Day 1 Testing

The first day of testing was delayed over four hours because of a fluke rain storm. Nicky Hayden completed 31 laps on the first day of testing. His fastest lap was on 29 of 31 at 2:02.717. Rossi, Lorenzo, Pedrosa, Capirossi and Stoner sat out the first day of testing hoping for better weather the next two days.


Casey Stoner and Ducati Team members amazed to see rain in Qatar.

1. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 2:00.717 (31 laps)
2. Marco Melandri (Kawasaki) 2:00.867 (35)
3. Mika Kallio (Ducati) 2:01.020 (29)
4. Alex De Angelis (Honda) 2:01.074 (15)
5. Niccolò Canepa (Ducati) 2:01.328 (26)

Day 2 Testing

The high winds throughout the day dropped just before the start of the second day of testing. Casey Stoner not only had his recovering wrist to evaluate, also a new swingarm and electronics of the Ducati Desmosedici GP9. Casey set the fastest lap of day two on lap 23 and was satisfied with his pace and recovery.


Nicky Hayden had to start from scratch testing a set-up with the dry track. Hayden took steps forward compared to Malaysia but admitted he has work to do.

1. Casey Stoner (Ducati) 1:57.139 (37 laps)
2. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1:57.747 (51)
3. Colin Edwards (Yamaha) 1:57.817 (41)
4. Andrea Dovizioso (Honda) 1:57.879 (60)
5. Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) 1:58.264 (42)

Day 3 Testing

The bizarre conditions continued on day 3 of testing with cool temperatures. Loris Capirossi, Niccolò Canepa and Casey Stoner all crashed,luckily escaping without injury. Casey got right back on the track and ran a series of hot laps with two under 1:56. Casey's fast lap of 1:55.744 on lap 22 of 31 would hold up. Track conditions worsened about 10:00PM so testing was cut short about 1 hour.

Nicky Hayden ended the test on a positive note finishing in the top 5.

1. Casey Stoner (Ducati) 1:55.744
2. Jorge Lorenzo (Yamaha) 1:56.733
3. Valentino Rossi (Yamaha) 1:56.972
4. Chris Vermeulen (Suzuki) 1:57.224
5. Nicky Hayden (Ducati) 1:57.225

The final pre-season test at Jerez de la Frontera in Southern Spain on March 28th and 29th should be very interesting.