Salt Lake Motorsports

Casey Stoner and the entire Ducati MotoGP Team have had a taste of the season at the first ‘qualifying’ session of 2008. Track conditions weren’t always optimal as the rain downpoured at the Official MotoGP Test at Jerez de la Frontera. Marco Melandri was one of the victims of the tricky conditions and he lost control of his GP8, escaping injury in the ensuing crash – his first with the Ducati - and returning to the track in time to join the battle for lap times. Casey Stoner set the benchmark on the second day at 1’49.263. A small crash midway through the afternoon on the final day did nothing to dent the Australian’s satisfaction at a job well done over the three days. Melandri continued to work hard with his crew to improve the feeling with the rear end of his bike although he was unable to find the ideal setting for this track. The next appointment for the Ducati MotoGP Team is a two-day test under floodlights in Doha, Qatar, on the 28th and 29th February.