MotoGP Qatar FP1: Casey Stoner impresses on the Losail track – MotoGP news
The first Free Practice session took place on the Losail Circuit, Qatar. As the final pre season test held earlier this week, the weather conditions were similar at FP1 experienced in last test.
Casey Stoner was the star of the night again, as he kept his fast spell going on. Stoner did with a lap time of 1:55.752 seconds with completing a 16-lap run. He availed his practice time to fine tune the RC212V setup in preparation for Sunday’s Commercialbank
Grand Prix of Qatar.
Stoner was happy to start the FP1 with his same pace as he has shown in last test session at the same track, using almost the same set-up package.
In last test session, the sand storm struck hours before the test started, but on Thursday, the winds were blowing during the practice session make it more critical to run, although track conditions were pretty good.
The HRC team has to concentrate on the rear end issue, to increase the corner entry-exit traction to optimum, otherwise the bike can cost time in lap efficiency. The team has worked on this point but not as other sections improved.
“I'd say we're about 80% complete on the bike package, we have a few main areas we can improve, but this is always the case. You can always improve something, and if we do in those areas, it will make us a lot more confident,” he said.
Dani Pedrosa was the man to close at the back of Stoner, with a lap time of 1:56.362 seconds and ran for 18 laps in a 45-minute session. Pedrosa was feeling the rear end on a loose point, where he has used a medium compound tire through the whole winter
test session causing no issue with the rear end grip. But just in the second round of practice tyre was given up with no grip, and in the third and final practice run it was at its worst.
The short 45 minutes duration of practice session does not allow much time for any changes in setup. There could be the tyre itself losing grip or the 125cc and Moto2 bike had an earlier practice run leaving rubber on the track being a considerable
reason for the problem. In next FP, the HRC team will run with a different compound tyre and try to sort out the problem, as they are eager to get most out of the practice to get ready for the Sunday’s Grand Prix.
Andrea Dovizioso had some vibration problems in front end of his Honda RC212V, which caused him a lot of trouble. The vibration appeared in accordance after releasing the brakes and restricted Dovizioso to lean and react fast in the corners, it needs
to be sorted out as soon as possible. He will be running with soft compound tyres in the second FP session.
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