Assen, the Netherlands - Australia’s 2007 world champion, Casey Stoner, goes into Saturday’s Dutch MotoGP looking to make it four wins on the bounce and cement his place at the top of the standings.
The Honda rider, who won at the Assen circuit three years ago, leapfrogged defending champion Jorge Lorenzo to take over top spot in the title race after winning the British GP at a rainy Silverstone on June 12.
“We will work hard to get the set up right on the bike and hope to challenge for another win,” Stoner said.
Lorenzo crashed out at Silverstone to end a run of 25 top four finishes, ranking 18 points behind Stoner. But the Spaniard is eager to mark Yamaha’s 50th anniversary of grand prix racing with a win at a circuit where he triumphed a year ago.
“Assen is my favorite track where I’ve won in all categories and also last season,” Lorenzo said. “Now we are in second position in the championship, we come here looking to put pressure on the leader.”
The Stoner-Lorenzo duel will be shadowed closely by Italian pair Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) and Valentino Rossi (Ducati), who lie third and fourth in the championship and are in need of some serious points if they are not to be dropped from the title race.
Rossi still hasn’t won a race this season, but enjoys the track, known as The Cathedral to fans, having won there five times.
“It is going to be difficult. We know it will be some time before we see the full potential of this machine but we are motivated,” Rossi said.
One major absentee from the race will be Stoner’s teammate, Dani Pedrosa, who broke his collarbone in a fall at the French Grand Prix last month.
Agence France-Presse
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com
The Honda rider, who won at the Assen circuit three years ago, leapfrogged defending champion Jorge Lorenzo to take over top spot in the title race after winning the British GP at a rainy Silverstone on June 12.
“We will work hard to get the set up right on the bike and hope to challenge for another win,” Stoner said.
Lorenzo crashed out at Silverstone to end a run of 25 top four finishes, ranking 18 points behind Stoner. But the Spaniard is eager to mark Yamaha’s 50th anniversary of grand prix racing with a win at a circuit where he triumphed a year ago.
“Assen is my favorite track where I’ve won in all categories and also last season,” Lorenzo said. “Now we are in second position in the championship, we come here looking to put pressure on the leader.”
The Stoner-Lorenzo duel will be shadowed closely by Italian pair Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) and Valentino Rossi (Ducati), who lie third and fourth in the championship and are in need of some serious points if they are not to be dropped from the title race.
Rossi still hasn’t won a race this season, but enjoys the track, known as The Cathedral to fans, having won there five times.
“It is going to be difficult. We know it will be some time before we see the full potential of this machine but we are motivated,” Rossi said.
One major absentee from the race will be Stoner’s teammate, Dani Pedrosa, who broke his collarbone in a fall at the French Grand Prix last month.
Agence France-Presse
Source: http://www.thejakartaglobe.com