Front row start “all good” for Stoner

Just pipped to pole position in what he had expected to be a regular Friday practice session, Casey Stoner was nonetheless positive about his front row start for the Polini Grand Prix of Japan. The Ducati Marlboro rider will take off from second on the grid, and thinks that a lack of track time will not make too much difference to his chances of fighting at the front of the race.

“We’ve been running reasonably competitive in both wet and dry,” noted the Australian after Saturday qualifying was cancelled. “We could have done with a little bit more time; we weren’t going for the quickest lap time on Friday, more just preparing for the race. We’re on the front row, so it’s all good.”

He also revealed that the downpour experienced at Motegi had been useful, if not ideal for his set-up decisions.

I think that before today I’d done a maximum of about three laps in the wet with this bike, so we’re still learning. The team has done a good job. We’ve still got a few things to try and work out tomorrow, but wet or dry we should be in the right direction.”

Stoner will have an extended opportunity to fine-tune his Desmosedici GP9 on Sunday morning in warmup, in preparation for the second race of the 2009 season.