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Ducati still pins hopes on Stoner, Hayden for 2010

Ducati, the European team that broke the Japanese domination of the Motorcycle Grand Prix in 2007, continues to pin its hopes on Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden for next season, despite hardships this year

Agnes Winarti (The Jakarta Post)
Sepang, Malaysia
Sun, October 25, 2009

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Ducati still pins hopes on Stoner, Hayden for 2010

D

ucati, the European team that broke the Japanese domination of the Motorcycle Grand Prix in 2007, continues to pin its hopes on Casey Stoner and Nicky Hayden for next season, despite hardships this year.

"The rider lineup will be the same, Casey and Nicky. What happened with Casey...we believe that it will never happen again. We believe at the moment he is much more fit," Ducati's MotoGP project director Livio Suppo told media at Saturday's practice session before the Shell Advance Malaysian Motorcycle Grand Prix at Sepang's Circuit on Sunday.

The 24-year-old Australian rider, who brought the Ducati MotoGP team to triumph in the 800cc Grand Prix in Qatar in 2007, skipped three rounds of the MotoGP world championships this year due to a mysterious illness. But he still managed to edge into top positions in Qatar, Italy and Phillip Island, Australia.

There are only two of 17 rounds left - in Sepang on Sunday and Valencia on Nov. 8.

Valentino Rossi of the Fiat Yamaha team now leads the standings and most likely will snatch the overall crown for the ninth time.

Despite having no chance to win this year, Casey, in third place overall, still won credit from Suppo.

"Casey must be proud as he is able to be more competitive. We hope to see Casey come back strongly," Suppo said, adding that Ducati would increase the level of training for Casey this winter in Europe.

Casey scored a time of 2:01.455 in Saturday's qualifying session to start the race from fourth place. Rossi, who will secure the championship from a finish in the top four, grabbed the pole position on 2:00.518 followed by teammate Jorge Lorenzo (2:01.087) and Dani Pedrossa of Honda (2:01.254).

Ducati's second rider Nicky will race from seventh position with a qualifying time of 2:01.980.

Livio encouraged Nicky, who had a turbulent season, crashing in the opening lap in three out of 15 races, to gear up on Sunday.

"For the race tomorrow, I hope Casey can fight for victory and Nicky for the top-five position."

There has been mid-season speculation on Nicky's future with the Ducati team. His team place was only confirmed after Lorenzo decided to stay with Yamaha.

The 28-year-old American rider's best result so far was a third spot in the GP Indianapolis.

Qualifying session

1. Valentino Rossi (Ita) Yamaha 2:00.518
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Esp) Yamaha 2:01.087
3. Dani Pedrosa (Esp) Honda 2:01.254
4. Casey Stoner (Aus) Ducati 2:01.455
5. Loris Capirossi (Ita) Suzuki 2:01.716
6. Toni Elias (Esp) Honda 2:01.918
7. Nicky Hayden (US) Ducati 2:01.980
8. Randy de Puniet (Fra) Honda 2:02.098
9. Colin Edwards (US) Yamaha 2:02.195
10. Alex de Angelis (San) Honda 2:02.274

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