[kropotkin thinks...] - 2012 Qatar MotoGP FP1 Result: Stoner Leads Lorenzo and Hayden

[Ninjette Newsbot]

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As expected, Casey Stoner took first blood of the 2012 MotoGP season, the Repsol Honda rider staging a late charge to set the fastest lap of the session. Stoner dislodged Jorge Lorenzo from top spot, the Factory Yamaha rider having shown a very strong pace throughout. Third fastest was Nicky Hayden, the factory Ducati man just under half a second off the pace of Stoner, an impressive showing by the American.

Ben Spies, who had led much of the session, found himself demoted to 4th by the end, the factory Yamaha rider just over a tenth quicker than the second Repsol Honda carrying Dani Pedrosa. Cal Crutchlow of the Monster Tech 3 Yamaha team was first of the satellite riders, just ahead of San Carlo Gresini's Alvaro Bautista, while Crutchlow's teammate Andrea Dovizioso ended the session in 8th. Pramac's Hector Barbera finished the session as 9th fastest, ahead of Valentino Rossi on the second factory Ducati. Rossi ended the day nearly a second behind teammate Hayden.

Randy de Puniet won the war of the CRTs, the Power Electronics Aspar rider just edging Colin Edwards on the Suter BMW. De Puniet ended the day 3.5 seconds off the time of Stoner, and a second behind the last factory prototype, the LCR Honda of Stefan Bradl.

Results:

Race Details 2012


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