Catalunya MotoGP test - Big news

[FourWheelDrift]

Pedrosa hospitalised after a fall. No broken bones but needing a minimum 48hr rest away from the action.

Stoner rides the 2009 spec Ducati GP9 to fastest time of the day.

Toseland 4th quickest.

Sylvain Guintoli's changed his riding style to suit the Ducati to be 7th quickest.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 41.533 secs
2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team (B) 1min 41.857 secs
3. Shinya Nakano JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 42.039 secs
4. James Toseland GBR Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 42.505 secs
5. Alex de Angelis RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini (B) 1min 42.699 secs
6. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 42.721 secs
7. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 42.755 secs
8. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 42.775 secs
9. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 42.782 secs
10. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 42.818 secs
11. Colin Edwards USA Tech 3 Yamaha (M) 1min 43.127 secs
12. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 43.197 secs
13. Dani Pedrosa SPA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 43.552 secs
14. John Hopkins USA Kawasaki Racing Team (B) 1min 43.630 secs
15. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 44.326 secs
16. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Test Rider (B) 1min 44.927 secs
17. Nobuatsu Aoki JPN Suzuki Test Rider (B) 1min 45.011 secs
18. Erwan Nigon FRA Michelin/Honda Test Rider (M) 1min 45.603 secs
19. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Test Rider (B) 1min 46.122 secs

[Rawwr]

Interesting comparing Guintoli to Melandri

[FourWheelDrift]

Uh oh, Ducati/Bridgestone have drafted in their Mugello testing wonderkid Nicola Canepa and he's quicker than Melandri around Catalunya first time out.

1. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 42.180 secs
2. Andrea Dovizioso ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP (M) 1min 42.222 secs
3. Nicky Hayden USA Repsol Honda Team (M) 1min 42.555 secs
4. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP (B) 1min 42.590 secs
5. Randy de Puniet FRA LCR Honda MotoGP (M) 1min 43.039 secs
6. Nicola Canepa ITA Ducati/Bridgestone Test Rider (B) 1min 43.683 secs <--------- very quick
7. Sylvain Guintoli FRA Alice Team (B) 1min 44.074 secs
8. Toni Elias SPA Alice Team (B) 1min 44.538 secs
9. Nobuatsu Aoki JPN Suzuki Test Rider (B) 1min 44.665 secs
10. Olivier Jacque FRA Kawasaki Test Rider (B) 1min 44.938 secs
11. Erwan Nigon FRA Michelin/Honda Test Rider (M) 1min 45.181 secs
12. Marco Melandri ITA Ducati Marlboro Team (B) 1min 46.163 secs <---------- very worried.
13. Vittoriano Guareschi ITA Ducati Test Rider (B) 1min 47.022 secs

[YamR1V64motion]

i wonder whats gone wrong with the Ducati this year, i remember them doing this a while back too, in thier debut season in 2003 they had some strong finishes and if i remember correctly a win, although this was more because Rossi made a mistake, then in 2004 they wernt really anywhere, its not as bad this tim as Stoner is still battling for podiums, i feel sorry for Melandri though, hope he gets back on a Honda next year.

[Farky]

Yeah, obviously Stoner is the only one to get the best out the Ducati so far.
Melandri is a FAR better rider than he's being made to look this season.