MotoGP Jerez test: Casey Stoner hammers rivals to win BMW car

Reigning MotoGP world champion Casey Stoner claimed the first big prize of 2008 when he collected the keys to a new BMW in today’s televised 40-minute qualifying shootout.

The Aussie started 2008 where he signed off 2007 with a dominant performance to drive off with a BMW Z4 M Roadster at a grey and gloomy Jerez.

• Get all the latest from the jerez test here

Stoner’s best time of 1.49.263 set just 13 minutes into the session saw him scoop the prize easily, with no other rider able to get within one second of the 22-year-old, who won 10 races to cruise to the 2007 MotoGP crown.

When Stoner posted his time, it moved him a massive 3.420s clear of Repsol Honda rider Nicky Hayden, and nobody could get close to Stoner’s time despite track conditions rapidly improving before the end of the session.

Heavy rain that fell constantly throughout this morning had stopped in time for the 40-minute qualifying session, which has now become the traditional curtain raiser to the new premier class season.

By the end the track was drying quickly, though not sufficiently for anybody to topple Stoner, who has been impressive in winter testing so far on the new factory Ducati GP8.

After Shinya Nakano, Anthony West and Randy de Puniet briefly topped the timesheets Stoner showed what a formidable force he will be in all conditions again this afternoon with an impressive display.

Stoner first moved to the top of the standings after just ten minutes with a 1.50.514. His next lap he posted a 1.49.411 before logging his car winning time on only his fifth lap when the track was still wet.

Only 11 minutes remained when Valentino Rossi narrowed the gap to Stoner back to under three seconds when the Fiat Yamaha rider clocked a 1.51.439. Hayden then responded as track conditions improved with a 1.51.239 that got the American to within 1.976s adrift of Stoner.

Factory Kawasaki rider Anthony West then moved into second when he posted a 1.50.799, but that was still a fraction over 1.5s adrift of his compatriot Stoner.
West finished the session fourth, with Hayden third after Rossi grabbed second with a late but unsuccessful surge.

The Italian clocked a best time of 1.50.580 to finish 1.317s off Stoner.
British rider James Toseland was 12th fastest with a best time of 1.52.755, which beat fellow Yamaha riders Colin Edwards and Jorge Lorenzo, though the Tech 3 rider did have a late off-track excursion at the first corner. Toseland had been fifth quickest in this morning’s rain-hit session.

Dani Pedrosa and John Hopkins were both absent from the 40-minute shootout, with the rain preventing them from taking to the track. Pedrosa is still recovering from a broken right hand he suffered in Sepang last month, while Hopkins is still well short of full fitness after he tore an abductor muscle in his left leg.

Both opted not to risk further injury and stayed in the pits. With forecasts for more rain tomorrow’s final day, it is unlikely the pair will ride again, though Hopkins did complete 12 tentative laps in the rain this morning.