Jerez GP - Race
TOUGH BUT DETERMINED RACE FOR STONER AND MELANDRI
 It
certainly wasn't an easy Grand Prix of Spain for the two Ducati
Marlboro Team riders at the tricky Jerez circuit but a show
of character and determination. For Casey Stoner, who was
never completely comfortable with the set-up of his GP8 all
weekend, his desire to give 100% combined with a touch of
bad luck saw him run into the gravel twice.
After a superb start lifted him to third place on the opening
lap, the World Champion's first off-track excursion came on
the third lap and saw him relegated to last place. By the
22nd lap an exciting fight-back had lifted him back into the
fight for fifth but contact with Nakano at the end of the
back straight led to another trip across the gravel. Stoner
again returned to the track in eleventh and without enough
remaining laps to repeat his comeback.
Like in Qatar, Marco Melandri saved his best for the race
and set a much better pace in the second half of the encounter
to rise from the very back of the grid to a twelfth place
finish.
CASEY STONER (Ducati Marlboro Team) 11th
"Today wasn't my day - I suppose it wasn't my weekend!
We never found the set-up here that would let us make the
most of our potential. Normally braking is one of the strong
points of our bike but here I just didn't have the feeling
with the front. I wasn't quite on the limit when I ran off
track the first time but I couldn't get the bike stopped so
it took me by surprise because we weren't doing anything differently.
After that I had to really push to get back into the race
and I was pretty happy once I caught the group. Just when
I was passing Nakano he let go of the brakes and touched my
wheel, so I had nowhere to go but the gravel. I think I could
have finished fifth, which I would have been happy with, but
instead it was a bit of a disaster. The tyres weren't perfect
but they weren't bad either so I can't blame it on that. I'm
not happy but it's not the end of the world - there are plenty
of other tracks and other races, starting with Portugal, where
we went well last year and finished on the podium, even if
we had some little problems, and where this year we will try
to fight for victory."
MARCO MELANDRI (Ducati Marlboro Team) 12th
"Today, like in Qatar, we improved in the second half
of the race when the bike improved under braking and on the
way into the corners so I could ride much better. Unfortunately
I didn't have the grip on the rear and that made me lose a
lot under acceleration as soon as I went on the gas. This
is my main problem and it is this which we must improve. We
knew, however, that this weekend would be difficult because
this track is something of an Achilles heel for Ducati, with
the 800 at least, because with the 990 they won. In any case
we must work and we must continue to improve especially the
rear grip".
LIVIO SUPPO (Ducati MotoGP Project Leader)
"It's been an unfortunate day for Casey, his first running
of track affected his whole race. After that he set a great
pace and produced a brilliant comeback. Unfortunately he then
touched with Nakano and that cost him fifth place - a result
that would have been satisfactory at a circuit that really
doesn't suit our package. It's a shame but it's only the second
race and he can be up there. Today he showed that he's a fighter
and that he never gives up. Marco, like in Qatar, was able
to lap at the sort of pace we expect from him in the second
part of the race so we need to understand why he's struggling
so much in the first half. Tomorrow we have a day of tests
and we'll work hard to help him and to work out why we've
struggled so much here."
|
