four months not riding the bike but it has been easier than I expected to come back," he said.

"On both runs of testing I have been close to the best lap times, so I am in a good position.

"The 1,000cc has more power, more acceleration, so you need more energy to control the bike. The weight is higher. But it is easier to ride because we have more torque and it doesn't move so much."

Lorenzo is out of contract with Yamaha at the end of the 2012 season, but has again expressed his desire to stay with the team for the rest of his career and add to his 17 MotoGP wins.

"Of course," he said. "When I first came to Yamaha in 2008 I immediately felt like I was in a family.

"We had the perfect bike from 2008-2010, and last year was difficult but in general we have a very good package.

"So my first option is Yamaha, I would like to finish my career here. If my bike is good here I don't see any motive to change."

The next round of pre-season testing takes place at Jerez in Spain this weekend, with the first race of the season in Qatar on 8 April.

Pedrosa and Stoner Miss Test

Dani Pedrosa and Casey Stoner were forced to miss the second day of MotoGP testing in Malaysia due to engine and weather problems.

Pedrosa's Honda RC213V bike developed a problem on Monday and his engines were sent to Japan for analysis.

The engines arrived back on Tuesday, when the Sepang circuit was drenched by heavy rain, meaning that Pedrosa and Stoner were unable to ride.

The Yamahas of Ben Spies and Jorge Lorenzo ended the day fastest.

Pedrosa and Stoner are due to return to the track on Thursday for the final day of testing.

Stoner, the defending MotoGP champion, had topped the timesheets on a weather-affected first day of pre-season testing.

Lorenzo, the 2010 champion, was pleased with the progress he had made in the wet conditions.

He said: "We were able to try the 1000cc bike on the wet for the first time and we went very fast so it's been a positive day and we are very motivated to improve the bike more."

A further test is scheduled for Jerez in Spain (23-25 March), ahead of the first race of the 2012 season in Qatar on 8 April.

Stoner Tops Rainy Sepang Test

Casey Stoner topped the timesheets on a weather-affected first day of pre-season testing in Malaysia.

Stoner - the defending MotoGP champion - managed a best lap of two minutes 1.761 seconds on his 1000cc Honda, ahead of Repsol team-mate Dani Pedrosa.

Stormy weather and unusually high temperatures touching 40C meant there was no improvement in a wet afternoon session in Sepang.

Stoner said: "This afternoon I have no doubt we'd have gone a second faster."

The Australian dipped under the two-minute mark during the first test at Sepang earlier in February but could not get near that time as heavy rain washed out most of the afternoon.

He added: "The first day of testing has gone well, we started off where we left last time but the track conditions have been a little worse.

"We have a some work to do, but the rain came out and the track didn't dry up enough to warrant going out so we'll wait until tomorrow."

British rider Cal Crutchlow was seventh quickest on his Tech3 Yamaha, and he bemoaned the poor track conditions.

He said on Twitter: "First day of testing at test was ok. Had not too much to try and track was in really bad condition. There was a car race here and car testing has made track so dirty and slick. All times nearly two seconds slower [than last test].

"Also 62C track temperature didn't help! Rained this afternoon so a lot of riders stopped."

The three-day test continues on Wednesday and Thursday, with a further test scheduled for Jerez in Spain on 23-25 March.

The first race of the 2012 season is in Qatar on 8 April.

Selected Tuesday test times from Sepang

Casey Stoner (Repsol Honda): 2:01.761

Dani Pedrosa (Repsol Honda): 2:02.005

Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha): 2:02.436

Ben Spies (Yamaha): 2:02.819

Cal Crutchlow (Tech3 Yamaha): 2:03.213

Valentino Rossi (Ducati): 2:03.245

Stoner Wants Strong Rossi Team

Moto GP world champion Casey Stoner has said for the good of the competition he wants to see Ducati and Valentino Rossi mount a serious challenge this year.

Rossi, 32, struggled in his first season on the Italian bike and failed to win a single race for the first time since his 125cc debut season in 1996.

Honda's Stoner won 10 races in 2011 to beat Jorge Lorenzo to the title.

"I'm hoping [Ducati] can put together a competitive bike this year because the championship needs it," he said.

"Regardless of what the riders want, everyone needs as many manufacturers at the front as possible."

The 26-year-old Australian, who has won the title twice, expects Yamaha's Lorenzo, from Spain, to again be his main rival when the new season starts in Qatar on 8 April.

"Jorge was first in 2010 and second in 2011 - he will always be there fighting," he said.

Stoner Wins MotoGP at Silverstone

Stoner wins at Silverstone

Casey Stoner took his fourth race win of the season and the lead in the MotoGP World Championship after title rival Jorge Lorenzo crashed out in the rain at Silverstone. 

Repsol Honda rider Stoner rode an almost faultless race from pole position to take his third successive win and now leads defending champion Lorenzo by 18 points in the championship standings. 

Stoner was beaten into the first corner by Lorenzo but the factory Yamaha rider was passed by both the Australian and his team-mate Andrea Dovizioso on the first lap. 

Lorenzo also lost a place to San Carlo Gresini Honda rider Marco Simoncelli but gained that back when the Italian went wide and dropped to fourth. 

Lorenzo was running between Dovizioso and Simoncelli as the three battled for second place when the Spaniard's race came to an end as he was thrown over the handlebars. 

Stoner was setting up a commanding lead and left Dovizioso and Simoncelli to battle for second spot.

That was a battle the latter lost when he lost control of the front end of his Honda and also slid out of the race. 

Simoncelli's demise promoted Colin Edwards to third just over a week after the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha rider had surgery to repair a broken collarbone, the same injury suffered by Edwards' British team-mate Cal Crutchlow when he crashed in Saturday's qualifying session at Silverstone. 

Fourth went to the factory Ducati of Nicky Hayden and fifth to Rizla Suzuki's Alvaro Bautista. 

The bad luck of other riders worked in favour of multiple world champion Valentino Rossi who struggled to a lowly 13th in qualifying. 

Rossi used the conditions to his advantage as he climbed his way through the pack to finish sixth on the other factory Ducati.