Momentum is everything in motorsport and Casey Stoner heads into this weekend's German MotoGP off the back of successive victories which have revived his world championship defense.
Stoner has looked like he is on a completely different bike at Donington and Assen. After some fiddling with the electrics following a tough start to the season, the Ducati looks the dominant bike on the grid. Stoner now sits within 25 points of Valentino Rossi, who slipped to second after a bad day at Assen, while Dani Pedrosa holds the championship lead courtesy of his tremendous consistency.
The Spaniard has never been further back than fourth this season and while he has only won two races, he has missed a podium just once and as a result has 171 points and a four-point advantage over Rossi. He also won at the Sachsenring last year and won twice here on a 250cc in 2004 and 2005.
The conditions here last year were torrid on man and machine, with the heat causing all sorts of issues, especially with tyres. The prediction this week is for much kinder conditions and that will be pleasing for Stoner who had a tough time of it when fifth last year. Rossi boasts three German MotoGP wins but crashed out early last year.
Of all the riders on the grid, only Stoner's team-mate Marco Melandri has tasted success at the Sachsenring before, twice in 250cc class and once in the 125ccs. Melandri's tenure at the Italian outfit is under a serious cloud after managing just one top ten finish in the first nine races. Sete Gibernau is apparently considering a comeback and Ducati team boss Livio Suppo won't confirm Melandri's seat past the US Grand Prix.
All the rumours surrounding his team won't be welcomed by Stoner, who needs to focus if he is to continue to bridge the gap on Rossi and Pedrosa. Rossi's early slip-up at Assen has opened the door for the Australian, but he simply needs to keep winning and hope that the rest of the field can take some points off his rivals.
The best of the rest is Colin Edwards at the moment with the Texan taking his second podium of the year in the previous race when third. The Tech 3 Yamaha has proven very reliable and he hasn't finished worse than fifth in his past five races. Team-mate James Toseland hasn't had the same luck, but is starting to get used to the premier class.
The big watch in this race will be on Rossi's team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, who is still getting back on his feet after a wretched run with injury. The FIAT Yamaha rookie is the only other rider who can still win the title but his pair of hard-finishing sixths in the past two races has seen him slip off the pace. The dual 250cc world champion needs to get off the grid faster and get among the leading riders early or risk losing touch completely.
Another win by Stoner in Germany would really put the acid on his rivals. However, any form of slip up by the Aussie could hand the momentum back to either, or both of his chief rivals. The pressure is still on the 22-year-old, but the quality of a champion is often measured by his ability to respond when under the gun.
By Brien @ sportal.com
Stoner has looked like he is on a completely different bike at Donington and Assen. After some fiddling with the electrics following a tough start to the season, the Ducati looks the dominant bike on the grid. Stoner now sits within 25 points of Valentino Rossi, who slipped to second after a bad day at Assen, while Dani Pedrosa holds the championship lead courtesy of his tremendous consistency.
The Spaniard has never been further back than fourth this season and while he has only won two races, he has missed a podium just once and as a result has 171 points and a four-point advantage over Rossi. He also won at the Sachsenring last year and won twice here on a 250cc in 2004 and 2005.
The conditions here last year were torrid on man and machine, with the heat causing all sorts of issues, especially with tyres. The prediction this week is for much kinder conditions and that will be pleasing for Stoner who had a tough time of it when fifth last year. Rossi boasts three German MotoGP wins but crashed out early last year.
Of all the riders on the grid, only Stoner's team-mate Marco Melandri has tasted success at the Sachsenring before, twice in 250cc class and once in the 125ccs. Melandri's tenure at the Italian outfit is under a serious cloud after managing just one top ten finish in the first nine races. Sete Gibernau is apparently considering a comeback and Ducati team boss Livio Suppo won't confirm Melandri's seat past the US Grand Prix.
All the rumours surrounding his team won't be welcomed by Stoner, who needs to focus if he is to continue to bridge the gap on Rossi and Pedrosa. Rossi's early slip-up at Assen has opened the door for the Australian, but he simply needs to keep winning and hope that the rest of the field can take some points off his rivals.
The best of the rest is Colin Edwards at the moment with the Texan taking his second podium of the year in the previous race when third. The Tech 3 Yamaha has proven very reliable and he hasn't finished worse than fifth in his past five races. Team-mate James Toseland hasn't had the same luck, but is starting to get used to the premier class.
The big watch in this race will be on Rossi's team-mate Jorge Lorenzo, who is still getting back on his feet after a wretched run with injury. The FIAT Yamaha rookie is the only other rider who can still win the title but his pair of hard-finishing sixths in the past two races has seen him slip off the pace. The dual 250cc world champion needs to get off the grid faster and get among the leading riders early or risk losing touch completely.
Another win by Stoner in Germany would really put the acid on his rivals. However, any form of slip up by the Aussie could hand the momentum back to either, or both of his chief rivals. The pressure is still on the 22-year-old, but the quality of a champion is often measured by his ability to respond when under the gun.
By Brien @ sportal.com
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