DUCATI CORSE MOTOGP PRESS 2009

Valencia GP

Valencia

8 Nov 2009

Season ends with contrasting fortunes for Stoner and Hayden
The Ducati Marlboro Team concluded its 2009 MotoGP World Championship with contrasting fortunes for its two riders, as Nicky Hayden ended the season on a high with a hard-fought fifth place but Casey Stoner was left empty handed following a crash on the warm-up lap. Stoner came into the race with back-to-back wins and was a strong contender to make it a hat-trick following a dominant performance in practice. However, the grid strategy used by the team for the last two years proved to have a weak point today and the Australian’s tyres were not up to the right temperature, leading him to crash (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Malaysian GP

Sepang

25 Oct 2009

Stoner splashes to victory at sodden Sepang, Hayden a fantastic fifth
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Casey Stoner took his second victory in succession today with a display of absolute dominance in torrential conditions at Sepang, where his team-mate Nicky Hayden picked up a fantastic fifth place. A heavy tropical downpour just moments before the riders were due to take to the track for the penultimate round of the season saw the race delayed by 36 minutes, but once the lights went out Stoner proved once again that he is a master of any condition. After taking the lead on the first lap the Australian opened up an advantage of almost four seconds by the end of the second circulation – increasing it lap by lap to over 17 seconds at one point as he stormed to his fourth victory of the season, becoming the first rider ever to win at Sepang from the second row of the grid (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Australian GP

Phillip Island

18 Oct 2009

Sensational Stoner seals hat-trick of island victories
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Casey Stoner took his third victory in as many seasons at Phillip Island today, rubber-stamping his return to form and fitness with a dominant display from pole position. After briefly conceding the lead to Dani Pedrosa in the first turn, Stoner muscled his way past the Spaniard on the opening lap and never looked back, holding off the strong challenge of Valentino Rossi in the second half of the race to put his Desmosedici GP9 on the top step of the podium for the first time since the Italian Grand Prix in June (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Portuguese GP

Estoril

4 Oct 2009

Outstanding podium for Stoner in Portugal, Hayden eighth
The Ducati Marlboro Team celebrated the return of Casey Stoner with podium champagne in Portugal today as the Australian guided his GP9 back to the podium with a stunning second place. Stoner was back to riding in his style, fast, over all 28 laps of the Estoril race, with only eventual race winner Jorge Lorenzo able to better him. At the chequered flag Stoner showed no signs of the symptoms that had dogged him for several rounds before his enforced break from action, although he was understandably tired after a full MotoGP race, following two months of inactivity. Nicky Hayden made a good start to the race but he was unable to capitalise on an encouraging performance in this morning’s warm-up as he eventually crossed the line in eighth place after struggling somewhat for grip (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

San Marino GP

Misano

6 Sep 2009

Hayden wiped out of Ducati home race, Kallio picks up consolidatary 7^th
Ducati Marlboro Team rider Nicky Hayden was cruelly sent tumbling out of the San Marino Grand Prix on the opening lap of a disastrous race at Misano after colliding with wayward local rider Alex de Angelis. Hayden had made a superb start from the second row of the grid and was ideally placed to maximise the optimum race pace he had shown in practice and warm-up. However, a late braking manoeuvre from the San Marinese in the second turn left the American with no time or space to react and his rear wheel was clipped, sending him to the ignominy and frustration of the gravel trap (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

USA GP

Indianapolis

30 Aug 2009

Hayden celebrates first Ducati podium at Indy, Kallio in top ten
Nicky Hayden celebrated his first podium position as a Ducati MotoGP Team rider in the most fitting surroundings possible today, the ‘Kentucky Kid’ producing a sensational performance to finish third in his home race at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. Hayden secured his own little slice of history at the legendary circuit with a battling display, chasing down Alex de Angelis for second place after crashes for both Dani Pedrosa and Valentino Rossi at the front before consolidating third place with dogged defence under pressure from Andrea Dovizioso over the final two laps (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Czech GP

Brno

16 Aug 2009

Encouraging 6th place for Hayden at Brno as Kallio crashes out of 8th
Nicky Hayden recorded his second best result of the season so far at Brno today, where he crossed the line in sixth place following a weekend of hard work and continual progress with his team. The American didn't get the best of starts and was boxed in by the group around him but he fought back to regain positions and kept pace with the riders ahead of him to take the chequered flag less than four seconds behind the final podium finisher. Mika Kallio, making his debut for the Ducati Marlboro Team in place of Casey Stoner, produced a competitive pace but was unable to make it to the end of his first race with the team following a misunderstanding with Marco Melandri, the two riders colliding and crashing out of their battle for eighth place. However, it was a satisfying weekend for the Finn, a rookie in the MotoGP class, who has set competitive lap times all weekend (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

British GP   

Donington

27 Jul  2009

Ducati Marlboro pair lost their Donington gamble
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden paid the price for a bold gamble that backfired in the British Grand Prix, opting to run wet tyres with the rest of the field on slicks as drizzle fell on the starting grid at Donington Park. The Australian and the American were concerned about the state of the track after the sighting lap and, in the hope that the light rainfall would become heavier as the race progressed, they choose to make the switch from slicks to full wets. However, even though a handful of riders did make the change late in the race, the downpour never came and the pair could only struggled to fourteenth and fifteenth place respectively  (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

German GP

 Sachsenring

19 Jul  2009

Stoner battles to fourth at Sachsenring, Hayden not happy with 8th place
Ducati Marlboro Team riders Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden took fourth and eighth place respectively in the German Grand Prix with combative performances at the Sachsenring circuit in bright sunshine but cool temperatures this afternoon. Stoner launched from the front row of the grid to chase Valentino Rossi before passing the Italian for the lead on lap seven, holding firm at the front until past mid-distance. However, the Australian suffered with front and rear grip in the second half of the race and was forced to yield his position to Rossi, with Jorge Lorenzo and Dani Pedrosa also taking advantage to complete the podium (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

USA GP

Laguna Seca

5 Jul 2009

Five star team result for Ducati at Laguna Seca
Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden crossed the line in fourth and fifth place today to secure a top team result for Ducati that confirms the forward steps taken with the Desmosedici GP9 in recent weeks. A top five finish for Hayden is the result of relentless hard work and dedication from rider and team since the start of the season and his best qualifying and race performances of the campaign so far represented a source of huge satisfaction. The American delighted his home crowd not only with his performance but also with a special ‘stars and stripes’ livery, that will also be available on the new Ducati 848, launched in the USA two days ago. However, a fourth place finish for Stoner was another case of damage limitation following another physically demanding weekend. The Australian has been combating physical exhaustion and to have two races in successive weekends certainly didn’t help his cause here. Stoner will now stay on in the United States for extensive tests at the Fremont Surgery Center of Dr. Arthur Ting, to try and understand the source of the problem (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Dutch GP  

Assen

27 Jun  2009

Stoner suffers for podium in Assen, Hayden takes best result of season
The Ducati Marlboro Team had a mixed weekend at Assen, with some positive results balanced out by a few difficulties. The steps forward in the bike's performance were a definite positive, and that allowed Casey Stoner to take yet another podium finish despite suffering physically once more during the race. Nicky Hayden also had a great day after a brilliant start, and after battling hard for sixth throughout the race, only finished in eighth due to a technical glitch. Casey Stoner suffered throughout the weekend at Assen, with the physical condition which had already affected him in Catalunya worsening as the days went on. As difficult as a GP weekend is already, his physical condition just added to the obstacles to overcome as he was forced to race unwell. Despite that, he still managed to take home a podium finish, which was clearly a very positive result (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Catalunya GP  

14 Jun  2009

Stoner hangs on for heroic podium as Hayden breaks top ten
With 106 points and two victories each from six races so far this season, the three gladiators that stand together at the top of the MotoGP World Championship stood side by side on the podium at Catalunya today, each having written their own page in another thrilling chapter of motorcycling history. Whilst Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo fought a fantastic battle for victory to the final corner, Casey Stoner had to fight his own battle against illness to secure a priceless third place. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider was so debilitated by stomach cramps that he was barely able to sleep last night and at the halfway stage of the race today he considered something that for him is unthinkable – giving up. However, after a weekend of hard work from Stoner and his crew, which continued until after this morning’s warm-up, the Australian knew that the perfect set-up of his GP9 could help him and he steeled himself for a final push. That he set the fastest lap of the race is testament to the fact that he would otherwise have been involved in that epic fight for victory (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Italian GP  

Mugello

31 May 2009

DUCATI CONQUER MUGELLO WITH CASEY STONER

Ducati finally conquered its home race at Mugello today thanks to a stunning performance from Casey Stoner in one of the most difficult and eventful races of his career. Victory for the Australian in the second wet-to-dry flag-to-flag race in succession was his 18th for the Italian factory and it was enough to secure the World Championship lead after five rounds, with four points more than Lorenzo and nine more than Rossi, the two riders who joined him on the podium today. The Ducati Marlboro Team rider, mindful of his Le Mans experience two weeks ago, perfectly negotiated a track that started out wet following a heavy rain shower before the race. He kept pace with the lead group even when his wet tyres were completely spent, before quickly rejoining the battle for the lead after changing to slick tyres and holding off the challenge of the men behind him. Nicky Hayden produced an excellent performance to charge from sixteenth on the grid to finish ninth before being slowed by a small problem with his rear brake. (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

French GP  

Le Mans

17 May 2009

STONER FIFTH IN SPLIT RACE AT LE MANS

Despite making an excellent start Stoner was not totally comfortable with his wet set-up and struggled during the early stages, dropping from second place to seventh in just three laps. After changing to a bike fitted with slick tyres he then encountered a problem with his steering damper, which he managed to fix himself but lost valuable time as a result. Once he got back into his rhythm he was able to pass compatriot Chris Vermeulen for fifth place and pick up eleven crucial points that leave him level in the championship with Valentino Rossi on 65 points – one behind today’s deserved winner Jorge Lorenzo. With Daniel Pedrosa lurking on 57, the championship is wide open after four rounds (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Japanese GP 

Montegi

26 April 2009

STONER BATTLES TO VALUABLE FOURTH AT MOTEGI

Casey Stoner took a solid fourth place finish in the Grand Prix of Japan today, adding a precious 13 points to his championship tally despite the data acquisition showing that he suffered a strong vibration through his front brake throughout the race. With the sun finally shining through after a wet warm-up this morning, the former World Champion once again showed his maturity and knack for riding around problems with an exemplary exhibition of damage limitation. Nicky Hayden’s desperately unlucky start to the season continued when he was clumsily knocked out of the race on the opening lap by home rookie Yuki Takahashi. The American suffered another heavy blow to the back injury he suffered in Qatar but luckily he escaped without any further damage (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Qatar GP

Losail

13 April 2009

STONER SENSATIONAL AND HAYDEN HEROIC IN QATAR

Casey Stoner took a dominant victory in the opening round of 2009 MotoGP World Championship and his third in consecutive years at the Grand Prix Qatar in tonight’s rescheduled race under the floodlights of Losail. With torrential rain forcing the postponement of the original contest last night, the riders returned to the track today for a 20-minute warm-up at 1830h ahead of a 2100h start. The nervous wait didn’t seem to affect the Australian, who launched from pole position to lead the entire distance, maintaining his searing pace in the second half of the race to keep the chasing Valentino Rossi at bay (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

MotoGP official test

Jerez

29 Mar 2009

STONER DRIVES AWAY WITH FIRST MOTOGP PRIZE OF 2009 AT JEREZ

With an incredible lap in tricky conditions, Casey Stoner was the winner of a brand new BMW today, as the fastest rider in the Official MotoGP Test session at the Jerez circuit in Southern Spain. Rain clouds threatened to dampen the atmosphere at the first competitive action of the 2009 MotoGP season, but the Ducati Marlboro Team rider lit up the 45-minute shootout by registering a stunning 1'38.646 lap before the showers came and brought the practice to an abrupt end, smashing the existing circuit lap record by nearly 1.5 seconds (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

Sepang test

23 24 25 February 2009

STONER FINISHES SEPANG TEST ON TOP 

The first test session of the 2009 preseason ended today at the Sepang circuit in Malaysia, with another day of intense work for the MotoGP teams and riders, who were able to take advantage of stable yet typically demanding conditions. Casey Stoner shaved another four tenths of a second off his best lap time from yesterday to finish the session on top of the time sheets. Nicky Hayden has made continual progress over the three days of the test and he was able to improve by another half second today, although he would have ideally liked to have been even faster. The next appointment for the Ducati Marlboro Team is a test session from 1st to 3rd March at the Losail circuit in Qatar (text and picture by Ducati corse press).

 Wrooom 2009 

Madonna di Campiglio

15 January 2009

STONER AND HAYDEN UNVEIL THE NEW DESMOSEDICI GP9 

Following on from an amazing introduction provided by a group of "Parkour" athletes, Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden today unveiled the new livery of the Desmosedici GP9 in front of the international press in attendance at the Wrooom - MotoGP Press Ski Meeting 2009. The flaming red bike contrasted perfectly with the snowy backdrop of the Malga Zeledria plane, at the foot of the Dolomites.

Also present were MotoGP Project Director, Livio Suppo, and official test rider Vittoriano Guareschi (text and picture by Ducati corse press).