For the second race running, the weather played a hugely important role in the MotoGP race – even if the race itself enjoyed a completely dry track and brilliant sunshine. That hadn’t been the case a few hours earlier when the riders endured a sodden final warm-up practice session; and things had been even worse [...]

Casey Stoner says he will be competitive in the Japanese GP despite rival Valentino Rossi snaring pole for Sunday’s races.

Full Saturday free practice times from the Japanese Grand Prix at a wet Motegi, round two of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship. 1. Colin Edwards USA Monster Yamaha Tech 3 2min 1.841 sec 2. Valentino Rossi ITA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 1.893 sec 3. Casey Stoner AUS Ducati Marlboro Team 2min 2.497 sec 4. Jorge Lorenzo SPA Fiat Yamaha Team 2min 3.007 sec 5. Chris Vermeulen AUS Rizla Suzuki MotoGP 2min …

Italy’s reigning world champion Valentino Rossi swept all before him in practice Friday for the Japanese Grand Prix, snapping archrival Casey Stoner’s early-season domination.

MotoGP leader Casey Stoner hopes to repeat past successes at Motegi on Sunday.

Motegi hosts the second round of the 2009 MotoGP series, with Australia’s Casey Stoner looking to follow up his dominant display at the season-opener in Qatar two weeks ago.

Australia’s Casey Stoner, fresh from winning the season-opening race, expects reigning world champion Valentino Rossi to be hot on his heels at the Japanese Grand Prix on Sunday. Stoner believes the g

In Japan : Everything is ready for the 2009 Japanese Grand Prix that compare to the past years will be held at the beginning of the season and therefore will not decide the World Champion like in the last two seasons for Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi.

Given the suspense and excitement that preceded the opening round of the 2009 MotoGP World Championship, a fact exacerbated by the weather related delay to Monday, there was a slight sense of inevitability about the result in Qatar. Just as he had threatened during pre-season testing, Casey Stoner was unstoppable at Losail, the Australians wrist injury a distant memory as he swept to a very …

Jorge Lorenzo may have openly expressed concern at the gap to Casey Stoner and Valentino Rossi in Qatar, but the Spaniard still feels his podium finish was a huge beginning – which he aims to build further on this weekend in Japan. The Fiat Yamaha rider, who took pole on his Motegi premier-class debut last September, is aiming to run closer to the front during his second race on Bridgestone …