Well Fellars it looks like the boys have there work cut out with Stoner dominating once again.
Here is some info for Simmo and anyone alse in the tipping game.
Casey Stoner completed his dominance of the practice timesheets at Sachsenring with his fourth consecutive pole position, setting a new record along the way. The reigning MotoGP World Champion –chasing his third victory in a row- set the fastest time ever recorded at the track with a 1´21.067 lap of the German circuit. Stoner had previously gone round lower than the existing record using race tyres on Friday.
Stoner had done enough to confirm his place at the head of the grid with over fifteen minutes remaining in the qualifying session, but further left his mark with an audacious final hot lap that further lowered his time by nearly three-tenths of a second. Last year he suffered from a tyre problem that ruled him out of the running for victory, but it appears that it will take something special to defeat the Australian on Sunday afternoon.
Many riders looked to be in a position to push the Ducati Marlboro rider when the qualifying rubber was fitted, although none were able to match his pace on the final section of the tight Sachsenring circuit. The closest to doing so was World Championship leader and 2007 racewinner Dani Pedrosa, some 0.353 down on Stoner´s time. The Repsol Honda rider had experienced problems with his first selection of qualifying tyres, and several late laps saw Pedrosa falling short with his attempts at a second pole position of the season.
Back on the front row after four races away, Tech 3 Yamaha´s Colin Edwards emerged from the hour-long session as the third quickest rider. The `Texan Tornado´ was just under a tenth of a second from Pedrosa, and was the fastest Yamaha rider once again with the satellite M1.
Andrea Dovizioso and Jorge Lorenzo will start from the same row on the grid for the first time since their arrival in the premier class, having battled at Sachsenring in the 250cc class in the past. The final spot on the second line went to LCR Honda´s Randy de Puniet.
Fiat Yamaha rider and World Championship challenger Valentino Rossi heads the third row, unable to find the second necessary to join up with the frontliners. Nicky Hayden and Shinya Nakano line up alongside the Italian.
Pos. Rider Nation Team Lap time
1 C. STONER AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 1'21.067
2 D. PEDROSA SPA Repsol Honda Team + 0.353
3 C. EDWARDS USA Tech 3 Yamaha + 0.452
4 A. DOVIZIOSO ITA JiR Team Scot MotoGP + 0.589
5 J. LORENZO SPA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.728
6 R. DE PUNIET FRA LCR Honda MotoGP + 0.754
7 V. ROSSI ITA Fiat Yamaha Team + 0.778
8 N. HAYDEN USA Repsol Honda Team + 0.809
9 S. NAKANO JPN San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.853
10 A. DE ANGELIS RSM San Carlo Honda Gresini + 0.910
11 J. TOSELAND GBR Tech 3 Yamaha + 1.059
12 T. ELIAS SPA Alice Team + 1.189
13 L. CAPIROSSI ITA Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.475
14 C. VERMEULEN AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP + 1.534
15 S. GUINTOLI FRA Alice Team + 1.871
16 M. MELANDRI ITA Ducati Marlboro Team + 2.064
17 A. WEST AUS Kawasaki Racing Team + 2.091
Well my money is on Stoner for the win.
