STONER STORMS TO PERFECT FIRST WIN AT LOSAIL
 Casey
Stoner made a perfect start with the Ducati Marlboro Team
at Qatar today, riding to a magnificent season-opening victory
aboard his Desmosedici GP7. The Australian's breathtaking
maiden win in the first race of MotoGP's new 800cc era repeats
Loris Capirossi's 2006 season-opening win at Jerez and follows
Troy Bayliss' 2006 season-ending win at Valencia on the 990cc
GP6. Capirossi had an unluckier start to his 2007 campaign,
sliding off without injury at one-third distance while charging
forward and aiming for a podium result.
Stoner rode a perfectly judged race, leading the first lap
and then battling with former World Champion Valentino Rossi
throughout. The pair swapped positions several times, separated
by just a few tenths for most of the 22 laps, Stoner crossing
the finish line 2.8 seconds ahead after setting a new track
record on the final lap.
Casey Stoner, race winner, World Championship leader
"We couldn't ask for much more, it was my first time
racing with Ducati and Bridgestone, a perfect start. I couldn't
be happier with the weekend, the team worked perfectly and
the bike and tyres were perfect in the race. We had a bit
of a speed advantage and though we had some dramas in other
parts of the track I played to the strengths of the bike and
was able to do some pretty fast lap times. Valentino and I
had a good battle, it was nice riding up front again. When
he came by later on I decided to see how much further the
bike can go and I was able to break a bit of an advantage.
On the last lap I didn't realise I had a gap and rode the
fastest lap, which shows how well the Bridgestones worked.
I'm really happy with the way things are going and think we'll
get stronger and stronger, but we'll have to see how the season
pans out. I'm leading the championship which feels a little
strange but it's only the first race of a very, very long
year."
Loris Capriossi, DNF
"It's a real shame because I got a great start but someone
touched me in the first turn and I lost a few places. After
that I was recovering, pushing hard, then I lost the front
in the last corner. It's a pity because I could have got a
good result, as Casey proved our whole package is strong,
and it's good that a Ducati won. I always said that Casey
is a great talent, a good guy, and he deserved to win."
Federico Minoli, president and CEO Ducati Motor Holding
"This is an extraordinary day - we've won the first
800 race, just like we won the last 990 race. Ducati is enjoying
a great start to the year, both in racing and commercially,
because our new 1098 is going so well. The win is a testimony
to Ducati, it shows the strength of our brand and technology.
We have created something that's good for us, for motorcycling
and for Italy. Our technology is second to none, it's entirely
developed in Bologna by a group of dedicated engineers and
shows the world that when Italians focus on something they
can do it very well. Stoner was amazing, he's so young and
he won so well, he didn't dare too much, he knew he had more
speed on the straight and he rode a very intelligent race.
Loris had an unlucky day but he doesn't need to prove anything,
he is the symbol of Ducati, we know he's strong and we know
he will be back. We are extremely satisfied with today, the
engine was beyond our expectations, the desmodromic system
works so well. The tyres were also very good, so our thanks
to Bridgestone, to our other technical partner Shell Advance
and all our sponsors."
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