Portuguese GP - Qualifying
 SET-UP
TROUBLES PUT THE BRAKES ON STONER'S QUALIFYING EFFORT IN PORTUGAL
Casey Stoner was today forced to rely heavily on the talent
and class that made him a World Champion in order to secure
a third row start for the Grand Prix of Portugal following
a particularly difficult qualifying practice. It is an unusual
situation for Casey and the team, who are used to finding
a set-up quickly and taking full advantage of the GP8's potential.
The Australian, who was clearly not happy at not being able
to challenge for a front position, held a long debrief with
his engineers at the end of the session as they formulated
a plan for tomorrow's warm-up session. He then gave a firm
handshake to each and every one of his mechanics in a show
of unity that proves every member of the team is committed
to turning around this difficult situation.
Marco Melandri also struggled today as he looked to make
progress from a difficult start and he faces another uphill
task tomorrow as he starts from the back row.
CASEY STONER - (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 9th fastest;
1'37.253
"We were struggling a little bit for confidence coming
here after the problems we had at Jerez and even though I
was expecting a better performance at this track we've found
similar difficulties. We're really struggling for a set-up
and I don't think there's much more we can get out of the
bike here. Even so, we need to look ahead to the warm-up tomorrow
to try and find a better solution in a way that will let me
fight in the race. Things went so smoothly for us last year
that it would be easy to get frustrated with our current situation
but they way out of it is to stay calm and have belief in
each other. I know I've got a great team and a great factory
behind me, so we'll keep working together until we turn things
around. Basically we need to sleep on what's happened over
the last two days and head into tomorrow's warm-up in a positive
and productive manner."
MARCO MELANDRI - (Ducati Marlboro Team) - 17th; 1'39.115
"I didn't exactly expect to be running at the front
but I was hoping for better than this. I've had problems from
the start and so far we've not been able to resolve them.
It seems we need more time to change this so the situation
remains the same - I can't ride as I want to and I don't have
good control of the bike. It is not easy to work out where
the problem is coming from and that's why we still haven't
worked out how to solve it. It is not time to lie down but
to keep working hard for a solution."
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