Source: MotoGP
Stoner happy with Sachsenring race
Although Casey Stoner lost points to Valentino Rossi and Jorge Lorenzo in the 2009 MotoGP title fight in Germany the Australian rider appeared to be in better physical shape at the end of the demanding 30-lap Sachsenring contest.[LNB]The Ducati Marlboro rider held the lead for ten laps in the middle of the race and cited a rear tyre issue, rather than his recent physical weakness, as the reason for dropping away in the final stages. Stoner eventually crossed the finishing line 10 seconds behind winner Rossi and was seven seconds off the final podium position, which was secured by a resurgent Dani Pedrosa.[LNB]Reviewing the race in depth with motogp.com, Stoner explained, At the beginning I thought I was going to be dropped pretty quickly because the bike didn t feel too good in the first couple of laps. So I decided to hit the front as soon as I could, if nothing else to just try and hold everybody else up and try to stay in there with a shout. Then I started to lose the front end a few too many times so after the Laguna Seca qualifying crash and a few front end losses this weekend I thought it was better to play it safe and just bring it home. [LNB]He continued, Jorge and Valentino came past and then the front started to feel better, with a lighter fuel load so I started to push a bit harder, started to catch them and then I made a mistake. Then Dani had one unbelievable lap where he went half a second quicker than any of his other laps just about and then he came past me. I then started struggling on the left hand side of the tyre and lost the rear slightly at the bottom of the hill, but I was lucky enough to pull it up before I hit the gravel trap. [LNB]Summarising the way things had gone, Stoner added, I was pretty happy with the race to be honest, considering the way things have been going lately. It s the first time I feel like I have actually been involved in something for a while and if I hadn t made that problem with the rear I might have been able to dig deep enough to catch Valentino and Jorge. [LNB][LNB] TAGSGermanyCasey StonerDucati Marlboro Team
